Located close to the Central Valley, tucked in between the Poas Volcano National Park and the Juan Castro Blanco National Park, Bajos del Toro is an area of outstanding highland cloud forest, rivers, and lots of waterfalls.&nbsp;

Book the Best Lodges in Bajos del Toro, Costa Rica

El Silencio Lodge and Spa

Bajos del Toro

Costa Rica Coffee, the Flavors, and Unique Varieties 

Coffee Plantation Visit

Culture

Waterfalls and Jungle Slides

Waterfalls

Adrenaline

Birdwatching with a Naturalist Guide 

Birdwatching

National Parks

Nature & Wildlife

Hiking in Costa Rica

Hiking

Canyoning & Waterfall Rappel

Waterfall Rappel

Renowned as one of the best eco-hotels globally, El Silencio Lodge mixes nature and wellness in a unique way. It's our only recommendation for this area, but you won't regret it!

They say that the Catarata del Toro, a massive waterfall tumbling into an ancient, extinct volcano is the most spectacular in Costa Rica. But there are tons of impressive waterfalls in this area.

<h2>Bajos Del Toro: A Less Explored Paradise</h2>Bajos del Toro is a tiny community north of the Central Valley of Costa Rica. You'll find it nestled between the northern (less accessible) of the Poas National Park and the lesser-known but no less beautiful Juan Castro Blanco National Park. It's all highland cloud forest, primarily forests with rivers and waterfalls.&nbsp;<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/vacationscostarica-com/image/upload/v1648848521/bajos_del_toro_juan_castro_blanco_national_park_detail_bc7e7a0645.jpg" alt="bajos-del-toro-juan-castro-blanco-national-park-detail.jpg" srcset="https://res.cloudinary.com/vacationscostarica-com/image/upload/v1648848522/thumbnail_bajos_del_toro_juan_castro_blanco_national_park_detail_bc7e7a0645.jpg 245w,https://res.cloudinary.com/vacationscostarica-com/image/upload/v1648848523/small_bajos_del_toro_juan_castro_blanco_national_park_detail_bc7e7a0645.jpg 500w,https://res.cloudinary.com/vacationscostarica-com/image/upload/v1648848523/medium_bajos_del_toro_juan_castro_blanco_national_park_detail_bc7e7a0645.jpg 750w,https://res.cloudinary.com/vacationscostarica-com/image/upload/v1648848522/large_bajos_del_toro_juan_castro_blanco_national_park_detail_bc7e7a0645.jpg 1000w," sizes="100vw"><h3>Best Time to Travel to Bajos del Toro</h3>The best time to come to Bajos del Toro is November to May. This is the dry (er) part of the year and will make it easier to get out there on the trails to explore than if it was raining harder.<h3>Weather in Bajos del Toro</h3>This is an area of tropical highland cloud forest, so you can expect temperatures ranging from the late 50s F to the mid 70s F. Main rainy season runs from May to November, but you can expect to get wet year-round.<h3>Is Bajos del Toro Safe?</h3>This is one of the most rural parts of rural Costa Rica, so crime isn't a thing around here. Be careful about getting lost in the forest, though. That's the most significant danger you'll face. Also, take care if you're swimming in rivers and under waterfalls.&nbsp;<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/vacationscostarica-com/image/upload/v1652912850/el_silencio_lodge_family_river_fishing_tour_bajos_del_toro_cceae005a2.jpg" alt="el-silencio-lodge-family-river-fishing-tour-bajos-del-toro.jpg" srcset="https://res.cloudinary.com/vacationscostarica-com/image/upload/v1652912851/thumbnail_el_silencio_lodge_family_river_fishing_tour_bajos_del_toro_cceae005a2.jpg 234w,https://res.cloudinary.com/vacationscostarica-com/image/upload/v1652912852/small_el_silencio_lodge_family_river_fishing_tour_bajos_del_toro_cceae005a2.jpg 500w,https://res.cloudinary.com/vacationscostarica-com/image/upload/v1652912851/medium_el_silencio_lodge_family_river_fishing_tour_bajos_del_toro_cceae005a2.jpg 750w,https://res.cloudinary.com/vacationscostarica-com/image/upload/v1652912851/large_el_silencio_lodge_family_river_fishing_tour_bajos_del_toro_cceae005a2.jpg 1000w," sizes="100vw"><h2>How to Get to Bajos del Toro</h2>Outside Costa Rica's capital of San Jose, Juan Santamaria Airport (Airport Code SJO) is the closest international airport to Bajos del Toro.<h3>Distance &amp; Driving Time to Bajos del Toro</h3>From SJO Airport: 30 miles (49 kilometers), about 1.5 hours.&nbsp;If you're driving to Bajos del Toro from SJO Airport, planning to drive to Jaco from the airport, give yourself about 1.5 hours of driving time, plus an hour, to arrange your car rental. Also, make sure you arrive in Costa Rica early enough in the day to not drive at night.&nbsp;Once you have your car, get onto the InterAmerican Highway and stay on it for a while, ignoring the signs to Jaco and the beach, which keep trying to entice you off to the left. Instead, keep on Ruta 1 and follow the signs to Sarchi. If you do this, you'll soon find yourself on Ruta 715, an altogether narrower, more winding road that takes you through some of the best of rural Costa Rica. You'll eventually pass through the center of Sarchi, and if you have time, it's worth stopping here for a little while to check it out.&nbsp;After getting back on the road, follow the road out of town. Shortly, you'll come to the Supermercado El Sarchiseño, and there's a road across the street from here that switches back. Take this road. You'll pass a restaurant on your left called Kiosco and know you're on the right way.&nbsp;Stay on this road, and don't come off. It'll head uphill, and the views will become spectacular. And soon, at the end of this road, you'll arrive in Bajos del Toro.

