The best waterfalls in Costa Rica

Niagara Falls — 4 best value experiences:

The endlessly impressive Horseshoe Falls — beautiful both day and night, completely free to view. You can also buy tickets for the boat cruise to get closer to the falls. Journey Behind the Falls — requires a ticket, but absolutely worth it. You can experience the incredibly powerful emerald-green waterfall up close, like “water falling straight down from the sky.” Take the Incline Railway between the hotel and the falls area — saves you thousands of steps. East Izakaya buffet — a Japanese buffet that both locals and even visitors from the U.S. side say is affordable and delicious.

Costa Rica | Exploring Rio Celeste

We stayed at a hotel in La Fortuna and booked a guided hike to Rio Celeste through the hotel reception. It cost around USD $120 per person, including a guide and lunch.

We set off at 8:00 am and drove about 1 hour 45 minutes to get there. The road was quite bumpy along the way. Our guide joked that it was a “free massage”. During the drive, we were lucky enough to spot a sleepy sloth resting in a tree.

We headed out at 2 pm, and the park closes at 5 pm—perfect timing to fully enjoy it. The entrance fee is $22, and it’s about a 10-minute drive from the town center. The whole park is very well maintained, but you’ll need to walk down around 500 steps to reach the waterfall. It takes about 10–15 minutes, and yes—you can swim there. One thing to note: although the park closes at 5 pm, entry is not allowed after 4 pm.

The best part—Uber from downtown is only about $6.

Uber gets you there directly, no need to figure out directions. You get dropped off right at the entrance, pay by cash or card, and walk straight into what feels like a jungle paradise.