Upon booking you will receive a detailed booking confirmation via email with information on where to arrive (Google Maps and Waze Link Included) what to bring and photos of the parking lot or the main entrance.
Fresh food. Cold drinks. Good vibes after your adventure.
Guests who select “Reserve a Table” will receive a follow-up message from our team with the option to pre-order meals and drinks in advance.
This allows our kitchen to begin preparing your order before the tour ends, helping provide faster service and a smoother experience upon arrival to the restaurant.
🍽 Food Menu
Costa Rican casados, burgers, pasta, vegetarian options, snacks, and more.
Looking for a more personalized way to experience La Leona Waterfall in Costa Rica, or traveling with young children? A private tour gives you more flexibility and lets you enjoy the hike at your own pace, with a dedicated guide exclusively for your group.
See what awaits on a La Leona Waterfall private tour and find out if this is the right option for you.
⚠️ Please note: A Private La Leona Waterfall tour means you will have a dedicated guide exclusively for your group, without being combined with other travelers. Other visitors may still be on the trail, in the river and at La Leona Waterfall, as these areas are shared.
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✔️ Smaller Group Size
Enjoy the tour exclusively with your family, partner or friends instead of joining a group tour with up to 20 participants.
✔️ Minimum Age 4
Children ages 4 and 5 can join the private tour, while our group tour has a minimum age of 6. With a dedicated guide, younger kids can receive more individual assistance.
✔️ Go at Your Own Pace
No need to adjust to a large group. Move at your own pace without feeling rushed or waiting for everyone to pass through more challenging sections.
✔️ More Personalized Experience
Enjoy a more personalized and flexible experience with a guide focused exclusively on your group.
La Leona Waterfall Adventure Hike – Location
The La Leona Waterfall Private Tour starts at our tour office in the small village of Curubandé, just 20 minutes from Liberia and near Rincon de la Vieja National Park in Guanacaste.
La Leona Waterfall Adventure Hikeon Google Maps
Entrance to La Leona Waterfall Adventure Hike
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La Leona Waterfall Private Tour – Booking Options
Book your La Leona Waterfall private tour as a self-drive trip or with transportation included.
🚗
Self-Drive Tour
Meet at Tour Starting Point
Best if you have your own car or prefer to travel independently
Free and monitored parking is available at our tour office in Curubandé. You can also get there by public bus.
⭐ Most convenient option – we take care of everything
Our driver will pick you up at your hotel, Airbnb, or preferred location, take you to the tour, wait for you during the hike, and drive you back afterward.
⚠️ Note that all tours have to be reserved in advance. If you arrive without a reservation, you may have to wait several hours for a guide or may not be able to join a tour that day.
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⭐ Looking for a Full-Day Adventure?
Make the most of your day in Rincon de la Vieja by combining your La Leona Waterfall private tour with other top-rated adventure tours.
We offer La Leona Waterfall combo tours with zip lining, river tubing, hot springs or Rincon de la Vieja National Park.
Follow along as we show you what to expect on a private hiking tour to La Leona Waterfall in Rincon de la Vieja.
⏱️ DURATION
About 2.5-3 hours
Depending on your group’s size and pace
🚶 DISTANCE
2 km each way (1.5 miles each way)
🪨 TERRAIN
Uneven terrain, small climbing & swimming sections
🥾 DIFFICULTY
Moderate
Basic level of fitness required
🏊♂️ SWIMMING
NO swimming skills required. Life jackets are mandatory.
4×4 Ride
Meet your personal guide and get ready with a life jacket and dry bag. A fun 4×4 ride will take you to the trailhead, you can choose to go in the car or ride in the back for the more adventurous version.
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River Crossing
The hike begins with a 10-minute walk through light forest to reach Río Blanco. Here comes the first of five river crossings along the trail, with a rope to hold onto for balance.
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Into the Jungle
On the other side the forest gets denser and you walk beneath huge trees along a rocky jungle trail. Keep an eye out for wildlife, you may spot monkeys and tropical birds!
