If you love mountain landscapes, hiking and undiscovered natural attractions, then Bajos del Toro has to be on your Costa Rica itinerary.
This tiny town is home to a plethora of breathtaking waterfalls, rivers, blue pools and hikes and is a fantastic destination for the off the beaten path traveler.
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Location
Bajos del Toro is 65 kilometers (40 miles) from San Jose, about a 2 hour drive.
From Guanacaste Airport, it is about 207 kilometers (128 miles) to Bajos del Toro, about a 4 hour drive.
How to Get To Bajos del Toro
Renting a car is the best way to get to Bajos del Toro since this tiny town doesn’t have public transportation or taxis and everything is very spread out.
Get our Costa Rica car rental discount here!
Is a 4×4 required?
Although the road to Bajos del Toro from San Jose via Zarcero is paved, a high clearance car or 4wd is the best option due to steep, curvy and mountainous road.
We highly recommend a 4×4 in the rainy season and/or if you plan to be exploring other off the beaten path destinations in Costa Rica.
Bus
Unfortunately there is no direct public bus to Bajos del Toro. You will need to bus to Zarcero and then from Zarcero, take a taxi to Bajos del Toro.
This taxi ride takes about 40 minutes and costs about 15,000 colones (around $26 USD) one way.
From the bus station in Zarcero, you should be able to find official taxis (red). If there are only unofficial taxis available, make sure to negotiate the price beforehand.
There may be some Ubers around in Zarcero, but do not rely solely on Uber. There are no Ubers in Bajos del Toro.
Shuttle
The only option for shuttles to Bajos del Toro is via a private shuttle. There are no shared shuttles available.
From San Jose, it costs around $250 USD one way for a private shuttle, depending on your group size.
Need a private shuttle? Contact us and we’ll be happy to assist.
Bajos del Toro Town
This town is a teeny tiny town, though it has grown slightly in the past couple years.
The location makes it one of the best escapes in the country as it is tucked in between two national parks: Poas Volcano National Park and Juan Casto Blanco National Park.
Bajos del Toro is mostly a farming town. You’ll see just a couple of really small convenience stores), only one proper hotel, no residential neighborhoods or business centers.
Bajos del Toro has been and is still is for many years a farming area and all the local families own great tracts of land. You will see cows, chicken farms and crop fields everywhere.
Since many of the families own land with a natural attraction such as a river, swimming holes or waterfall, the locals are slowly opening up to tourism.
They mostly receive Costa Ricans from San Jose who are looking to escape the city and explore nature.
There isn’t really any tourism infrastructure set up and locals don’t speak much English, though they are very welcoming to tourists.
This is the main reason why it’s an excellent “off the beaten path” destination for tourists looking to experience a more natural, authentic Costa Rican town.
Bajos del Toro offers what is called “rural tourism” in Costa Rica.
Things to Know About Visiting Bajos del Toro
- Pay with Costa Rican colones, not USD.
- For phone service, Kolbi is the only one that works in Bajos del Toro. I had Liberty and had no service once we left Zarcero. A prepaid Kolbi sim card will be super helpful.
- No bank or gas station. Must go to Zarcero for those services.
- If staying for a couple nights at a rental or local house, stock up on supplies in Zarcero. There are only small convenience stores in Bajos del Toro.
- Signage is good for attractions. There are big signs for the waterfalls like Catarata Del Toro, Tesoro Escondido, Blue Falls, etc.
- The waterfalls get busy during Christmas, New Years and Easter Week. It is also busy during the weekends of Costa Rican holidays, such as September 15, December 1, August 15, July 25, May 1 and April 11.
Weather
Due to the elevation and location, Bajos del Toro experiences typical tropical seasons but it does tend to rain a bit more.
Dry season is from December through April, rainy season is from May though November, generally.
The best months to visit are February and March, which are usually the driest.
We visited once at the end of June and it was really rainy. It poured at night, was super cloudy and rained in the mornings through the early afternoons. We would get a couple hours of dry sky in the afternoon, but that was about it.
Make sure to pack properly for Bajos del Toro. You can check our complete Costa Rica packing list and our Costa Rica rainy season packing list.
Where to Stay in Bajos del Toro
Being such a small rural town, it is not surprising that accommodations are few and far between.
There is one amazing luxury eco-lodge called El Silencio Resort and Spa that offers 4 and 5 star accommodations. It is not for those on a budget or looking for something that luxurious, but it is definitely worth a spluge.
There is one other lodge in Bajos del Toro that offers simple, clean and cozy accommodation, Blue Morpho Lodge.
