Laguna de Río Cuarto (Lake Río Cuarto)
Nature spot · Arenal & La Fortuna · hidden gem
An almost perfectly round crater lake (a maar) ringed by forest, 66 m deep — the deepest natural lake in Costa Rica. Ticos come on weekends to paddle, picnic and walk the shore trail; foreign visitors are rare.
- Cost
- Free
- Time there
- 1.5 h
- Best time
- morning
- Kids
- 4 / 10
- View
- 7 / 10
- Crowds
- 3 / 10
- Swimming
- 5 / 10
- Effort
- 2 / 10
- Location
- 10.355942, -84.22082 — Google Maps
Before you go
- Entry
- Free · The ₡2,000 fee and services run by the local association ended in late September 2026; the lake stays open.
- Tickets
- Free entry, no ticket
- Road
- Gravel — a regular car is fine
- Swimming
- Only when the water is calm
- Bring
- food, drinking water, trash bag, life jackets for kids
- Checked
- 2026-10
Tip
Pack food, water and a trash bag: there's nothing for sale at the lake, and since late September 2026 the restrooms and dock are gone.
Be careful
The bottom drops off fast and there are no lifeguards or railings anymore: swim only if you're a strong swimmer, stay near the edge and put kids in life jackets.
Getting there
Signed gravel side road off the main road at Río Cuarto (toward Bajos del Toro); about 500 m to the lake, with space to park.
Places nearby
- Recreo Verde Hot Springs & SpaDay Passes & Hot SpringsHot-springs complex beside the Río Toro in the hills above Venecia, about 1 h 40 min from the airport: thermal pools, a spa, zipline and canyoning, trails to a small cave, a restaurant, cabins and a campground.
- Alojamiento y Mirador Bosque Alegre (restaurant above Laguna Hule)Food & CoffeeA simple country restaurant and lodge on the rim above Laguna Hule, the deepest natural lake in Costa Rica.
- Cascadas Pozo Azul (Caída Nieve y Paz)Parks & WildlifeFarm trail that drops past blue swimming holes and a natural slide to Caída Nieve y Paz, the tallest waterfall around Bajos del Toro at about 155 m.
- Costa Rica Pura Vida RaftingSurf, Boats & Diving · from $50Whitewater rafting on the Río Sarapiquí in class II-III or III-IV, as half-day or full-day trips, with private departures and a gentler safari float.
- Sarapiquí Outdoor CenterSurf, Boats & Diving · from $85Established rafting and kayaking base on the Río Sarapiquí with half- and full-day trips in class II-IV, a gentle wildlife safari float, and day trips to the Pacuare River.
- Blue Falls of Costa Rica (Cataratas Las Gemelas)Parks & Wildlife · from $20Private forest reserve next to Catarata del Toro with a chain of milky-blue waterfalls and pools colored by volcanic minerals; you can swim at any of them.
Sources: OpenStreetMap node/9877775455 · Wikidata Q48781684 · https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_R%C3%ADo_Cuarto · https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q48781684 · https://ticotimes.net/?p=199806 · https://crhoy.com/nacionales/centro-turistico-laguna-rio-cuarto-cerrara-a-partir-del-lunes/