The falls
Spray and echo.
Photo by and (c)2007 Derek Ramsey (Ram-Man) — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Photo by and (c)2007 Derek Ramsey (Ram-Man) — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Photo by and (c)2007 Derek Ramsey (Ram-Man) — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Photo by and (c)2007 Derek Ramsey (Ram-Man) — CC BY-SA 4.0
A tall, slender waterfall dropping some seventy metres from a rock lip into a narrow rainforest gorge and a clear green pool, amid spray that fills the air and the roar of water echoing between green walls. From the entrance visitors walk down a long stairway of more than five hundred steps through the forest, with lookouts over the falls from above, to its base by the pool and rocky river. The climb back up is tiring, so take your time and carry water. A local community project runs it and reinvests the fees in the town, and the entrance has small restaurants and a lookout over the valley and Arenal volcano on clear days. The road from town climbs steeply, done by car, bike or on foot for the fit. The water is cold and the current strong at the base, so follow the rangers' instructions, and the rocks are slippery. Go in the morning before the crowds.
Spray and echo.
Through the forest.
Over Arenal.
South of La Fortuna town, about 6 km up a mountain road
Going down 500-plus steps is fairly easy, but the climb back is tiring, so take your time and carry water.