La Fortuna Waterfall

A few kilometres outside La Fortuna, a river that rises on the flank of the extinct Chato volcano throws itself off a lip of rock and falls some seventy metres in a single white column into a pool at the bottom of a green gorge. Getting down means a staircase of around five hundred steps built into the side of the ravine, walled in by rainforest, and at the bottom the pool is cold, deep and churned by the falls, with a calmer stretch downstream where most people swim. It is run by the local community rather than a private operator, with the fees going back into the area, and it is the most popular single attraction around La Fortuna, so timing matters. The whole area is geared to activity, with Arenal volcano, hot springs and hanging bridges within a short drive.

What you actually see

• The waterfall - the seventy-metre column of white water into the gorge pool.
• The gorge staircase - the walled descent of around five hundred steps through forest.
• Swimming below the falls - the calmer stretch of river downstream from the plunge pool.
• The viewing platform - the outlook over the fall from the top of the gorge.

When to go

December to April is drier, with clearer water and safer swimming; heavy rain turns the pool brown and the flow dangerous, and swimming may be closed. The first hour after opening is far quieter than the rest of the day, when tour groups from La Fortuna arrive in waves.

Honest expectations

The five hundred steps are easy going down and a genuine effort coming back up in the heat, so factor that in. The plunge pool itself has strong currents and swimming directly beneath the fall is not permitted; the safe swimming is downstream. Entry is charged and has risen steadily. By late morning in high season the viewing area and pool are busy, so go early.

Nearby

Arenal volcano, its hot springs and the hanging bridges are all within a short drive of La Fortuna.