Lonely Planet Costa RicaLonely Planet
Guidebook
Lonely Planet Costa Rica
Lonely Planet · 2025
Latest Lonely Planet Costa Rica, covering Arenal/La Fortuna, Tenorio's Río Celeste and the southern Pacific near Nauyaca.
Costa Rica · Sarapiquí
La Paz Waterfall
La Paz is a waterfall in central Costa Rica. In Spanish, it is known as Catarata de La Paz.
Essentials guide
Facts from Wikidata and Wikipedia, compiled September 2026; season and access are our estimate, not a visit report. How we build these pages.
La Paz Waterfall drops 37 metres (121 ft). It is a cascade-type fall, and the nearest base for a visit is Sarapiquí, Costa Rica. Access to the main viewpoint is rated easy.
Summary adapted from the Wikipedia article (CC BY-SA 4.0).
La Paz Waterfall is the third-tallest of the 5 we cover in Costa Rica. As a cascade waterfall, water tumbles down a series of rock steps rather than falling free.
What you can do here
A walk-in-and-look waterfall
No commercial adventures run at La Paz Waterfall itself — the experience is the approach and the view. Guided day trips from Sarapiquí are the easiest way to combine it with the area around it.
Also good forHikingPhotographyWildlife & safari
When to go
Fullest at the end of the wet season (October to December); the dry months of January to April are the easiest for swimming and access.
Getting there
- Base town Sarapiquí, Costa Rica
- Country Costa Rica
- Region Sarapiquí, Mexico & Central America, North America
- Access Easy — a short walk or roadside viewpoint
How it compares
This waterfall
La Paz Waterfall
Costa Rica
Height37 mWidth—
Most similar
Salmon Creek Falls
United States
Height37 mWidth—
Also a cascade waterfall, of similar height and in the United States
Largest curtain
Victoria Falls
Zimbabwe · Zambia
Height108 mWidth1,708 m
Largest single sheet of falling water
Tallest on earth
Angel Falls
Venezuela
Height979 mWidth—
Widest on earth
Khone Phapheng Falls
Laos
Height21 mWidth10,783 m
Measured across the whole multi-channel system
37 m
37 m
108 m
330 m
979 m
La Paz WaterfallSalmon Creek FallsVictoria FallsEiffel TowerAngel Falls
Khone Phapheng Falls
10,783 m
Victoria Falls
1,708 m
Angel Falls is 26× taller than La Paz Waterfall. Victoria Falls is 2.9× taller. We don't have a reliable crest width for La Paz Waterfall yet, so it is left off the width chart. Tallest · widest lists.
Watch and read
Books worth packing
Moon Costa Rica: Best Beaches…Nikki Solano
Guidebook
Moon Costa Rica: Best Beaches, Wildlife-Watching, Outdoor Adventures
Nikki Solano · 2025
Current Moon guide by a Costa Rica-based author, with Arenal, Tenorio and Dominical-area coverage.
Lonely Planet Central AmericaLonely Planet
Guidebook
Lonely Planet Central America
Lonely Planet · 2025
Region-wide guide with Honduras coverage, including San Pedro Sula and Lago de Yojoa, the base for Pulhapanzak.
On the map
10.20174, -84.16145
Quick answers
Where is La Paz Waterfall?
La Paz Waterfall is in Costa Rica (Sarapiquí). The nearest base is Sarapiquí, Costa Rica. Its coordinates are 10.2017, -84.1615.
How tall is La Paz Waterfall?
La Paz Waterfall drops 37 metres (121 feet). It is a cascade-type waterfall.
When is the best time to visit La Paz Waterfall?
Peak flow is January to February and October to December. Fullest at the end of the wet season (October to December); the dry months of January to April are the easiest for swimming and access.
What can you do at La Paz Waterfall?
Beyond the viewpoints: hiking, photography and wildlife & safari. Access to the main viewpoint is rated easy — a short walk or roadside viewpoint.
How do you get to La Paz Waterfall?
The usual base is Sarapiquí, Costa Rica. A short walk or roadside viewpoint from there.
Nearby
Closest to La Paz Waterfall
Full guide La Fortuna Waterfall
Costa Rica · 70 m · 60 km away
Signature waterfall of Costa Rica's Arenal region
CanyoningAbseiling+2
Rio Celeste Falls
Costa Rica · 30 m · 110 km away
Famous for water colored by optical mineral scattering, not dye
Nauyaca Falls
Costa Rica · 45 m · 110 km away
South Pacific Costa Rica's most popular swimming waterfall
Swimming
Volio Waterfall
Costa Rica · 150 km away
The Volio Waterfall is located near the town of Bribri, Costa Rica in Limón Province. It is located within…