La Leona Waterfall tour from Tamarindo: Hike, tube and swim

Hike into a canyon, tube the river, and swim at La Leona Fall

A private guided tour from Tamarindo to La Leona Waterfall combines nature trail hikes, river tubing and swimming in a natural canyon with crystal-clear waters and rock formations. A professional guide leads the full day, which includes transportation, safety equipment, lunch and return pickup. The experience runs 7 to 8 hours and suits travelers with moderate fitness.

Step-by-step itinerary

La Leona Waterfall Adventure and Lunch

• Depart at 8:00 a.m. to La Leona Falls
• Hike nature trails and river tour
• Explore natural canyon and rock formations
• Swim and take photos at La Leona Fall
• Enjoy guided tubing on the river
• Have typical Costa Rican lunch
• Return to initial meeting point

The experience

Departure is at 8 a.m. from your starting point in Tamarindo, with an organized transfer through Guanacaste's rural landscapes to the La Leona Waterfall area. Upon arrival, your guide begins with nature trail hikes that lead into an impressive natural canyon, where you'll walk stretches along the river surrounded by rock formations and lush vegetation until you reach La Leona Fall itself.

The tubing section is the centerpiece: wearing a safety vest and accompanied by your guide, you travel downriver through crystal-clear water, crossing quiet stretches and more dynamic sections as you descend gently through the canyon. The activity is designed for people with moderate physical fitness and balances excitement with controlled safety standards throughout. Once you reach the waterfall, you have time to swim, take photographs and simply be in the natural environment.

After the water activities, lunch is a typical Costa Rican casado (rice, beans, salad, fried plantain and your choice of fish, chicken, pork or beef), served before the return transfer to your starting point. Your guide speaks English or Spanish and manages all logistics, safety equipment and pacing for the group.

What’s included

• Private transportation with hotel pickup and return.
• entrance to La Leona Waterfall.
• tubing equipment and safety vests.
• bottled water.
• an air-conditioned vehicle.
• a typical Costa Rican lunch with your choice of protein.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

AgesAdult (6 to 70 years) · Under 6: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 9 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effort

Operated by Guanacaste Airport Shuttle Cr

Is this one for you?This is a private tour, so your group has a dedicated guide and sets its own pace through the hikes, tubing and swimming: ideal if you want personalized attention and no waiting for other travelers. The moderate fitness requirement and guided safety structure suit adventurous travelers who want river activity and waterfall access without extreme difficulty.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

What is the tubing section like at La Leona Waterfall?

Tubing at La Leona Waterfall is a guided descent down the river wearing a safety vest, traveling through crystal-clear water surrounded by rock formations and canyon walls. You move through both quiet and more dynamic sections of the river, combining scenic enjoyment with gentle excitement, and the guide controls the pace and safety throughout.

How much time do you actually spend in the water?

The guided hike and tubing experience lasts approximately 2 hours, with additional time for swimming and photos at La Leona Fall itself before lunch and the return journey.

What does the lunch include?

Lunch is a typical Costa Rican casado served for 45 minutes, consisting of rice, beans, salad, fried plantain and your choice of protein: fish, chicken, pork, beef or vegetables.

Is this tour private or shared with other groups?

This is a private tour. Only your group participates, with a dedicated professional guide for the full day.

What's included in the price?

The tour includes private transportation, hotel pickup and return, entrance to La Leona Waterfall, tubing equipment and safety gear, bottled water, an air-conditioned vehicle and lunch.