(Private Tour) La Leona Waterfall Adventure Hike
$45.00
📍 Booking Information
Your Google Maps and Waze location will be sent by email after booking, along with a detailed booking confirmation.
👇 Select your date, tour time, and number of guests below.
⬇️ Scroll down to view the tour description, location information, FAQs, and restaurant options.
🍴 La Leona Restaurant Menu
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.
🍹 Drinks Menu
Smoothies, natural juices, coffee, cold drinks, cocktails, beer, and more.
🍴
Restaurant Information
No payment is required now. Pay directly at the restaurant.
🍴 Reserve a Table for My Group
Fast service after your tour • Pre-order meals & drinks • Large groups welcome
Our Location (Start Of The Tour)
Meet us at our main office before your La Leona Waterfall Adventure Hike
🏞 Tour Check-In Point
All guests must arrive at our main office before the tour begins. This is where check-in, free parking, bathrooms, lockers, and tour preparation take place.
Our team will assist you with your reservation, equipment, and directions before starting the adventure.
🚗 Important Information
- Free parking is available at our office.
- Please arrive at least 15–20 minutes before your tour time.
- Bathrooms, changing rooms, and restaurant are available onsite.
- Use only the Google Maps and Waze links provided by us. Please do not search for the location manually online, because you may choose the wrong location.
- We will send you the correct location links by email after booking
- Important: To avoid confusion or scams, please follow only the official instructions, directions, and location links sent directly by our team via email after booking.
🌊 Tour Description
📍20 min from Liberia, Rincon de la Vieja
⏱ Duration: 2.5-3 Hours
🧒 Minimum Age: 4+
⭐ 5.0 Google Reviews
⬇️ See What Awaits on the La Leona Waterfall Hike
⬇️ La Leona Waterfall with Kids
La Leona Waterfall Adventure Hike – Private Tour
If you’re traveling with young children or prefer a more personalized experience with your family or friends, a La Leona Waterfall Private Tour is the best option for you. With a guide focused exclusively on your group, you can move at your own pace and enjoy a more flexible experience with individual assistance along the trail.
⚠️ Please note: A private tour means you have a dedicated guide exclusively for your group, without being combined with other travelers.
Other visitors may still be on the trail, in the river and at La Leona Waterfall, as these areas are shared.
QUICK FACTS – Private Tour
🚶♂️➡️ Distance:
2 km each way (1.2 miles each way)
🕥 Duration:
2.5 – 3 hours
⛰️ Difficulty:
Moderate
🌊 Swimming:
Yes (Life jackets provided and mandatory)
🛡️ Guided:
Yes (Guide included in the tour)
👦 Age:
4+ years
🧑🧑🧒🧒 Group Size:
Your group only, with a dedicated guide
❌ Not suitable for:
Guests with knee, ankle, mobility or walking issues
⚠️ Important Information
The La Leona Waterfall Adventure Hike is rated moderate and includes uneven terrain, river crossings, climbing over ladders and swimming through sections of the river. It is beginner-friendly and a great adventure for kids, but may not be ideal for everyone.
Who is this tour NOT suitable for?
❌ Not suitable for people with knee, ankle, walking or mobility limitations
❌ Children under 4 are not allowed
❌ Not suitable during pregnancy
🏊 Don’t know how to swim? No problem!
You can just float with your life jacket and move through the swimming sections using the safety ropes set up across the river. Your guide will assist you whenever needed.
🛡️ Safety on the La Leona Waterfall Adventure Hike
✔️ Life jackets are mandatory
✔️ A dedicated guide exclusively for your group
✔️ Personal assistance throughout the hike
✔️ All guides carry emergency equipment & radios
✔️ River conditions are monitored closely and tours only operate when water levels are safe
ℹ️ No prior hiking experience is needed, but a basic level of fitness is required.
La Leona Waterfall Adventure Hike – Location
The La Leona Waterfall Adventure Hike starts at our tour office in the small village of Curubandé, just 20 minutes from Liberia and near Rincon de la Vieja National Park in Guanacaste.
La Leona Waterfall Adventure Hike on Google Maps
Entrance to La Leona Waterfall Adventure Hike
Booking Options
Decide how you’d like to visit: drive yourself or enjoy the convenience of included transportation.
