Hiking Tour Of La Leona Waterfall With Lunch

My wife and I had a great time with our fantastic guide, Alejandro. In fact, my wife says it was her favorite excursion that we have ever done in Costa Rica. Since we were there in “rainy” season, it was not very busy at all and we enjoyed the trail and the falls mostly by ourself. The hike in probably took about an hour and I would rate it as a relatively easy hike with a few stream crossings and some easy stairs and ladders to navigate. Most anyone in relatively good physical condition should be able to complete this hike without too much difficulty. The falls are beautiful and we thoroughly enjoyed our time on the trail and swimming below the falls.

Our tour guide Alejandro was amazing! He was so kind and patient he took pictures of us in all the spots we wanted and was very knowledgeable in telling us about the culture and wildlife. Lunch was amazing!

Our family hike with our guide Alejandro was the BEST! We opted for self drive & the team made it easy to find them at the pick up spot. We had an incredible time thanks to Alejandro’s experience and knowledge of the waterfall and hiking paths as well as his sense of humor and Pura Vida vibes. Magda was awesome as well and had an incredible lunch waiting for us afterward. Showers to change in are nearby and super clean too. TY Alejandro & Magda!

We really enjoyed our tour with Ro as our guide. Magda was so nice too and the lunch after that she set up was delicious and fun and a good value. The actual tour with Ro was incredible. He was extremely knowledgeable and really seems to enjoy being in the forest. He showed us many plants and animals that we would have walked right by and taught us a lot. He is also an experienced canyoner. He was patient and genuine and fun to be around. This tour was a highlight of our trip to Costa Rica. Thank you Ro and Magda!

This was a wonderful experience. Note all the things they ask for you can leave on your car or at the starting point. We took it with us and would have loved if someone told us we could have left it. It was alot to carry. The views were beautiful, our guide Alejandro was great. The food was delicious too and the juice was so refreshing. We are so happy we made the 2.5 hr drive for this experience

Meet up spot was easy to find. We were the only two people going at our time. Magda met us there, where we signed waivers and loaded into a truck that drove to the start of the tour. If given the choice, take their truck, it is a rough road. Alejandro was our guide. Speaks English fluently. Took many pictures and videos of us and shared some fun facts, such as the killer tree and banging on the hollow tree. Hike was intermediate difficulty. Alejandro offered a helping hand at slippery spots. River crossings are assisted by a rope. Rock climbs are assisted by short ladders. I wore tennis shoes and my girlfriend wore water shoes; we were both comfortable. The waterfall at the end was a great payoff. We were the only ones there and swam freely around the waterfall. The water was a comfortable temperature and neither of us were cold. The provided lunch offered a choice of meat (pork, beef, or fish) and fried plantain chips, rice, black beans, small salad, and fresh mango juice from the nearby mango trees (which was delicious!). I didn't get any bug bites, but my girlfriend got a few. Would recommend some bug spray beforehand. The hike itself is shaded, so no need for sunblock. Overall, was a very fun experience, and would highly recommend for anybody looking for a more intimate waterfall tour where you can get right up in the waterfall.

Alejandro was a great guide and helped us have an unforgettable experience. Awesome tour, I recommend the river tubing experience as well.

Best excursion we have ever been on! Jason was the best guide ever. He was so nice and he knew so much along the trip and was so helpful! I highly recommend booking!

The absolute best waterfall hike we’ve ever been on!! Our guide Jason was AMAZING!! We will definitely recommend this trip to everyone and will be back to do it again!

Last minute adventure we signed up the day before and lucky for us, we had Jason as our guide and we had all his attention as we were the only 2 people he had for the day! Jason was very knowable, sweet and very kind! He made sure of our safety and let us take our time. Lunch was great and delicious! Awesome experience 😊! Shout out to Jason and Magda 🥰

This was our favorite hike we have ever done! We were in great hands with Jorge G. as our driver. He shared lots of info and was so friendly. Jason was our hike guide and he was so nice and funny. We had a great time and highly recommend doing this excursion!!

