Laguna Hule

Tip

Bring a picnic and binoculars and combine it with Laguna Río Cuarto, a few kilometers away. Ask locally about the road and access before you go.

Be careful

Roads are rough and slippery in the rainy season; drive slowly and fill the tank beforehand. Keep out of the water unless locals confirm it's fine.

Getting there

Gravel road in places; a high-clearance vehicle is more comfortable, especially after rain.

Places nearby

• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• Catarata Río Agrio, Pozas Celestes & Dino LandParks & WildlifeFamily-run property where the acidic Río Agrio drops about 50 m into a steep canyon; the ticket also covers a lookout and the Pozas Celestes, cold baby-blue river pools down the road.
• La Paz Waterfall Gardens Nature ParkParks & WildlifePrivate cloud-forest park with a trail down past five waterfalls, plus a large wildlife sanctuary (cats, birds, frogs, snakes), a butterfly garden and a hummingbird garden.