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Bajos del Toro is one of those places in Costa Rica that hardly anyone puts on their itinerary, and then everyone who goes can’t stop talking about it. There are many waterfalls here, but two of them stand out: Catarata del Toro and the Blue Falls of Costa Rica.
Most tourist information treats them as two completely unrelated waterfalls, so I almost didn’t do both. But they’re only 5 minutes apart, they belong to the same company, and a combined ticket is cheaper.
Still, those sites were right about one thing: the two couldn’t be more different. Catarata del Toro is one enormous 90-meter (300 ft) plunge into the crater of an extinct volcano. The Blue Falls are a series of falls and pools in a turquoise so bright it looks edited until you’re standing in front of it.
Below, you’ll find the costs, opening hours, what to bring, and hiking options, so you can plan your visit to both.
Blue Falls & Catarata del Toro at a glance
- Opening Hours
- Both waterfalls are open Monday to Saturday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Closed on Sundays
- Combo ticket cost
- Adults $25, children $12.50
- Time needed for both
- 5 to 6 hours total
- Crowds
- Medium to high
Blue Falls
Easy to moderate- Distance
- 2.8 miles (4.5 km), or 4.3 miles (7 km), out-and-back
- Time needed
- 3 to 4 hours total
- Starting point
- You must buy your tickets and/or check-in at Catarata del Toro visitor center, then go here.
- Parking
- Blue Falls Parking lot
- Separate Ticket Cost
- Adults $20, children $10
- Crowds
- Medium to high
Catarata del Toro
Moderate- Distance
- 3.5 km (2.2 mi) with 350-400 steps
- Time needed
- 2 hours total
- Starting point & Parking
- Catarata del Toro visitor center
- Separate Ticket Cost
- Adults $15, children $7.50
Blue Falls & Catarata del Toro Map
How to get to Blue Falls & Catarata del Toro
Driving to Bajos del Toro is your best option. It takes about 1h30 from San Jose and about 2 hours from La Fortuna to reach Bajos del Toro. The Blue Falls are about 15 minutes away from Bajos del Toro city center, on a road with plenty of potholes.
Reaching Bajos del Toro by bus is technically possible, but it would involve a combination of bus and taxi, as there's no bus station in Bajos del Toro. And even if you reach the city that way, you'll feel kind of stranded, since there's no public transportation in town and getting a taxi isn't as easy as you might think.
If you don't want to drive in Costa Rica, the best alternative is to join a guided tour with transportation included.
Blue Falls & Catarata del Toro ticket prices
Blue Falls
Tickets for the Blue Falls cost $20 for adults and children 13 and older, and $10 for children ages 4 to 12.
Catarata del Toro
An entrance ticket for Catarata del Toro costs $15 for adults and children 13 and older, and $7.50 for children ages 4 to 12.
Combo ticket
If you're planning on visiting both the Blue Falls and Catarata del Toro on the same day, your best option is to buy a "combo", as it will let you save about 30% compared to buying separate tickets.
Combo tickets are $25 for adults and children above 13, and $12.50 for children ages 4 to 12.
Prepare your trip
Opening hours
Both the Blue Falls and Catarata del Toro are open Monday to Saturday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. They both close on Sundays.
What to bring
- Swimsuit if you want to swim in the permitted areas
- A waterproof bag to protect your electronics and important items from the waterfall's mist and from the water during the river crossing.
- Shoes that can get wet. You will need these for the river crossing if you plan on seeing all of the Blue Falls waterfalls.
- Bring your camera to catch the mesmerizing blue color.
Best time of the year to visit
The best time to visit is the dry season from December to April, because you will have a higher chance of sunny skies. You can also visit when it rains, but the blue color might wash out, and the trails can become slippery.
Best time of the day to visit
Visiting the waterfalls early in the morning is best if you want fewer people on the trails and to avoid the organized tours from La Fortuna or San Jose.
Try to come on a sunny day and avoid weekends, as locals also visit and it can get crowded.
Blue Falls hike
Blue Falls Entrance
Even if you want to visit Blue Falls right away, you must first stop at the visitor center at Catarata del Toro to buy tickets and get a bracelet as proof of purchase.
Then drive about 5 minutes until you find an unmarked parking lot on the left (here on google maps), right in front of an unmarked entrance. Park in the lot, then cross the street to enter the Blue Falls area.
Blue Falls Layout
At the entrance, follow the path in front of you for about 10 to 15 minutes from the entrance until you reach an intersection with two signs.
Then, at the intersection, depending on how many guides are there on the day of your visit, you may find a staff member to guide you. As I understood it, they are already being paid by the Blue Falls organization, but tips are welcome.
Guide or no guide, you must choose which direction you want to walk, because the seven waterfalls are divided into 2 areas. Go right to see Poza Azul, the 2 Gemelas waterfalls, and Tepezquintle, or left to reach La Pintada, Turquesa, and Celestial.
Hiking options & what to expect
Hiking in the Blue Falls is very flexible: you can visit as many waterfalls as you want and leave anytime, since there's no closed loop you have to finish.