I went with my 22 year old son & we had a great time! Nata (Nathaniel) was our guide and he did a fantastic job of giving us information about the area & keeping us safe! We drove ourselves to the meeting point & then got into one of their vehicles which took us to the start of the hike. We hiked for maybe 45 minutes to an hour to get to La Leona. Along the way we had to cross the river a couple of times. You WILL get wet! You have to walk across mid-calf depth water and then chest deep water. You also have to swim the last part to get to the falls. There is a guide rope to help with this. There are also a couple of small ladders to climb along the trail. The waterfall itself is beautiful! & the water is so much cooler than the ocean. After a hike, it was very refreshing! After hiking back, we had an opportunity to change clothes & then had a typical costa-rican lunch - meat, rice, beans, vegetables & salad. In total, since we drove ourselves, it was about 3 hours. It was not crowded at the falls but we passed many groups heading there when we were leaving. On the way out, we got to jump off of a couple of rocks into the deep pools below which was a lot of fun too! I would definitely do this again! My son loved this too!

We had a great experience on our hike to the La Leona Waterfalls. Our guide was wonderful and showed us lots of interesting things along the way!! Would highly recommend Don Rafa Adventure Tours to everyone.

My tour guide David was simply excellent. He challenged me to try exciting adventures and of course the waterfalls were astounding. Your running shoes will be wet from the start, lighter ones are better to swim. Only need a camera for the tour and everything else they tell you to bring will be in a locker at the start of the trail. Have fun, I know I did!

This was one of the best excursions I have ever taken! Victor and Marcos were our guides and they were awesome. Very professional, caring, helpful and just all around great guys! My husband and I are both in our mid 70's and although there were some rocky areas, Victor or Marcos were always there to give a helping hand. Felt very safe. The Falls are spectacular! Can't recommend this enough!!

Our tour guide for this excursion was Jason. He greeted us at our meeting place as we were self driving. Martalena also joined us as she was going to prepare our lunch. My husband and I are in our 70’s but we are in good health and decent physical condition. My husband and Jason had an immediate connection as my husband can speak some Spanish. It was very entertaining to see them interact. My husband said that sure made it fun for him! Jason was very careful to give us a hand whenever we needed one. The trail is not really difficult. There are tree roots so you need to pay attention to where you’re stepping. The climbing was up and down over rocks. In a couple places short ladders were there to assist in climbing. Ropes were used for all the areas of river crossings. Those were exciting and for me, the most fun part! We worked up a sweat so the water felt delightfully cool but not cold. Jason had us paint our faces with the rocks that were colored by acid rain. We went on a Saturday at 9am which turned out to be a good time as it was getting busy when we were leaving. The waterfall is amazingly beautiful. Jason provided us with life vests and it was fun swimming in the spray of the deep crystal clear water. Jason was really good about offering to take photos and videos of us. We didn’t have any issues with mosquitoes which was a concern for me. When we arrived back at the entrance, Martalena brought us some really terrific pork snacks that were crispy and yummy. We changed into our dry clothes that we left in our car and went to the eating area. Martalena brought us a delicious glass of pineapple/lime juice drink. Then came lunch which included chicken, white rice, black beans a slaw and a salad! The potions were large and the chicken was moist and super flavorful. Once we finished with lunch, we drove Jason & Martalena back to where we picked them up. This adventure has been the highlight of our trip thus far. Don’t miss out and consider yourself lucky if you get Jason as your guide. Thank you Jason & Martalena for a truly memorable day!

Fantastic experience with conchal fun! Wilbert our guide was very knowledgeable and helpful. Everything was seamless. Transportation was great and the lunch was excellent as well. Highly recommend

This was an amazing hike with an amazing guide. He will go at whatever pace you want and for me, that's huge. It is so private even if you pass other groups. The waterfall is beautiful and so fun to get to. It is for people in moderately fit condition but nothing ridiculous. If you do the lunch, it was superb! An unexpected surprise! The tilapia and the breading on it was better than I've had anywhere in the world which shocked me. Did not expect it to be as wonderful as it was! Also, they're are tons of other tours to this but this is genuinely the closest starting point so you dont have to stay wait long! I felt bad for the other groups.

