Tamarindo is all about beaches, mangroves and sunsets, but many visitors also want a day at a waterfall. The good news is that there are excellent waterfalls near Tamarindo, within reach on a day trip. The catch is that none of them is in town: they are inland, where rivers come down from the volcanic range. This guide from Tamarindo Estuary Tours Mi Rey compares them the way we explain them to guests who ask us: what each one is like, how much effort it takes and which of our tours goes there.
Short answer: the two most practical waterfalls near Tamarindo are Llanos de Cortés, an easy-access fall with a sandy pool, and La Leona, a river and canyon hike to a hidden pool. We visit both on full-day tours with transportation, entrance tickets and lunch included: Sloths and Llanos de Cortés Waterfall ($185 per person) and the La Leona Waterfall Tour ($160 per person), each with a minimum of 4 people. The Rincón de la Vieja area has more waterfalls, but they usually require long hikes.
Why there are no waterfalls in Tamarindo
The coast around Tamarindo is low and fairly flat, and the rivers that reach it flow slowly into the sea. The one we know best forms the mangrove channels we navigate on our Tamarindo estuary tour, where the only thing that rises and falls is the tide.
Waterfalls form where water drops over steep ground, and in Guanacaste that happens inland, on the slopes of the volcanic range near Liberia and Bagaces. That is why every waterfall worth the trip means a day away from the beach.
Waterfalls near Tamarindo at a glance
- Llanos de Cortés: wide curtain, large pool with a sandy shore, very short walk. Best for families and relaxed swimming. Our tour: Sloths and Llanos de Cortés Waterfall.
- La Leona: hidden fall at the end of a canyon, reached by hiking along a river, with possible wading or a short swim. Best for active travelers. Our tour: La Leona Waterfall Tour.
- Rincón de la Vieja National Park: several waterfalls reached by long forest hikes. Not part of our tours.
Llanos de Cortés waterfall: the easy one
Llanos de Cortés, near Bagaces, is one of the most photographed waterfalls in Guanacaste. It is wide rather than tall, and it falls into a big open pool with a small beach of sand where you can walk into the water gradually. A short trail leads from the entrance down to the river, so it suits children, grandparents and anyone who wants a swim without a hike.
We visit it on our full day that also includes a guided sloth tour, from 6:30 am to about 6 pm. Read the full Llanos de Cortés waterfall guide for swimming tips and the best season.
La Leona waterfall: the adventure
La Leona is in the foothills of the Rincón de la Vieja volcano, in the Curubandé area near Liberia. Getting there is part of the experience: a trail through open land and forest, several river crossings on slippery rocks and, at the end, a narrow canyon that opens onto the waterfall and its pool.
On sunny days with calm water, the river often shows a striking blue color. Depending on the water level, the last stretch can mean wading or swimming a short distance.
It is a moderate outing for people with basic fitness and good balance. Our tour runs from 7 am to 3:30 pm, the shortest of our full days. Read our guide to the La Leona waterfall tour to see if it suits your group.
Rincón de la Vieja waterfalls: for serious hikers
Rincón de la Vieja National Park protects the slopes of an active volcano, and its rivers form several waterfalls inside the park, such as La Cangreja, known for its blue pool. These falls are reached on long forest trails of several kilometers each way, with heat and uneven ground, so they are best for experienced hikers who want to spend a whole day walking. Trail access, opening days and rules are set by the park, so check current information before you go.
Our Rincón de la Vieja combo is planned around the volcano area: forest trails, volcanic features such as steam vents and mud pools, and a Costa Rican lunch. It is not sold as a waterfall tour, so if a swim at a waterfall is your main goal, choose Llanos de Cortés or La Leona. Learn more in our guide to the Rincón de la Vieja tour from Tamarindo.
Farther waterfalls
Costa Rica has other famous waterfalls, such as the Río Celeste waterfall in Tenorio Volcano National Park, known for its sky-blue water. From Tamarindo they mean a much longer drive, often three hours or more each way, and they are not part of our tours.
How to choose your waterfall
- Traveling with young children or older relatives: Llanos de Cortés.
- Looking for adventure and do not mind getting wet: La Leona.
- Want to see sloths on the same day: Llanos de Cortés, on our sloth and waterfall day.
- Want to be back for the sunset: La Leona, which returns at 3:30 pm.
- Prefer volcanic landscapes over swimming: the Rincón de la Vieja combo.
Best season and safety at Guanacaste waterfalls
In the dry season, roughly December to April, rivers are lower, the water is clearer and swimming is usually calmer. In the green season, roughly May to November, the falls are fuller and the forest is greener, but heavy rain can make rivers rise quickly and turn brown. A few rules apply at any waterfall:
- Do not jump or dive from rocks; depth changes and rocks hide below the surface.
- Stay away from the area right under the falling water, where currents are strongest.
- Wear water shoes or sandals with grip, since wet rocks are very slippery.
- Get out of the water if it rises or changes color, and always follow your guide.
If weather or water conditions make one of our tours unsafe, we contact you to offer another date or a refund.
Booking a waterfall tour from Tamarindo
Both waterfall tours include round-trip transportation, entrance tickets, bottled water, beers, juices for kids and a Costa Rican lunch (casado). They require a minimum of 4 people, and children 3 and under do not pay. This is how booking works:
- Choose your waterfall and a date.
- Pay the deposit online: $75 per person for Llanos de Cortés or $50 per person for La Leona.
- Get the details by WhatsApp: after you book, we confirm your pickup. Pickup in Tamarindo is usually included; farther areas pay an extra transportation cost to the driver.
- Pack for the water: swimsuit, towel, water shoes, sun protection and a change of clothes.
- Pay the balance on the day of the tour, in cash, in US dollars or colones.
Choose your waterfall and book with Tamarindo Estuary Tours Mi Rey: our sloth and waterfall tour from Tamarindo or the La Leona Waterfall Tour. If you are not sure which one fits your group, write to us on WhatsApp and we will help you decide.
Book these tours
Sloths and Llanos de Cortés Waterfall$185 per personSee tour and book →
La Leona Waterfall Tour$160 per personSee tour and book →
Frequently asked questions
Are there waterfalls near Tamarindo you can swim in?
Yes, but not in Tamarindo itself. The most popular swimming waterfalls, Llanos de Cortés and La Leona, are inland in the Liberia and Bagaces area and are visited on a full-day trip.
Which waterfall near Tamarindo is best for children?
Llanos de Cortés is usually the best choice for families: the walk is short and the pool has a sandy shore with shallow water. La Leona involves river crossings and sometimes a short swim, so ask us first if you travel with young children.
Is there a waterfall tour from Tamarindo with transportation included?
Yes. Our La Leona Waterfall Tour ($160 per person) and Sloths and Llanos de Cortés Waterfall tour ($185 per person) both include round-trip transportation, entrance tickets, drinks and a Costa Rican lunch, with a minimum of 4 people.
Does the Rincón de la Vieja combo include a waterfall?
The combo is planned around the volcano area, its forest and its volcanic features, and it is not sold as a waterfall tour. If a swim at a waterfall is your priority, choose La Leona or Llanos de Cortés.
When is the best time of year to visit waterfalls in Guanacaste?
The dry season, roughly December to April, usually brings calmer and clearer water for swimming. From May to November the falls are fuller and more dramatic, but rivers can rise quickly after heavy rain.
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