Written by Nikki Solano

Nikki is the CEO of Pura Vida! eh? Inc. (Costa Rica Discounts), and the author of the guidebooks Moon Costa Rica (2019, 2021, 2023, and 2025 editions) and Moon Best of Costa Rica (2022 edition) from Moon Travel Guides. Together with her Costa Rican husband, Ricky, she operates the Costa Rica Travel Blog, created the online community DIY Costa Rica, built the Costa Rica Destination Tool, oversees the brand-new (summer 2023) Costa Rica Travel Shop, and designed the Costa Rica Trip Planning 101 E-Course. Also, Nikki wrote the Costa Rica cover feature for Wanderlust Magazine's sustainability-focused Travel Green List issue, showcased Costa Rica destinations and experiences on Rick Steves' Monday Night Travel show and podcast/radio show, and served as the Costa Rica Destination Editor for Essentialist, a luxury travel brand. Want to show your appreciation for her free article below? Thank Nikki here. ❤️️

Costa Rica’s Llanos del Cortes Waterfall

If you have an hour or two to spare while in the Liberia area (technically, the Bagaces area) of Costa Rica, don’t miss the Llanos del Cortes Waterfall, a beautiful, soothing, and photogenic waterfall and swimming hole. The entrance fee is inexpensive, the drive to and from the attraction is easy, the climb down to (and back up from) the waterfall’s base isn’t overly challenging, and the swimming hole, which has lifeguards on duty, is refreshing and suitable for children.

The difference between the Llanos del Cortes Waterfall, the Llanos de Cortes Waterfall, the Llanos del Cortez Waterfall, and the Llanos de Cortez Waterfall

Simply put, the difference between the Llanos del Cortes Waterfall, the Llanos de Cortes Waterfall, the Llanos del Cortez Waterfall, and the Llanos de Cortez Waterfall is ignorance. Only one of these four waterfalls exists: the Llanos del Cortes Waterfall (technically the Llanos del Cortés Waterfall, with the accent included). Astonishingly, countless uninformed print sources, Costa Rica blogs, and other online resources cite the waterfall’s title incorrectly. Named after the small community of Llanos del Cortes, even the attraction’s own logo, signage, and documentation confirm that the spelling of Llanos del Cortes is correct.

Note: There are half a dozen Facebook pages dedicated to the Llanos del Cortes Waterfall (citing various names), but this one, in the name of the Llanos del Cortes Waterfall, is the official one. Both the waterfall and its Facebook page are managed by the Municipality of Bagaces, Costa Rica. The Facebook page is a great resource for learning when the waterfall is open for swimming (when water conditions permit) and when the waterfall is open for viewing only.

Who should visit the Llanos del Cortes Waterfall

The Llanos del Cortes Waterfall is an attraction that’s easy to recommend to a wide range of travelers, including the types of travelers described below. If you identify with one or more of the groups, adding a visit to the Llanos del Cortes Waterfall during your time in Costa Rica may be a smart choice.

Visit the Llanos del Cortes waterfall if you plan to a) fly into or out of the LIR Airport, b) visit the Liberia region of Costa Rica, or c) pass through the Liberia region of Costa Rica

The Llanos del Cortes Waterfall is less than a ten-minute drive off of Costa Rica’s Highway #1, otherwise known as the Pan-American Highway, or, as Google Maps displays, the Inter American Highway. (For more information about Costa Rica’s highways, don’t miss our related blog post Costa Rica Highway Conditions By Route.) If you plan to fly into or out of the LIR Liberia airport (a.k.a., the Guanacaste Airport, previously known as the Daniel Oduber Quiros International Airport) or spend time in the general Liberia area, it’s not difficult to make a quick trip to the Llanos del Cortes Waterfall and back. If you plan to visit a destination in Guanacaste (i.e., a destination that sits along Costa Rica’s northern Pacific coast or a destination that’s located in the zone north of Liberia) before or after visiting either La Fortuna / Arenal, Monteverde, San Jose, the Caribbean Coast, the central Pacific coast, or the Osa Peninsula, there’s a good chance you’ll be able to schedule a stop at the Llanos del Cortes Waterfall as you travel between destinations on Highway #1.

