Costa Rica Hot Springs ToursLa Leona Waterfall and Hot Springs Private Tour
This La Leona waterfall and hot springs private tour packs four stops into one 6-hour day near Rincón de la Vieja volcano in Guanacaste. You tube a lazy river and try cliff jumps at Poza Los Coyotes, hike to La Leona Waterfall, eat a home-style casado lunch in Curubandé, then finish in the natural hot springs and volcanic mud at Cañón de la Vieja Lodge. Pickup is private and included, with about 90 minutes of driving each way from your Guanacaste hotel. At $234 per person it is the priciest listing on this site, and the reason is simple: the vehicle and the certified guide are yours alone. If that pace and privacy fit, it is one of the fuller Costa Rica hot springs tours you can book from the beach hotels, and it sits alongside Costa Rica hot springs tours.
About This Tour
This is a private combo run by Hiking Guanacaste, sold on Viator with a 5-star rating across 46 verified reviews. The day moves through four stops near Curubandé at the foot of Rincón de la Vieja volcano: a lazy river tubing run and cliff jumping at Poza Los Coyotes, the forest hike to La Leona Waterfall, a traditional casado lunch in Curubandé, and a closing soak in the natural hot springs with volcanic steam and a mud bath at Cañón de la Vieja Lodge.
Because it is private, the pace is yours and there is no shared bus. The trade-off is the price. At $234 per person it costs more than the group combos in the same area, and about 90 minutes of each direction is spent in the vehicle rather than in the water.
$234 per person, private tour, booked through Viator
About 6 hours door to door, with roughly 90 minutes of travel each way from your hotel
A lazy river for tubing and a natural cliff-jump pool at Poza Los Coyotes, a waterfall pool on the hike, and natural hot springs with volcanic steam and a mud bath at Cañón de la Vieja Lodge
Private air-conditioned transport, a bilingual certified guide, a Costa Rican casado lunch, bottled water, entry to La Leona Waterfall and to the Cañón de la Vieja hot springs, and a life jacket if needed
Not stated. The springs and mud bath are the final stop within the 6-hour day
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the scheduled departure time for a full refund
Check Dates and Availability
This listing sells on Viator as product 411920P2 with pickup included as the only option. Check live dates and the per-person total for your travel dates below.
You'll confirm the exact date and time on the secure booking page.
Quick answer Price, length and what you get
The La Leona waterfall and hot springs private tour costs $234 per person and runs about 6 hours with private hotel pickup included. The day covers lazy river tubing and cliff jumps at Poza Los Coyotes, the hike to La Leona Waterfall, a casado lunch in Curubandé, and hot springs with a volcanic mud bath at Cañón de la Vieja Lodge. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before departure.
Key takeaways
- See exactly what the $234 covers in what the price actually covers
- Walk the day stop by stop in the hour-by-hour itinerary
- If a shared group rate suits you better, compare the Guachipelin Volcano Combo at $145
- Browse all Costa Rica hot springs tours on one page
What the Price Actually Covers
The $234 headline is per person and covers more than most listings in the area, but a few things sit outside it. Here is the line-by-line from the operator's own listing.
Included in the $234
The listing states the price covers private transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle, a bilingual certified guide, entry to La Leona Waterfall and to the Cañón de la Vieja hot springs, a traditional Costa Rican casado lunch, bottled water, and a life jacket if you need one. There are no stated mandatory extras on top of the ticket, which is rare in this price bracket.
| Line | In the price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Private transport | Yes | Air-conditioned vehicle, hotel pickup included, about 90 minutes each way |
| Guide | Yes | Bilingual and certified, private to your group |
| La Leona Waterfall entry | Yes | Stated as included |
| Cañón de la Vieja hot springs entry | Yes | Includes the mud bath and volcanic steam area |
| Casado lunch | Yes | Home-style Costa Rican plate in Curubandé |
| Bottled water | Yes | One stated inclusion |
| Alcoholic drinks | No | Not included, but the van carries a cooler and ice for drinks you bring or buy on a stop |
| Towel and locker | Not stated | The listing does not mention either, so pack a towel to be safe |
| Gratuities | Not stated | No line either way, so carry some cash |
Where the Money Goes
The premium over the shared combos in this area buys exclusivity, not extra stops. The Guachipelin Volcano Combo runs $145 per person on a shared minivan with a zipline and a 5 kilometer tubing run, while the Rio Negro day pass costs $76 self-guided with no pickup at all. What you pay the extra for here is a vehicle and guide that answer only to your group, and a route that skips the zipline in favour of a waterfall hike. If your group is four or more people, the per-person gap narrows in value terms because you already fill the private van.
