El Tigre Waterfalls Monteverde

One of my favorite experiences visiting Costa Rica (and I went to 3 different regions during my time)
We arrived early and had the trails basically to ourselves, which was wonderful so we could stop and really enjoy it. We opted to do the horseback ride and lunch at the end, well worth it. Bring a good pair of hiking shoes!
We didn't notice a ton of wildlife, but the flora absolutely makes up for it. 5 or more waterfalls, many suspension bridges that made for great photo opportunities. Do not walk back to lodge on your own, it is an absolutely insane 3 mile walk up a steep hill in direct sunlight. They have 3 checkpoints along the route with first aid kits in case you need it, and the last station has someone waiting with watermelon and pineapple to cool you down. Here, they radio in to the lodge to begin preparing the horse and lunch for you while you finish walking up. It was a very well organized exoerience, and I recommended to everyone I spoke with visiting the area.

Such an amazing experience! 10/10 would recommend and would do again. We rode the horses to the top and it was wonderful. The hike was beautiful with the trail well maintained. There is a great spot to swim just past the last waterfall. The lunch was included and was delicious.

Probably the loveliest hike I've ever done - totally magical. After getting clear of the big visitor centre, with decent gift shop etc, we were pretty much on our own to enjoy it all in peace. Waterfalls were stunning but so was the whole experience. We walked back up - it wasn't especially challenging, glad we didn't pay for the ride.

Absolutely stunning! Not a difficult hike and a lot of downhill to get to the falls. The falls themselves are all so beautiful and you can swim in a lot of them - highly recommend it!
The hanging bridges are fun and look so nice in the rainforest.
Horseback on the way out was fun and meant we didn’t have to hike out the 3km uphill.
Lunch at the end was really great and we had a beautiful view!
Highly, highly recommend adding this to your list when you visit Monteverde.
Everyone was really friendly!

We took the premium package and it was really worth it!

The self-guided hike was really nice. Indications were clear, the trail is a bit slippery but nothing too dangerous if you are cautious.

The horseback riding at the end of the trail was awesome, the horses were gentle and beautiful. It seems like they are living really freely when they are not doing the hike and they look well treated.

The food was also amazing and really good!

Absolutely gorgeous property and worth the trip. The staff was very responsive to my questions and the booking process was great. We had email confirmation, receipt, and reminder emails, which is standard for many tourist locations but not necessarily in Costa Rica. It was not very crowded, but I do recommend getting tickets ahead of time if you want to ride the horses back to the top. They seem to treat their horses very well and do not overwork them, so they are careful to plan out how many people can ride horses during the day. For experienced hikers, the trail to the waterfalls is relatively easy, you just have to watch your step in some slippery or muddy areas. It might be difficult for some people with mobility issues. The trail is well maintained, it is mostly downhill and can be challenging on the knees. We did not swim in the water but did enjoy all 4 waterfalls and the kids took a dip in it. The views are gorgeous throughout. We did not do the bicycle zip line. In our group the two adult women took the horses back up. One young child sat with her mother and the other child (8) had his own horse. The men opted to take the vehicle back up, as they were close to the weight limit. I was glad to have the horse at the end, as the walk back up the mountain would have been very tiring, exposed to the sun, and a bit boring compared to the rest of the hike in the lush rainforest. The horse ride was very fun and felt safe and the kids definitely loved it.

The food at the restaurant was nice, and it was great that they had a way to radio ahead to prepare food for your arrival so that you were not waiting too long. We did get hungry after 8 km of hiking! It was very challenging to drive there. We had our driver take us and it was a very difficult road and took 40 minutes from our hotel in Monteverde. Much of it was an undeveloped narrow dirt road with major pot holes. A 4x4 and experienced driver is recommended. I recommend booking their shuttle service (a separate fee) instead of trying to drive it yourself if you are not accustomed to these conditions.

Wow! What an amazing experience. Definitely a must do if you enjoy hiking, swimming, horseback riding, nature, etc. The hike has a lot of downhill and uphill climbs that are sometimes steep so you have to be mindful of the shoes you’re wearing and if you have any mobility/knee issues. The waterfalls were breathtaking and we didn’t think we’d swim but ended up wanting to and went in the water in our clothes lol! The trails and waterfalls weren’t crowded. Horseback riding back up to the entryway was totally worth it and the horses were extremely lovely and tame. The meal at the end was to die for, we had the chifrijo. Would 100% do this again!

Amazing! The only reason I came here is because I couldn't buy ticket for the Monteverde National Park. I expected this to be an overpriced tourist trap, but it was amazing.

I walked there from Santa Elena center and it took me 1 hour and 45 minutes. It was very beautiful hike, but at times very humid and hot, and at times very windy so dress accordingly if you decide to do it too.

The free coffee and drinks were amazing, and the food (you need to pay for the food) was also great.

As for the nature, I don't really know what to say, you need to see it for yourself.

