During our first months of living in Guanacaste, Yeison and I heard about a waterfall called Catarata Llanos de Cortes. His brother told us it was one of the most beautiful waterfalls he’d ever seen so we knew we had to visit for ourselves.
We took one morning to find this little oasis and fell in love with this waterfall instantly. Ever since then, we’ve taken all of our friends and family for a day trip. It’s absolutely worth visiting and if you have a day to explore, definitely put this waterfall on the list! Catarata Llanos de Cortes waterfall is only 30 minutes from Liberia and a great cheap activity in Guanacaste. It is definitely one of our “must-sees” in Costa Rica!
Read our guide to visiting: how to get there, how much it costs and the secret spots you can’t miss!
This post has been updated March 2019.
Location and directions
Catarata Llanos de Cortes map
The Cortes waterfall is in Guanacaste, in the small town of Bagaces near Liberia. Catarata Llanos de Cortes is 36 kilometers (22 miles) from Liberia International Airport and about a 35 minute drive.
How to get to Catarata Llanos de Cortes
- From Liberia, turn right onto the InterAmericana highway (Mcdonalds in front of you to the left, a gas station to your right.) Drive on the highway towards Bagaces for about 20 minutes.
- Look out for a sign that says “Catarata” on your right hand side. Exit to the right and there is a dirt road ~3 miles (~ 5 kilometers) before Bagaces. If you cross the river you went too far. You will see a sign that says “Waterfall” behind one of those pedestrian bridges.
- From here, follow the signs which will take you to the parking lot and trail entrance.
The drive takes about a 1 hour from Playas del Coco and about a 1 hour and 30 minute from Tamarindo. The road is now in good condition, you don’t need a 4×4 to get to the waterfall anymore. Once you get to the parking lot, there is a short path down to the waterfall.
Important: When you arrive, go to the first official parking lot. There is a bathroom and changing rooms (not the best but they have it). If anyone offers you to go to another parking lot for $4 (or less than $7 per person), we do not recommend to go to that parking lot as it is not the official one.
The trail to the waterfall is very short but it is not a flat, paved trail. You may need to hold onto some rocks and be very careful as you may slip (I slipped several times before). Those with ankle, knee or walking problems will need assistance. There is no handicap path.
Other ways to get there:
No bus goes to this waterfall but you can bus to Liberia and take a taxi (~$25 one way last time I had checked in 2016). You can also go on a tour. Many tour companies offers tours like Cortes waterfall + Mirvalles hanging bridges. If you need recommendations for tour companies, please contact us.
Entrance Fee and Hours
Catarata Llanos de Cortes hours: 8AM – 430 PM everyday.
Catarta Llanos de Cortes entrance fee: $7 per person.
The Stunning Cortes Waterfall
As soon as you pass the poza (little pool) and reach the bottom, you see this big beautiful waterfall with a delicious looking pool. On a nice sunny day, there’s nothing better than to jump right in and take a swim.
The water is super refreshing. It feels oh so good in the heat!
Important: They do not allow people to climb up the rocks under the waterfall anymore. There is a lifeguard who will blow a whistle at you and tell you to get off if you try.
Cool View Points and Trails
If you want to explore a bit, there’s a trail over to the left side of the waterfall which takes you to the top. You will have to use your hands a few times but the view at the top is awesome. There is also a small pool which you can swim in. We saw people jumping into it but I don’t recommend jumping since the pool is not that big.
To climb up, I recommend going barefoot. We wore our flip flops and ended up carrying them since we had better grip with our bare feet. I actually accidentally broke the strap on my flip flop since my foot got stuck in the mud.
Then at the top, you see the river that supplies the water to Catarata Llanos de Cortes. You can walk across the river and there is one nice sitting area for a cool view of the top from the right side.
You could very easily stay for a few hours and have a nice picnic, relax and swim. We usually go to the waterfall early in the morning, stay for a few hours and then do another activity in the afternoon like ziplining.
Best Time to Go
This picture was taken in March, the peak month of dry season so the water level was fairly low. We have also visited in October and November when the water level was much too high. Our favorite time was in October. There was absolutely nobody and we had it all to ourselves for a couple hours!
This photo was taken in March 2014. The waterfall is a lot more popular now so there are usually always crowds, especially as a lot of tour companies stop by here. Best time would be right at 8 AM when it opens and during the weekday in low season (September/October/November) if you want it to yourself.
Video
Watch our short clip at the waterfall to see it in action!
We also made another video of the waterfall where we climb to the top!
In the video, we visited during Holy Week, the busiest time of year so it was packed. It is not normally that busy!
Tips for Visiting the Cortes Waterfall
- Don’t leave any valuables in the car. Although there is a parking guard, you still never know since it’s a big parking lot. Make sure to park at the official parking lot ($7 per person).