Visit the Llanos del Cortes Waterfall if you plan to rent a car in Costa Rica

It’s no secret that having access to a rental car in Costa Rica awards you with road-tripping freedom. (If you’re on the fence about whether or not you should rent a car for your trip, don’t miss our related blog post Renting A Car In Costa Rica: Should You Do It? when you weigh the pros and cons). Since the Llanos del Cortes Waterfall is merely a twenty-five-minute drive from Liberia, an hour drive from the coastal communities of Playa Hermosa and Playas del Coco, and a ninety-minute drive from the popular beach town of Tamarindo, self-drive visits to the waterfall can be made in only a few hours. What’s more, you don’t need a 4×4 vehicle to access the cascade.

Visit the Llanos del Cortes Waterfall if you’re traveling on a tight budget

Though there’s a fee to enter the Llanos del Cortes Waterfall (entrance was by donation only prior to 2019), the waterfall remains one of Costa Rica’s least expensive cascades with paid access. Its affordable entrance fees are $7.00 per adult and $4.00 per child aged 7-12 years (children 0-6 are free). Entrance fees are paid to the attendant at the small booth you’ll encounter shortly before you reach the waterfall’s parking lot.

Visit the Llanos del Cortes Waterfall if you plan to travel with young children

Fortunately, the Llanos del Cortes Waterfall is a family-friendly attraction. Not only does the sandy entrance that leads into the swimming hole provide a gradual descent, but plenty of the pool’s sections are shallow enough for young waders. In addition, since the Llanos del Cortes Waterfall isn’t overly powerful (at least when compared to other waterfalls in Costa Rica, such as the one we describe in our related blog post Visiting The All-New La Fortuna Waterfall And Orchid Garden), you’re less likely to be bothered by strong river currents and significant water spray coming off the cascade. Though all child’s play near bodies of water warrants the highest degree of care and attention (avoid letting children get too close to the waterfall’s base where swimming can be dangerous), the swimming experience here is generally pleasant and low-risk. Lifeguards keep watch over swimmers and offer an added level of precaution.

Who shouldn’t visit the Llanos del Cortes Waterfall

In contrast to the information we provided above, the Llanos del Cortes Waterfall isn’t for everyone. If you identify with one or more of the groups described below, perhaps skipping a trip to the Llanos del Cortes Waterfall during your time in Costa Rica would be best.

Don’t visit the Llanos del Cortes Waterfall if you have difficulty walking up or down stairs

Though the Llanos del Cortes Waterfall doesn’t require you to complete a difficult hike to and from the waterfall’s base, it does require an approximate five-minute climb down (and up) concrete steps. If you feel you won’t be able to make the climb, or if you’d rather not risk being unable to do so, don’t plan to visit the Llanos del Cortes Waterfall.

Don’t visit the Llanos del Cortes Waterfall if your itinerary doesn’t require you to a) fly into or out of the LIR Airport, b) visit the Liberia region of Costa Rica, or c) pass through the Liberia region of Costa Rica

If your Costa Rica itinerary doesn’t include a visit to the LIR Airport and/or the Liberia region of the country, skip a visit to the Llanos del Cortes Waterfall altogether. Though we have always enjoyed our visits to the attraction, each was the result of us having some free time to kill while in the Liberia area. We’ve never purposely driven to the Llanos del Cortes Waterfall from other regions of the country, including La Fortuna / Arenal, Monteverde, San Jose, the Caribbean Coast, the central Pacific coast, or the Osa Peninsula. In fact, we’ll even go so far as to suggest that, though lovely, the Llanos del Cortes Waterfall isn’t spectacular enough to warrant planning an entire trip around. In our opinion, there are other sites and attractions (including other waterfalls) that you should prioritize when planning a Costa Rica trip.

