How to Visit the Blue Falls of Bajos Del Toro in Costa Rica
If you’re looking for a truly off-the-beaten-path adventure in Costa Rica, you have to head to Bajos del Toro.
Bajos del Toro is home to series of jaw-dropping blue waterfalls, known as, not surprisingly, the Blue Falls. And because Bajos del Toro is still a less traveled destination in Costa Rica, you’ll face very few crowds, unlike the more popular Costa Rica waterfalls like Rio Celeste and Nauyaca Falls.
You can’t visit these gorgeous waterfalls on your own, though. You’ll need a guide. And trust us, you’ll want one anyway. To visit all 7 of these falls requires intense bushwhacking through the forest, river crossings, and some steep sections requiring ropes…it’s not for the faint of heart, but it’s certainly worth all the effort, and might just become your favorite day in Costa Rica.
And when you’re done with the Blue Falls, you have the bonus option of visiting Costa Rica’s tallest waterfall, Catarata del Toro. Yes please!
In this article, we’ll share everything you need to know about visiting the Blue Falls in Costa Rica…how to get there, how to get a guide, the types of tours, what to expect, and more!
Article Contents
Where are the Blue Falls of Costa Rica
How to get to the Blue Falls
Best time to visit the Blue Falls
Where to stay for visiting the Blue Falls
Types of tours for visiting the Blue Falls
The Blue Falls Light Tour
The Blue Falls Full Tour
Which Blue Falls Tour should you choose?
How to visit Catarata del Toro
Tips for visiting the Blue Falls and Bajos del Toro
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Where Are the Blue Falls of Costa Rica?
The Blue Falls are located in a small rural town in the mountainous cloud forest of Central Costa Rica, Bajos del Toro. It’s sparsely populated, with very little tourist infrastructure, and is quite off the normal tourist trail (which is what we love!).
Bajos del Toro is situated directly in between San Jose and the popular tourist destination of La Fortuna, just an hour and a half drive from each.
Bajos del Toro is most well-known for its beautiful waterfalls. On the Blue Falls tour, you’ll see up to seven of them, each one more brilliantly blue than the last.
Why are the Blue Falls so blue?
Bajos del Toro sits between the Paos and Viejo volcanoes. The volcanic minerals from these wash into the rivers that feed these falls, giving them their rich blue color, much like that of the more popular and touristy Rio Celeste in Tenorio Volcano National Park.
How to Get to the Blue Falls of Costa Rica
To get to the Blue Falls if coming from the south, you’ll take route 708 up into the mountainous region towards Bajos del Toro. This road is paved, but it can get rough, steep, and curvy, so take it slow.
Do you need a 4x4 to drive to the Blue Falls in Bajos del Toro?
The drive is totally doable in a 2WD car and you do not need a 4x4 vehicle to get to Bajos del Toro or the Blue Falls.
The road to Bajos del Toro
In your GPS, you’ll want to put in Catarata del Toro instead of the Blue Falls. This will bring you to the tour operator’s offices, which sits right at Catarata del Toro itself. This lies about ten minutes past the actual town of Bajos del Toro. Don’t worry, it’s pretty easy to find because of the signs for the Catarata del Toro falls. You’ll know it when you’re there because of a sign that congratulations you for making it, with a big picture of the waterfall.
Park here (parking is free!... a rarity in Costa Rica…and it seems like it was pretty safe and secure). Here, you’ll check in, pay, and meet your guide.
From the offices, it’s a short ten minute walk further up route 708 to a locked gate that starts the entrance of the hike to the Blue Falls of Bajos del Toro.
Best Time to Visit the Blue Falls
The best time to visit the Blue Falls in Bajos del Toro is in the dry season between December and April, for several reasons. In the rainy season, the water levels can become too dangerous, especially for swimming, and the trails can become too washed out. The tour is often only offered once per day during the rainy season, first thing in the morning, and at the discretion of the tour operator.
It would also be more challenging to drive to Bajos del Toro from San Jose in the rainy season. The route involves rough mountain roads that can get steep. It would probably be a bit dangerous in rainy conditions.
Guided tours are offered Monday through Saturday. In the dry season, it’s best to visit the Blue Falls on a week day. It’s not too much of a tourist destination (yet), but it is still more of a local tourist destination, meaning crowds can form on a Saturday from locals visiting for the weekend. When we took the tour on a Friday morning in early March, we had each of the seven waterfalls to ourselves. There was one other guided group out in front of us, but each time we got to a waterfall, they were leaving, so it worked out perfectly.
