Pozo Azul - Colonias del Toro
- Dakota B.
- Nov 7, 2019
- 3 min read
Everything about this waterfall begins and ends with its height. Cascading down 155 meters (508 feet) Pozo Azul is officially the tallest waterfall I have ever seen in Costa Rica with my own two eyes - and it's not even close. I think back to when I arrived at the foot of the incredible 110-meter tall (360 ft) Río Blanco waterfall. It was easily one of the defining moments among all my waterfall-chasing adventures, but with regard to sheer size, Pozo Azul absolutely dwarfs it.
As is often the case when I arrive at the foot of one of the taller waterfalls, it's a humbling moment in which I breathe deeply and take in the magnitude of the raw, natural power that is crashing down before me. As the title of this blog clearly states, that's my moment to Look Up, as a simple yet momentous reminder of my place in nature.
When my friend Chris visited in February of 2019, I knew I wanted to invite him to see this gigantic beauty with me. We made our plans, packed our bags, drove down into the valley known as Bajos del Toro, and stepped into the jungle with adventure on our minds.
The descent is certainly nothing to take lightly. After a brief walk through fairly flat riverbed and a short crossing over smooth stones, you'll arrive to the lookout platform. Over the edge of the platform you will see the waterfall crashing downward at breakneck speed, not landing until over 500 feet below. I admit, it gave my stomach a lurch when I first reached the end of the short structure and looked down. From the high point, you're also afforded a beautiful view of the river valley in front of you.
The day Chris and I hiked down to the base of Pozo Azul, there was a group of outdoor adventurers braving the plunging height of the waterfall and descending via climbing rope. We got to the bottom of the descent - some 1,500 steps - about the same time the last of the climbing crew was arriving at the base.
Chris and I chose to explore the base a little bit, and we ended up swimming across the vast pool to the small cavern to the left of the main falls. There was a perfect little spot, a smooth, flat surface on the rocks, to rest and take it all in. Chris and I sat there, taking in the beauty of all that surrounded us, and, after a few minutes of silent admiration, I looked over to him and asked, "How do you feel?" I was very pleased when Chris' response was, "I didn't know I needed this as much as I did. Thank you for bringing me here." Needless to say, I couldn't have felt more content. There's not much better than knowing your friends and family enjoy something you planned for them. I was so grateful for that experience and still am to this day.
A note about the return ascent. It is long and tiring. I say that as a caution. Don't let it keep you from going down to see this beautiful, towering sight, but be aware that you will be tested on your way back up. In all, I think it took Chris and me - two young men in decent shape at the time - somewhere around 45 minutes, and that's with frequent(!) stops to catch our breath. Plan to take your time.
Logistically speaking, the Pozo Azul waterfall is among the more accessible ones, at a mere 1.5 kilometers off the main road, CR 708, just south of the small town of Colonias Del Toro. They have a wonderful little outdoor-seating restaurant with bathrooms, so you can easily change into and out of your hiking clothes and grab a little sustenance after the trek.
Entrance costs 3,000CRC per person, but it's oh-so-worth it. Contact doña Emilse at +506-8922-8799 for more information.
Pozo Azul Waterfall Info
Difficulty: Moderate to Difficult
Location: Colonias del Toro, Alajuela, CR
GPS Coordinates: 10.284436, -84.247631
Height: approx. 155 meters / 508 feet
Entry fee: 3000 CRC/person
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