La Leona Waterfall and Tubing Complete Guide

Costa Rica is an adventure enthusiasts dream destination. There are so many incredible activities to experience including zip-lining, diving, white water rafting, surfing and waterfall chasing. The toughest part is choosing what to do on your visit to Costa Rica. When I came across the La Leona Waterfall and Tubing tour with La Leona Waterfall Adventure Hike, I knew this was the adventure tour for me! This tour combines nature hiking, canyoning, waterfall swimming and white water tubing all into a half-day adventure. This guide will dive deeper into what to expect on the La Leona Waterfall and Tubing adventure and by the end I am sure it will be on your Costa Rica Bucketlist.

Canyoning to La Leona Waterfall

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What is the La Leona Waterfall and Tubing Tour?

This tour takes about 4 hours and combines a waterfall hike with a tubing adventure. The tour takes place 20 minutes outside of Liberia, Costa Rica in the Guanacaste province. The water in this area flows from the Rincon de la Vieja Volcano and is incredibly blue due to the presence of sulfur. The La Leona Waterfall can only be accessed with a guided tour because it requires some river crossings and technical maneuvering (think canyoning). We were stoked to partner with La Leona Waterfall Adventure Hike, which is the leading company in the area and they provide a range of activities that allow you to experience the magic of this region.

How to Book La Leona Waterfall and Tubing?

I highly recommend booking your tour with La Leona Waterfall Adventure Hike. The reviews speak for themselves, but I can attest that these guys provide an awesome experience! From the booking process to our last decent down the rapids, the guides were very knowledgeable, friendly and professional. You can find all the information about their tours through their website and detailed video guides. It is super easy to book your tour and they make it easy to select whether you need to be picked up or will arrive yourself. They can provide transport most places between Tamarindo and Liberia. The value for price point is definitely worth it!

Book Your Costa Rica Adventure Here

What to Expect on the La Leona Waterfall and Tubing Tour

Arriving for the Tour

Our tour started at 9 am so we arrived to the main office at 840 am. The friendly staff helped us check in and sign our waivers and then we were introduced to our guide, Francisco. There were a few tours gathering at this time, but our guide said it is a lot less busy to go in the morning. They also offer private or group tours depending on your needs.

They gave us a dry bag for our water and cameras and told us to leave everything else in the car. We also received life vests. Next, we jumped in one of their trucks and drove a few minutes to the start of the trail

The trail to La Leona Waterfall

Adventure Hike to La Leona Waterfall

The journey to the waterfall is about 2 km (1.5 miles). It is an easy hike, but does require a healthy body because you have to cross the rivers and climb some ladders. The hike felt like and adventure walk because our guide would stop us every few minutes to show us a cool insect or point out an interesting fact about the flora or fauna. I learned a lot on the walk, and he pointed out all the ants that I’m terrified of. There were a couple river crossings but during the rainy season they were super easy to cross. I enjoyed seeing the Capuchin monkeys and some really cool birds.

Time to get wet!

When you get close to the waterfall you will arrive at a beautiful turquoise blue pool. Here you will leave your dry bag as the next part involves swimming. Don’t worry, your guide will put your phone in his bag so you can get pictures! The water felt amazing after the hike and it was really cool to start swimming through the canyon. The next portion involves pulling yourself upstream with the help of a rope so that you can reach the La Leona Waterfall

La Leona Waterfall

Turning the corner you are greeted by the impressive flow of the La Leona Waterfall. The waterfall comes splashing down between two canyons. Even during dry season there was a lot of water and we were getting sprayed all the way across the pool. Our guide snapped some pictures first and then helped us swim out to the waterfall. It is always so impressive to feel the power of a waterfall up close. We spent about 15 minutes enjoying the La Leona Waterfall and then it was time for the adventure to continue.

The Hike Back

The canyoning waterfall adventure did not end right away. Next up was a small rock jump that we got to jump off on our way back to where we left the dry bags. Then, our guide took us to a bonus waterfall that he termed the shower. This was a lot smaller but it was a unique waterfall crashing into a cave-like space. The final stop before we got back on the trail was a natural waterslide. My adventurous heart was completely satisfied, but we still had half the tour to go! We continued the hike out stopping to spot more wildlife and when we returned to the trail head the truck picked us up. All in all this portion took about 2.5 hours but we were a small, speedy group.

Ready to start Tubing!

White Water River Tubing with La Leona Waterfall Adventure Hike

If I’m being honest, the main reason I wanted to book this tour was for the White Water Tubing experience. I had never gone down rapids in an inner tube before and it sounded like an awesome thing to do! It definitely did not disappoint and I could’ve kept going all day.

River Tubing

The truck took us back to the main offices and we left everything (except the GoPro) in our cars. We were equipped with a helmet and kayak paddle in addition to our life vests and then we had a quick 10 minute hike down to the river. Our guide Francisco gave us a safety briefing and showed us how to paddle the inner tubes. We were also joined by a few other guides who helped navigate our group safely down the rapids.

The Tubing adventure goes for 4 km down the river and is about 50/50 river rapids and chill paddling through calm waters. It was quite the upper body work out. I’d love to revisit in the rainy season to experience the rapids in full force. They include class I, II, and III. The rapids are really fun as you get bounced around between boulders and spun around. I was laughing the whole time! In any sections that were difficult the guides were there to make sure we got past safely. In between rapids you get to enjoy the beauty of the river and canyons surrounding it.

When our guide said we only had 10 minutes left I was so sad. I didn’t want it to end! Our whole group had a blast and we were all smiles driving back to the office.

Cool Bird on the Trail

Key Tips for the La Leona Waterfall and Tubing Adventure

Eat some food before – its a 4 hour physical adventure and we were very hungry by the end
Wear running shoes or hiking boots – your shoes will get wet, but its better than hiking sandals
Bring a GoPro or waterproof camera
Earlier tours are less crowded
Wear sunscreen and bring water
Tip your guide!

Book La Leona Waterfall and Tubing Adventure Here

I am stoked that we got to partner with La Leona Waterfall Adventure Hike. They were an awesome company to work with and everyone left the tour smiling. The value of the tour is really great for the price and leads to a full day of fun. It is a one stop adventure to capitalize on the impressive Costa Rica nature. The waterfalls and tubing were awesome and the guides made the whole adventure safe and fun! I would definitely recommend the La La Leona Waterfall and Tubing to anyone visiting Costa Rica.

Do you Have Travel Insurance?

Travel Insurance is the number one thing I make sure to have before I start any adventure. Most people don’t realize how critical travel insurance is and it has personally saved me a few times on my travels. I’ve needed it when I got a parasite in Peru, when I needed to be hospitalized in Bali, and when my phone was stolen. Most home country health insurance does not cover you overseas so if you are in an accident or fall ill then all the fees will be out of pocket unless you have travel insurance. On top of medical coverage most plans provide coverage for travel interruptions, stolen property and lost luggage.

I currently use Heymondo for all my travel insurance needs. Their policies are priced well and they have great support. I like that I can use the app to chat with a doctor at any time, and their team are easy to reach if you need help seeking medical treatment. In addition, their base policies already cover a ton of adventure sports or you can add on their adventure cover if you’ll be doing more extreme activities.