Where to Stay for a Visit to the Blue Falls
Many people visit the Bajos del Toro on their way to another destination. That’s exactly what we did. We drove from Manuel Antonio to La Fortuna, and Bajos del Toro was a detour on that route.
Because we were driving several hours to get to Bajos del Toro, we stayed in Orotina, a small quaint town half way through our drive. We didn’t want to drive the road to Bajos del Toro at night, and recommend that you don’t either if you’re not familiar with it.
The small town of Orotina
You can also certainly do Bajos del Toro as a day trip from somewhere like La Fortuna, San Jose, or the Paos Volcano Area.
If you want to spend a few days in Bajos del Toro, you do have options but they are limited. Perhaps the most well-known place to stay in Bajos del Toro is El Silencio lodge. It’s a luxury resort with a high price, though. If you’re on a budget in Costa Rica, there’s a choice of a few basic hotel options and Airnbnbs.
Types of Tours for the Blue Falls of Costa Rica
To visit the Blue Falls, you’ll need to take a guided tour through the company Catarata del Toro Adventures. They offer two types of tours.
The first is the Light Tour. This is a short version that takes you to two of the best waterfalls in the area, called Las Gemelas. They are right next to each other, and it takes just a 30 minute hike one-way to get to them.
The second is the Full Tour. This is a much longer hike, taking you to all seven of the beautifully blue waterfalls. But be ready for a tough hike through the forest. Aside from the path to Las Gemelas, there are no true hiking paths to any of the other waterfalls. You’ll be bushwhacking your way through the forest, going up and down the banks of the river each time you head to new waterfall. You’ll be slipping, sliding, using ropes, crossing rivers, and traversing across slippery rocks. But you’ll see some of the most gorgeous waterfalls of your life! Worth it? We think it was!
We’ll go through each of these tours in more detail below, including reservations, costs, what to expect, and more.
The Blue Falls Light Tour
The Blue Falls Light Tour is an abbreviated version of the Full Tour, going to only two of the waterfalls. But these falls are incredible. They have some of the milkiest blue water I have ever seen and are located in the most picturesque jungle location!
How much does the Blue Falls Light Tour Cost?
The Light Tour costs just $15 USD. A steal, if you ask me! You get a guided tour to two incredible hidden gems, and get to spend a couple of hours swimming in the water and taking in the scenery.
Included in this price is a guide and a cool hand made walking stick to use, and you get free parking and use of restrooms at the offices. You have to pack your own food and water.
You can choose to purchase a combined ticket for both the Light Tour and Catarata del Toro for $25 USD to save some money (the normal entry fee for Catarata del Toro is $14 USD).
Do you need a reservation for the Blue Falls Light Tour?
No reservations needed for this one! Simply show up and ask for a tour. The office is open Monday to Saturday from 7 am – 4 pm.
Note: In the rainy season, they limit this to one tour per day in the morning between 7-9 am, so be sure to get there early.
How long does the Light Tour last?
The entire tours lasts a couple hours. It takes about an hour round trip of hiking, and then you can spend an hour so at the falls, swimming, and enjoying the jungle views around you.
What to expect on the Blue Falls Light Tour
Just because it’s the shorter tour doesn’t mean the experience is not as good…because it is! The two waterfalls that you’ll hike to on this shortened version just happen to be two of the most beautiful waterfalls we’ve ever seen…Las Gemelas.
From the entrance gate, your guide will lead you across some rolling countryside towards the edge of the cloud forest. When we were here, this part of the trail was in the middle of improvements, with the addition of stone walkways.
Once in the forest, there’s a pretty straightforward trail…it’s still surrounded by some pretty dense vegetation, and gets steep and muddy, but it’s not quite the off- trail hiking involved with the Full Tour, and they are definitely working to improve this trail.
After a roughly 30 minute hike, you’ll come to a set of metal stairs. These stairs are pretty steep, but they drop you right at the stunningly blue river. You’ll truly get those tropical jungle vibes down here.
From here, it’s time to cross the river. Your guide will help you maneuver your way across the current of the river and across the slippery rocks. As you cross, your first glimpse of the first waterfall will come into view… and you’re jaw might literally drop.
You’ll walk along the side of the river, rock hopping your way towards the falls. Once you get close enough, the second of Las Gemelas will come into view. It’s such a picturesque location, tucked into a corner behind the first falls…and the water is just. so. blue! We couldn’t get over it.
