La Leona Waterfall Adventure Hike + Las Pailas Trail (Volcanic Activity Hike SELF GUIDED)
$59.95
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.
⬇️ Las Pailas Trail in Rincon de la Vieja National Park
La Leona Waterfall Adventure Hike + Las Pailas Trail
Looking for the best hiking adventures near Rincon de la Vieja and Liberia? Explore fascinating volcanic landscapes and one of Costa Rica’s most unique waterfall hikes with our La Leona Waterfall and Las Pailas Trail combo.
Start with the popular La Leona Waterfall Adventure Hike, following jungle trails and swimming through impressive volcanic river canyons to reach the hidden waterfall cave.After a short break, continue with the Las Pailas Trail in Rincon de la Vieja National Park and observe real geothermal activity like steam vents, bubbling mud pots and fumaroles.
See what our La Leona Waterfall and Las Pailas Trail combo is like and secure your spot today!
⚠️ Please note:On this combo tour, theLas Pailas Trail is SELF-GUIDED. A guide is included for theLa Leona Waterfall Adventure Hike only. The entrance ticket to Rincon de la Vieja National Park is included in the tour price.
Why Combine La Leona Waterfall and Las Pailas Trail?
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✔️ Explore Diverse Volcanic Landscapes
Discover two completely different landscapes shaped by Rincon de la Vieja Volcano: river canyons with bright blue water at La Leona Waterfall; steam vents, fumaroles and mud pots along the Las Pailas Trail.
✔️ Best Value
Save time and money by combining two popular Rincon de la Vieja activities in one combo package.
✔️ Adventure & Nature
These are more than just hiking trails: Experience the unique La Leona Waterfall Adventure Hike with exciting swimming and climbing sections, then observe real volcanic activity on the Las Pailas Trail.
✔️ Perfect Day Trip from Liberia
Close to Liberia and Guanacaste Airport (LIR), this combo is an easy way to experience two of the best hikes near Rincon de la Vieja in one day.
La Leona Waterfall and Las Pailas Trail – Location
The La Leona Waterfall Adventure Hike starts at our tour base in the small village of Curubandé, just 20 minutes from Liberia in Guanacaste. After the hike, you can have lunch at our on-site La Leona Restaurant and take some time to refresh before continuing to Rincon de la Vieja National Park.
The Las Pailas Sector in Rincon de la Vieja National Park is located about 20 minutes from our reception. If you booked a self-drive tour, you can get there in your own vehicle. If you booked the tour with transportation, your driver will take you there, wait for you, and drive you back to your hotel afterward.
La Leona Waterfall Adventure HikeLocation
Entrance to La Leona Waterfall Adventure Hike
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La Leona Waterfall and Las Pailas Trail – Booking Options
Book La Leona Waterfall and Las Pailas Trail as a self-drive trip or with transportation included.
💡Please note: The La Leona Waterfall hike included in this combo package is offered as a group tour with other travelers.
🚗
Self-Drive Tour
Meet at Tour Starting Point
Best if you have your own car or prefer to travel independently
Free and secure parking is available at our tour office in Curubandé and at Rincon de la Vieja National Park.
⭐ Most convenient option – we take care of everything
Our driver will pick you up at your hotel, Airbnb, or preferred location, take you to our tour office and Rincon de la Vieja National Park, wait for you, and drive you back afterward.
⚠️ 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.
La Leona Waterfall and Las Pailas Trail – Itinerary
See what to expect on the La Leona Waterfall Adventure Hike and at Las Pailas Trail in Rincon de la Vieja.
La Leona Waterfall Adventure Hike
⏱ About 2.5-3 Hrs
🚶4 km (2.5 mi)
🥾 Moderate River Hike
Meet your guide and get ready with a life jacket and dry bag. A fun 5-minute 4×4 ride will take you to the trailhead.
Begin the hike along jungle trails, over volcanic rocks and ladders, cross rivers and, with a little luck, spot local wildlife.
To reach the hidden waterfall cave, you’ll swim through an epic canyon in the bright blue river, with your guide always close to assist you when needed.
Enjoy the breathtaking La Leona Waterfall, surrounded by volcanic formations, and the natural pool, before making your way back through the forest.
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La Leona Waterfall Adventure Hike + Las Pailas Trail (Volcanic Activity Hike SELF GUIDED) 30
Short Break
After the hike, you’ll have time to refresh and get ready for the Las Pailas Trail.
