Río Blanco - Guápiles
- Dakota B.
- May 18, 2019
- 3 min read
Updated: Nov 7, 2019
Are you looking for adventure? Are you looking for an experience that will simultaneously take your breath away and somehow also fill you with life at the same time? Do you have what it takes to hike through the Costa Rican jungle for 7 or 8 hours, crossing rivers and climbing up and down the mountains?
If you can check off all of those questions with a resounding "Yes!" then the waterfall at Río Blanco (White River) might be perfect for you.
When I first heard about this majestic place, I was checking my Instagram messages on the bus returning from a different waterfall. I received a message from a young man named Jonathan Sanabria, a local guide out of Guápiles, a nearby town in the northern Caribbean region. He introduced himself in English, inviting me to come and hike to some of the waterfalls nearby, and I thanked him, assuring him we would be in touch soon.
My first hike with Jonathan and his fellow guide, Derrick, was to a different pair of falls, but soon after that first experience, we organized a big group trip to the Río Blanco waterfall in January of 2019. Along with a great mix of Peace Corps volunteers and a few Tico friends, we set out at 7AM for what would end up being a 14 kilometer, 8 hour journey.
The day started out on a positive note, with a good coffee, a hearty breakfast, and an upbeat crew. As we departed from La Casona de Bella Vista, our lodging for the night before the hike, there was plenty of excitement shared among our group of 14 adventurers. We traipsed through a few open fields as we approached the riverbed, then turned downhill and arrived at our first of many crossings. With the help of our two all-star guides, John and Derrick, and guide-to-be Gloriana, we were able to make good time through the lengthy system of trails with little to no issue.
The hike isn't as difficult as others in the nearby area like Chindama or Las Orquideas, but it does take a little while. I'd measure it out at around 13-14 kilometers round-trip, with the majority of it being mostly flat ground with a few hills. For the last portion of the hike, as you approach the last turn in the riverbed, you do have to climb over and across some boulders that line the river, but as long as you take your time, you should be just fine.
Arriving at the base of this mammoth waterfall is easily one of the most exhilarating moments you can experience here in Costa Rica. At the time of our hike, this was the tallest waterfall that I'd seen in person (since then it has been supplanted by Pozo Azul in Alajuela). The sheer force of the massive amount of water that is crashing down into the deep, broad pool below is certainly something that will amaze.
Be sure to spend time in the pool, and if you're up for it, check out the huge cave over to the left of the main falls. It's pretty deep and offers a nice place to relax (just like the one at Las Golondrinas except even bigger) as you take in the incredible surroundings. Be careful not to swim too close to the base of the waterfall itself, as there are a few falls that come directly from the 110-meter precipice above, meaning it arrives below with a force that would surely cause injury to anyone unlucky enough to end up underneath it.
Overall, Río Blanco offers everything you could ask for in a waterfall hike. Beautiful approach, varietal hiking terrain, and one hell of a main event: 360 feet of incredible, cascading splendor. Be sure to make time to go see her!
Río Blanco Waterfall Info
Difficulty: Moderate to High
Location: Bella Vista, Guápiles, Limón, CR
GPS Coordinates: 10.123216, -83.843567
Height: approx. 110 meters / 360 feet
Nearest bus fare: Guápiles Centro to Bella Vista, 340 CRC
Entry fee: 6000 CRC (full guided hike fee with La Casona)
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