Incredible waterfall. We had a car so we drove ourselves and avoided the tours. Tickets were $20US and we just walked right in. There are 500 stairs to get to the bottom and you must come up those stairs after you take a small dip in the water so be prepared. Recommendation is to not swim towards the waterfall as the current was very strong and it was hard to tread water. Stay closer to the rocks and if you really want to dip and swim go around the left side and there will be calmer waters (also lots of fish around) Two safety lifeguards were just standing by to ensure no one gets hurt but really go at your own risk. Rocks are tricky, slippery and wet at the bottom but worth every step! Not to be missed!

Must visit on your CR trip! Going down is easy - and worth the view. Coming up, you realize there are thoughtfully placed resting spots (some even have water) and a bar at the top. Get the tamarind marg to treat yourself!

great place, you need to be prepared to go down 600 steps and up, once down in the waterfall you can swim but be very careful, you can see fish and the water is very cold , but once you get used to it you have a great experience

The La Fortuna Waterfall was an amazing experience. Parking was easy even though we were in the "overflow" parking lot. Entrance was simple and we didn't have prepaid tickets. They have lockers, restrooms and a restaurant for snacks or lunch. The walk down the stairs was pretty long, but the waterfall was worth it. We swam in the main pool with the waterfall but actually enjoyed the swimming in the "natural pool" to the left much better. We were there on a weekday and there was a crowd but I didn't feel it was overcrowded. Everyone was calm and taking in the natural beauty. The walk back up the stairs was pretty long - 500 steps but still worth it!

My favorite thing I did in Costa Rica! Totally worth the trip to La Fortuna. The waterfall is so beautiful, and the stairs really aren't that bad. It took us 20 minutes to get down, and 15 up. Everyone told us it was a three hour event, but that really depends how long you want to stay at the waterfall. The parking lot feels safe and you don't need to buy tickets in advance if you forget to. Bring a swimsuit, and don't forget to look at the river across the waterfall (we totally missed it).

My husband and I went to La Fortuna waterfall while staying in the area. We did this trip on our own with no tour guide. This spot was easy to find using Waze and the parking lot was safe and spacious. Right at the entry is where you buy tickets. They have full bathrooms with showers and lockers if needed. The lockers are not free though, and they were a little expensive for only using them for a short time. We opted to walk back to the rental car after changing and keep our clothes in there. We then made our way down the 500 steps. There is a platform to take pictures on once you get down there. You can also walk down to the rocks in front of the waterfall. Normally you can swim by the waterfall, however, this time they informed us it was not allowed due to high risk water volumes from the rain. If you continue down though, there is a bench to leave your belongings on and swim downstream from the waterfall. After that, we made our way back up the 500 steps we came down. At the top we walked through the orchid trail. Unfortunately, the orchids were not in bloom. If interested, there is also a restaurant and bar. We decided to try a local spot instead. All in all, this was an amazing excursion that I would recommend to anyone traveling to the La Fortuna area!

Sloth Tour was good, but the sloths we saw were far from us and we could only see them through the telescope. Make sure to go early in the morning when animals are most active. Skip La Fortuna Waterfall. I saw it before it became a tourist trap. Just go to El Salto where you can swing from a rope into the river. Free. About 1.2 miles outside of the town of La Fortuna. You can walk there or a taxi driver can drop you off at the side of the road. We got a taxi, but it was difficult to find one to return so we walked back. Sky Adventures was awesome. Took the guided canopy tour, then went up the tram, then ziplining down. A must do! The Chocolate and Coffee tour at Don Juan was really, really good. Hands on...you get to make your own chocolate. Fun for kids (and adults, too)! Most restaurants in town are EXPENSIVE, but we did like Fortuneno nonetheless. Great ambiance. Be sure to ask for Marcos...best waiter ever!!! We "splurged" and went to Tabacon hot springs....nice grounds, but pricey! You can't bring food in, so you will pay again when you eat! You can find other nearby resorts with the hot springs that are cheaper, or just find the springs on the side of the road and enjoy for free (but without amenities). Nice, but better to spend your money on ziplining! La Tentacion Churros is a great little spot for churros and coffee. Not cheap, but we went back a few times!

The waterfall is beautiful. I wasn't planning on getting in the water but when I saw my kids having such a fun time I had to get in. I wish I had worn some water shoes because if you travel around from the wading area to the waterfall you have to climb over a lot of rocks. We swam in the pool the water was falling into. The force of the water pushes you away and you can't get to where the water is falling. At nearly 500 steps, take you time getting back to the top where the ticket office is.

Amazing experience climbing down 500 steps to reach the breathtaking waterfall. The steps were all metal and easy to navigate with benches at various points for those who needed a break. Swimming alongside the waterfall was an awesome experience. The power was felt in the water. Definitely worth the trip. The whole adventure can take as little as an hour to go down back up and take a dip. Well worth it.

We visited the waterfall after a night of rain but were still able to swim although, we only went in so far as the water from the falls was so strong. We are New Englanders so the water felt very refreshing and not too cold. We took lots of photos and enjoyed the falls. It was very crowded with people. Be aware that there are 500+ stairs to go down and come back up. Our Guide was very patient and encouraging as we climbed but it was a lot but definitely worth it!

Fantastic place, be prepared for the steps down, but it's worth it. I don't like cold water, it's cold . Just go for it & jump in & swim with the fish 🐟

My partner and I had a romantic visit to La Fortuna Waterfall. The jungle hike was enchanting, and the waterfall was mesmerizing. Swimming in the clear waters together was a highlight. It was moderately crowded, but the natural beauty made it memorable. Perfect for couples seeking a romantic escape!

Very powerful waterfall close to town. View is amazing. I don't have proper stats but it didn't feel like 600meter elevation loss/gain that the signs advertise. Felt much less of a hike down or up. Also, if it's not raining hard you can swim in the waterfall but only in theory. The water is very powerful there are lots of waves and it doesn't look like a gentle swim at all. However, just 100ft downstream there is a calmer pond that everyone can swim in.

We were visiting the waterfall which was wonderful. My issue was with the staff working there. After visiting the waterfall my wife was getting changed in the changing rooms. She accidentally forget her phone. She realized this when we got back to our hotel. The manager said the falls were closed and they said that they searched where she said she had left it but it was not there. We did find it on my iPhones and saw it was there. We made arrangements to go back the next morning when it first opened. Later that evening we noticed it had left the waterfall and gone to a small nearby town. We had already locked it remotely and left a message on the screen that it was lost and to please call my number. Our concierge contacted the local police but they said they couldn’t help that evening and to contact them again the next day. When we got up the next day, it was still in the small town. We planned on going to the police station to file a report and show them where the phone was located. In the mean time, the phone went back to the waterfall. Our concierge called them again and they said there had been no phones found. She told them we had contacted the police and had the location on my cell phone and were on our way there to try to help locate it. In the ten minutes it took to get to the waterfall when we got there the manager said one cellphone had been turned in. She said it had fallen behind a toilet area. Surprisingly it was missing the case. We were happy to get it back but disappointed about the circumstances and lack of accountability.

There’s 500 steps down and 500 back up but the view is worth every step. You can get reservations and expedite the entry, we didn’t and felt it only added a few minutes on to our adventure.