We had a great experience! Our guide Joshua was just awesome! The river water is a little chilly. It is very clean and you will see some great views of the canyon walls and tons of vegetation. No sunscreen required!

Wonderful day, Juan picked us up at our AirBnb and got us to our drop off point and jeep ride to hike with our guide Jason. Great hike into La Leona, followed by a wonderful and traditional Costa Rican lunch. Highly recommend!

Our guide, Jason, was outstanding. He prepared us for the hike and the swim and was so friendly. We learned more Spanish and he learned more English! The hike was beautiful and challenging enough to make it interesting. The rope crossings and swim were very unique experiences! Our heart rates were up but we felt safe and well cared for all the way. The lunch afterwards was delicious, a traditional Costa Rican meal. One of the highlights of all we have done in several years of trips over the holidays to Costa Rica! Thank you!

Jason is an amazing guide to La Leona Falls, he took care of us with extreme caution and care, he is very knowledgeable and made our experience safe and pleasant! Amazing, thank you again Jason! Alex, Veronica , Emma and Eric

It was very excited ,we had the best time ever.our guide was very nice, and very patient with us.we enjoyed it

We hade an excellent tour experience with Jayson. He was very kind and informative. 10/10 experience. I would highly recommend this experience to others.

My wife and I thoroughly enjoyed our hike to the La Leona Waterfall in Costa Rica and highly recommend our guide, Jason. His extensive knowledge and engaging commentary enriched our experience, and his attentiveness ensured we felt well cared for throughout. For instance, when I slipped on a riverside rock about a third of the way to the falls, Jason was quick to check on me and confirm I was unharmed. Though the overcast weather meant we didn’t spot much wildlife, reaching the stunning waterfall was the highlight, and it absolutely lived up to our expectations. As a couple in our early 60s, the trek was physically demanding but manageable, taking us just under four hours round-trip. With only Jason and us, the tour felt personalized, unlike the larger groups we saw on the trail, which likely had a different dynamic. Tips for future visitors: 1. Expect to get wet; wear appropriate clothing and closed-toe water shoes with good grip. 2. Bring a sealable waterproof bag, especially for the river at the waterfall. 3. A waterproof phone pouch is highly recommended for quick, easy photo access. 4. Pack a towel and a change of clothes for after the tour. 5. Be prepared for a challenging but engaging hike with varied terrain, water rapids, and ladders. Overall, this tour was a memorable adventure, and Jason’s expertise made it exceptional.

Such a great Adventure! Our tour guide John was amazing. So good with our 9 year old daughter. We had a great time doing this as a family. Glad we didn’t bring my mom tho as she’s older and not physically fit.

The tour guide enhanced the experience of this fabulous tour. Their ability to read the experience level of the group and adapt was great.

Amazing experience for our large group. Family members ranged from 7 to 71 and everyone was able to complete the hike and see the falls. The guides were informative and helpful and worked great with everyone. We went early and I would recommend doing the same, the trail was getting very busy as we were coming back. Checkout more reviews and family adventures at roamingrenshaws.com

This waterfall tour was well worth it. The waterfall itself isn't the biggest or tallest, but the location of the waterfall is amazing. The journey to the waterfall was the most fun and exciting trek to a waterfall we have done so far. Our Guide Carlos was very knowledgable and friendly. We highly recommend going to La Leona and using Native's Way.

This was awesome! A somewhat short hike up the river to the waterfall, with several water crossings. This is a combo of hiking and swimming so be prepared! Our guide was very helpful and fun. We had a private guided tour. It was worth it because some of the other groups we saw on the hike had soooo many people that you’d be waiting and slowed down a lot. Interesting fact - the river contains no life because of the mineral levels. So no bugs animals algae etc to worry about! That was good news lol. Also - the cascados for lunch was very yummy! Thank you!

