If you love waterfalls, then you will have to put Catarata del Toro on your list of places to see in Costa Rica. This stunning waterfall stands at an impressive 270 feet(82 meters) inside an old volcano crater in the rain forest.
Owned and operated by a Costa Rican-Dutch couple, they transformed a little piece of the rain forest into a welcoming visitor’s center so travelers experience the beauty of the Del Toro waterfall.
In this guide you will find information on the waterfall, how to get there, what the trails are like and more. There are Amazon affiliate links in this post.
How to Get to Catarata del Toro
It is highly recommend to rent a car as it is the most efficient, fastest and best way to get to the waterfall park.
How to get to Catarata del Toro from San Jose
Driving
The best route from San Jose is via Sarchi. You can find it on Waze and Google Maps.
The drive from San Jose to Catarata del Toro takes around 2 hours. From San Jose International Airport, it is around 1.5 hours.
You can also go via Zarcero. It takes a little bit longer but you can stop at Zarcero, a charming little local town with topiary gardens and church.
A high car is recommended as the part of the route goes through a hilly unpaved section so a 4wd or a mid size SUV will work. If you visit in rainy season, a high car is a must!
By bus
You will need to take the bus to Zarcero, there is no direct bus to Bajos del Toro anymore. Then from Zarcero, you will need to grab a taxi to Bajos del Toro. The taxi could cost around 15,000 colones (around $26 USD) and takes around 40 minutes.
Shuttles
There are no shared shuttles to the waterfall park, you must take a private shuttle. If you’re landing in San Jose Airport, you can take a private shuttle from San Jose to La Fortuna that includes a stop at Del Toro waterfall on the way. It’s not highly recommended because of timing and budget. You will need to plan accordingly as the park closes at 5 PM and on Sundays. Additionally, San Jose to Bajos del Toro is about a 2 hour drive. Furthermore, this private shuttle is expensive, around $300 USD for 1-4 passengers for San Jose – La Fortuna with a stop at Del Toro waterfall.
Location
Catarata del Toro map.
This waterfall is located in the little town of Bajos del Toro. Catarata del Toro waterfall is 70 kilometers (44 miles) from San Jose and 211 kilometers (131 miles) from Liberia.
Entrance Fee and Hours
The reserve is open Monday to Saturday, 7 AM – 5 PM. It costs $14 USD for adults, $7 USD for children 4-11 and seniors.
Del Toro Waterfall Trail
When you arrive at the waterfall park, you’ll first see their visitor center which consists of a restaurant, nature trails, hummingbird gardens. There is a nice viewing spot from the hummingbird garden where you can see the waterfall.
Before going down to the waterfall, I recommend walking through some of their nature trails through the garden. It’s a very nice walk and not long so you can see some of the various flowers and trees on the property.
Once you’re ready, walk down to the main path to the waterfall. It’s to the right of the visitor center and there are signs you can follow. Get ready for a steep walk down to the waterfall!
The Waterfall Trail
There are several excellent viewpoints along the trail so don’t skip these. Each one offers a different angle so you can see the spectacular waterfall from all perspectives.
The beginning of the trail is easy but it doesn’t last long. It goes through the nature trail on a dirt path and then you will see the concrete steps going down.
Take your time on the steps because they are steep but they put up rails to help you keep your balance. Don’t forget to look around every so often because there are nice views of the waterfall along the trail.
Once you get down and the path flattens out to a dirt path, you get the perfect view of the waterfall. I took a photo of Yeison standing at the bottom, you can see just how tall the waterfall is because he looks tiny!
Carefully climb down the last section (it’s a bit muddy), walk over the rocks on the right hand side and you’ll get to the closest point where Yeison is. The waterfall looks awe-inspiring from far away, but when you’re that close up, you get a real sense of how impressive this waterfall truly is.
The spray of the water is so strong that if you get close, you’ll get wet! It was hard for me to get photos when I was standing close since my camera kept getting wet. As you can see, swimming in Catarta del Toro is not allowed or is it possible because it will be too dangerous. Be extremely careful when walking on the rocks because it is super slippery!
Tips for Visiting the Del Toro waterfall in Costa Rica
- Bring plenty of water and sunscreen.
- They have a small restaurant so you can buy snacks or have lunch after the waterfall hike. Lunch costs $12.
- They don’t recommend people with heart conditions or walking disabilities, pregnant women or senior citizens to go down because of the steps. There isn’t a universal trail so it is not handicap friendly. They can stay at the top where the visitor center is and see the waterfall from there.
- If you want to stay in Bajos del Toro Amarillo, we recommend El Silencio Lodge & Spa. Gorgeous hotel on the luxury side in the forest with amazing views. Very close to the waterfall and has excellent bird watching.
