If you're visiting La Fortuna with kids, chances are La Fortuna Waterfall is already on your shortlist.

It's one of the most popular attractions in Costa Rica and the photos make it look incredible. But before visiting, we had plenty of questions. How many steps are there? Is it safe for kids? Can you actually swim? And is it worth the effort when travelling with children?

We visited with our 7-year-old son Joshua during our Costa Rica family holiday, and despite a weather-related setback on our first attempt, it ended up being one of our favourite experiences in La Fortuna.

Quick Answer: Is La Fortuna Waterfall Worth It with Kids?

Yes — absolutely. La Fortuna Waterfall is one of the best family-friendly activities in La Fortuna and one I'd happily recommend to other families. There are a lot of steps, so you need to be prepared for the walk back up, but the reward is a spectacular waterfall and the chance to swim in a beautiful jungle setting.

Swimming is allowed when conditions are safe, although the strongest water is directly in front of the falls, so younger children should stay in the calmer swimming areas and always be supervised. I'd recommend visiting early in the morning and allowing around 1–2 hours for the full experience, including swimming, photos and the walk back up.

If La Fortuna Waterfall sounds like something your family would enjoy, it's worth checking the latest ticket prices and opening information before you visit. You can view current admission prices and book tickets here.

This guide is for families who want to know:

• Whether La Fortuna Waterfall is worth visiting with kids

• How many steps there really are

• What swimming is actually like

• How safe it is for children

• How this attraction fits into a wider La Fortuna itinerary

If you're planning your time in La Fortuna, our guide to Best Things to Do in La Fortuna with Kids: 12 Family-Friendly Attractions compares the activities we'd prioritise and how La Fortuna Waterfall stacks up against the area's other highlights.

Some of the links in this guide are affiliate links, which means we may earn a small commission if you book through them, at no extra cost to you. We only recommend places and experiences we'd genuinely use again as a family.

What Is La Fortuna Waterfall?

La Fortuna Waterfall is one of Costa Rica's most famous natural attractions. Located just outside La Fortuna, the waterfall drops dramatically into a pool surrounded by dense rainforest, creating one of the most photographed spots in the region.

Unlike many waterfalls, you don't simply admire it from a viewing platform. Instead, you walk down a series of steps into the canyon, allowing you to get much closer to the waterfall itself.

One of the reasons families love it is that it combines several experiences in a single visit:

• A short rainforest walk

• Incredible photo opportunities

• Wildlife spotting

• Swimming in a natural river setting

• One of Costa Rica's most iconic waterfalls

Swimming is usually permitted when conditions are safe, although after periods of heavy rain access can sometimes be restricted.

Our Experience Visiting La Fortuna Waterfall with Kids

We visited La Fortuna Waterfall while staying at Hotel Los Lagos, which was only a short drive away and made an excellent base for exploring the area.

Our first attempt didn't quite go to plan. Heavy rain meant the waterfall was temporarily closed for safety reasons, which is one of the realities of visiting Costa Rica during rainy season. Rather than being disappointed, we headed back to Los Lagos and spent the afternoon in the hot springs instead.

The next morning we returned and found completely different conditions. The walk down took around 10–15 minutes, with plenty of opportunities to stop and admire the scenery. Once we reached the bottom, the waterfall was even more impressive than it appears in photos.

Joshua absolutely loved it. The combination of jungle, water and the feeling of reaching somewhere special after the walk made it one of the most memorable parts of our La Fortuna stay.

A few practical things worth knowing:

• Don't expect changing rooms beside the water

• There aren't toilets at the bottom

• Bring your own towel

• Water shoes are helpful

• There is a café near the entrance at the top of the steps

After the climb back up, that café was a welcome sight.

If you're looking for a family-friendly base nearby, see Hotel Los Lagos La Fortuna Review: Is It Good for Families?

How Many Steps Are There?

There are approximately 500 steps between the entrance and the waterfall. The descent feels relatively easy. The climb back up is where you'll feel it.

That said, it's nowhere near as bad as some reviews make it sound. The path is well maintained, there are railings throughout, and there are several places where you can stop to catch your breath. We simply took our time and had no problems.

For most reasonably active families, the steps are very manageable.

Can You Swim at La Fortuna Waterfall?

Yes — when conditions are safe. One thing worth understanding is that you don't swim directly beneath the main waterfall itself. The strongest water is near the falls, while most visitors swim in the calmer areas nearby. The water is refreshing rather than warm, which feels particularly welcome after walking down the steps in Costa Rica's humidity.

When swimming, remember:

• Rocks can be slippery

• Currents can be stronger after rain

• Children should always be supervised

• Water shoes are useful

For confident swimmers, it's one of the highlights of the visit. For younger children, simply paddling and exploring the river can still be great fun.

Is La Fortuna Waterfall Safe for Kids?

Overall, yes. We felt perfectly comfortable visiting with Joshua. The path is clear, the steps have railings and the attraction is well organised.

The biggest things to watch out for are:

• Slippery rocks

• Steep steps

• Stronger currents after rain

Common-sense precautions go a long way.

I'd recommend:

• Wearing proper footwear

• Holding hands on the steeper sections

• Supervising children in the water

• Taking your time on the stairs

How Long Do You Need at La Fortuna Waterfall?