- Not allowed to sit under the waterfall anymore
- It’s the most crowded on the weekend mornings. We went on a Sunday morning once and the place was absolutely packed. To enjoy the waterfall in more peace and quiet, go early on a weekday.
- In the parking lot, they sell pipa fria (coconut water) for 600 colones each and snacks.
- Sometimes on the weekend or holiday, there will be a stand down at the waterfall selling snacks and drinks.
- The hike down to the fall is quite a bit rocky so be aware if you have bad knees or ankles. There are no hand rails or handicap path.
What to bring: Wear your swimsuit, towel, sandals or flip flops, snacks, water/drinks, sunglasses and sunscreen. Don’t forget your cameras!
Other beautiful waterfalls are the Nauyaca waterfalls near Dominical in the South Pacific, Rio Celeste waterfall in northern Costa Rica, Catarata Rio Agrio, Blue Falls and Catarata del Toro in Bajos del Toro. Or check out our post on 12 amazing waterfalls in Costa Rica!
Juli Jones says
Our flight lands in Liberia at 12p. Would we be able to rent a car, stop at Llanos de Cortes then Rio Celeste then to La Fortuna that same day? Do you recommend a guide at Rio Celeste or do on our own? Thank you!
Sammi says
I don’t think so because you have to enter Tenorio Volcano National Park before 2 PM and after going through all the customs, immigration, and whatever the new regulations will be for COVID-19, you won’t get there in time since it’s at least a 1.5 hour drive to Rio Celeste from Liberia.
Tineke Klumper says
Hi!
I can’t seem to find the Las Pilas waterfall the E Bike company takes us too… Any idea?
Sammi says
I recommend to ask them!
Denise says
We are traveling with our small service dog. Do you know she be allowed at the waterfall?
Thanks
Sammi says
I think, since the waterfall isn’t a national park or reserve and we have been at the waterfall once where someone brought their dog.
Cynthia says
Hi Sammi, Would you recommend doing a tour for this waterfall or just going on your own?
Sammi says
If you have a car, you can drive there and visit on your own. It’s just a 5 minute walk to the waterfall from the parking lot. If you don’t have a car, I’d recommend to visit it on a tour and most companies will combine it with something like hanging bridges, another hike, etc.
Michael Lopez says
This was such wonderful info! We are about to leave to the waterfalls right now. Great read. @joinourvidaloca
Juanita says
We just went to visit this waterfall on December 25th, 2018. The road is now open. You can park at the parking lot near the stairs down to the waterfall and it is $7USD per person. As recommended you want to combine this trip with something else like visiting this waterfall on your way to Rio Celeste. We spent maybe a 1/2 hour there. It was busy.
Make sure to read the @mytanfeet directions. They are accurate and your GPS may take you to the town.
Sammi says
Thank you for the update and feedback Juanita!
Annette t Simmonds says
Hi. We are planning to take a day trip from playa Flamingo to llanos de Cortes, then to playa Coco and be back by 4pm. (car rental rtn time)
Would this be possible? What is the time line needed and directions. Thanks for your help. Pura Vida
Sammi says
Hi Annette, yes you can definitely do that in one day. Most people stay about a half day from Cortes, then Cortes to Coco is about a 1 hour drive. So you can arrive in the morning at the waterfall, spend a few hours, go to Coco, spend a couple hours and then return the car. If you have Waze or GPS, you can type in the name of the waterfall and towns to get directions.
Lee says
Hey, your blog was helpful in us getting there! What a beautiful spot!
Some changes you may want to add to your article! The waterfall is now under the control of the government & they have added a new gate at the beginning of the road where the entrance fee is $7USD per person for foreigners.
At the parking lot after you drive the road up which is in good condition you will find a new washroom facility.
Sammi says
Thanks for the update Lee! Seems like they’ve been changing it a lot the past few months since everyone has been giving different reports! Good to know the latest updates.
Rose says
I was just reading in the Trip Advisor forum that this place is now closed due to a drowning??
Is this true?
Thanks
Sammi says
Hi Rose, they closed the last part of the road to the waterfall since they’re going to re-do it. There is a gate now about 1 kilometer before so you have to park your car there and walk the last bit.
Rose says
Thank you!
Laura says
Went to Cortez today, a Friday. To supplement directiins: there is a sign “Bagaces 5km”, soon after is the pedestrian bridge. Turn immediately after bridge and you will see waterfall sign.
They charged us 3mil to park/go to falls and there was a guy asking for donations “for the children”. We gave him 2 mil.
The walk to the falls trail is hot and dusty! Its about 1km. The trail down to the falls is paved with steps but still some difficulty due to steepness. We took it slow and easy. There was a small stand selling beverages, snacks and grilled chicken—get it, very yummy!
