Duration: Full Day · Price: From $225 USD per group of 1–4 · Difficulty: Moderate
About this tour
Bajos del Toro has quietly become Costa Rica's waterfall capital, and Blue Falls of Costa Rica is the reason most people now make the trip. It is a private reserve built around an extraordinary run of the Río Agrio, where volcanic minerals turn the water a vivid electric blue — and, unlike most of the famous blue water in the country, here you can actually swim in it. Trails through primary cloud forest link a series of named falls — La Tepezquintle, Las Gemelas, La Celestial, La Turquesa, La Pintada — each dropping into its own turquoise pool, with 360-degree views out to the surrounding national parks and volcanoes in between.
This is a full day trip from San José. Bajos del Toro sits roughly 1.5–2 hours north of the city on good paved road — no 4×4 needed — in the cool, green highlands where the Central Valley climbs toward the Poás and Juan Castro Blanco volcanoes. It happens to be about halfway between San José and Arenal, so the drive itself is scenic. You'll spend the bulk of the day on the reserve's trails, hiking between the falls, swimming in the pools, and taking in forest that is dense, primary and full of birds. The reserve is uncrowded by design, so early arrivals often have whole waterfalls to themselves.
A note on logistics. The tour covers your private round-trip transport from San José and a bilingual guide for the day; the reserve's $20 entrance fee is paid on site and is not included. Wear proper water shoes or trail shoes you don't mind getting wet — no flip-flops — and bring a swimsuit, a towel and a dry bag. The reserve is open Monday to Saturday and closed Sundays, and mornings are usually clearer than afternoons, so pickup is early. If you want to add the spectacular Catarata del Toro — a towering waterfall that plunges into an extinct volcanic crater a few minutes away — just ask and we'll build it into the day.
What's included
- Private round-trip transport from San José
- Bilingual guide for the day
- Bottled water
Not included
- Blue Falls of Costa Rica reserve entrance ($20 per person, paid on site)
- Lunch and meals
- Gratuities
- Personal travel insurance
Good to know
- The tour price covers private transport from San José and your guide; the $20 reserve entrance is paid on site
- Drive from San José is about 1.5–2 hours each way on paved road (no 4×4 needed); it sits roughly halfway to Arenal
- Wear water shoes or trail shoes you can get wet — no flip-flops — and bring a swimsuit, towel and dry bag
- Swimming is allowed at every waterfall and pool
- The reserve is open Monday–Saturday and closed Sundays; mornings are usually clearer, so we start early
- Optional add-on: the nearby Catarata del Toro (a towering waterfall in an extinct crater) — ask at booking
- Photos courtesy of Blue Falls of Costa Rica
- Free cancellation 48 hours prior