pura vida passENES

Catarata Grande

Waterfall · San José & Central Valley · hidden gem

A waterfall near Varablanca, Heredia province. Details are limited, so treat it as a place to explore and check conditions locally.

Location
10.090874, -84.047606 — Google Maps

Tip

Little is published about this spot: check access locally and go in the morning, when it is usually drier.

Be careful

Rocks near falls are slippery and rivers can rise fast after rain upstream; don't swim under the fall or in heavy rain.

Places nearby

  • La Casona de mi TierraFood & CoffeeOld-house restaurant in San Pablo, about 15 years old, serving home-style Costa Rican food such as chifrijo, gallo pinto breakfasts and casados in rooms filled with antiques.
  • Britt Coffee TourParks & Wildlife · from $25Walk through Café Britt's working coffee farm near Barva volcano, from cherry to roast to a guided tasting, with a butterfly garden and a lunch restaurant on site.
  • Alamo Rent a Car Costa Rica (Grupo ANC, also National)Transfers & RentalsLocal operator of the Alamo and National car rental brands, with offices at the airports and in the main tourist towns.
  • Hacienda Alsacia (Starbucks Coffee Farm)Food & CoffeeStarbucks' working coffee farm and research centre on the slopes of Poás: guided tours (reserve online) walk through the nursery, plantation and processing, and end with a tasting, with a café overlooking the farm.
  • Restaurante ChubascosFood & CoffeeGarden restaurant on the way up to Poás volcano known for typical Costa Rican plates such as gallitos chubascos, strawberry juice and smoothies from local farms, hammocks and a pretty garden.
  • Spirogyra Butterfly GardenParks & WildlifeSmall, shaded butterfly garden inside the city, with native species flying free in a netted forest garden, a pupae display, and a trail along the river corridor.

Sources: OpenStreetMap node/6272512110 · https://www.openstreetmap.org/node/6272512110