Wonderful trip in Monteverde. Hike is mostly downhill and well marked. Check In was super easy. We pre-ordered our lunch before leaving. Waterfalls were beautiful. The horseback riding was well organized and a great way to get back up to the top for lunch after a long hike. Highly recommend

We booked the “full package” the day before, wanting to make sure we included transport back up to the top. Didn’t realise it also included lunch so feel like we’ve had a real win today 😊. Was concerned this would be too much for my husband with a bad knee injury but amazingly he has survived. It is a long way down, so gives the knees a good workout, but it’s all well marked and the tracks are pretty well maintained. I do recommend grabbing a bamboo pole at the beginning - found that very helpful. It didn’t feel busy until towards the end at the zip bike feature. They have 35 horses in total that they use to bring people back up. Each horse goes up and down the track a maximum of 3 times per day and they seemed pretty relaxed and well cared for. Lunch was delicious and what a view! The whole place was run very efficiently and all the staff were engaging. Highly recommend. Would also highly recommend an SUV vehicle to get there… pretty rough track in places but no different to elsewhere!

Amazing! A beautiful, awesome hike with amazing views. We were pretty much alone on most of the hike, even though there were many other hikers checking in when we got there. We were spaced out enough that we rarely saw anyone else, which made the hike even more special. I didn't see as much wildlife as I expected/hoped, though we did see a snake in the first few minutes of the hike. Highly recommend this company and this experience!

Hard to get to, but once you are there, it’s amazing. The hike down, falls, bridges were well kept and amazing. We took twice the time as my son won’t walk the trail and like god send, Garrison (staff) came to help from the other end and got us out from point 2-3 and 3-4 by holding my sons hand. We were done well past lunchtime and the office closing time but they all were there waiting and gave us warm fresh food at 5:30pm. Had a flat tire too but the owner and staff helped change that as well. Very helpful people. Nice views and a must visit. Cannot thank them enough for all they did.

Best thing you can do in Monteverde! How this isn’t 5 full stars is crazy. Do the full package and ride the horses up (we didn’t do the bike zip line, it’s extra). Definitely bring hiking shoes as path is steep and wet and rocky throughout. No closed toes shoes. Lots of hanging bridges. Felt like we were on a private hike all our own with no one in sight. The meal and views are stunning at the restaurant. It’s truly incredible.

Another one of my favorite experiences during our 50-day visit to Costa Rica. The views are incredible, the hike was fairly easy (we did the horse ride back up at the end which I highly recommend) as the hike back up is very steep and is on a dirt road which has less shade compared to the forested hike down. The 4 large waterfalls are spread throughout the hike and are each unique. The first one has the largest pool and would be one of the best to wade/swim in. When we were there the weather seemed cool and we knew the water would be cold, so we didn't bring swimsuits, however you do warm up from the hiking and others were getting at least waist deep. The last waterfall had very shallow water, so not the best for swimming/wading. I also paid a little extra to do the bike zipline and while scarry for me as a person afraid of heights, it was very safe, exhilarating and a challenge. And finally after returning to the reception building at the top by horseback, we had a delicious meal (several typical CR options to choose from). The staff in all areas where kind, patient and very friendly. It was a very enjoyable full day.

Found this place just from a google search. I read about 25 reviews of this place before i decided to do it. Just about all of the reviews are absolutely correct. I’m 40 and not that fit. So i took the walking stick they offered at the beginning of trail. Which helped Big time! The trails are mostly down hill, and than up hill which I had to take some breathers. One review said to get the 4x4 or horseback ride , Which we did the horses which was amazing!! We had our lunch at end of walk which in my opinion was perfect because after that hike we were exhausted and starving! We did the chicken and yellow rice which was delicious. They also have beer and wine you can buy. They do accept tips and in tip jar there was American money so they take that. Everyone on the staff team was soooo nice and helpful. Worth every penny!!!

This has been my favorite hike in Costa Rica.
The views between waterfalls 1, 2 and 3 were breathtaking, and it was fun to navigate all the suspension bridges. The staff was super friendly and helpful, and the fresh juices (free) were delicious. I would recommend to everyone visiting Costa Rica.

Absolutely recommend! We road the horses up which was a good choice. Those walking were envious, haha. The lunch provided was also amazing with an incredible view. Everyone was friendly and the guides offered to take our photos. Plus the hike was incredible!!

Such a great hike, a lot of down hill but not insanely challenging. The waterfalls were beautiful and we loved the whole trail. I am scared of heights and the hanging bridges were totally fine. Lunch the end was sooo good and the views were amazing.

Awesome hike. Beautiful and magical. Lovely waterfalls and hanging bridges. Plus the zip line bike was really cool. Wear shoes that can get muddy if it's raining and watch your step in slippery places. I'm very happy and tired. ❤

Very fun day, highly recommend going! We did the hike with horseback riding and lunch. The hike was great, you should be in good physical shape and be prepared to get your feet wet! We saw some families with small children and seniors take shortcuts as it was challenging. Lunch was delicious service was good. Staff were very friendly. No complaints loved every moment!