Bajos del Toro and Catarata del Toro

Luxury

Birdwatchers' Dream Combo: Bajos del Toro and Tortuguero

Birdwatchers' Dream Combo

Beach Fun

Cloud Forest

Despite its remoteness, Tortuguero is a very popular destination with a variety of hotel options. 

Wildlife watching is, by far, the most popular attraction in Tortuguero.  

Tortuguero

Beach

National Park

Rainforest

Chasing Waterfalls and Surfs: Bajos del Toro and Playa Dominical

Chasing Waterfalls and Surfs

Dominical is small but boasts several great places to stay for all budgets, from surf camps to higher-end eco-lodges and rentals. 

Dominical offers year-round action with some of the most consistent waves in Costa Rica. Also, Dominical has some of the best whale watching opportunities globally and is close to the Marino Ballena National Park.

Playa Dominical

Dominical

Cloud Forest & The Caribbean: Bajos del Toro and Puerto Viejo

Cloud Forest & The Caribbean

Puerto Viejo has a wide range of places to stay, from budget friendly to higher-end, boutique luxury beach bungalows. 

Aside from surfing and partying, Puerto Viejo offers ATV touring, zip lining, horseback riding, cycling, fishing, boogie boarding, stand-up paddling, etc. You won’t find it hard to have fun!

Puerto Viejo

Adults-Only

Yoga

Beachfront

Bajos del Toro and Conchal Beach

Cloud Forest and Conchal Beach

Relaxing

Properties are limited in the Conchal Beach area; however, those that exist provide some of the most excellent accommodations and experience. 

Conchal Beach has something for everyone. Whether you're seeking a thrill or a relaxing experience, it’s all at your fingertips.

Conchal Beach

Wahoo

Snapper

Blue Marlin

Inshore Fishing

Rooster

Sailfish

Deep Sea

Couples

Bajos del Toro and Uvita

Commotion in the Ocean

Uvita has several places to stay. They are smaller, with more boutique options, and a strong sense of eco-awareness.

The visiting humpbacks from northern and southern waters are probably the highlight of any trip to Uvita. 

Uvita

Adventure

Relaxation

Surfing

Costa Rica Highlands: Bajos del Toro and San Isidro

Costa Rica Highlands

Many of the accommodations in San Isidro are family-owned and operated, providing guests with an authentic Costa Rican experience.

San Isidro is a splendid gateway to fresh air and an outdoor lifestyle, from hiking Chirripo to exploring the cloud forests searching for the resplendent quetzal to fishing for trout.

San Isidro

Countryside

Group Travel

Family Time

Boutique

Spring Break

Honeymoon

DIsconnect to Reconnect: Bajos del Toro Cloud Forest and Nosara Beach

Disconnect to Reconnect

There are plenty of hotels and rentals around Nosara. If you are looking to go outside the beaches, check south of Playa Guiones before Playa Garza, as there are some excellent hotels/resorts.

Surf and sunsets! Nosara also has great outdoor activities and a laidback atmosphere. Enjoy a yoga class right on the beach.

Nosara

Unique

Teen-friendly

Sustainable

Great Costa Rica Getaway: Bajos del Toro and Flamingo Beach

Great Costa Rica Getaway

A selection of resorts, including Margaritaville, and plenty of rental options ideal for families looking to enjoy the beach.

From fishing, snorkeling, scuba diving, sunset sailing, to thrilling ATV tours, Flamingo has something for everyone.

Flamingo Beach

Romance

Mahi Mahi

Yellowfin Tuna

Fishing

Fly Fishing

In the Lap of Luxury: Bajos del Toro Cloud Forest and Papagayo Peninsula

In the Lap of Luxury

There are five-star hotels such as the Four Seasons, Andaz Hotel, Ritz Carlton, and more to come. Also, top-of-the-line homes can be found. These villas are perfect for large families or groups of friends. 

If you're interested in getting in touch with the ocean, down at the marina, plenty of boats and yachts can be found. There are also many beach access points to enjoy a nice swim in the calm waters. 