Catarata Las Nubes (Ciudad Quesada)
Waterfall · Arenal & La Fortuna · hidden gem
A string of wild falls on the slopes of Platanar Volcano, about 20 minutes' drive uphill from Ciudad Quesada. You hike through a farm, wade a river and scramble down the riverbed — no railings, no crowds.
- Time there
- 3 h
- Best time
- morning
- Kids
- 3 / 10
- View
- 6 / 10
- Crowds
- 1 / 10
- Swimming
- 6 / 10
- Effort
- 6 / 10
- Location
- 10.31523, -84.39925 — Google Maps
Before you go
- Entry
- Farm entry was under ₡5,000 per person in 2017 — confirm with the farm.
- Payment
- Cash only
- Parking
- On the street
- Walk
- 5,000 m
- Swimming
- Yes
- Dogs
- Allowed
- Bring
- trail or river shoes, swimsuit, towel, picnic and drinks, insect repellent, change of clothes
- Fewer people
- Arrive in the morning: afternoons are usually rainy.
- Checked
- 2026-10
Tip
Start early — tropical rain rolls in most afternoons — and wear river shoes with real grip plus a swimsuit under your clothes.
Be careful
The first river crossing and the rock slide are very slippery; don't cross if the river is high or muddy after rain.
Getting there
Entry is through a private farm (2017 contact: Gabriel, 6082-3772); park on the roadside at the farm gate. No services on site.
Places nearby
- La Vieja Adventures — Ciudad Esmeralda canyon (Río La Vieja)Tours & Adventure · from $40Guided wade-and-hike through a narrow, moss-walled canyon of the Río La Vieja above Ciudad Quesada, ending at the Zafiro waterfall and its turquoise pools.
- Termales del BosqueDay Passes & Hot SpringsLong-running hot-springs hotel in the forest outside Ciudad Quesada, with thermal pools by a river, an ecological trail and a spa; popular with Costa Rican families.
- Zoológico y Centro de Rescate La MarinaParks & WildlifeFamily-run, non-profit rescue center on a cattle ranch on Route 140, caring for around 80 native species — many confiscated pets — and known for breeding tapirs.
- Reserva Natural Montaña SagradaParks & WildlifeA 700-hectare community-funded reserve inside Juan Castro Blanco National Park, 9 km east of Sucre, protecting the springs that feed 200+ rural water systems.
- Rancho de CeciFood & CoffeeRustic, wood-trimmed family restaurant on Route 141 in Laguna, just north of Zarcero, serving home-style Costa Rican food for over 50 years — recommended by locals.
- Bio Thermales Hot SpringsDay Passes & Hot Springs · from $2Low-key eco hot-springs park north of Aguas Zarcas: 15 free-form mineral pools, from steaming upper pools on a thermal creek to a cool spring pool with a slide, set in rainforest with picnic ranchos — a fraction of the price of the La Fortuna resorts.
Sources: OpenStreetMap node/5557782824 · https://quebuenlugar.com/en/lugares/catarata-las-nubes-ciudad-quesada · https://www.openstreetmap.org/node/5557782824