This post shares everything you need to know about visiting Paraiso Manantiales, a collection of 8 stunning waterfalls in the Bajos del Toro region of Costa Rica.
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About Paraiso Manantiales
Paraiso Manantiales is a set of 8 beautiful waterfalls on privately owned property, located in the Bajos del Toro region of Costa Rica. Just two hours north of San Jose, and around 1.5 hours south of La Fortuna this region is a hidden gem full of waterfalls! But surprisingly, remains well off the tourist radar, meaning you can experience some of Costa Rica's most impressive cataratas almost all to yourself.
Paraiso Manantiales sits at the northern end of Route 708, which is the main road running through the region where most of the waterfalls are located. In an area that is already a bit of a secret, Paraiso Manantiales could be considered a secret within a secret. It's even less visited than some of the other waterfalls in Bajos del Toro, but we think it is just as impressive!
A visit here will have you hiking through lush rainforests, swimming in electric blue pools and feeling the force of the falls tumbling down over sheer rock faces. In this post, we'll share everything you need to know to plan a visit to Paraiso Manantiales.
Bajos del Toro is the perfect detour between San Jose and La Fortuna. Most visitors to Costa Rica have La Fortuna on their itinerary, but we would highly recommend adding a day or two in Bajos del Toro on the way. You won’t find waterfalls as beautiful as these without the crowds anywhere else in the country! Check out our Bajos del Toro travel guide here.
Paraiso Manantiales quick facts
- 📍 Location: Google Maps
- ⏰ Opening hours: 7 days, 8 am – 2 pm (enter by 12 pm)
- 💰 Entrance fee: 5,000 Colones
- 🥾 Hike length: ~ 2.5 km / 1.5 mi
- 🪫 Difficulty: Easy – moderate
- 👙 Swimming: Yes
- 💡 More information: Paraiso Manantiales Facebook
How to get to Paraiso Manantiales
Paraiso Manantiales, and all the waterfalls in Bajos del Toro, are best visited with your own rental car. There is very limited public transport around the region, and even if you were able to reach Bajos del Toro via bus, it would be near impossible to move between the waterfalls.
Although Paraiso Manantiales is in the north of the region, this was actually the first waterfall we visited in Bajos del Toro from San Jose. It’s much quicker to drive to the region via Route 126, entering Route 708 from the north. Paraiso Manantiales will be one of the first waterfalls you pass.
The route to Paraiso Manantiales (if you follow 126 from San Jose) is easily done in a normal car, with no 4×4 required. The road is winding and climbs through the mountains, but it's in relatively good condition. Once you're in Bajos del Toro, Route 708 is a paved road, but it has some enormous potholes in parts. It is definitely passable with any car, you just need to drive slowly. The driveway to reach Paraiso Manantiales from the main road is a bumpy, gravel road, but no need for a 4×4.
👆🏼 Visualise our suggested route on our interactive Bajos del Toro map
Costs and opening hours at Paraiso Manantiales
The entrance fee to visit the falls (at the time of writing) was 5,000 Colones per person (approx. $10 USD). You pay your fee at the on-site restaurant, before starting the trail. We paid in cash, and I can't remember if it was possible to pay by card, sorry!
The falls are open 7 days a week from 8 am – 2 pm. I would suggest arriving by 12 pm at the latest, as you will want to allow plenty of time to do the hike and see the falls before they close.
Amenities at Paraiso Manantiales
The waterfall is run by a lovely local family who have developed the trails and access on their property. When you arrive, you will find an open grassed area where you can park for free. There is a small restaurant, offering local-style meals and drinks. There are cold showers, toilets, and even a swimming pool with cold, fresh water straight from the river! It's also possible to camp on-site.
The waterfalls at Paraiso Manantiales
Once you have paid your fee, the owners will explain the route to the falls and you can take a photo of the map. The trail is a circuit trail, around 2.5 km / 1.5 mi. Follow the trail to the mirador on the way there, and return via the other route. It's not super difficult, but it was steep in parts and coming back up got the heart racing a little!
We clocked 2.8 km on Brayden's Garmin watch and spent about 90 minutes total with plenty of stops for photos and a swim.