Beautiful falls! Thanks for the tips.
Sammi says
Thanks for the update Laura and I’m so glad you had a great time! Seems like they are charging a bit more money now in high season but it’s still cheap though it used to be free before.
Sophie says
Hello! We will be travelling across Costa Rica for 2 months with our 6 and 9 y.o girls. We hesitate renting a car or travel by bus (we are used to public transportation), what would you advise? We will be landing in Liberia on feb 5th and would like to see the falls prior to heading to Rio Celeste. Thanks for your advice! Could you send me tour details? Kind regards. Sophie
Sammi says
Hi Sophie, for a family I would definitely recommend renting a car. Catarta Llanos de Cortes is technically “closed” right now since they are remodeling it but if you have a car, you can park at the gate and walk the rest of the 1 km to the falls but there is no bus that goes to this waterfall.
At Rio Celeste, if you take the bus, you will need to take a taxi or book transportation to the national park entrance which is around $30 one way, there isn’t a bus that goes to the national park entrance. So it depends on your budget, you can rent a car for part of your trip which will be the easiest and most comfortable option, especially with kids. With the bus, you’ll be lugging your luggage around a lot and waiting around quite a bit so comfort, time and safety wise, renting a car is the best option.
We do have a discount with a car rental to give up to 20% off and driving in the Guanacaste area is pretty easy. You don’t need a 4×4 to Rio Celeste either. You can check prices on our page here: Costa Rica car rental discount and please feel free to Contact Mytanfeet if you have further questions.
Scott says
The falls were great! Seems to be a good place for locals to go to cool off. There were a couple vendors selling drinks and food. There’s a ‘donation’ to enter and another for parking, but it’s nominal and worth contributing.
There are now steps leading all the way down to the falls. My 80-year old parents were able to make the trip down and back up, albeit tired :-).
The access road off Highway 1 is not paved, bumpy, and has some potholes, but worth the trip. A 4×4 was good to have, but definitely not necessary.
Angie says
I’m so happy we found your blog about this waterfall when we were staying in Playas Del Coco area. Everything in the Guanacaste region was either very dry or on fire last week. We stayed 3 nights in this region. We were getting disappointed with how dry everything appeared, thinking we made a bad decision to stay in that area three nights. Then I found your blog about this waterfall! We spent the good majority of one of our days at it. It was wonderful and so pretty! Thanks for writing the blog article. It helped our trip in the Guanacaste region greatly! After discovering your blog, I did check back to your expertise, when we stayed in Jaco and check to see if you had anything about the Sierpe area. Thanks also for the information on Nauyaca waterfall too!
Sammi says
Hi Angie, I’m so glad to hear! I know, Coco is a desert during March and April and isn’t very pretty during that time. We were super excited when we first visited Llanos too, that’s why we call it an oasis in Guanacaste! Glad you had a great time and thanks for reading!
yeison says
Hello Jessica,
There a many companies here that can take you Cortes Waterfalls, the charge from $60 to $80 it depends of the day and company. The cheapest option to go there is if you rent a car you can get a car for 1 or 2 days and it will be cheaper that the fee for just one person, and if you like to hike you will be able to go to other places like this beautiful hike: Rincon de la Vieja National Park
If you would like to rent a car you can check our rates we have a very good agreement with a local rent a car company
Costa Rica car rental discount
Thanks for reading our blog Jessica
Jessica Emerson says
Hello!
Great website! I am traveling to Tamarindo in late March and would like to plan a day trip to Llanos de Cortes. Can you recommend a tour that includes transportation? Also, since my boyfriend and I are in good shape, any other details of hiking to do when we get there would be fantastic!
Jess
Sammi says
Hi Rosetta, sure we will be happy to help. We do offer a discount for the one day Nicaragua tour. All you have to do is fill out the form on this page here: Nicaragua one day tour discount and we will take care of all the booking for you. As for the other tours, I’ll send you an email with a company we like and help you get that sorted.
Glad the blog is helpful and we hope you have a great 2nd time in Coco!
rosetta says
Greetings Samantha, and Yeison,
I’ll be in Playas Del Coco, solo for the month of Feb., without a car, and plan on taking various tours. I am interested in The Nicaragua Day and/or overnight Tour. I would also like to book a Canopy Tour, possibly visit Catarata Llanos de Cortes, National Park, Hot Springs. Could you recommend a tour company for me. I do recall in your blog that Nicaraguan Tours could be booked through you, and receive a discount. I downloaded your survival Spanish pocket guide, and was wondering if there’s a standard phone contact for a taxi. and how I’d go about communicating to arrange for pickup.