Data checked.
Sources: Viator listing 411920P2, operator Hiking Guanacaste.
A boiling spring inside Rincón de la Vieja National Park, for looking at only. Photo: Flicka, CC BY 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons
What the Day Is Really Like
The listing describes four stops in sequence with no published clock times, so the rhythm below follows the operator's own order rather than a fixed schedule.
Stop 1: Poza Los Coyotes
The day opens with tubing along the Lazy River at Poza Los Coyotes, drifting through tropical vegetation. The same stop includes cliff jumping at a natural river pool, so bring secure footwear for the rocks and be honest with yourself about the jump. A life jacket is provided if needed.
Stop 2: La Leona Waterfall
Next is the hike through tropical forest to La Leona Waterfall. The listing calls it a hike with trail exploration and photo time at the falls, and rates the tour as suitable for all fitness levels. It does not state the trail length or hiking time, so treat the walk as moderate and wear shoes that can get wet.
Stop 3: Lunch in Curubandé
The group then heads to the village of Curubandé for a traditional Costa Rican casado, served home-style. This is the seated rest point in the middle of the day and the moment to refill water bottles.
Stop 4: Cañón de la Vieja Lodge Hot Springs
The final stop is Cañón de la Vieja Lodge at the foot of the volcano. You relax in natural hot springs, sit in the volcanic steam, and do the traditional volcanic mud bath. The listing does not state how long you get here, only that it closes the roughly 6-hour day, so the soak is the shortest-feeling segment after the drive back.
Sources: Viator listing 411920P2.
Who This Tour Rules Out
The listing states several clear limits. Read them before you book rather than discovering them on the trail.
Health and Pregnancy Warnings
The listing does not recommend the tour for pregnant travelers or for people with poor cardiovascular health. The combination of cliff jumping, a forest hike and volcanic heat is the reason. If you are pregnant or managing heart conditions, a calmer option such as the Rincón nature thermal day pass covers hot springs, mud, a waterfall and trails without the jumping.
Fitness and Terrain
The tour is described as suitable for all physical fitness levels, but it includes cliff jumping and a waterfall hike, so it is not a flat, sitting-down day. Travelers who want a soak-only visit should look at the self-guided Rio Negro hot springs pass instead, which skips the adventure stops entirely.
Age and Other Limits
The age band runs from 4 to 99, so young children can book. Wheelchair access is not stated, and the listing notes public transportation options are nearby but service animals are allowed. No minimum group size is stated because the tour is private by definition.
What to Settle Before You Book
A private tour gives you leverage, so use it. Confirm the details below in writing before you pay.
Cancellation and Weather
Cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time for a full refund. The listing also states the booking can be cancelled for bad weather, which matters because river activities and a waterfall hike are weather-dependent. If your cruise ship or flight lands late, the 24-hour window is the only thing protecting your money, so book with slack in the schedule.
Confirm with the Seller
No pickup window is published, so message the operator through Viator and get your exact hotel pickup time in writing. Confirm the lunch venue and that the Cañón de la Vieja hot springs and mud bath entry are booked for your date. Ask how long the final springs stop lasts, since the listing leaves it open.
What to Bring
Bring a swimsuit, water shoes or secure sandals for wet volcanic rock, a towel, sun protection for Guanacaste's exposed climate, and cash for gratuities. The van carries a cooler and ice, so you can bring your own alcoholic drinks or ask for a purchase stop, since no alcohol is included. Bottled water is provided.
Getting There
You do not need to plan transport. Private pickup from Guanacaste-area hotels is included, with the operator based in Playa Flamingo and about 90 minutes of driving to the site each way. If you stay outside the standard Guanacaste pickup area, confirm coverage before booking, because the record does not state a self-drive meeting point for this listing.
