Fortuna Waterfall

We really enjoyed this! A great 1.5hrs in the morning after rainfall, we wanted overcast to beat the heat. Going down is great, can feel it in the knees a bit. We did stop twice going up to take a breather. The green metal section is the hard part! Beautiful scenery. Very rocky getting in to swim on the main side- slippery, go very slow. Crawl over the rocks. My husband went in, no water shoes, there is a decently strong current on the main side. Other portion is more sandy, its more relaxing over there. Wasn’t too too many ppl - I think we beat the tour busses and after the rain (we were only 10mins away) was a good idea. We were there about 9:30-11am

We went on what we figured would be a smooth slow paste self guided tour with 500 simple steps. Let me tell you that was far from reality. The steps were all stairs about 34 flights to be exact. I am by no means in shape and haven’t worked out consistently for years so I struggled. Down was way better than up but wasn’t easy easy. The way up I was grateful for the benches provided for the less for such as myself. BUT I sure will say it was absolutely stunning. I’m so glad I did it and we had a ball. The water was so clear and cold but got use to the chill quickly. It was even fish in the water yet it did not smell fishy. A MUST GO place for sure. We got the lunch ticket but didn’t have a chance to use it so I can’t comment on that. The ship with souvenirs was cheaper than most places we stop which was a nice bonus.

Definitely worth the price. Plan to spend at least 2 hours here. There are a lot of steps. The waterfall is gorgeous and the swimming is very refreshing! I also saw a troop of monkeys there. The butterfly garden was pretty but only saw 1 butterfly.

La Fortuna Waterfall is absolutely stunning. The hike down is well maintained, and the view of the waterfall at the bottom is breathtaking. Surrounded by lush rainforest, it’s a perfect place for nature, photography, and a refreshing swim. If you need a local guide or personalized service, feel free to contact me. I’ll be happy to help you make the most of your visit.

I can't tell you how great this experience was..climbing 500 steps was a challenge but soooo worth it. An amazing beautiful spot in a lush beautiful jungle of foliage...and animals to spot on your transverse to the waterfall...water was beautiful to swim in.

One of the "must see" spots on your Costa Rica trip! The waterfall is picturesque, well maintained and easy to access. It does require you to descend about 530 steps to the waterfall (and then the same back up). I saw people of all sorts and fitness levels doing it. Just take it easy going back up (enough space to rest without blocking the way). It took me about 10-12 minutes to go down and 20 mins to come back up with stops. Important to carry a rain shell with you. When I started from the first viewpoint and start of the steps, the rain was strong. When I reached the base of the falls it had stopped with intermittent drizzle. So, don't wait for the rain to stop - better to start walking and wait at the falls if you need to. If the water is too strong, they won't let you swim directly at the falls. There is another area by the falls where people can swim. Photos can be taken at the base (on the rocks), from the main viewing deck at the bottom (wait your turn when busy), from the viewpoint at the top, and from a few spots along the path. 24-70 mm lens is good. The area is quite developed. You will find a gift shop, bathrooms, and a restaurant serving okayish to decent food. PS: it was raining heavily when I reached the restaurant but eased off again after 10 mins (you get the picture!). There is WiFi at the restaurant. Dedicated/managed parking on site. You can expect to spend 2-2.5 hours here at a normal pace. Tickets can be bought in person at the entrance. Expect this to be one of the more visited places (more tourists). Normal footwear is okay (that will hold up in wet conditions).

Crowded! Very beautiful! The waterfall pool is “aggressive” not for inexperienced swimmer, a few steps away is another pool that is beautiful and enjoyable. It’s approximately 500 steep stair down and back out so be prepared!!

Very beautiful clean place . Took the tickets and headed down the 500 plus steps to the waterfall , it’s lush green with shade of the tall trees ,didn’t really spot any wildlife other than some birds and iguanas. There’s drinking water all along with some benches to catch a breath . Very nice waterfall with people swimming, though it’s rocky and slippery around the pool . The sneakers are recommended and the climb back up is little challenging. But totally worth it .