- The reserve also has three small standard rooms. Rooms are $65 and $80 for two people. You can also find some small Airbnbs in the town of Bajos del Toro Amarillo.
- The reserve also offers other activities such as the Blue Falls which are blue rivers and waterfalls (like Rio Celeste). You can purchase a combined day pass to both del Toro waterfall and Blue falls for $25.
What to Wear and Weather
You will need closed toed hiking sandals or sneakers. Flip flops will not be good shoes because it can get muddy and slippery on the bottom and you will be climbing a lot of steps. Yeison wore sneakers and I wore my KEEN hiking sandals.
The weather in Catarata del Toro is much cooler than the rest of Costa Rica due to its elevation. They experience a typical dry and rainy tropical seasons but keep in mind that rain is more common in this area. If you visit during rainy season (May – December), bring a rainjacket!
During the rainiest months of September – November, the rains may be too hard to walk down to the bottom. If you’re visiting in rainy season, go as early as possible when it opens because normal rainy season days are sunny in the early morning and rains in the afternoon.
We visited in March which is one of the hottest months. Thankfully, we had amazing weather but it was very hot! We have also visited in June where it was cloudy and rainy in the morning but the afternoon cleared up and was super sunny. Just keep in mind that it does tend to rain quite a bit in this area so if you visit in the rainiest months like August – beginning of December, you will need to bring rain gear, be prepared to get wet and it is highly recommended to rent a 4×4.
How to Visit Catarata del Toro
You can visit as a day trip from San Jose if you have a car. To make the most of the day, you can also stop by La Paz waterfall gardens or Poas Volcano National Park. Another way to visit is if you’re driving from San Jose to La Fortuna or vice versa. It’s about a 1.5 hour drive from La Fortuna from Del Toro going through Muelle San Carlos.
I wrote a Costa Rica itinerary that includes this and other waterfalls. Visit some of the most beautiful waterfalls in Costa Rica!
If you want to stay in the area, there are only a few hotels in the area. For a luxury stay, book a room at El Silencio Lodge and Spa. An absolutely gorgeous lodge!
Don’t forget to visit the Blue Falls of Costa Rica either! They’re very close to the Del Toro waterfall and is an absolute MUST see! Some other waterfall hikes in the area are Tesoro Escondido and Rio Agrio waterfall.
Video
Here is a short video of the waterfall from our visit in 2016.
For more information and to purchase tickets, check out the reserve’s website.
Read about other waterfalls in Costa Rica here!
Catarata Llanos de Cortes (Guanacaste)
Nauyaca waterfalls (Dominical)
Cascada El Pavon (Uvita)
Los Chorros waterfalls (Grecia)
Catarata Poza Azul (Sarapiqui)
There are affiliate links in this post.
christian says
Hello, we are visiting in mid september this year. will blue falls the full tour be an option? or would weather likely not allow for it? thank you so much!
Sammi says
You could go but that area rains a lot and September is one of our rainiest months so be prepared for rain, to walk in the rain and if it rains a lot, the river won’t be really blue due to the run off
Mol says
Hello!
I’ve read alot of bad reviews about the drive to this waterfall. Things like poor road conditions. Can you give me any more information? Will I need to be using low gear?. I will have a 4×4. I really wanna visit this area, any info is appreciated!
Sammi says
The road is asphalted but it is curvy and narrow, and if you have a 4×4, you will be fine. Just drive slowly and carefully.
Holly Freeman says
We are going to go canyoneering in the area either the 31 or 1st of June in 2021. The El Silencio sounds amazing but out of our price range . How can I book the rooms in the reserve? Or can you suggest a place for 4 people under $200 a night? Airbnb is ok as well. We have to be in Jaco on the 4th and would love suggestions for our other 3 days? ( We are traveling from Tortugero ).
Sammi says
You can check the Del Toro’s website, I know they recently re-opened their rooms.
Kaylee says
Hi, we will be travelling from La Fortuna to San Jose the beginning of April. We are renting a sedan and wanted to visit the waterfall on the way. Google maps says to take the 708 to the waterfall and then continue down that road towards Sarchi. Would we be okay on that road in a sedan since it’s dry season or is it too risky?
Sammi says
You can make it in a sedan, but just drive slow because even in April, that area does tend to rain more because it’s high elevation and last time we went, we went via Sarchi and the road is not paved all the way and goes through mountains. My recommendation personally would be to rent a 4wd if you can, especially if you are not used to driving those kinds of roads.
Marlys says
Hi Sammy,
We are driving from an Airbnb in La Fortuna to an Airbnb in Poas on January 31,2020. We have rented a sedan from Adobe through you and we are wondering if it would be possible to stop at Catarata del Toro on our way. I am concerned because we will have all our suitcases with us, also some of the things I read make me wonder if a car is OK. If this stop is possible what route is the best to take.