Catarata del Toro Adventures has a few simple rooms at their center, you must reserve them beforehand.
Bajos del Toro Rooms has just that – rooms. They’re actually nice, clean and offer a partial kitchen with microwave, dishwasher and coffee maker.
You can look on Airbnb to find more options.
Things to do
The best thing to do in Bajos del Toro is to hike. This area has some of the best spectacular waterfall hikes in Costa Rica!
Thanks to the surrounding volcanoes, Bajos del Toro is home to blue colored waterfalls and rivers!
Catarata del Toro
The most famous waterfall in Bajos del Toro is Catarata del Toro.
This spectacular waterfall will take your breath away as it drops 270 feet into an extinct volcano crater surrounded by lush forest.
You can walk all the way down to the bottom to feel the sheer power of the waterfall or see it from above.
It requires walking down some steep steps and the waterfall center also has short trails and a hummingbird garden.
Blue Falls
The Blue Falls of Costa Rica are two other incredible waterfalls that are also part of the Catarata del Toro Adventures.
These require more walking but it’s worth every step! These two waterfalls have a sky blue color and you can swim in one of the them.
We went on a cloudy day but on a sunny day, the color of this water is even more sky blue!
Catarata Rio Agrio – Dino Land
This Catarata Rio Agrio hike is excellent for families or those who don’t want to walk very long. The walk is around 30 minutes walk one way and you feel like you’re walking through Jurassic Park!
This family owned park even put statues of dinosaurs around, hence the name Dino Land.
Catarata Rio Agrio is the best short waterfall hike in Bajos del Toro.
The family who owns this property also has Blue Pools which you can visit on the same day as Rio Agrio waterfall.
Other Waterfalls
These are just three of the many amazing waterfall hikes in Bajos del Toro.
Other great waterfalls are Catarata Tesoro Escondido, Cascada Poza Azul and Catarata Caida del Cielo (Finca Las Nubes).
Sample Itineraries
Here are some sample itinerary ideas to include Bajos del Toro.
10 Days in Costa Rica itinerary: This itinerary is for waterfall and hiking lovers. Fast paced, requires a rental car. Goes to Bijagua, Bajos del Toro and Manuel Antonio.
For an easy luxury vacation with no budget restraint. Ideal for honeymooners as it has a couple of adult only options. Land in San Jose – Peace Lodge in Vara Blanca- El Silencio Lodge – Nayara Springs/Tabacon/Amor Arenal in La Fortuna.
Visiting Bajos del Toro on the Way to La Fortuna from San Jose
It is possible to visit Bajos del Toro on your way to La Fortuna.
If you are driving from San Jose to La Fortuna, stop to see Catarata del Toro. They have a large, partially gated parking lot. No reservations required.
SJO Airport to Catarata del Toro is a 1.5 hour drive. You can spend 1.5 hours at Catarata del Toro, then it is a 1.5 hour drive to La Fortuna.
You can also book a private transfer service to include this stop. Contact us to help you book the private transfer with the stop at Catarata del Toro.
Costa Rica Vacation Checklist
- First time to Costa Rica? Read our First Time in Costa Rica guide.
- Read our How to Get Around Costa Rica guide to find the best transportation method for you.
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- Check our Costa Rica destinations map and Costa Rica restaurant map
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Teresa says
Hi, we have been to La Fortuna and San Manuel Antonio. I wasnt crazy about San Manual Antonio. It wasn’t very pretty to me. Are there nicer beaches? Looking for recommendations for a mixture of pretty beaches and forests. We enjoy hiking, love waterfalls, river rafting, zip lining, and ATV tours. We will be there in September. What would you recommend please
Sammi says
I’d check Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica or Guanacaste best beaches
Ilana J. Brongiel says
We are arriving in September and plan to rent a car in Alajuela and drive to Poas to stay the night before heading to the park in the morning and then to La Fortuna. We would like to see Waterfalls. Do you recommend the La Paz Waterfall Gardens or Catarata del Toro which looks to be less touristy– or both?
Thank you,
Sammi says
Hi Ilana, we’ve sent you an email with more information
Hui says
Hello, we have a gap of 2 nights between touching down in SJO and our booking in La Fortuna.
I have seen your advisory about driving from SJO to La Fortuna — which are good roads— in the night. So I am assuming that it won’t be a good idea to attempt driving to Bajos del Toro in the night.
Would it be too much of a detour to attempt to spend one night in Bajos del Toro before continuing to La Fortuna ?
If we wanted to make the most of the day in Bajos del Toro, what is an optimal time to leave San Jose, in order to get to Bajos del Toro at a reasonable time to perhaps visit the Pozos Azules and one waterfall?
