Our family loved this stop and appreciated the workmanship in the entry/stairs making it so much nicer than just a gravel trail to hike. I assume this is also a preservation measure. The waterfall was too strong for swimming in the pool but we loved the river swim adjacent to it. Fish everywhere and gorgeous clean water. I didn’t want to get out of the water which was comfortable temp for us New Englanders.

Really not worth the $20 per person ticket. You go down 500 stairs and see the waterfall. Felt like a ripoff given they have commercialized a natural water fall that could/should have been accessible to anyone without the fees.

It is worth the hike! You can get tickets there and I recommend going early in the morning (we went around 8:00 am) because it gets crowded. The 530 steps each way but it is definitely doable with stops on the way up. Two of us were recovering from ankle mishaps, but we had no problem. We weren't able to swim due to heavy rain but it is breathtaking and worth the hike down and back up. There is a place to change clothes/shower at the top. There is also a good coffee shop right outside entrance (things inside were closed when we were there because it was early).

La Fortuna Waterfall was underwhelming. Loud music from the restaurant and nearby construction scared away wildlife, and orchids weren’t in bloom. Swimming was restricted due to weather. With so many other waterfalls to explore, this one didn’t feel worth the trip. Consider alternatives for a better experience.

We visited the waterfall during a private tour so we did not purchase tickets at the waterfall but I wanted to review how much we enjoyed the beauty and scenery while walking to the waterfall and at the waterfall. Our 5 year old son loved counting the steps up and down and we loved trying out the waterfall pool at the bottom. The water was pretty cold but refreshing and there were quite a bit of people however we still enjoyed our time. For young kids I recommend having a life jacket. I will say I’m quite out of shape so going back up the stairs was definitely hard lol but good exercise I suppose. I will also say if you have young young kids bring a carrier of some sort our 3 year old didn’t want to walk at all so trying to go up and down the stairs holding her (mostly my husband) was exhausting. Would recommend as something fun for families or anyone really !

The waterfall is cool, and so are the steps. For me, the vast majority of the fun was removed when we realized we couldn’t swim. This was AFTER we had reserved our tickets and arrived. What they said was the rain made it too harsh- In my opinion, it’s extremely rare to be able to swim there. In a rain forest, it rains ALL the time, even in winter when I went. It’s probably closed for swimming 90% of the time. I will say- They offered a refund, but AFTER we had already arrived on site.

We had a very good Blue pass guide for our walk on the Arenal lava trails to a viewpoint. We enjoyed learning about the flora and fauna. From there we went to La Fortuna Waterfall. Some of us hiked down 225 steps and back, while some of us enjoyed the view from the top and shopped in the gift shop and had a smoothie while waiting. Then we were taken for a wonderful farm lunch.

Great views and a steep walk up and down (over 500 steps) but no hurry. Price is a bit high (even for high priced Costa Rica) but the money apparently goes to the community, too. There is a small orchid walk at the top near the entrance, also.

Very good - there was maintenance happening and it was not being done in an ecological way that is for sure. Staining and spray painting. All the empty cans leaking and tossed on the side to be picked up later. Obvious spills happening. They use oil based wood stain to stain the concrete walls. I guess you use what you have access to. We in Canada would use a water based eco friendly product instead in nature as the eco system is very delicate to petroleum products especially when it rains like it does here. There was no wind and the fumes of the spray paint were very intense. We went at 8 am. Could not hardly breathe due to the smell of paint aerosol lingering in the foggy air.For 40$ usd I really wish my experience could have been a better one. Still a very nice place and we highly suggest going. Hopefully this big corporation will see the is and think twice about the environment. The Ticos I have met and supported with tours are better than this.

Amazing waterfall loved it ! The trail is beautiful! We went during the end of the rainy season so we saw two falls it was beautiful!

My teen daughter and I really enjoyed this visit. Beautiful and worth the many steps! Take water, take your time, always look up and around you!

This is gorgeous. We used a tour company that was recommended by our driver @transfersandtourscr. It was 4 adults and 2 kids ages 5 and 2. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed this experience. We swam in a pool that was to the left of the waterfall. There are fish in the water which is really cool. The water was cold but we took a dip. Highly recommended!

We visited this with our 7 year old. Reserved the 7:00 am slot as we want to do the falls and another activity after that. Quick checkin and we were on our way. There are 3 things which we did. 1. Before you enter the platform there is a viewing platform. It gives amazing views of the forest. Good photo taking site 2. Walk down approximately 500 steps to reach to the waterfall. It was beautiful. We dipped in the water. Fresh water is always refreshing. Walk down took approximately 10-15 minutes. The steps are small in height so it doesn’t hurt the knees as much. 3. We almost missed this. There is an area to the left of the falls. There is a small pool with fishes. You can swim there. Good for children. It’s not too rocky as well so it’s safe. Finally we came back up. We are of decent fitness level so we didn’t feel much issues but this shouldn’t be an issue for those not very fit. They have benches as you reach closer to the top to sit and rest if you want a break. Overall we spent 2-3 hours here. There are showers and restaurant at the top. One last thing. We were able to return in the afternoon with the same ticket. We loved the falls and wanted to take another dip. Just don’t remove the band.

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!