The Day, Step by Step
Clock times are not published for this listing, so the steps follow the operator's stated order. Count on roughly 90 minutes in the vehicle at each end of the day.
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Hotel pickup
A private air-conditioned vehicle collects you at your Guanacaste hotel. The drive to the Curubandé area at the foot of Rincón de la Vieja volcano takes about 90 minutes.
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Tubing and cliff jumps at Poza Los Coyotes
Tube the Lazy River through tropical vegetation, then try the cliff jumps at a natural river pool. A life jacket is provided if needed.
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Hike to La Leona Waterfall
Walk the tropical forest trail to the waterfall, explore and take photos. The listing does not state the trail length, and rates the whole tour as suitable for all fitness levels.
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Casado lunch in Curubandé
Sit down to a traditional home-style Costa Rican casado in the village of Curubandé, included in the price.
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Hot springs and mud bath at Cañón de la Vieja Lodge
Finish in the natural hot springs, the volcanic steam and the traditional mud bath at the lodge. This is the final stop of the 6-hour day.
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Return drive
Back in the private vehicle for the roughly 90-minute return to your hotel. A return time is not stated.
What Works and What Does Not
An honest read of this listing against the others on the site, using the operator's own stated details.
What we genuinely like
- Fully private vehicle, guide and pace, with no shared bus or other groups
- Four distinct stops in 6 hours: tubing, cliff jumps, waterfall, hot springs
- Entry fees to both the waterfall and the hot springs are included, with no stated mandatory extras
- Casado lunch and bottled water included, plus a cooler and ice in the van for your own drinks
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure
- 5-star rating across 46 reviews on Viator and Tripadvisor
The honest downsides
- At $234 per person it is the highest-priced listing on this site, and the premium buys privacy rather than extra activities
- About 90 minutes of driving each way means roughly 3 of the 6 hours are road time
- No stated duration for the hot springs stop, so the soak could be brief at the end of a full day
- No towel or locker is mentioned in the inclusions, so bring your own
- Alcoholic drinks cost extra, though the cooler and ice are provided
- Cliff jumping and a waterfall hike rule out pregnant travelers and those with poor cardiovascular health
Who it's NOT for: Travelers who want a long, unclocked soak or a springs-only day should book the self-guided Rio Negro day pass or the Sensoria thermal walk instead of a combo like this.
Questions About This Tour
How much does the La Leona waterfall and hot springs private tour cost?
The price is $234 per person, covering private transport, guide, both entry fees, lunch and bottled water. For comparison, the shared Guachipelin Volcano Combo costs $145 per person on a group minivan.
How long does the tour last?
About 6 hours door to door, including roughly 90 minutes of driving each way from your Guanacaste hotel. Other hot springs tours in Costa Rica run from 5-hour day passes to 13-hour round trips, so this sits in the middle.
Is the hot springs stop long enough?
The listing does not state how long you get at Cañón de la Vieja Lodge, only that it is the final stop of the 6-hour day. If a long soak is the priority, the Sensoria Healing Thermals walk is built entirely around the pools rather than ending at them.
Who should not book this tour?
The listing does not recommend it for pregnant travelers or people with poor cardiovascular health, because of the cliff jumping and waterfall hike. A calmer alternative is the Rincón nature thermal day pass, which covers springs, mud and trails without the adventure stops.
What is included in the price?
Private air-conditioned transport, a bilingual certified guide, entry to La Leona Waterfall and the Cañón de la Vieja hot springs, a casado lunch, bottled water and a life jacket if needed. Towels are not mentioned, so bring one, and see what the price actually covers for the full table.
Can I cancel after booking?
Yes. Cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time for a full refund, and the booking can also be cancelled for bad weather. Get your exact pickup time in writing through the availability check before you travel.
Where does the tour start?
At your hotel. Private pickup from Guanacaste-area hotels is included, with the operator based in Playa Flamingo and the site near Curubandé at the foot of Rincón de la Vieja. There is no stated self-drive meeting point, unlike some other Costa Rica hot springs tours that offer one.
Prices, availability and terms are set by the operator and confirmed at checkout.
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