Sammi says
Hi Marlys, you can stop by del toro waterfall on the way from Fortuna to Poas, I recommend to use Waze as your GPS navigation. The waterfall park has a large parking lot that is right at the entrance of the park, just make sure to put all your things in the trunk and don’t leave valuables visibile in your car.
Sammi says
Hi Alex, I would also visit the Blue Falls of Costa Rica with Catarata del Toro (same owners so you can easily see both), they are stunning waterfalls and definitely worth seeing. Here’s our guide
Alex Goldenshtein says
Hi Sammy
We will arrive at CR on January 2nd and my plan is to drive to Catarata Del Toro, spend the night, hike the falls and continue to La Fortuna. Can you recommend something interesting and quick to see between SJO and the waterfalls? I hate to waste half a day at the hotel…
Alan says
Hello, if I want to stop by the waterfalls on my way to La Fortuna can I still visit while driving a small sedan?
Sammi says
Hi Alan, it will depend on the time of year you’re visiting but it is recommended to go with a high car because the road is unpaved from Sarchi and steep. In rainy season it can get washed out with a lot of potholes.
yoah says
How long did the hike take you guys? 🙂
Sammi says
Not long! Maybe around 30 minutes going slow.
Sandy says
Wwe are currently in Costa Rica and may visit these falls. I just thought I would alert folks to the fact that Poas Volcanoe will not be opening until late June – if then. They have decided it is still too dangerous.
Audra says
Is there a bus to here? Or shuttle? And what are the prices? Thanks!
Sammi says
Hi Audra, there is one bus that goes every day except Thursday from Grecia 3 PM and arrives Catarata Del Toro 5 PM. THen to get back, the bus goes from Rio Cuatro 545 AM to Catarata Del Toro 615 AM to Grecia 815 AM. You would need to spend a night since there is only one bus. For shuttles, you would need to book a private shuttle since no shared shuttles go there, I’m not positive how much it is but it’s not cheap. The best way is with a rental car or if you’re coming from San Jose, you can see if any tour companies can take you (usually minimum 2-3 people or they don’t run/it’s very expensive).
Sammi says
They have one bus from Grecia every day except Thursday at 3 PM and then returns to Grecia at 615 AM. Since there is just one bus a day, it is best to stay a night at the reserve or you will need to book a private shuttle/tour or rent a car.
Brig says
I have a question about catarats El torro, how can one get there without a car? Is there bus Services?
Thanks again Brig Caldwell
Juliana C Palomino says
Hello!
What are the best shuttles to take to Cataratas del Toro, and how much do they usually cost? I’m here with a group of study abroad students, and we’re looking for the cheapest options!
Sammi says
Hi Juliana, where are you coming from? You’ll have to hire a private shuttle, can you let me know how many people and where you are? We have a partnership with Interbus to give 10% off and can inquire about private rates.
Stefan Nawrath says
Hi Sammi,
is it possible to do the Poas volcano and Catarata del Toro from our Hostel in Alajuela in one Day? Or is it to far away? Is Alajuela a good base for this Trip?
Thank you in advance.
Cheers
Stefan 🙂
Sammi says
Hi Stefan, you can definitely do both Poas and Catarata del Toro in one day. Alajuela is an excellent home base since they are not too far. Poas and Catarata del Toro are about 1.5 hours away from one another and there isn’t a bus to Catarata del Toro so I do recommend either renting a car or booking with a tour company so they will take care of transportation.
Sammi says
So true! You will have lots of time to explore though 🙂 I recommend reading this post first to help you pick where to go: Best places in Costa Rica for first timers
Maribel Garza says
Will be in Costa Rica for a month…..so much to do and little time 🙂
Will be there jan4-31
Want to go everywhere
Ashley says
Definitely one of my favorite waterfalls in Costa Rica!! Do you happen to know about how long the distance was to the bottom of the falls from the top?
Sammi says
They say it’s a 270 foot waterfall and walking down I feel like can’t have been that much – it was a lot of steps but nothing super crazy. PS. Glad to see you have your blog up and running!! 🙂
Alyssa says
Hi Sammi!
I’m looking into visiting Catarata del Toro and Poas Volcano National Park in a few months. I will not have my own transportation, so I will need to take a shuttle. Any recommendations on a shuttle or the best way to see both sites in a day? Thanks!
Sammi says
Hi Alyssa! I know hotels can contact the companies they work with to help you get around, we will be traveling in the Central Valley in a couple weeks working with various companies so I can give you recommendations then!
Rosemarie Driscoll says
Beautiful waterfalls! It really is satisfying to marvel things like this since it was made by Mother Nature.
Sammi says
Yes they are amazing!
Derek says
That looks so awesome and amazing. I hope to visit these falls one day. So picturesque!
aziz says
Amazing these pictures makes me want to go there!