You’ve arrived at your main destination! Your guide will give you plenty of time to enjoy and explore the falls, and even take a swim if you want. Just a warning…that water is absolutely freezing…so kudos to you if you can actually jump in!
Either way, prepared to get wet. Your feet will already be soaked from the river crossing, but if you want to get close to these falls, the mist is pretty strong here.
Once you’ve had your fill, your guide will take you a little bit further downstream to a swimming hole called the Blue Pool. It’s a picturesque setting where you can enjoy the tiny falls and swim or just hang out and take it all in (we did the latter!).
Overall, this hike is a great option for those who want to see some of the most stunning waterfalls in the area without having to do all the hard work of the Full Tour. It’s a more relaxed excursion but the reward is just as awesome.
The Blue Falls Full Tour
With the Blue Falls Full Tour, you’re in for an amazing adventure through the cloud forests of Bajos del Toro. You’ll visit 7 incredible waterfalls, but you’ll certainly work for it. But, nothing worth it is ever easy, right? We decided to go all out and opt for the Full Tour, since we didn’t know if we would ever make it back. And for only $25 more dollars, you get to see a heck of a lot more!
How much does the Blue Falls Full Tour cost?
The Full tour costs $50. This includes a guided tour to seven waterfalls, where you can swim and hang out to your heart’s content, a nifty handmade walking stick (and you’ll want it on this tour!), free parking, and use of the office’s restrooms. This price also includes your entry ticket to Catarata del Toro!
Do you need a reservation for the Blue Falls Full Tour?
Yes! Reservations are required for the Blue Falls Tour. You can make a reservation via email (found on the tour operator’s website). Through email, you’ll request a date, and you’ll receive a response confirming your reservation and giving your further instructions. They will likely tell you to be at the offices between 7 am -8:30am…it’s good to get an early start since this a longer tour. You don’t pay until you arrive at the office in person. You can pay in USD or colones.
How long does the Blue Falls Full Tour last?
The tour lasts as long as you make it. The guides go at your pace, and they allow you to swim, break and eat lunch for as long as you’d like (within reason of course). It took us just about 6 hours for the entire thing. We didn’t take any hiking breaks but we took time at each waterfall to hang out and enjoy our surroundings.
What to expect on the Blue Falls Full Tour
For us, the Blue Falls Full Tour was the ultimate adventure in Costa Rica. Navigating through pure Costa Rican rainforest in search of hidden waterfalls was a unique and different way to experience the country, away from the crowds of other falls like Rio Celeste, Fortuna Falls, and Nauyaca Falls.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Here, we describe our experience in early 2020. At this time, there were pretty much no trails to any of the waterfalls. It was a rugged off-trail trekking experience through the rainforest, which is what I think made this adventure so fun and unique. However, this experience may be a little bit different for you.
You can see from their website that they are in a state of making constant upgrades and improvements to their property. With the goal of increasing safety, they have added fencing, a bridge to cross the river, and have paved the trail to Las Gemelas falls and swimming area.
Currently, they are working on adding safer trails to all of the other waterfalls, some lookout points, seating areas, and trails that connect each of the falls along the river. On our hike, we even saw people working away at creating trails. By 2021, they hope to have more infrastructure built, including showers, a picnic area, a hanging bridge, and even a coffee corner.
On their site, they even mention that eventually, their goal is to add all the falls onto a single entry ticket, meaning the Full vs. Light Tour distinction will be gone.
This is all to say that this experience might be looking very different in the near future. To be honest, we liked the experience the way it was. It was something totally different. It was rugged and challenging and we truly felt like we were venturing through untouched jungle in search of hidden gems. It made finding and enjoying the waterfalls that much more special. It was a very authentic experience. Their updates will certainly increase accessibility of the falls to a lot more people, but at the cost of the authentic and uncrowded experience that we got to have.
Despite all these changes, we still wanted to share our experience with you. When you’re reading this, the hike might not be as rugged or intense as what we experienced, but you can still get an idea of what the rainforest and waterfalls look like to see if you want to make the trip out here!
Ok, let’s get back to it. So, the basic gist of this tour is that you will visit 7 waterfalls along the river. The river has essentially carved out its path through the forest, so it is surrounded by steep forest slopes on either side. The hike will have you walking along the top of the forest rim on one side of this river, and each time you visit a fall, you have to descend steeply down to the river and then climb back and continue along the rim.