We had an excellent hike- the waterfall is definitely flowing- I would recommend this adventure to the hiker/climbers and those that can swim well against strong currents. Very fun! Probably the best of everything we did in Costa Rica- we visited volcanoes, snorkeled, deep sea fished, ATV road to various places, went on a river boat tour through the rainforest, etc. the La Leona waterfall adventure was great- our guide was fantastic, patient for the hubby, and very informative along the way.

This is a great tour. Be prepared to swim, but it is so worth it! Even my 80-year-old Mom made it all the way like a champ (but she’s in great shape). Our guide Jason was great and we even got to see some monkeys in the trees at the end. Lunch was very good - classic Costa Rican Cosada plate cooked fresh. Highly recommend!

This tour was absolutely incredible! Our guide Carlos was not only knowledgeable and informative, but also had a great personality that made the experience even more enjoyable. His love for nature was not just appreciated, it was truly admirable. You could tell this wasn't just a job to him; he genuinely loves what he does, and it shines through in every part of the tour. From start to finish, we felt safe, well-guided, and fully engaged. At no point were we disappointed. I can honestly say this was one of the highlights of our trip, and I would highly recommend it to anyone visiting, or even living in Costa Rica. Don't miss it! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Our guide Daniel was amazing, helpful, friendly and knowledgeable. We had an amazing time hiking to the waterfall. We not only learned so much about the plants and animals, but felt safe and taken care of along the way. Also the scenery was incredible!!

This was an amazing, technical hike with a beautiful waterfall, river crossing and swimming! Im not great in the water but with a life jacket it was a blast! Jason was our guide and he was awesome! Super knowledgeable and so helpful! Our teens really enjoyed this trip! Thank you Jason! And the food at lunch was fantastic!

An Incredible Waterfall Tour – Truly Unforgettable! I highly recommend this waterfall tour—it was an amazing experience from start to finish! We were conveniently picked up right from our hotel, so we didn’t have to worry about a thing, and everything just got better from there. Our guide, Daniel, was absolutely fantastic—genuinely kind, super engaging, and incredibly knowledgeable about the local flora and fauna. He brought the hike to life with fun facts and great energy throughout. The scenery was absolutely breathtaking, and the waterfall itself was unlike any I’ve seen before—stunning, powerful, and truly one-of-a-kind. Be prepared to get wet as you’ll cross rivers and scramble over some rocks and tree roots, but the hike is very doable and so worth it. To top it all off, we ended the day with a delicious traditional Costa Rican lunch before being dropped off back at our hotel. The entire experience felt authentic, well-organized, and memorable. If you have the chance—go on this tour, and definitely go with Daniel!

We had a wonderful experience with our tour guide, Jason. He wasn’t just knowledgeable — he was also incredibly friendly, courteous, and kind. His professionalism and warm personality truly enhanced our tour, and we couldn’t have asked for a better guide.

Beautiful water and waterfalls. We like to hike and have done some difficult hikes in the Rockies. This hike I would say for the most part was easy. I few places you had to climb a short distance. It was fun to get in the water as much as we did. Jason our guide was amazing. Very nice and knowledgeable. My GoPro dropped into the water after I jumped in off a rock and he dove down multiple times and was able to retrieve it. He went above and beyond. Highly recommend the experience!

This was a nicely paced experience in breathtakingly beautiful scenery. The water hiking experience was totally enjoyable and the tour guide was extremely nice and helpful. We ended the trip at a local restaurant with a hearty meal. All in all a 10/10!

I would highly recommend this excursion! Jason our guide was fabulous, so hospitable and organized! Can’t say enough good things about our experience.

Hike and waterfall was very good. Guides were very helpful, knowledgeable and fun. The meal provided was decent. Our only complaint was the ride from the tour office to the start of hike. They had to shuttle us in a small vehicle, which took awhile.