🚗
Self-Drive Tour
Meet at Tour Starting Point
Best if you have your own car or prefer to travel independently
Free and monitored parking is available at our tour office in Curubandé. You can also get there by public bus.
🚐
Transportation Included
Hotel Pickup Service throughout Guanacaste
⭐ Most convenient option – we take care of everything
Our driver will pick you up at your preferred location, take you to the tour, wait for you, and drive you back afterward.
⚠️ Note that 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 Adventure Hike – What to Expect
Follow along as we show you what to expect on a private hiking tour to La Leona Waterfall in Costa Rica.
1
4×4 Ride
Meet your guide and get ready with a life jacket and dry bag. The tour starts with a fun 4×4 ride of about 5 minutes to the trailhead.
2
River Crossings
After a 10-minute walk through light forest, you’ll get to the first of five river crossings along the trail, with a rope to hold onto.
3
Jungle Trail
On the other side, step into dense tropical forest and walk beneath unusually shaped trees and over rocks and roots.
4
Boulders & Ladders
It gets more adventurous: climb over short ladders and volcanic rocks. Your guide will be by your side to help whenever needed.
5
First Swim
Your first refreshing swim leads through triangular shaped rock formations in bright turquoise water.
6
River Canyon
One of the most iconic parts of the hike: you will swim along a rope through a dramatic river canyon before the waterfall appears before you.
7
La Leona Waterfall
You’ve reached La Leona Waterfall! Cool down in the natural pool and take in the incredible scenery of volcanic cave walls around you.
ℹ️ Extra Attention for Small Children
On a La Leona Waterfall Private Tour, your dedicated guide can give your little ones more individual attention. This is why children ages 4–5 can join only on a private tour.
Your guide will help your children over rocky terrain, across the river and through the swimming sections. If they don’t know how to swim, they can float in their life jackets and hold onto the guide, who will gently pull them through the water. You can move at a pace that suits your family and take breaks when needed.
Ready to experience the La Leona Waterfall Adventure Hike for yourself?
⚠️ Advance booking required—reserve your spot today
📍 How to Get to La Leona Waterfall
Located just 20 minutes from Liberia, 40 minutes from Guanacaste Airport (LIR) and only about 1-2 hours from the region’s most popular beaches, the La Leona Waterfall Adventure Hike makes a perfect Rincon de la Vieja day trip.
You can get to the tour starting point in Curubandé with your own or a rental car, by bus, or by choosing the option with transportation included.
La Leona Waterfall Directions
💡 You don’t need a 4×4 vehicle to get to La Leona Waterfall, 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.
🅿️ At our tour office you will find free and monitored parking.
Entrance to our tour office.
Tour with Transportation Included
If you don’t have a car available, or simply prefer the most convenient option, you can book the La Leona Waterfall tour 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
Enjoy convenient shuttle service throughout Guanacaste.
La Leona Waterfall
by Bus
Taking the bus to get to La Leona Waterfall is the most budget-friendly option, but it is also less flexible, as there is only one bus connection available for both the journey to Curubandé and the return trip.
💡 Keep in mind that each bus ride must be paid for in cash directly to the driver. It’s best to bring small bills with you, as drivers may not always have change for larger notes.
Getting there (Liberia → Curubandé)
- Departure from: Parada Municipal (Liberia)
- Bus time: 6:45am
✔ Allows you to join the tour at 8am or 9am
❌ Does NOT run on weekends
Returning (Curubandé → Liberia)
- Departure from: Bus station close to the church
- Bus time: 1:15pm
✔ Fits after completing the morning hike
⚠️ Only bus available to get back
What to Bring • What’s Included • Visitor Facilities
See what to bring to the La Leona Waterfall Adventure Hike for a comfortable tour experience and get an overview of our visitor facilities.
🎒 What to Bring
✔️ Closed-toe shoes, water shoes or sandals with straps (NO flip-flops!)