Don’t visit the Llanos del Cortes Waterfall if you don’t plan to rent a car in Costa Rica… in some cases

Driving to and from the Llanos del Cortes Waterfall is a cinch but arranging alternative transportation to and from the site can be costly and/or tricky. There are ways to accomplish the task—you can hire a taxi or reserve a private transfer service to bring you to the site—but both of these services can be expensive depending on where you travel from and how long you want the driver to wait for you at the waterfall. Some backpackers take the local bus, which is also an option (the least expensive one), but careful coordination of bus schedules is required, and the bus driver must be informed of your destination in advance in order to make an unscheduled stop in the area (unfortunately there is no direct bus route to or from the Llanos del Cortes Waterfall). Shared shuttle services, one of the most common modes of transportation in Costa Rica (don’t miss our related blog post Costa Rica Transportation: 12 Ways To Get Around Costa Rica for more information), rarely permit unscheduled stops while in service because they transport several people at once and stick to strict travel schedules. If you aren’t able to get to and from the Llanos del Cortes Waterfall via a rental car, you may decide that visits to the waterfall just aren’t worth the hassle or expense that comes with other transportation arrangements.

Llanos del Cortes Waterfall visit tips and things to know before you go

The waterfall offers ample parking on-site

There’s a large, free parking lot at the Llanos del Cortes Waterfall. We typically tip the parking attendant(s) anywhere from $2.00-$5.00 USD for a visit that lasts no longer than one hour. If you arrive as a large group or if you plan to stay at the waterfall for a longer period of time, consider offering a larger tip. For more tipping recommendations, see our related blog post What To Know About Tipping In Costa Rica.

The waterfall provides bathrooms / changing rooms on-site

Free bathrooms / changing rooms are situated at the parking lot. There are no bathrooms / changing rooms at the bottom of the waterfall.

Use the newer, concrete steps to access the waterfall’s base, not the older, steep, forest steps

Before the attraction provided the set of concrete steps that depart from the parking lot toward the waterfall’s base, visitors had to climb down (and back up) rugged forest steps on steep terrain. Since the rainforest steps were not destroyed or closed when the concrete steps were built, many visitors trek down the forest slope without knowing there’s an alternative, easier route. From the parking lot, there are two access points to the waterfall’s base, both of which appear as trails leading into the forest. Take the access point / trail on the left. It leads to the set of concrete steps, which is the safer way to reach the waterfall.

The waterfall area gets hot

Depending on the time of year you opt to visit, the Llanos del Cortes Waterfall can provide refreshing relief during hot and humid travel days. It shouldn’t be forgotten, however, that waterfall is situated in Costa Rica’s hottest and driest province (Guanacaste). Sun safety should be exercised here. This means you should rely on hats, sunglasses, and sunscreen to prevent sun damage. Don’t forget to pack plenty of water and snacks to stay hydrated and energized throughout your stay.

Do not visit the waterfall after dark

As we touch on in our related blog post Is Costa Rica Safe? Yes, If You Do This., most places in Costa Rica (especially beaches, parks, and ATMs) should be avoided after dark. The Llanos del Cortes Waterfall is no exception. In fact, the site’s location off Highway #1, down an unlit path and into the forest, is one of the most dangerous places we could envision you being late at night. If you wish to visit the Llanos del Cortes Waterfall, do so in the middle of the day when there’s likely to be other people around and daylight to guide your way.

Bring / leave personal items at your own risk

Don’t bring important personal items (such as credit cards, jewelry, etc.) to the Llanos del Cortes Waterfall. You’ll need to leave them on the sandy area that surrounds the swimming hole, which puts them at risk for theft. If you absolutely must bring important items with you (such as car keys and identification documents required for driving), store the items in a waterproof container that can be safely secured to your body while you swim or tied tightly to a visible marker by the shore.

Visit the waterfall’s base / pool; do not hike above the waterfall or climb behind the waterfall

At the Llanos del Cortes Waterfall, there is both a hiking trail above the waterfall, which leads to a lookout over the top of the waterfall, as well as space to climb behind the waterfall. There have been too many sad stories of slips, falls, and injuries suffered as a result of horsing around at great heights and/or on slippery river rocks around waterfalls, so err on the side of caution with respect to both trails and don’t visit either. Mother Nature and her creations are unpredictable: cliffs can slide, rocks can be sharp or break, and flowing water can be surprisingly forceful. In our opinion, the views that can be obtained from the top of the waterfall and from behind the waterfall just aren’t worth the associated risk.

Llanos del Cortes photo gallery

Map of the Llanos del Cortes Waterfall

QUESTION TO COMMENT ON: Have you been to the Llanos del Cortes Waterfall? What did you think?

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