La Leona Waterfall hike near Tamarindo: Swim to the falls

Two hours upriver through five pools, caves and a stone canyon to reach the waterfall

A private guided hike to La Leona Waterfall near Tamarindo takes you on a moderate 2-hour trail alongside Río Blanco deep in Rincón de la Vieja Volcano's canyons, where you swim a short distance to the waterfall's stone beach and pool. The tour includes park entry, lunch, a local guide in English or Spanish, and pickup from your hotel. Life jackets are provided for river crossings and swimming sections. Recommended for intermediate hikers comfortable in the water. Children ages 4 and up may join at parent discretion.

Step-by-step itinerary

Hike to La Leona Waterfall and Lunch

• Meet local guide
• Begin 2-hour hike along Río Blanco
• Spot wildlife on shaded trail
• Visit 5 natural pools
• Pass through stone canyon and caves
• Cross river sections with life jackets
• Reach La Leona canyon entrance
• Store belongings in dry bag
• Swim to La Leona Waterfall
• Relax and take photos at stone beach
• Enjoy pool near waterfall
• Have Costa Rican style lunch

The experience

The day starts at 7 am with pickup from your Tamarindo hotel, then heads into the canyons of Rincón de la Vieja. Your local guide leads you along a shaded trail that climbs alongside Río Blanco, stopping at five natural pools where the water pools deep and clear. The path crosses through a stone canyon, passes small waterfalls and caves, and involves sections where you wade or swim across the river: life jackets are provided for these crossings. The rocks and roots underfoot are constant, which is why the hike is rated intermediate and why the guide's knowledge of the footing matters.

When you reach the canyon entrance to La Leona, you pack your belongings into a dry bag and swim a short distance to the waterfall itself. The base opens onto a stone beach where you can stand and photograph the falls, and there's a pool deep enough to splash around in before heading back. After the swim, you eat a Costa Rican-style lunch on the beach, then retrace the trail downriver. The full day runs about eight hours from pickup to return.

Choose the private transportation option if you want the guide and vehicle included. Choose self-drive to the meeting point if you have your own transport and want to save on that cost. Either way, the hike, guide, park entrance, lunch, water and life jackets are part of the tour.

What’s included

• Park entrance fee.
• bottled water.
• Costa Rican-style lunch.
• life jackets.
• air-conditioned vehicle (if you choose the private transportation option).
• local guide in English or Spanish.
• all fees and taxes.

Options for this experience

2 options

Self-drive to the meeting pointGuide in English or Spanish · 09:00Self-drive starting point: Finca Curubanda La Leona, located in the heart of Curubandé 50105, Provincia de Guanacaste, Liberia, 50105, Costa Rica

Private transportation and guideGuide in English or Spanish · 07:00Private tour with pickup included from JW Marriott, Langosta/Tamarindo, Grande, Conchal, Flamingo, Potrero, RIU Hotels, Ocotal, or Playas de Coco

You pick the guide language when booking.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 07:00 and 09:00

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (4 and older) · Under 4: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Physically demandingNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Native's Way Costa Rica

Is this one for you?Book the private transportation option if you want pickup from your hotel and one less thing to arrange on arrival. Choose self-drive if you have a rental car and prefer to keep costs down. Either way, the guide, park entry and lunch are the same, so the choice is really about transport logistics.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What is the hike to La Leona Waterfall actually like? How steep is it and how much swimming is involved?

The hike is moderate and takes about two hours, with many rocks and roots underfoot. You'll wade and swim across the river in sections, and at the waterfall you swim a short distance to reach the base. Life jackets are provided for all water crossings.

Can I bring my kids on this hike to La Leona Waterfall?

Children ages 4 and up can join, but parents should decide based on their child's hiking ability and comfort in the water, since the trail has uneven footing and swimming is part of the day.

What does the lunch include, and when do we eat?

Lunch is a Costa Rican-style meal served on the stone beach at the waterfall after you swim, giving you time to rest and dry off before the hike back down.

Do I need to arrange my own transport to the trailhead, or is pickup included?

Pickup from your Tamarindo hotel is included in the private transportation option. If you choose self-drive, you meet the guide at the starting point and provide your own transport.

What wildlife might I see on the hike to La Leona?

Your local guide will help you spot wildlife along the shaded trail and in the canyons of Rincón de la Vieja, though sightings depend on the day and the animals' movement.

Is there anything I should not do on this tour?

The tour is not recommended for anyone with spinal injuries, pregnant travelers, poor cardiovascular health, or anyone uncomfortable in the water. The trail requires intermediate hiking fitness and no current physical injuries or health concerns.