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Volcanic Rocks & Ladders
Further along the path, the hike gets more adventurous as you climb over volcanic rocks and ladders. Your guide will be by your side to help whenever needed.
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First Swim
Time to get in the water! Enjoy a refreshing swim through the bright turquoise Río Blanco beneath an epic triangular rock formation to continue the trail on the other side.
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River Canyon
You’ve almost reached La Leona Waterfall! Move hand by hand along a rope as you swim through a volcanic river canyon to the waterfall cave. Definitely a highlight of the hike!
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La Leona Waterfall
Your guide will help you through the final part, where the current is strongest, until you finally enter the waterfall cave.
This is the moment you’ll understand why La Leona Waterfall in Rincon de la Vieja is one of the most spectacular waterfalls in Costa Rica.
The rushing waterfall flows into a crystal-clear natural pool, surrounded by impressive volcanic rock formations.
Enjoy the breathtaking scenery and refreshing water before making your way back through the jungle.
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See what our guests say about their experience at La Leona Waterfall in Rincon de la Vieja.
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Sara Hennessy · Google Reviews
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“There are days in your life you’ll always remember — and this was absolutely one of them. Our group of 12 (ages 14–50) booked a private tour to La Leona Waterfall, and it was without question one of the highlights of our entire Costa Rica vacation. A once-in-a-lifetime experience that combined stunning natural beauty, adventure, and unforgettable memories.”
“We had a fantastic time on the waterfall hike and river tubing with Wil. It was a good amount of adventure for our family with teenagers. The waterfall was more impressive than how it looks in the photos. Wil was a lot of fun, and taught us about the trees in the forest. In the river tubing, guides help you stay on course and free you when you get stuck. They also carry the tubes to and from the water for you!”
The La Leona Waterfall hike is rated moderate and includes uneven terrain, river crossings, climbing over ladders and swimming through sections of the river. It is beginner-friendly and a great adventure for kids, but may not be ideal for everyone.
Who is this tour NOT suitable for?
❌ Not suitable for people with knee, ankle, walking or mobility limitations
❌ Children under 4 are not allowed
❌ Not suitable during pregnancy
🏊 Don’t know how to swim? No problem!
You can just float with your life jacket and move through the swimming sections using the safety ropes set up across the river. Your guide will assist you whenever needed.
🛡️ Safety on the La Leona Waterfall Private Tour
✔️ Life jackets are mandatory
✔️ A dedicated guide exclusively for your group
✔️ Personal assistance throughout the hike
✔️ All guides carry emergency equipment & radios
✔️ River conditions are monitored closely and tours only operate when water levels are safe
ℹ️ No prior hiking experience is needed, but a basic level of fitness is required.
Practical Information
📍 How to Get to La Leona Waterfall
Located just 20 minutes from Liberia, 40 minutes from Guanacaste Airport (LIR) and only about 1-2 hours from the region’s most popular beaches, the La Leona Waterfall Hike in Rincon de la Vieja makes a perfect day trip.
You can get to the tour starting point in Curubandé with your own or a rental car, by bus, or by choosing the option with transportation included.
If you don’t have a car available, or simply prefer the most convenient option, you can book the La Leona Waterfall private tour with transportation included.
🚐 Why choose transportation included?
✔️ Hotel Pickup throughout Guanacaste
✔️ Flexible transfers: include the tour as a stop between two destinations
✔️ Get the best price by booking transportation together with your tour
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Enjoy convenient shuttle service throughout Guanacaste.
Taking the bus to get to La Leona Waterfall is the most budget-friendly option, but it is also less flexible, as there is only one bus connection available for both the journey to Curubandé and the return trip.
💡 Keep in mind that each bus ride must be paid for in cash directly to the driver. It’s best to bring small bills with you, as drivers may not always have change for larger notes.
What to Bring • What’s Included • Visitor Facilities
See what to bring for the La Leona Waterfall hike, what’s provided, and get an overview of our new visitor facilities.
🎒 What to Bring
✔️ Closed-toe shoes, water shoes or sandals with straps (NO flip-flops !!)
