Aquiares

This particular waterfall has a bit of an interesting story behind its name. Despite being no more than a 15 minute walk down the hill from the bustling coffee-rich community of Aquiares in the foothills of the Turrialba Volcano, this waterfall isn't actually found on the river that shares its namesake.  Aquiares Waterfall is, in fact, found on the Turrialba River. (There is, however, a wonderful waterfall that is actually located on the Aquiares River, but it's called "The 28")

In the memorable words of a friend, "That is straight
up out of an Indiana Jones movie, my dude." 

Aquiares Waterfall holds a special place in my heart, because this was the first solo trip I ever took with the express purpose of seeing a waterfall. I had been to La Fortuna, Llanos de Cortés, Bajos del Toro, and Tesoro Escondido, but it was always part of another destination. Aquiares was the first time I set out just to see a waterfall, and it was everything I hoped it would be.

Having just moved to the town of Turrialba, I was definitely still getting my feet underneath me, but I had a free day due to a work holiday, and I took advantage of it. I investigated a bit about where the bus leaves from and the schedule, packed a bag, and made my way out of town, up into the foothills of the volcano. 

From the center of Turrialba, the bus to Aquiares waterfall takes about a half hour to arrive at its destination; however, if you're trying to get to waterfall directly, you'll need to get off the bus by the big Ceiba tree. If you ask the bus driver to let you off at the Ceiba tree, he/she will know exactly where to stop. 

The walk down the hill is simple enough, and it takes 20-30 minutes to get to the foot of the waterfall. There is a smaller fall - about 15 or 20 meters tall - to the right with a narrow trail leading up to it, but the main fall is another five minutes or so beyond that. 

If you happen to come by car instead of bus, there is access for parking all the way up to about 100 meters away from the waterfall in a small clearing. I've seen regular cars parked there before, meaning you don't have to have an SUV or truck to get there, although I'd probably be more careful on the rainy days taking a lower car all the way down there, as there is a creek that flows across the path before you get all the way down to the parking clearing. 

Arriving to the waterfall is one of those neat moments, because you're approaching along a trail that keeps the waterfall itself hidden although you can absolutely hear them as you get closer to the reveal. There are two small access points down the bank to the edge of the river, the first of which offering a direct path to the river. Once you cross the river, you can continue up the riverbed and get all the way to the pool beneath the waterfall. As is always the case, the rocks get super slippery, so approach with caution.

While the waterfall is some 40 meters/131 feet tall, the pool itself isn't very deep. The water gets up to around four feet or so in the deepest part I've made it to. Depending on the season, it can be a healthy flow, so be sure to approach carefully. Sadly, there was a young man who chose to try and climb up the rocks near the falls and ended up falling to his death in the shallow pool below. Just like any other waterfall adventure, make sure you're mindful of your surroundings and take every precaution you can to ensure you're safe, first and foremost. 

It took me a few times to figure it out, but there's also a trail that leads up and around to the top of the falls. The path isn't clearly marked at all, which is probably why it took me a few visits to realize it was even there in the first place. To find it, it's across the river from the arrival access, and about 60 feet to the left of the pool, around the short canyon wall. You'll probably see the worn down steps in the dirt that lead up, but they're fairly concealed behind some bigger rocks, so you'll have to get closer to that side of the river bank to see them clearly. 

View from the top looking over the riverbed below

The trail to the top has some fairly steep spots, so you'll want to take your time for sure. It takes about ten minutes in all, and you'll see a couple access points when you reach the top. The first will take you to the riverbed before the falls, and the other will take you just about to the edge, where I took the accompanying photo. ***NOTE: The rocks near the edge are VERY VERY slippery. Be SUPER careful if you try to shimmy your way out to the precipice. I only managed this photo after very slowly moving down, almost at a snail's pace. Remember - no photo/video is worth your life!***

As approach hikes go, this is certainly one of the easiest ones I've been on in Costa Rica, and for that I can say this waterfall is for anyone and everyone who wants to get outside and enjoy the natural beauty of this country. 

Thank you for stopping by, and I hope you enjoy this beautiful example of the natural splendor that Costa Rica has to offer. Be safe, and keep exploring!

- Dakota B.

Aquiares Waterfall Info
Difficulty: Easy
Location: Aquiares, Turrialba, Cartago, CR
GPS Coordinates: 9.9333, -83.7208
Height: 40 meters / 131 feet
Nearest bus fare: Turrialba to Aquiares, 340CRC
Entry fee: none
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