Love your blog! I find extremely helpful. This is a second time visiting Playas Del CoCo. I was there last March for two weeks, and I must say after reading your blog, I feel like I’ve made a new friend, and feel much for comfortable in navigating my way around, this time.
I really appreciate how you personalize your knowledge, information, and insights to help maximize the best travel experience. Thank you!
Kelly Kindness says
Hi Sammi!
We are leaving from our hotel in downtown Liberia to Arenal and think this would be an awesome spot to stop!
Unfortunately, we will have all of our things with us ( carry on suitcases only). I know its never reccomended to leave belongings in the car, however do you think this would be safe enough to do that? We will be there in the morning before 9am most likely. I know its hard to judge but let me know your thoughts.
Thank you!
Kelly
Sammi says
The waterfall has a parking lot with a guard but it’s not an insured parking lot or anything with cameras, just one local guy watching the car so I personally wouldn’t risk it. However, since this is a pretty popular area, you can leave your carry on suitcases in your trunk, bring your valuables with you and then pay the parking guy a little extra and ask him to pay special attention to your car. If you’re going on a weekday before 9 AM, most likely there won’t be many people there but don’t leave your valuables like camera or backpack alone at the waterfall either.
Anna says
Hi,
I have been following your blog for awhile.
I am staying in Tamarindo and would like recommendation s for tour grps to get to these falls and other areas worth visiting. I am staying for 5 weeks, we are a grp of 3 in our 50s.
Thank you
Anna
yeison says
Hi Anna, we will contact you via email. Thanks for reading Mytanfeet
Todd says
I’m in fairly decent shape. What are your thoughts on doing this hike while carrying a two year old. Let me know if you think I can do it or to absolutely not attempt it. -Thanks
Sammi says
Hi Todd, the walk down is very short. It does get kinda slippery if you’re wearing flip flops so just make sure to go slow but tons of Costa Rican families bring their babies and toddlers to this waterfall because it’s a very short walk down. Enjoy!
Mary says
Hi,
My husband and I arrived yesterday in Playa del Coco. This is our first trip to Costa Rica and are we very excited! There is so much we want to do and see. We would love to hike the Rincon de la Vieja National Park, and we are also thinking about taking a boat out to fish, explore some hidden beaches, and or see the sunset. Unfortunately, we do not have a car so we wanted to know if you had any recommendations and prices for tours and or guides.
Thank you,
Mary
yeison says
Hi Mary! We know some people please email us on our contact page and with details of what you would like to do and we can help you! Thank you for reading our blog!
Shannon O'Neill says
Hi I am also staying Playas Del Coco and I was wondering what the details of the tour companies are?
Sammi says
Hi Shannon, I sent you an email
Roxanne says
Hi,
I was wondering if we can get there by bus? If so, from where? We will be traveling in Guanacaste and we would like to visit this waterfall but we don’t have a car.
Thanks,
Roxanne Fay
Sammi says
Hi Roxanne, unfortunately there isn’t a bus there so you’ll have to rent a car or hire a shuttle. Most people book it with tour companies, if you need recommendations for tour companies let us know!
Roxanne says
Yes, I would like to have recommendations for tour companies with the prices please:) We will be staying in an hostel in Liberia, but if you think it would be better to stay in Bagaces and have recommendations of hostel or cabinas please let me know!
Sammi says
Hi Roxanne,I just sent you an email 🙂
Reina says
I was wondering the same thing and would like the name of the tour companies please. I am currently staying in playas Del coco.
Sammi says
Hi Reina, I just sent you an email 🙂
Greg says
If you hike about three minutes to the left of the falls, there is a smaller pool where you can jump off the cliffs. You definitely want to jump in the right place. Too far to the right or left no Bueno. The local Ticos or vendors will tell you where it is. It’s a lot of fun.
Sammi says
We passed the pools but didn’t jump – I think I’d be too scared haha!
Gareth says
Thanks! Is there any restriction on when to enter the waterfall? By “morning”, what time do you mean exactly? I try super hard to visit awesome places like this at the crack of dawn or earlier to beat the crowds and get some photos ( my favorite thing to do ) 🙂
Do people jump off the top into the water? Or is it not deep enough for that?
Sammi says
I think around 8AM, we were there at 9 AM and I remember the man who gives the tickets for donations says he’s there around 8. If you go around that time on a weekday, there usually isn’t anyone until about 10AM when the tour buses start coming. No, the pool isn’t deep enough at all for people to jump into. You can hike up to the top but please don’t jump in!
Jessica Zais says
Awesome! This is on my list of places to go so it’s great to get directions! Thanks! : D
yeison says
Hi Jessica !
Perfect, if you need more directions or any information in the area please let us know !
Have a gerat day