Poza La Pipa (Curubandé)
Swimming spot · Guanacaste
The biggest of Curubandé's turquoise river pools, a family favorite with a natural rock slide polished by the current and little stone dams built by swimmers. The name comes from the wooden water barrel (pipa) old cattle drivers used.
- Cost
- Free
- Time there
- 2 h
- Best time
- morning
- Kids
- 7 / 10
- View
- 6 / 10
- Crowds
- 5 / 10
- Swimming
- 9 / 10
- Effort
- 2 / 10
- Location
- 10.72503, -85.41287 — Google Maps
- Ratings
- 4.6 on Google (161) · 5.0 on Facebook (5)
Before you go
- Entry
- Free
- Tickets
- Free entry, no ticket
- Parking
- On the street
- Road
- 4×4 needed
- Walk
- 1,000 m
- Swimming
- Yes
- Kids
- Good for kids
- Bring
- water shoes
- Checked
- 2026-10
Tip
Search "Poza la Pipa" in Waze. Without 4x4, leave the car in the center of Curubandé and walk the last kilometer.
Be careful
Water is cold at first and the rocks are slippery; keep an eye on kids at the slide and get out if the river rises after rain.
Getting there
About 15 km from Liberia, 1 km from the center of Curubandé; free.
Places nearby
- Soda CurubandéSodas & Local FoodThe one restaurant in the center of Curubandé, the farming village at the foot of Rincón de la Vieja: casados, rice dishes and bocas, cooked the traditional way.
- La Leona Waterfall Adventure HikeTours & AdventureLocal Curubandé operator next to La Leona Restaurant that guides the river hike — wading, swimming and rope sections — to the La Leona waterfall in its slot canyon.
- Hacienda GuachipelínTours & Adventure · takes 1.5 h–8.5 h · from $35A working cattle ranch at the foot of Rincón de la Vieja volcano that packs a week of adventure into one day: horseback with local sabanero guides, whitewater tubing on the Río Negro, a canyon zipline with rappels and a Tarzan swing, then hot springs and a volcanic mud bath.
- Rincon Thermals & AdventuresTours & Adventure · from $50Big activity park on the slopes of Rincón de la Vieja that mixes hot-spring pools and mud with zipline, horses and a jungle waterslide.
- Cañón de la Vieja Lodge (adventure center)Tours & AdventureAdventure lodge on the Río Colorado canyon just north of Liberia, running rafting and tubing trips, canopy and rappelling for day visitors.
- Hotel Buena Vista del RincónDay Passes & Hot Springs · takes 4 h–9 h · from $75A big ranch-style adventure park on the slopes of Rincón de la Vieja volcano where one day pass covers ziplines, hanging bridges, a record-long jungle waterslide, a horse ride to a waterfall, volcanic mud baths and hot springs, plus a buffet lunch.
Sources: OpenStreetMap node/8399935617 · https://vozdeguanacaste.com/las-irresistibles-pozas-azul-turquesa-de-curubande/ · https://www.lateja.cr/ · https://www.openstreetmap.org/node/8399935617