Enjoy my La Fortuna Waterfall photos and discover everything you need to know to visit the amazing cascade in this travel guide.
The main attraction for visitors to La Fortuna, Costa Rica has to be the incredible La Fortuna Waterfall. This torrenting yet almost peaceful-looking cascade crashes from 75 m into a turquoise pool below.
You can spend a few hours admiring the waterfall from a couple of different viewpoints, enjoying the walk down to it and swimming in the refreshing pool.
Read on to see my La Fortuna Waterfall photos and find out where the waterfall is located, how to get here and practical tips to make the most of your visit to this beautiful landmark.
La Fortuna Waterfall location
The waterfall is 5.5 km from La Fortuna town. To get here, you need to leave town on Ruta 702 heading south. When you come to the crossroads with Calle Diag 301, you need to turn onto this road heading west. Stay on Calle Diag 301 all the way to the waterfall car park.
If you walk from La Fortuna, it should take you around 1 h 30 min. About 30 min before you reach the waterfall car park, there is a steep hill to ascend. The walk isn’t particularly special, it’s just a main road, although there are views of Arenal Volcano.
There aren’t any buses to the waterfall, so I recommend going by taxi. This will take you roughly 20 min and should cost around $10 US.
La Fortuna Waterfall hours
Another reason I recommend going by taxi is to get to La Fortuna Waterfall early. It’s hugely popular and this will help you avoid the crowds. The waterfall opens daily at 7:00 and closes at 17:00. Last entry is at 16:00.
Like every nature attraction in Costa Rica, there’s a fairly steep entry fee of $20 US per foreign adult. You can queue up at the entrance to buy your ticket, or get it online beforehand. I recommend buying online so you can skip any queues.
When to visit La Fortuna Waterfall
My advice is to arrive as close to 7:00 as possible. I walked to the waterfall, getting there at 9:00. By then tour buses full of visitors and families had already arrived. The place wasn’t absolutely full, but there were a lot of people.
During the rainy season May – November the cascade will be much more powerful and impressive. However, coming here in the rain won’t be that much fun compared to when the sun is out.
The dry season in Costa Rica runs December – April. This is the best time of year to visit as the good weather is perfect for swimming in the waterfall pool.
La Fortuna Waterfall parking
There’s free car parking right outside the entry to the waterfall. I don’t know exactly how many spaces there are, but I’d say up to 50 vehicles can park here. If you’re going to drive to La Fortuna Waterfall, then I’d arrive early to guarantee yourself a parking space.
La Fortuna Waterfall hike time
The hike between the entrance and the waterfall is roughly 1.2 km (one way) and it takes around 25 min. Along the way you can enjoy the vibrant green colours of the forest, beautiful flora and views of the waterfall from different points.
This is a curated nature tourism experience and it’s practically impossible to get lost. At the bottom you can swim in the river that flows away from the waterfall and, of course, the pool at its base.
The force from the falling water will suck you in if you get too close, so there are lifeguards monitoring. They’ll whistle if you go beyond the limit.
The trail is mostly steep concrete steps and metal bridges. In total there are around 500 steps, so you can imagine that going back up is tiring and takes longer than coming down.
Is La Fortuna Waterfall worth it?
I think that La Fortuna Waterfall is worth visiting. Granted, it is a tourist trap and the entry fee is a little pricey, but its beauty and being able to swim in the turquoise pool make it a fun visit. I recommend spending at least 2 h here.
If you’ve already seen a few impressive waterfalls on your trip, then purely for the entry fee it might not be worth seeing this one.
The body managing the area is a non-profit dedicated to the waterfall’s conservation so, if you do visit, know that your money is going to a great cause.
Final tips for visiting La Fortuna Waterfall
It’s a good idea to bring food with you because a lunch at the waterfall restaurant costs $14 US. Also, try to come as a group. Not only can you split the taxi bill between you, but swimming in the waterfall pool is a great experience to share with others.
Finally, on the same road that leads you to the waterfall, around 20 min outside of La Fortuna, is El Salto rope swing. I recommend heading here on your way back from the waterfall. It costs nothing and swinging from the rope is really fun. This was by far my favourite experience in La Fortuna.
Enjoy my La Fortuna Waterfall Photos and your visit
La Fortuna Waterfall is beautiful and I hope I’ve captured that with my photos. Have fun looking at this impressive cascade and swimming in the pool below – just remember not to get too close to the falling water.
For more Costa Rica adventure travel inspiration and planning, check out these next guides on A World Over.
- A Complete Travel Guide to La Fortuna in Costa Rica
- A Guide to Hiking Cerro Chato Volcano in Costa Rica
- Cerro Chirripó Costa Rica Hike: Complete Guide
- When is the Best Time to Visit Guanacaste, Costa Rica?
- Ultimate 7-day Costa Rica Itinerary for Adventure Travelers
- Things to do in Orosi Valley Costa Rica: Complete Guide
- What to do in Sámara, Costa Rica: Complete Travel Guide
- Manzanillo Beach near Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica (Manzanillo Shipwreck Beach) Guide
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