While the restaurant and parking lot are in an open, grassy area, the second you step foot on the trail you enter a lush rainforest, hiding 8 different waterfalls! The trail is easy to follow, but it is very natural and not flat, with plenty of rocks, tree roots and slippery spots to navigate (how nature should be!).
The trail winds through thick rainforest, passing a number of falls, before eventually reaching the mighty Rio Toro. You will descend down to the river and wander along its banks to find the final, and most impressive waterfalls.
In addition to the 8 waterfalls, you will also find a cool spiral staircase, which has made accessing the falls a lot easier. A mirador, with a very lovely handmade ‘Pura Vida' sign overlooking the river, and a rickety suspension bridge over one of the falls.
You can’t swim in all the waterfalls, but the wait is worth it when you arrive at ‘Catarata La Mica' the biggest of all the falls. This impressive rock face has a curtain of water thundering down and we were absolutely blown away by the sheer power.
If you're up for it, you can walk behind the falls, and if you're a strong swimmer you can jump in and be instantly carried to the outer edges of the pool by the current. If you'd prefer to swim somewhere calmer, the ‘Poza Celestial' (Celestial Pool) is just next to the biggest fall, with an unbelievable blue tone. It seriously felt like a fairy tale.
What to bring to Paraiso Manantiales
- 🥾 Sturdy walking shoes – full-blown hiking boots aren't required, but you want to be in either comfortable trainers or water shoes if you have them. The trail was super slippery and steep in parts so you need good traction. You don't have to walk through water on this trail, but we opted to wear water shoes for all our waterfall hikes in Costa Rica. I always wear my Teva sandals and Brayden has some trainer-style water shoes.
- 👙 Swimmers – you will want to jump in and swim in the incredible pools!
- 🚿 Towel – to dry off from the falls, and for the showers available in the restaurant.
- 🎒 Waterproof bag – for any activity involving water (or possible rain) we use a waterproof bag. We have both an entire backpack that is completely waterproof, and also smaller waterproof sacks that we use for the camera and drone, as an added layer of protection and peace of mind.
- 🧥 Rain jacket – this area of Costa Rica is cool and moist, so you should be ready for rain at any time!
- 🦟 Insect repellent – apply before entering the rainforest so you don't pollute the air, and consider using a natural spray.
- 💧 Water – bring plenty of water, the trail is steep in parts and it is hot and humid in the rainforest. Be sure to use a reusable bottle and avoid creating any more plastic pollution. The water in this part of Costa Rica is clean and safe to drink, so you can fill up your bottle at the restaurant.
- 🍎 Snacks – there is a restaurant on-site, but we always like having some snacks in our bag on any hike. It's a nice reward and I always look forward to some lollies, fruits or biscuits! We pack our snacks into reusable containers, so we aren't bringing any plastic into nature.
Where to stay near Paraiso Manantiales
It's actually possible to camp on the property if you are travelling by tent/camper/van. We stayed here in our Nomad America 4×4 car with a rooftop tent and paid 4,000 Colones per person. We had access to the toilets and showers in the evening and could sit in the (closed) restaurant in case of rain.
Otherwise, there are a handful of accommodation options around Bajos del Toro for a range of budgets. We recommend:
💦 Check out our Bajos del Toro travel guide for more information on where to stay in the area
Where to after Paraiso Manantiales?
We highly recommend staying for at least one night in Bajos del Toro, so you can visit a few of the other falls in the area. We stayed for two nights, and in addition to Paraiso Manantiales, we visited Catarata del Toro, the Blue Falls of Costa Rica and Catarata Vuelta del Cañon. Our next stop in Costa Rica was La Fortuna.
Final thoughts: Paraiso Manantiales
Paraiso Manantiales is a beautiful hidden gem in Bajos del Toro.
We read someone describe it as ‘not that spectacular', but we think they are completely wrong! These beautiful falls are unique from others in the area, and the fact that you can probably enjoy them without anyone else around makes them even more special.
Let me know what you think if you visit!
MORE BAJOS DEL TORO POSTS
- Bajos del Toro Travel Guide: Costa Rica’s Waterfall Wonderland
- Catarata del Toro Waterfall Guide, Costa Rica
- How to Visit The Incredible Blue Falls of Costa Rica
- Catarata Vuelta del Cañon: Costa Rica’s Best Waterfall
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