✔️ Light sports clothes that can get wet
✔️ Change of clothes and shoes for after the tour & a towel
✔️ Water bottle
✔️ Sunscreen & bug spray
🪖 What’s Provided
✔️ Private tour guidededicated to your group
✔️ Life jackets (mandatory for everyone)
✔️ Dry bags to store small belongings during the hike
✔️ Transportation between our office and the trailhead
🚻 Visitor Facilities
Free & monitored parking
Lockers
Bathrooms
Changing rooms
Showers
Shoe-washing stations
On-site La Leona Restaurant
La Leona Waterfall Private Tour – FAQ
Will we have La Leona Waterfall to ourselves on a private tour?
No, a private tour means you’ll have a dedicated guide exclusively for your group and won’t be combined with other travelers in a large group. However, La Leona Waterfall, the river and the trail are shared areas, so you may see other visitors during your tour.
Why can children under 6 only join a private tour to La Leona Waterfall?
Young children typically need more individual assistance along the La Leona Waterfall hike. To guarantee a safe and enjoyable experience, children ages 4 and 5 can only join a private tour, where the guide can focus exclusively on your family, provide individual assistance when needed, and allow your group to move at its own pace without feeling rushed.
Is transportation included in the La Leona Waterfall Private Tour?
Transportation from your hotel to our tour reception is not included in the tour price, but you can add it to your reservation for an additional cost. We offer reliable transportation and flexible transfer services throughout Guanacaste, with experienced drivers and the option to include La Leona Waterfall as a stop between two destinations.
Is the La Leona Waterfall private tour better than the La Leona Waterfall group tour?
Both tour options follow the same jungle trail to La Leona Waterfall and are fully guided experiences. Depending on your travel style, one option may be a better fit for you.
On a private tour, your group has a dedicated guide and will not be combined with other guests, while our group tours can have up to 20 participants.
On the private tour, your guide is focused exclusively on your group, giving you more flexibility to move at your own pace and receive more individual assistance along the trail. This is also why children can join the private tour from age 4, while the minimum age for the group tour is 6.
If you want to save money and enjoy the hike with other travelers, the group tour is a great choice. If you prefer a more personalized experience at your own pace, or you are traveling with young children, the private tour is the better option.
Do I need to know how to swim for the La Leona Waterfall hike?
No, you don’t need to know how to swim for the La Leona Waterfall hike.Life jackets are mandatory, so you can just float and move along the safety ropes set up across the river. Your guide will assist you throughout the hike whenever needed.
How difficult is the La Leona Waterfall hike?
The La Leona Waterfall hike is rated as moderate. You’ll hike on uneven and rocky forest trails, cross rivers, climb over small rocks and ladders, and swim through short sections of the river. You don’t need any previous hiking experience, but a basic level of fitness is required. Swimming skills are not necessary, as you’ll wear a life jacket and can use ropes to move through the swimming sections. Your guide will assist you along the trail whenever needed.
Can children join the La Leona Waterfall hike?
Yes. La Leona Waterfall is a great adventure for active kids. Children ages 4 and 5 can join a private tour, while children ages 6 and older can join a private or group tour.
Kids usually enjoy climbing over rocks and ladders, crossing the river, looking for wildlife, and swimming toward the waterfall cave. Children should be comfortable with this kind of activities and with walking for 2.5–3 hours.
What should I wear for the La Leona Waterfall hike?
We recommend wearing light, fast-drying sports clothes and closed-toe shoes or sandals with straps for the La Leona Waterfall hike. Flip-flops are not allowed on the tour.
Remember to bring a towel, a change of clothes, and an extra pair of shoes for after the hike, as you’ll get completely wet in the river.
Can you hike La Leona Waterfall without a guide?
No, you cannot hike La Leona Waterfall without a guide. La Leona Waterfall in Rincon de la Vieja can only be visited with a certified guide as part of an official tour because the waterfall, hiking trail, and access road are located on private property. The hike also includes more challenging sections where professional guidance is necessary for safety reasons.
