La vieja Waterfalls

The Genesis of the Name “Rincón de la Vieja”

The Spanish translation of “Rincon de la Vieja” is “old woman’s corner”. We have found two legends that explain the name:

The first local legend retells two stories of the indigenous people of the Guatuso tribe who named the Rincon de la Vieja Volcano after one or two people. One is about an old witch who lived in Rincon de la Vieja on top of the mountain from where smoke would be seen emanating from her “corner” of the volcano. She was thought to have either been sending columns of smoke into the air when she was angry or would have would have smoke emanated forth from her cooking fire as she would prepare meals for weary travelers. Perhaps both stories are applicable since the Rincon de la Vieja crater has experienced at least eight periods of intense volcanic activity and still bubbles and steams.

The second, more colorful legend tells of the indigenous Curubandá princess and daughter of the Curubandé chieftain. She is said to have fled from her father to Rincon de la Vieja because her lover was chief of an enemy tribe. The father threw her lover, Prince Mixcoac, into the crater or Rincon de la Vieja. A baby was born from this forbidden love but the indigenous princess threw her son into the volcano’s crater, in the hopes of reuniting him with his father. Mourning her loss, she became a recluse, living out the rest of her life on the Rincon de la Vieja, close to the volcano’s crater and became a famous “witch doctor”. She learned the healing secrets and developed medicines obtained from the volcano. The sick would seek her out and say “I’m going to look for the old woman in the corner” or “I’m going to the old woman’s corner” alluding to the remoteness of her dwelling. Today the natural mineral hotspring that come forth from Rincon de la Vieja are said to alleviate aches and pains that stump even the most modern medicinal cures.

The Waterfalls

Oropendola Waterfall

La Cangreja Waterfall

Oropendola Waterfall

The Oropendula Waterfall spills an impressive 82 feet (25 meters) down to a bright turquoise pool in the picturesque lush canyon of the Rio Blanco (White River).

La Leona Waterfall

La Cangreja Waterfall

Oropendola Waterfall

The waterfall is well hidden away on the outskirts of Rincon de la Vieja Volcano . The trail is 1.7 Miles (2.7 Kilometers) singletrack so together it is 6 km.

La Cangreja Waterfall

Located in Rincon de la Vieja National Park.This is a four-hour, 5.1km (each direction) hike that leads where falls drop 50m from a cliff into a small swimmable lagoon.

Escondida Waterfall

La Cangreja Waterfall

This Waterfall is less trafficked but swimming is not allowed. The latter section of the trail is of high difficulty. Due to the steep climb, this hike usually takes around 5 hours.

Chorrera Waterfall

Escondida Waterfall

Chorrera Waterfall

The moderate hike through the tropical dry forest, where you will have a chance to go for a refreshing swim in the cool waters of a natural pool created by two waterfalls cascading over the rock face of a surrounding canyon.

Poza La Pipa

Escondida Waterfall

Chorrera Waterfall

Where the Blanco and the Colorado rivers cross through, forming canyons and beautiful scenery which is why the water in their pools have that special turquoise tint.

Colorado River

Rio Negro Hotsprings

Sensoria Waterfalls

This pool can reach up to six meters deep (20 feet) and allows the most daring swimmers to jump off a 10-meter high (33 feet) rock.

Sensoria Waterfalls

Rio Negro Hotsprings

Sensoria Waterfalls

Explore your senses through a 6km trail hike Experience Costa Rica and its unique mid-altitude tropical rainforest, dipping and swiming in out natural and thermal pools, standing small beside centernary trees, and purifying your soul in stunning blue volcanic waterfalls

Rio Negro Hotsprings

Rich in minerals, thermal waters have rejuvenating and therapeutic properties that have been appreciated for centuries by people around the world. Experience the incredible hot springs of Rio Negro