Most families should allow 1–2 hours. Some people visit more quickly, but we never felt rushed. In fact, it's one of those places where slowing down and simply enjoying the surroundings is part of the experience.

That gives you enough time to:

• Walk down to the waterfall

• Take photos

• Spend time swimming

• Explore the area

• Climb back to the top

Tips for Visiting La Fortuna Waterfall with Kids

A few things we'd definitely do again:

• Visit early in the day

• Wear proper trainers or walking shoes

• Bring water shoes

• Pack swimwear

• Take a towel

• Bring drinking water

• Take your time on the steps

• Check the weather forecast beforehand

If you're travelling during the school holidays, our Costa Rica Packing List for Families: What to Pack in Rainy Season covers everything we were glad we brought.

How Much Does La Fortuna Waterfall Cost?

One thing we liked about La Fortuna Waterfall was how affordable it felt compared with many paid attractions. Entry is typically around £15 per person, making it one of the more budget-friendly activities in the area. Considering the scenery, swimming and overall experience, we thought it represented excellent value. If you're planning your overall trip budget, see How Much Does Costa Rica Cost for a Family?

Joshua loved this experience, and it ended up being one of our favourite mornings in La Fortuna. If you're thinking of adding it to your trip, you can check current ticket prices and availability here.

How This Fits Into Your La Fortuna Itinerary

For most families, I'd recommend visiting La Fortuna Waterfall in the morning.

That leaves the afternoon free for something more relaxing, such as:

• Hot springs

• Hotel pool time

• Wildlife spotting

• Exploring La Fortuna

That's exactly how we structured our visit and it worked brilliantly.

If you're planning your route, our 3 Days in La Fortuna with Kids: Family Itinerary shows how we combined the waterfall with other family-friendly attractions without overloading the day.

It also fits perfectly into our wider 10-Day Costa Rica Family Itinerary: Jungle, Volcanoes & Beaches.

Final Verdict: Is La Fortuna Waterfall Worth It with Kids?

For us, La Fortuna Waterfall was absolutely worth visiting and ended up being one of our favourite experiences in Costa Rica.

Yes, there are a lot of steps and the walk back up will get your heart rate going, but the reward is a spectacular waterfall, beautiful rainforest scenery and the opportunity to swim in a setting that feels uniquely Costa Rican.

What we liked most was that it delivered exactly what we wanted from Costa Rica. It felt adventurous without being extreme, was affordable compared to many family attractions and didn't require an entire day to enjoy. Joshua loved the swim, the wildlife and the feeling of discovering somewhere hidden in the jungle, while we loved the scenery and the fact it felt like a genuine nature experience rather than a manufactured attraction.

Would we do it again? Without hesitation.

Ready to Visit? If you're planning to add La Fortuna Waterfall to your itinerary, you can check the latest ticket prices and visitor information here.

FAQs: La Fortuna Waterfall with kids

Is La Fortuna Waterfall worth visiting with kids?

Yes. For us, it was one of the highlights of our time in La Fortuna. The combination of jungle scenery, swimming, wildlife and the impressive waterfall itself makes it a great family-friendly activity.

If you're planning your itinerary, see Best Things to Do in La Fortuna with Kids: 12 Family-Friendly Attractions to compare it with other popular activities.

How difficult are the steps at La Fortuna Waterfall?

There are approximately 500 steps between the entrance and the waterfall. The walk down is straightforward, but the climb back up can feel challenging in Costa Rica's heat and humidity. Most families should be able to manage it comfortably if they take their time and use the benches along the route.

Can children swim at La Fortuna Waterfall?

Yes, when conditions are safe. Swimming takes place in the calmer river area beside the waterfall rather than directly underneath the main falls. The water can be cold and currents may be stronger after heavy rain, so younger children should always be closely supervised.

How long should you spend at La Fortuna Waterfall?

Most families will need 1–2 hours. This gives you enough time to walk down, take photos, enjoy the scenery, have a swim and make the climb back to the top. We found it worked well as a morning activity before returning to our hotel hot springs in the afternoon.

What is the best hotel near La Fortuna Waterfall?

We stayed at Hotel Los Lagos, which was only a short drive away and worked brilliantly as a family base. The combination of hot springs, waterslides and volcano views made it one of our favourite stays in Costa Rica.

Read Hotel Los Lagos La Fortuna Review for our full experience.

How does La Fortuna Waterfall fit into a Costa Rica family itinerary?

For most families, I'd include it as part of a 2–3 night stay in La Fortuna, alongside attractions such as Mistico Hanging Bridges, wildlife experiences and time in the hot springs.

Our 3 Days in La Fortuna with Kids: Family Itinerary shows exactly how we combined these activities into a manageable family schedule.

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If you’re planning your family trip to La Fortuna, these guides will help you pull everything together:

About Plan Family Escapes

We’re a UK-based family sharing real, experience-led travel guides based on trips we’ve taken with our school-age son Joshua across destinations like Lapland, Turkey and India.

Everything we share is based on what we’ve personally experienced — with honest advice on what actually works when travelling with kids, focusing on making family travel easier, more comfortable and genuinely enjoyable.