The most popular ways to visit the Blue Falls are 1) to visit all the waterfalls or 2) to stick to either the right or the left side and only see half of the waterfalls.
People who choose to visit only one side often prefer the right, as the trails are easier and the infrastructure is better (platforms for visitors to walk on), although that makes it feel less natural.
If you visit the left side of the Blue Falls, expect to go down some stairs to reach Turquesa waterfall, then more stairs to the farthest waterfall, La Pintada, before coming back up the same way. If you visit Turquesa waterfall, you will cross the river to reach the main viewpoint.
Swimming in the Blue Falls
Swimming is allowed at all the waterfalls except La Pintada, which you can only see from a platform. The water is cold, but that didn't seem to bother the locals.
Catarata del Toro hike
Unlike the Blue Falls, where you roam around a big area, the visit to Catarata del Toro basically consists of descending the height of the waterfall until you reach its base.
The trail in pictures
The entrance to Catarata del Toro is right next to the visitor center, where you can buy tickets. You can grab a wooden stick to help you on the stairs there.
After about 5 to 10 minutes of walking, you'll reach the first viewpoint. Take your time there, or at another viewpoint along the way. In my opinion, the first viewpoint has the "wow" effect, since it's the first time you'll see the waterfall, but it isn't necessarily the most beautiful one.
Be ready for 350 to 400 steps down.
At the end of the stairs, you will reach a viewing platform with stunning views.
If you want to get even closer to the waterfall, you can continue down a couple of steps carved into the rock, but they are wet from the waterfall and pretty slippery, so only go that way if you have proper shoes.
We didn't go this path because it was raining and we were happy enough with the views from the platform, but many people were downstairs.
When you're done taking in the beauty of the waterfalls, go back up the way you came.
Swimming in Catarata del Toro
Swimming in Catarata del Toro is forbidden because the current is too strong to be safe.
Blue Falls & Catarata del Toro FAQs
1. Which to visit: Blue Falls or Catarata del Toro?
It depends on what you want to see and the effort you're willing to put in.
Blue Falls has 7 celestial blue waterfalls, and some are easy to access, though others require going down and then back up some stairs. Swimming is allowed in some of the natural pools there, but the water is cold
On the other hand, Catarata del Toro is a tall waterfall inside an old volcano crater. Swimming is not allowed here because the current is too strong. To reach the waterfall, you will need to get down 350 to 400 steps and climb them back up.
Both waterfalls are 5 minutes apart and are owned by the same company. There's even a combined ticket that grants entry to both places for less than separate tickets.
Do them both if you have time.
2. Do I need a guide to visit Blue Falls & Catarata del Toro?
You don't really need a guide to visit the Blue Falls & Catarata del Toro. The trails are well marked, and it is a popular site, so you probably won't be alone or get lost.
Getting a guide only makes sense if you're coming on an organized day tour from La Fortuna or San José.
3. Is the Blue Falls the same as Rio Celeste?
No. They’re two different places with similar turquoise water.
Rio Celeste is inside Tenorio Volcano National Park and is one hike of about 7 km (4.3 mi) round trip to one famous waterfall. The Blue Falls are on a private property in Bajos del Toro, with seven waterfalls you can visit as you like.
The biggest difference for most people is swimming. At the Blue Falls, you can swim in the pools at every waterfall except La Pintada.
4. Is Catarata del Toro or the La Fortuna Waterfall better?
It depends on what you want to see and whether you want to swim.
Catarata del Toro is taller, at 90 m (300 ft) against roughly 70 to 75 m (230 to 245 ft) for La Fortuna Waterfall. It also has fewer steps, 350 to 400 against about 500. But swimming is forbidden at Catarata del Toro, while you can swim at the base of La Fortuna Waterfall.
However, Catarata del Toro is next to the Blue Falls, a set of 7 celestial blue waterfalls, where you can swim.
Additionally, they're in completely different places in Costa Rica. La Fortuna Waterfall is just about 10 minutes from La Fortuna, while Catarata del Toro is in Bajos del Toro, about 2 hours away from La Fortuna.
5. Do I need a 4x4 to drive to Bajos del Toro?
No, but a 4x4 definitely helps. The roads leading to Bajos del Toro are in poor condition and have huge potholes, so high clearance is highly recommended. Also, some roads are incredibly steep, so make sure you have good traction and good brakes; when in doubt, ask locals and take longer routes with smaller slopes.
6. How long does it take to walk to each Blue Falls waterfall?
It takes about 2 to 3 hours to visit all the waterfalls, without swimming in any pool.
7. Is Catarata del Toro suitable for kids or people with limited mobility?
Kids are welcome, with children aged 4 to 12 paying half price. But the 350 to 400 steps down are all steps back up, and that climb is the hardest part.
The park advises against it for people with heart conditions, walking difficulties, pregnancy, or older age. You can borrow a wooden walking stick at the entrance. If you can’t do the stairs, Blue Falls is a better option for you.