✔️ Light sports clothes that can get wet
✔️ Change of clothes and shoes for after the tour & a towel
✔️ Water bottle
✔️ Sunscreen & bug spray
🪖 What’s Provided
✔️ Dedicated guide exclusively for your group
✔️ Life jackets (mandatory for everyone)
✔️ Dry bags to store small belongings during the hike
✔️ Transportation between our office and the trailhead
🚻 Visitor Facilities
✔️ Free & monitored parking
✔️ Lockers
✔️ Bathrooms
✔️ Changing rooms
✔️ Showers
✔️ Shoe-washing stations
✔️ On-site ➡️ La Leona Restaurant
La Leona Waterfall Adventure Hike – FAQ
Will we have La Leona Waterfall to ourselves on a private tour?
No, a private tour means you’ll have a dedicated guide exclusively for your group and won’t be combined with other travelers in a large group. However, La Leona Waterfall, the river and the trail are shared areas, so you may see other visitors during your tour.
Why can children under 6 only join a private tour to La Leona Waterfall?
Young children typically need more individual assistance along the La Leona Waterfall hike. To guarantee a safe and enjoyable experience, children ages 4 and 5 can only join a private tour, where the guide can focus exclusively on your family, provide individual assistance when needed, and allow your group to move at its own pace without feeling rushed.
Is transportation included in the La Leona Waterfall Private Tour?
Transportation from your hotel to our tour reception is not included in the tour price, but you can add it to your reservation for an additional cost. We offer reliable transportation and flexible transfer services throughout Guanacaste, with experienced drivers and the option to include La Leona Waterfall as a stop between two destinations.
How much does the La Leona Waterfall private tour cost?
$45 per adult (ages 13+) and $35 per child (ages 4–12), including the personal guide, life jacket, dry bag and transportation between the office and trailhead. You can add transportation from your hotel for an extra cost.
Is the La Leona Waterfall private tour better than the La Leona Waterfall group tour?
Both tour options follow the same jungle trail to La Leona Waterfall and are fully guided experiences. Depending on your travel style, one option may be a better fit for you.
On a private tour, your group has a dedicated guide and will not be combined with other guests, while our group tours can have up to 20 participants.
On the private tour, your guide is focused exclusively on your group, giving you more flexibility to move at your own pace and receive more individual assistance along the trail. This is also why children can join the private tour from age 4, while the minimum age for the group tour is 6.
If you want to save money and enjoy the hike with other travelers, the group tour is a great choice. If you prefer a more personalized experience at your own pace, or you are traveling with young children, the private tour is the better option.
Can you hike La Leona Waterfall without a guide?
No, you cannot hike La Leona Waterfall without a guide. La Leona Waterfall can only be visited with a certified guide as part of an official tour because the waterfall, hiking trail, and access road are located on private property. The hike also includes more challenging sections where professional guidance is necessary for safety reasons.
Is La Leona Waterfall kid friendly?
Yes, La Leona Waterfall in Rincon de la Vieja is a great adventure for active kids. Children ages 6 and up can join a group tour, while children ages 4 and 5 can participate in a private tour, because they typically need more personalized assistance.
Kids usually have a lot of fun climbing over rocks and ladders, crossing the river, and swimming into the waterfall cave, as it feels like exploring a hidden place in the jungle. Our experienced guides closely assist children throughout the entire adventure.
How difficult is the La Leona Waterfall Adventure Hike?
The La Leona Waterfall tour is rated as moderate. 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. You don’t need any previous hiking experience, but a basic level of fitness is required. 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.
Do I need to know how to swim for the La Leona Waterfall Adventure Hike?
No, you don’t need to know how to swim for the La Leona Waterfall tour. Life jackets are mandatory, so you can just float and move along the safety ropes set up across the river. Your guide will assist you throughout the hike whenever needed.
What should I wear for the La Leona Waterfall hike?
We recommend wearing light, fast-drying sports clothes and closed-toe shoes or sandals with straps for the La Leona Waterfall hike. Flip-flops are not allowed on the tour.
Remember to bring a towel, a change of clothes, and an extra pair of shoes for after the hike, as you’ll get completely wet in the river.
Do I need to book a La Leona Waterfall tour in advance?
Yes, La Leona Waterfall tours must be booked in advance. Tours can fill up quickly, especially during high season, and if you arrive without a reservation, you probably can’t join a tour that day.
How long does the La Leona Waterfall hike take?
The La Leona Waterfall Adventure Hike takes about 2.5–3 hours from start to finish, depending on group size and pace.