Is the El Salto rope swing in La Fortuna free?
Out of all of the fun activities that I enjoyed in La Fortuna, jumping from the El Salto rope swing was definitely one of the best.
Spending my afternoons chilling at El Salto was a highlight of my trip, and as a free activity, it gave my travel budget a break in expensive La Fortuna.
If you are heading to the small jungle town in Costa Rica, and want to know whether you should add El Salto swimming hole to your travel itinerary, then keep reading, as I explain how you can find El Salto, and whether the rope swing is free for visitors.
The water is fresh, and a cool escape from the humid conditions in La Fortuna, so you don’t want to miss this hidden spot.
Let’s start with the practicalities of your visit.
The Tarzan rope swing.
How to get to the El Salto rope swing.
1. From La Fortuna Town:
Starting Point: Head out of the main square in La Fortuna. Look for the road signs directing you towards La Fortuna Waterfall (Catarata Río Fortuna).
Distance: The rope swing is about 2.5 kilometres (1.5 miles) from the town centre, so it's a very short drive, easy bike ride, or as I opted for, a scenic walk.
2. Follow the Main Road to La Fortuna Waterfall (Route 702):
After leaving La Fortuna’s town centre, continue on Route 702 heading south. You’ll notice road signs for La Fortuna Waterfall. Stay on this main road.
The ride is smooth, but the last few hundred metres near the waterfall turnoff may become a bit more rugged. Just keep your eyes on the road, as you’re very close to the swing.
3. Look for the Bridge:
About halfway to the La Fortuna Waterfall entrance, you’ll cross a small bridge over the Arenal River. This bridge is key! Just before you reach it, you'll see a trail to the side leading down to the water.
As you can see, it is very simple from the town centre.
It was around 3/4’s of a mile from Argidvan Hostel (my accommodation) to where the swing is located.
The entrance sign.
What is the El Salto swimming hole?
The easiest way to describe the swimming hole is a natural beauty spot for jumping, which is actually what ‘El Salto’ means ‘The jump’, which I learned in my hostel when I was first recommended to visit.
It is no surprise that there are several jumping spots in and around the swimming hole, with even more opening up during the rainy season when there is deeper water.
The area offers a free, natural swimming spot where locals and tourists alike come to cool off in the river. It was awesome heading down to El Salto when I first arrived in La Fortuna following my long bus journey from San Jose, following my few days in the capital.
When I visited, the water was freezing, and clear, making it a pleasure to jump in!
Although the spot is tourist-heavy, there are many locals who spend their afternoons there everyday.
I noticed this as soon as I saw them doing tricks and backflips from the Tarzan rope, it must have taken years worth of practice, and many injuries to learn them.
However, they now proudly show them off to visitors.
The best time to visit the El Salto Rope Swing.
Although the swimming hole is free to enter for the public at any time, the supervised hours c(1 security guard) are between 8am and 6pm, so this is when most visitors will head over there.
The most popular time to visit El Salto is in the afternoon, when the sun is at its strongest and the idea of a swim in a fresh pool is very appealing. This works well in La Fortuna, as many of the tours run early in the morning.
We headed down there at a similar time everyday and found it to be busy each time!
There was a mixture of 50/50 for locals and tourists when we visited, but if you would prefer more privacy, or some time in solitude, I would recommend visiting first thing in the morning.
We drove over the bridge at around 9am one day as we headed on our day trip, and it looked as though there were very few crowds at this time.
In terms of the best season to visit, you are more likely to be able to enjoy outdoor activities rain free in the dry season between December and April, with the water being more than deep enough then also.
I visited La Fortuna in May and experienced no rainfall at all, so this is not a bad option, with slightly fewer tourists in town then also.
A busy time of day at El Salto.
Beautiful surroundings on route.
Although it is only around one mile to walk to El Salto from the centre of town, it is a very picturesque walk, with the beautiful Arenal Volcano standing tall to your right for the whole journey.
I also passed some lush greenery, and some fields with colourful flowers, and some horses.
It is easy to take the beautiful nature for granted in Costa Rica, but it really is something special, wherever you are exploring!
Admiring the beautiful Arenal Volcano on route to the swimming hole.
Arrived at the bridge.
When you come to the bridge, you will see a little slope on the left which descends towards the river, you need to follow this walkway down.
As you approach the bottom section, the swimming hole reveals itself, and you will find that it is one of the many picture-perfect settings in Costa Rica.
It is only a matter of metres once you head down the dirt path.
Walking down to the swimming hole.
Views from a distance.
The perfect spot to chill out.
Costa Rica swimming holes are very popular with visitors throughout the tourist destinations in the country, as the humidity and tropical heat make these natural pools the perfect places to cool off.
I found swimming at both El Salto and La Fortuna Waterfall to be awesome experiences, with lush scenery, a very social environment, and ice cold water.
At El Salto, many visitors choose a vantage point on the rocks above the waterfalls so they can enjoy the beautiful surroundings and still catch some of the sun’s rays, with it being the best spot to dry off after you have ventured into the water.
Chill out by the waterfall, or jump off the cliff - two great options.