Worth every penny. Mix of easy to moderately challenging hikes. About 20-30 mins easy hiking, 20-30 mins river crossing and clambering over rocks and 20-30 mins to get to final waterfall destination. Superb sights along the way and the La Leona waterfall final is not to be missed considering you can literally swim right up under it if you have the stamina. We arrived (self-driven) at 8:45am, were met by Jason and spent about 3 hours in total hiking there and back and an hour or so for lunch. Jason (our guide for the day) was super friendly, assistive when others in the party needed help with water activities and very knowledgeable as many others have noted. Yes water shoes with a good grip recommended. Tennis shoes also fine if you don’t mind everything getting wet. Take a change of clothes if you want for after. There are changing rooms at the park. There’s one point where you will need to swim about 10-20 yards across a pool and another where you’ll have to pull yourself using a rope against a strong current into a cavernous area at the end in order to see the waterfall. My wife who doesn’t swim and suffers from vertigo managed both with a life jacket and an assist from Jason. But I would not recommend if, as many others have said, you have poor mobility to start with or suffer with water related anxieties. Otherwise great fun for all the family and a lifetime memory we’ll all have together now

We had an awesome time on the hike to the waterfall with our guide Jason. We were staying in Tamirindo and I was kind of worried about the long drive to get there, but it was SO WORTH IT! The hike is somewhat technical, going across rocks and through the river. There are places to jump into the river along the way, and then, toward the end, you get to swim in the river, which is so refreshing. The waterfall was impressive and we got to spend a lot of time there. We also really enjoyed the delicious lunch after the hike. It was rice, veggies, and chicken (or beef or fish-- your choice).

I went there with my children (18 and 13 yo) to celebrate my 18 year old's birthday and graduation. She will be going away for college soon, and we wanted to have a good family time together. I am soooo glad I did. Our guides, Berny and Nacho, were clearly the best. Book with them, not with anybody else!! Throughout the tour, they went above and beyond, exceeding our expectations, including a lot of great photos taken by Berny. The waterfall is speechless and nature is just simply beautiful 😍. It was truly truly amazing experience. This will be our wonderful family memories that will stay with us. Thank you, Berny and Nacho!

We had the best day ever! Steven was our tour guide, and he was incredible! We spoke and laughed nonstop and he was so helpful, informative and fun! He even took us around the farm since we finished our tour a little early, and we saw more amazing animals and natural pools. Everyone that worked here was so kind and made us feel so welcome. The hike itself was semi difficult (especially when accessing right before the waterfall) but so worth it! Definitely wear water shoes that double as tennis shoes or sneakers that you don’t mind getting dirty! The lunch afterward was also fabulous! also! we had a 4 wheeler rental car so we were able to drive down to the start point, but it was a bumpy wild ride so i recommend being prepared for that.

Our guide Jason was terrific. The hike was beautiful. The early water crossings were easy. The last rope swim/pull into the waterfall area was much more difficult. I would not recommend for people that are older and overweight. A couple in front of us struggled mightily and concerned for them. A lot of upper arm strength and good swimming ability is needed. Well worth it when you reach the falls

Jason was our guide. We lucked out and had him all to ourselves on this tour. He was knowledgeable and made sure we felt safe the entire time. The hike was amazing as well as the waterfall. The lunch afterwards was very good. We highly recommend. A side note: this tour is for able bodied people only. You will be climbing over rivers and large rocks as you move down the trail. The final swim to the waterfall is a bit challenging but worth it.

It was a wonderful experience. We saw white faced monkies, howler monkies and blue morpho butterflies on our way to the falls. Our guide was a young man named Steven who made sure we were safe because the route in is challenging. The falls lived up to its reputation it is very beautiful.

What an amazing experience! Our driver Johnny was awesome…professional, friendly, knowledgeable and lead tour guide Jason kept us safe and was a true pro ! The hike itself wasn’t hard, some little ladders and walking across the river. You need water shoes the entire time (don’t buy white ones) - wear something you can get wet the entire time, you wear a life jacket the whole time…once you get to the area to start the swim to the waterfall the current can be very strong and you need to use a rope to fight your way to the ninja warrior-esque rebarb that’s sticking out of the rock and climb around it to get to the waterfall but it’s well worth it ! Worth the trip, we would suggest private (it was 6 of us) and we stopped for souvenirs and ice cream on the way home (about 2 hours there from tamarindo, 2 hour hike/adventure including a nice lunch with iced tea and 2 hours home) - Thank you Johnny & Jason !!!