Optional: Enjoy lunch, a snack or a refreshing drink at our on-site ➡️La Leona Restaurant.
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La Leona Waterfall Adventure Hike + Las Pailas Trail (Volcanic Activity Hike SELF GUIDED) 32
Las Pailas Trail Rincon de la Vieja National Park
⏱ About 2 Hours
🚶 3.5 km (~2.2 miles)
🥾 Easy Loop Trail
Continue exploring the diverse landscapes of Rincon de la Vieja Volcano on the Las Pailas Loop Trail.
Start the hike through tropical dry forest, cross a bridge over the Colorado River and enter open terrain where the first of several geothermal areas awaits.
Along the trail, you’ll observe steam vents, bubbling mud pots, fumaroles and boiling hot springs, all signs of the active Rincon de la Vieja Volcano beneath your feet.
About halfway through the hike, the landscape changes from open terrain and dry forest to humid forest with huge trees and fascinating vegetation. Keep an eye out for wildlife along the way, as you may spot tropical birds, large iguanas and monkeys.
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Ready for La Leona Waterfall and Las Pailas Trail?
Read what our guests say about their experiences with us at La Leona Waterfall in Rincon de la Vieja.
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Lauren LaVecchia · Google Reviews
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“We booked a tour at La Leona Waterfall and had the please of Saul taking us through the 2-3 hour excursion. He was incredible! He was so knowledgeable about the perfect spots for pictures (which he even took with his phone!), unique opportunities to jump off the rocks, and fun facts along the way. I would highly recommend this tour, and definitely request Saul. His energetic and adventurous personality definitely made it more fun!”
“We did the la Leona waterfall tour and had an amazing experience. The tour takes you through the forest, across a river/creek multiple times, up ladders, and on a couple swims through rock gaps to reach our destination. We saw an iguana, bats, butterflies and a very large moth( hand sized). The whole trip took up about three hours and was amazing! Ian was our guide and I can’t imagine a better suited person take us on the adventure. I can’t speak highly enough about Ian. He spoke perfect English and Spanish and was very informative throughout the whole trip.“
The La Leona Waterfall Adventure Hike is rated as moderate and includes small climbing sections over rocks and ladders, short swimming parts, and rocky terrain. The Las Pailas Trail is considered easy to moderate and includes uneven terrain and large steps.
Both hikes are beginner-friendly and a great adventure for families with kids, but may not be suitable for everyone.
Who is this combo tour NOT suitable for?
❌ Not suitable for people with knee, ankle, walking or mobility limitations
❌ Children under 6 are not allowed
❌ Not suitable during pregnancy
🏊 Don’t know how to swim? No problem!
On the La Leona Waterfall Hike, life jackets are mandatory, so you can simply float during the swimming sections and move along the ropes set up across the river.
🛡️ Safety on the La Leona Waterfall Hike
✔️ Life jackets are mandatory for the waterfall hike
✔️ Close assistance from experienced guides
✔️ River conditions are monitored closely and tours only operate when water levels are safe
✔️ All guides carry emergency equipment & radios
✔️ Extra attention for young kids
⚠️ You don’t need advanced hiking experience, but a basic level of fitness is recommended as both activities include hiking.
Practical Information
📍 How to Get to the Tour
You can get to our La Leona Waterfall Adventure Hike tour office and to Rincon de la Vieja National Park with your own or a rental car or by choosing the option with transportation included.
Directions to La Leona Waterfall
💡 You don’t need a4×4 vehicle to get to the La Leona Waterfall Adventure Hike tour office and Rincon de la Vieja National Park, but drive carefully as parts of the road may have potholes.
1️⃣ From Liberia, drive about 5 km north on Highway 1.
2️⃣ Turn right when you see signs pointing to Rincon de la Vieja National Park and continue for about 15 minutes.
3️⃣ Reach the village of Curubandé and continue straight, passing by the church.
4️⃣ After about 300 m you will find our tour office on your left, clearly marked with large signs.
After completing the hike, our reception staff will give you exact directions from La Leona Waterfall to Rincon de la Vieja National Park.
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La Leona Waterfall Adventure Hike Entrance and parking.
If you don’t have a car available, or simply prefer the most convenient option, you can book La Leona Waterfall and Las Pailas Trail 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
✔️ Optional stops along the way for food or souvenirs
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Enjoy convenient shuttle service throughout Guanacaste.