Taking the less adventurous route down.
If you don’t want to jump from the Tarzan swing, then you can follow the walkway down towards the river bank.
It is more of a scramble than a walk, as using your hands is important to keep your balance, although I did visit in the rainy season. It is tricky navigating the rocks on the way down, as they are slippery, therefore, I would recommend wearing trainers to make it easier.
It reminded me of my tricky hike to the waterfalls in Montezuma.
Once you arrive at the bottom of the bank, you will find yourself in this rock section below.
This is where you end up if you take the scramble route down.
A wander upstream.
If you have a wander up from the El Salto river section, you will find hiking trails, which lead to more peaceful and secluded sections of the Rio Fortuna.
As you venture further, the river tends to become quieter, with smaller natural pools, gentle cascades, and lush jungle surroundings.
The area upstream offers a more tranquil experience for those looking to escape the busier swimming hole at El Salto.
I preferred the atmosphere at the swimming hole, so I didn’t wander too far up the trails.
The water can be fast flowing in the rainy season.
Parking and toilet facilities.
There is parking and toilet facilities on site, however, they come at a small cost.
You can park your car right next to this swimming hole area, with locals collecting a few dollars from you. It can vary depending on the local staff member, however, it shouldn’t cost more than $5.
As it is so close to the town centre, I would say that walking down is the best option, as it takes away any worries or concerns about leaving your car.
The toilets are slightly upstream from the La Fortuna rope swing, and are well signposted.
It will cost you $1 for your visit.
Tee toilets are signposted.
Payment is required as everywhere else.
Getting food at El Salto.
At certain times throughout the day there is street food available at El Salto.
It is usually just a local with a BBQ on the go, but the food smelt lovely when I walked past.
You will find barbecued meat, snacks, and water available to purchase, and you will also pass by several shops selling drinks on the way from town.
I noticed many locals enjoying themselves with some beers.
Street food on offer at El Salto.
Fresh food.
Rules and tips.
Here are the main rules which I spotted on the information boards:
Respect the Environment.
Please don’t litter, and use the bins on site, and don’t damage any trees or plants in the area.
Enter at your own risk.
There are no lifeguards on site, and the currents can be strong in the rainy season
Avoid Alcohol and Drugs.
Avoid substances if you plan on using the rope, or entering the water.
Be aware.
Although La Fortuna is known as a safe spot for tourists, conditions can change fast, so be aware of the water turning brown, especially if it has been raining, as the spot has been known for flash flooding.
Essentials to bring or leave.
Bring these:
Insect repellent - El Salto has mosquitoes or other bugs, especially during the rainy season.
Water shoes - Navigating the rocks and river barefoot is not a very comfortable experience.
Towel and sunscreen - There’s limited shade.
Leave these:
Wallet/Passport - With El Salto being crowded, it is not a good idea to bring your wallet or passport, so just stick to a small amount of currency to cover water or snacks. You will likely be leaving your belongings unattended.
Phone - I went down without my phone for some of the days, which put my mind at ease when using the swing etc.
Information boards with rules displayed.
A warning sign.
Is El Salto safe?
Between the supervised hours of 9am and 6pm, there are safety precautions in place at El Salto, as during these hours, there is an armed security guard on site, however, this is more of a reactive measure, rather than preventative.
There are no lifeguards on site.
There are still many risks involved with the fun activities of cliff jumping, and rope swinging!
The biggest concern which I noticed was people nearly slipping when taking off on the swing, or about to jump from the cliffs, as the water ends up making the walkways slippery.
The experienced locals are very good at creating some order in terms of queuing for the swing, and giving the jumpers plenty of space.
I witnessed one tourist get injured on the rope swing, as she didn’t dare let go of the swing while over the water, so she came crashing back onto the land and scraped herself.
It is one of those activities where you are either all in, or all out, nothing in between if you want to avoid injury.
There is always a security guard on site.
Other awesome activities in La Fortuna.
I found the La Fortuna rope swing to be one of my favourite activities in the jungle town, however, here is a free and paid activity, which you should also add to your La Fortuna itinerary:
El Chollin Hot Springs.
At the other side of downtown La Fortuna there are many geothermal hot springs to go and visit, whether it be a resort, or the free natural ones.
I visited both, and I found the free natural springs at El Chollin to be a more authentic Costa Rica travel experience.
Our group from the hostel headed there as the sun went down, so when we arrived it was very dark. This made it more fun and the abundance of fireflies lit up the sky.
This is much more relaxed compared to El Salto swing, as visitors just submerge into the naturally warm water and chill out.
Mistico Park Hanging Bridges
My favourite activity on my whole Costa Rica adventure was my rainforest experience at Mistico Park.
Booking an official tour is essential if you want to learn the facts of the forest, and be shown the secret hiding spots of the inhabitants.
Our guide Chris knew the forest inside out, and also supplied us with binoculars and a telescope to get a close up shot of some monkeys, sloths, vipers, and rare birds.
Walking along the hanging bridges high above the forest also added a touch of fun and adrenaline to the day.
You don’t want to miss this one!
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