When you meet your guide, you’ll notice that he’s carrying a rope…so you know you’re in for an adventure! The paths down to each of the falls (except Las Gemelas), for us at the time anyway, were off-trail and rugged. They were steep and muddy, and what made this hike so challenging (and fun!). Sometimes, access to a waterfall requires crossing the river and traversing slippery wet rocks, or using a rope to guide down steep sections of trail. But your guide is always there to help you…our guide was super great, offering his hand to help me down steep slopes or slippery boulders. And having the walking stick certainly helps!
To give you an idea of what the hike looks like overall, here is our GPS track of our full day hiking the Blue Falls in Bajos del Toro:
The hike is a challenge, but you can go at your own pace. The guide never rushes you, and gives you plenty of opportunities for breaks and plenty of time to stop at the falls and enjoy your time.
Here’s a sneak peek into what each of the waterfalls are like, and the rugged trails to get to them.
The tour starts off with an easy walk through the countryside (the same path as in the Light Tour above). These paths were in the process of being constructed into stone walkways when we were there.
Then, you’ll enter the forest with a set of stairs that climb up to the top of the river rim. From here, the rugged hiking starts by following narrow herd paths through the dense forest foliage. For the first time of many, you’ll descend steeply down to your first view of the milky blue river.
Just a bit further upstream is Tepezcuintle, your first waterfall of the day. Its beautiful blue water is stunning, and it only gets better from here, trust us!
You’ll make your way back up to the top of the river rim, and boy is it steep! You’ll likely have to grab onto nearby branches and use your hands to scramble your way up some small mud slides.
When you are back at the top of the climb, your next set of falls are Las Gemelas. The path to get to these is a bit more straightforward and developed, and described above for the Light Tour. When you are down at the river once again, the blue water set against the lush green jungle setting is pure perfection down here.
Once you cross the river, you’ll get your first glimpse at one the Las Gemelas. From here, you’ll rock hop your way across the river rocks until finally both of Las Gemelas come into view. Get ready to have your jaw drop, because these two waterfalls are probably the most beautiful falls we have ever laid eyes on!
Here, you’ll have plenty of time to explore the falls, take plenty of pictures, and even swim if you want to brave the freezing cold water!
Once you’re ready to head out (and really, you never will be), you’ll head to the Blue Pool found just downstream, with its own set of tiny falls. Here, you have time to hangout and swim again and just enjoy the jungle surroundings.
Enjoy this while you can, because now the hike to the next four waterfalls on the tour only gets harder from here!
You’ll hike back up to the top of the rim and out of the forest for a bit, and then before you know it, it’s back down to the river you go!
It’s another steep, slippery, and challenging path down to the river bank. At one point, you’ll traverse a tenuous section of forest at which point your guide will take out a rope and secure it to some trees so it can be used as a hand rail of sorts. Each guide carries their own rope and sets it up and breaks it down as they hike.
Your reward? Your next beautifully blue waterfall! Here, you’ll cross the river again. This one was our favorite! The blue in this falls was so bright and the setting was super picturesque. We hung out here for a bit, ate lunch, and enjoyed the view.
To continue, you’ll stay on this side of the river and head downstream using the rope that your guide will set up for you. The little down climb here was a bit tricky, and Kevin even swung too much on it and got a gnarly scar on the side of his temple from a hanging branch!
Then it’s back up the same path you used to come down. Going up it feels even steeper and rougher!
Before you even know you’re back at the top, it’s back down you go! Another rugged path…and this time, at the very end, there is a small down climb to get to the river using the rope again.
To get to this next waterfall, you’ll cross the river and walk upstream quite a bit in cold water sometimes up to your knees. So yes, you will be getting wet! You’ll also have to climb up and over giant slippery boulders with the help of your guide.
But again, the reward is absolutely worth it. Just look at this waterfall!
It’s a short waterfall, but it had a beautifully blue pool for swimming. Our guide told us that this would be our last opportunity to take a swim on the tour, so I decided to finally suck it up and hop in! That water was freezing cold! Like, take your breath away freezing.
Then it was time to dry off, head back down the river, and climb back up the rope and up the way you came. You’ll head all the way back up to the top for a little bit of a longer walk further along the countryside out of the forest.
But, you know what’s coming! Another rugged and steep path down! This time it’s a little shorter, and you’re only going about half way down to a viewpoint of the the next waterfall. And to be honest, as much as I loved seeing all these beautiful waterfalls up close, boy was I getting tired, and a little thankful that we weren’t going all the way back down to the river!
Then, of course, it’s back up the way you came. And then, just like that, you’re on the last descent of the day! It’s a little bittersweet, because your legs will be happy that you’re close to being done after 5+ hours of trekking, but you also won’t want the waterfalls to stop!
