• Blog
  • Destinations
    • Caribbean
      • Aruba
    • Central America
      • Belize
      • Costa Rica
    • Europe
      • England
      • France
    • South America
      • Ecuador
    • USA
      • Florida
      • Louisiana
      • New York
      • Tennessee
      • Texas
  • Resources
    • How to Get a Passport
    • How to Get the Cheapest Flights on Southwest Airlines
  • About Me
  • Work With Me

Costa Rica Waterfalls: Hiking to the Oropendola

December 3, 2019 by alongforadventure 2 Comments

  • Share
  • Tweet
costa rica waterfalls

This page may contain affiliate links, meaning that I receive a small percentage of the sale at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting Along for Adventure!

The Oropendola is one of my favorite (yet mostly unknown!) Costa Rica waterfalls. Costa Rica is known for its abundance of picturesque waterfalls amid lush, tropical rainforest. Located throughout the country, it’s possible to see several waterfalls during your Costa Rica trip.

Located within Rincon de la Vieja National Park in northern Costa Rica, the Oropendola is one of the easiest waterfalls to see in Costa Rica, but absolutely one of the most rewarding! It’s also the only waterfall in the area that allows swimming, making it ideal for a post-hike treat during a hot Costa Rican afternoon. The Oropendola waterfall is located in the Guanacaste province near Liberia. If you are traveling to this region, the Oropendola is one of the most beautiful and easiest Costa Rica waterfalls to see.  

oropendola waterfall costa rica

How to Get to Rincon de la Vieja National Park

Rincon de la Vieja is very easy to find. Just put the park’s name into your GPS to receive easy-to-follow directions to the parking lot and trail heads. Along the way, you will come across a toll booth that looks a little sketchy. The road to the national park crosses private property, and the owner of that land set up a toll booth as a way to capitalize on all the visitors headed across his land to the national park. I can’t blame him, really! The toll costs just $1.50 per person (or 700 Costa Rican Colones), so make sure you bring a bit of cash to pay this. It’s only due on your way into the park, not back out.

Once you arrive in the parking lot, head into the main building to your right. There will be some park employees available to help you decide which trail you want to take and to give you instructions. They will also assign you a number (remember it!) if you plan to hike any of the longer trails in the park and then check you off when you return, to ensure that everyone going into the park that day makes it back out. You will pay them for park access based on the trail you want to access. To see the Oropendola waterfall, pay $10 per person and follow the instructions to the short trail.

Hiking to the Oropendola Waterfall

From the start of the trail, it’s just a quick half-mile hike through the rainforest to get to the majestic Oropendola Costa Rica waterfall. Parts of the trail can be muddy and a bit slippery, so make sure you’re wearing proper tennis or hiking shoes. I wore my trusty Keen hiking shoes and was good to go. 

suspension bridge near oropendola waterfall costa rica

The most fun part of the trail is a suspension bridge over the river! You can hear the roar of the waterfall as you go along the trail, heightening the excitement of what you’re about to see. When you arrive at the waterfall, you will come to a platform where you can leave your clothes, etc. as you jump into the water! I just wore my swimsuit underneath my clothes that day. There’s a ladder down to the water to make it easy to get in and out safely. The water is freezing cold at first but so refreshing!

The waterfall and swimming area is surrounded by tall, mossy cliffs and lush jungle flora. It was one of those “I am really in the middle of the jungle” feelings. We were the only ones there when we arrived on a sunny November afternoon. 

The Oropendola waterfall is such a great afternoon activity in Costa Rica! I totally recommend checking it out and going for a dip beneath the waterfall.

Dreams las mareas

Start Planning Your Trip
Book Your Flight: Kayak will save you an average of 20% on every flight! They have tons of data to show you how to get the very best deal on flights.

Find Costa Rica Hotels: Use Booking.com as they consistently offer the lowest prices. Many of their listings also allow you to book now and pay when you stay, making it easy to plan ahead for travel.

Don’t Forget Travel Insurance: Travel insurance will protect you in case of injury, illness, theft, missed flights, and more. I have been using World Nomads for years and have had nothing but great experiences.

Get the Guide Book: I read the Lonely Planet guide book for my destination before every trip! Their guide books are full of great information.

Check out my Resource Page for the travel gear I use and recommend. I think you’ll love these things too!

pin for later

costa rica waterfalls oropendola

Read This Next:  Ambergris Caye, Belize: The Ultimate Guide
  • Share
  • Tweet

  • Costa Rica

Comments

  1. Orlando says

    December 3, 2019 at 11:20 pm

    Beautiful pics! I would definitely make time to visit this waterfall if I am ever in Costa Rica…you do a great job “inviting” us to see it!

    Reply
  2. Jenne says

    April 23, 2020 at 4:57 am

    Ooo I love suspension bridges. It’s nice there’s a platform to jump off into the waterfall. Thanks for sharing!

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.


I’m Danielle, a girl from Texas who wants nothing more than to explore every corner of the world. Follow along as I document my journey to travel as much as possible and help you do the same.

You’ll find destination guides and itineraries, my recommendations for the best places to eat and stay, and tips on how to make your next trip the best ever.

As Seen In

along for adventure

Book Now, Pay Later

Booking.com

search

Along for Adventure. Copyright © 2023

Designed by Cello Designs. Built on The Genesis Framework