Any advice will be much appreciated!
Sammi says
If you go, I would do the hike in the morning the next day since I’m not sure what time your flight lands. It gets dark by 6 PM everyday too. The Blue Falls and Catarata del Toro closes at 5 PM and the easy hike takes around 2-3 hours so I would say you need to get there before noon to really enjoy it and not be rushed. The complete hike takes 6 hours and they only run one tour per day between 7 AM to 9 AM. Sundays closed.
Cassie says
Hi! thanks very much for the helpful info. We will be staying at Silencio in late February 2023 and will have a car. we love hiking and are not afraid of long/hard hikes, especially if the payoff is big!
Do you have any recomendations for great hikes in the area? we will be happy to drive a bit. we also were thinking a day trip to monteverde or arenal?
thank you so much
Sammi says
There are a ton of great hikes right in Bajos del Toro like Catarata Tesoro Escondido, Cascada Poza Azul and Catarata Caida del Cielo (Finca Las Nubes) that are longer hikes
Victoria says
Hi. Are the hikes catarata del toro and blue falls good for children? How long it takes? Do they have lots of steps?
Thanks
Sammi says
Depending on how old your kids are. Del Toro waterfall has a viewpoint and garden trails on top if you don’t want to walk all the way down. Blue Falls I would recommend for older kids/teens, not young kids or babies that you have to carry because the trail is not a straightforwarded paved path, you need to cross rivers and climb up rocks
Chris says
How is the drive from la fortuna? Seems like we can make a day trip out of it with la fortuna as our home base? Roads are paved ? Or do we need a 4×4?
Was looking for a closer and less intense drive vs monteverde. Would this be an acceptable substitute?
Sammi says
Bajos del Toro is very different to Monteverde, there aren’t any hanging bridges and not as much wildlife, no town center really. Bajos del Toro is good if you like hiking and waterfalls, that’s pretty much all it has. If you’re looking to walk hanging bridges or see the cloud forest, Monteverde is the better option.
Amanda M says
Hola, saliendo desde Desamparados, podemos conocer estos principales lugares en solo un día? No queremos pasar la noche, saldríamos bien temprano, qué nos recomiendas? Me encanta el blog! Soy brasileña, pero mi novio es costarricense. Estamos planeando nuestro viaje con base en tu blog, gracias por el contenido!
Sammi says
Si muchos locales de GAM (San Jose/Heredia/Alajuela/Cartago) visitan Bajos del Toro para un dia. Mas que todo, ellos van a visitar una catarata como Catarata del Toro y Blue Falls (estas cataratas son espactulares). Creo que el viaje desde San Jose a Bajos del Toro puede ser como 1.5-2 horas depiendo el trafico.
Jennifer says
Do you have to have a guide or reservation to enter and do the hikes?
Sammi says
It depends which one you go to, some require a guide, some do not
Sammi says
The Del Toro waterfall park has a large parking lot with a partial gate and the owner, Will is very nice.
To Del Toro waterfall it’s not a long walk but it’s steep with steps so it could take you like 20 minutes or so in decent shape. Blue Falls is longer and it depends which option you choose since they have a short and long option. You can read more about it hereBlue Falls
I would also add that October is our rainiest month so that is something to note as there is a good chance it may be raining. And Bajos del Toro tends to rain a lot.
April Hawman says
Hi, your guides have been very helpful in planning our honeymoon to Costa Rica this October, thank you! We are thinking of visiting Bajos del Toro and the Blue Falls as a day trip from Arenal. However, we were thinking to consolidate time we could check out of Arenal early on our last day and stop here on our way to Uvita to hike the falls and swim in Blue falls. Is the parking lot secure enough to leave our luggage while we do this? We could try to cover it but I worry about this, that is why I’m considering making it a day trip from Arenal even if its extra driving and takes time away from our Arenal itinerary.
Also, approximately how long does it take to hike to bottom of the falls and to the Blue falls?
Thank you!!
Sue Terwilliger says
After driving the “road from hell” to Bajos del Toro, we were ready for the “easy 20 minute hike” you promised for Catarata Rio Agrio. It was anything but! It was so muddy (and this is the “dry season”) that it took more than twice that time, I slipped many times and fell twice, and the only way I made it back was to walk through the vegetation instead of the mud. After recovering, we went on to Catarata del Toro, which was a much easier hike.
Sammi says
Sorry to hear that! It wasn’t really muddy when we went so it only took us 20 minute per way as all the trails were dry, we didn’t walk through really any mud at all. Bajos del Toro does tend to rain quite a bit, even in the dry season due to the elevation.