This final descent will bring you to a waterfall that sits along a hydroelectric dam. The real star of the show here though isn’t the waterfall, it’s the electric blue color of the water…blue Gatorade anyone?!
You’ll make your final climb up out of the forest for the day, and start the long walk back to the entry gate through the rolling countryside.
Overall, this tour is challenging, but it’s so worth it for those middle of nowhere feels in the Costa Rican jungle to some seriously jaw dropping views.
Which Blue Falls tour should you choose?
With two different tour options to explore the Blue Falls of Bajos del Toro, which Blue Falls tour should you choose? We’re glad you asked!
You should choose the Blue Falls Light Tour if:
You have a smaller budget.
You’re short on time.
You want a big payout for less effort.
You’re not up for a challenging and long day hike.
You should choose the Blue Fall Full Tour if:
You want a truly off-the-beaten path experience in Costa Rica. On this tour you see waterfalls not many people get to see.
You’re up for a rugged off-trail hike with some technical elements like ropes and river crossings.
You want a full day of exploration.
You’re not afraid to get down and dirty…because you will get dirty.
You’re an experienced and in-shape hiker.
How to Visit Catarata del Toro
After your tour of the Blue Falls is done, it’s time for the grand finale…a visit to Catarata del Toro!
Catarata del Toro is a truly hidden gem of Costa Rica. Standing at 270 feet tall, it’s Costa Rica’s tallest waterfall. What makes it super neat is that it plunges into the crater of extinct volcano, whose rim is now grown in with lush green forest. You can walk right to the base of the falls inside this extinct crater!
Catarata del Toro is located right behind the offices where you parked for the Blue Falls Tour. The cost for an entry ticket on its own is $14, and does not include a tour guide (not needed for this accessible waterfall) but like we described above, you can get a discount with the Blue Falls Light Tour, and it’s included in the Full Tour.
Behind the office is a beautiful garden filled with exotic plants and if you’re lucky, you’ll see some hummingbirds fluttering through. A short flat path takes you to some gorgeous viewpoints over Catarata del Toro.
You’ll enter into the forest, which gives off some serious cloud forest vibes with moss covered trees and dense foliage. It’s a pretty cool walk! Enjoy it, because up next are the stairs!
And a lot of them! The rest of the walk to the base of the falls is down this set of stairs…about 500 of them! So if you’re legs weren’t already tired from the Blue Falls hike, they will be after this!
At the base of the falls, you’ll come to a viewing platform from which to enjoy the beautiful waterfall.
Tips for Visiting the Blue Falls of Costa Rica
The ability to speak and understand Spanish is extremely helpful here. The guide we had (and I think all of them really – at least when we were there) speak very limited English. Our entire conversations throughout the tour were completely in Spanish. It’s not mandatory, but it is helpful to make the experience more enjoyable and to be able to communicate more effectively with your guide.
Because of the elevation of the cloud forest, it’s rainier here than at lower elevations. Always be prepared for rain, even in the dry season. It started lightly raining on us when we visited Catarata del Toro. We were already dirty, wet, and beat up from the Blue Falls Tour so we didn’t mind! But pack your rain gear with you in your pack on your hikes.
Wear a bathing suit under your clothes! You have the option to swim in pools near some of the falls…if you dare. The water is absolutely freezing! It was quite a stark contrast between the warm Pacific coast water, that’s for sure! Pack a towel, too.
Wear good hiking sandals. We think this is the best shoe option for this tour, and we wish we had them then! You want a good sturdy shoe for hiking off trail and walk across slippery rocks, but at the same time, you need to cross rivers, and if you swim, your feet will get soaked, too. Having sandals will make for a much more comfortable experience than wearing socks and shoes.
We recommend you wear long pants and perhaps even a long sleeve (at least layer it), particularly on the Blue Falls Full Tour. You’ll be walking through dense jungle and might have to butt slide at times, so wearing pants will protect your legs much better than shorts. And there are cooler temps at this higher elevation so it’s not too hot for long sleeves.
Pack plenty of food and water…they do not provide this on the tour. It’s probably best to pack if from outside of Bajos del Toro, since there aren’t many options in town.
Pack sunscreen – the sun can still be strong up here.
And there you have it. Hiking to the Blue Falls of Bajos del Toro is an awesome off the beaten path experience in Costa Rica and gives you a chance to feel like you’re truly exploring untouched territory and discovering hidden gems. Let us know if you have any question about visiting the Blue Falls!