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La Leona Waterfall Adventure Hike + Las Pailas Trail (Volcanic Activity Hike SELF GUIDED) 40
⬆️ Click to open Overview
💡 At Rincon de la Vieja National Park, you’ll also find free and secure parking as well as bathrooms.
La Leona Waterfall and Las Pailas Trail – FAQ
Is the Las Pailas Trail guided or self-guided?
On this combo tour, the Las Pailas Trail is self-guided, while the La Leona Waterfall Adventure Hike is guided. The trails in Rincon de la Vieja National Park are well-marked and maintained, making the route easy to follow on your own.
Can children do the La Leona Waterfall and Las Pailas Trail?
Yes, the La Leona Waterfall Adventure Hike and Las Pailas Trail are great activities for active families with kids ages 6 and older.
On the La Leona Waterfall hike, kids usually enjoy climbing over rocks and ladders, crossing rivers and swimming to the waterfall cave. Our experienced guides will be there to assist them whenever needed.
Along the Las Pailas Trail, kids can explore the volcanic areas, look for wildlife and discover fascinating plants. The trail is an easy to moderate loop and is mostly flat, but includes some large steps along the way.
For this combo tour, children should be comfortable with this kind of outdoor activities and walking forabout 5–6 hours with a break between hikes.
Is lunch included for the La Leona Waterfall and Las Pailas Trail?
Lunch is not included in the tour price, but during the break between the La Leona Waterfall Adventure Hike and Las Pailas Trail, you can choose to enjoy a meal, snack or refreshing drink from the varied menu at our on-site ➡️ La Leona Restaurant. We recommend reserving a table in advance during booking.
Is transportation included to La Leona Waterfall and Las Pailas Trail?
Transportation from your accommodation to our tour office and from our tour office to Rincon de la Vieja National Park is not included in the tour price. You can add it during booking for an additional cost by choosing the option ➡️ with transportation.
4×4 transportation from our tour reception to the La Leona Waterfall hike starting point is included and takes about 5 minutes.
How difficult is the hike to La Leona Waterfall and Las Pailas?
The La Leona Waterfall tour is rated as moderate and takes about 2.5-3 hours. 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. 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.
The Las Pailas Loop Trail takes about 2-3 hours, is rated as easy to moderate and includes uneven terrain and some large steps.
You don’t need advanced hiking experience, but a basic level of fitness is required as you’ll be walking for 5-6 hours in total.
What should I wear for La Leona Waterfall and Las Pailas Trail?
For the La Leona Waterfall hike, we recommend light, fast-drying sports clothes and closed-toe shoes or sandals with straps. Flip-flops are not allowed. After the hike, you can shower and change before having lunch or continuing to Rincon de la Vieja National Park. Remember to bring a change of clothes and shoes for the Las Pailas Trail, as you will get completely wet during the waterfall hike.
For Las Pailas Trail, wear closed-toe shoes, comfortable sport clothes and a hat or cap. Don’t forget to apply sunscreen as you’ll walk through open terrain.
How far is the drive from La Leona Waterfall to Rincon de la Vieja National Park?
The drive from La Leona Waterfall to Las Pailas Trail in Rincon de la Vieja National Park takes about 20 minutes. Both attractions are easy to reach and make a perfect Rincon de la Vieja day trip from Liberia.
Are Rincon de la Vieja National Park tickets included in the tour?
Yes, the entrance ticket to the Las Pailas Sector of Rincon de la Vieja National Park is included in the price of the La Leona Waterfall and Las Pailas combo.
How long does the hike to La Leona Waterfall and Las Pailas Trail take?
The whole combo tour typically takes about 5 hours. The La Leona Waterfall Adventure Hike takes about 2.5–3 hours, depending on the group size and pace. After a short break at our tour base, where you can have lunch, you’ll drive about 20 minutes to Rincon de la Vieja National Park, where most guests spend around 2 hours.
Is La Leona Waterfall and Las Pailas Trail a good day trip from Liberia?
Yes, La Leona Waterfall and Las Pailas Trail make a great Rincon de la Vieja day trip from Liberia, combining two of the region’s best hikes in one day. Start with an adventurous hike through spectacular river canyons to La Leona Waterfall, then explore the volcanic landscapes and geothermal activity of Las Pailas Trail.
