El Silencio Lodge & Spa
A 500-acre reserve in the misty Bajos del Toro valley beside Poás Volcano, with a private outdoor hot tub on every suite and villa and three waterfalls on its own trails.
4-starView hotel
Bajos del Toro
A misty valley in the mountains beside Poás Volcano, where the Catarata del Toro drops nearly 300 feet into an old volcanic crater. About 2 hours from San José.
- Fly into
- SJO
- Then about 2 hours by road
- Best weather
- Dec to Apr
- Dry season, safer for hiking and swimming
- The big waterfall
- Catarata del Toro
- Nearly 300 ft into an old crater
- Region
- Central highlands
- Beside Juan Castro Blanco National Park
- Pairs with
- Arenal
- Private transfer, about 2 hours
Why go
Waterfalls off the beaten path
Bajos del Toro is a valley in the central highlands, next to Juan Castro Blanco National Park and bordering Poás Volcano. Its best-known waterfall, the Catarata del Toro, drops nearly 300 feet into an extinct volcanic crater, with trails to viewpoints above it and a harder hike down to its base. Nearby, the Tesoro Escondido falls have water as blue as Río Celeste, and most of the people swimming there are Ticos. In the national park next door quetzals and hawks can be spotted, on trails above 7,000 feet.
Catarata del ToroNearly 300 ft, with a rappel beside it
Tesoro EscondidoBlue water for a swim
BirdingQuetzals in Juan Castro Blanco
The map
Every hotel we book in Bajos del Toro
2 hotels, our favourites numbered.
Hotels we know personally
3-star and above only, chosen by our team in Costa Rica.
When to go
Driest December to April
The dry season, December to April, is the safer time for hiking and for swimming below the waterfalls. In any month the water is cold and the mountain air is cool, so bring a jacket, and start early: the valley gets more visitors every year.
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Dry seasonGreen season, more rainSemana Santa, 21 to 28 March 2027: plan early
About 2 hours from San José
From San José (SJO)about 2 hoursPrivate transfer up into the mountains
On to Arenalabout 2 hoursPrivate transfer to La Fortuna
The roadssteep, partly unpavedNot every road is paved, one more reason to travel with a driver
Where to go next
Where our clients go after Bajos del Toro
Good to know
Bajos del Toro questions we answer every week
How do I get to Bajos del Toro?
About 2 hours by private transfer from San José. Some roads are steep and not all are paved, so driving yourself takes a 4-wheel drive; a private transfer takes care of it.
Can I swim under the waterfalls?
Yes, at falls such as Tesoro Escondido, but the water is cold. The dry season, December to April, is the safer time for hiking and swimming.
What should I bring to Bajos del Toro?
Comfortable quick-dry clothing, a swimsuit, sunscreen, bug spray, hiking shoes, water, snacks and a jacket for the cool mountain air.
Where can I stay in Bajos del Toro?
We book El Silencio Lodge & Spa, inside a 500-acre reserve in the valley, where every suite and villa has its own outdoor hot tub and the reserve has three waterfalls of its own.
Your Costa Rica, planned by people who live here
Tell us what you love. A Costa Rica Specialist builds a custom itinerary around it, with private transfers, hotels we know and our team on call 24/7 while you travel.
Since 2004 in Costa RicaOver 25,000 clients1,200+ five-star reviewsICT licensed, Declaratoria Turística