Los Chorros is a pair of waterfalls in a municipal park near Tacares de Grecia, about 30 minutes from San José’s airport. The park has been officially closed since Tropical Storm Nate damaged its trails and facilities in October 2017. For years visitors still got in through neighbors’ land for a small fee, but in 2026 visitors reported a new fence going up at the entrance. Don’t build a day around Los Chorros. La Paz Waterfall Gardens and Catarata del Toro are open, staffed and close by.
This guide is for travelers who saw Los Chorros on a map or an older blog and want to know if it’s worth the trip. It covers the park’s status, what the falls are like, why informal access is a bad idea and where to go instead.
| Los Chorros Waterfalls | At a glance |
|---|---|
| Status | Officially closed by the Municipality of Grecia since 2017 |
| Location | Between Tacares de Grecia and Poás, Alajuela province |
| From SJO airport | About 30 minutes by car |
| Waterfalls | Two: Zamora, about 40 meters (130 feet), and Prendas, upstream |
| Trail | Steep, about 15 to 30 minutes down, with a river crossing to the second fall |
| Facilities | None staffed; damaged trails and bridge |
| Open alternatives | La Paz Waterfall Gardens (45 minutes from SJO), Catarata del Toro (1.5 hours) |
Status
Is Los Chorros Waterfall Open?
No, not officially. Los Chorros is the Parque Recreativo Municipal Los Chorros, a protected municipal park. Tropical Storm Nate caused landslides that damaged its trails and facilities in 2017, and the Municipality of Grecia closed it as unsafe. It hasn’t officially reopened.
After the closure, signs at the gate warned that the park was closed and dangerous, but neighbors ran informal parking and trails and charged visitors a small fee. Older blogs and reviews describe that setup. In 2026, visitors reported workers building a large fence at the entrance and the neighboring access looking closed too.
Local conservation groups have proposed turning the area into a natural monument jointly managed by the Grecia and Poás municipalities, with restored trails and visitor controls. There’s no announced reopening date. Until there is, treat Los Chorros as closed.
Location
Where Are the Los Chorros Waterfalls?
The park sits on the Río Prendas between Tacares, a district of Grecia, and the canton of Poás, in Alajuela province. It’s about 15 minutes from downtown Grecia, about 30 minutes from Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) and about 45 minutes from San José. The last stretch to the entrance is a gravel road.
The falls
What the Los Chorros Waterfalls Are Like
Los Chorros means “the jets,” and the name fits. The first fall, Catarata Zamora, drops about 40 meters (130 feet) into a cold, clear pool. The second, Catarata Prendas, is a similar-sized fall tucked into a cove upstream, reached by wading across the river below Zamora.
The walk down takes about 15 to 30 minutes on a steep path with roots, loose rock and mud, and the climb back is harder. Visitors have described a damaged rope-and-plank bridge near the bottom and slippery rocks around both pools.
Safety
Why We Don’t Recommend Going Now
- No maintenance: the trail, bridge and facilities haven’t been officially repaired since 2017.
- River risks: reaching the second fall means crossing the river, and water levels rise fast after rain. Rainy season runs roughly May to November.
- No help on site: there’s no ranger, lifeguard or easy way for rescuers to reach you.
- Theft: visitors have reported things stolen on the trail and from cars.
- Private land: informal access crosses private property, and that access can close without notice.
Not this one
Los Chorros vs. the Tapantí Waterfall
Some websites, including an earlier version of this page, mixed up Los Chorros with the waterfall in Tapantí National Park near Orosi, in Cartago province. They’re roughly two hours apart by car. At Tapantí you see the waterfall from a lookout, and swimming in the river isn’t allowed. See our Tapantí National Park guide for tickets, trails and hours.
There’s also a well-known Los Chorros park in El Salvador. If your search results mention El Salvador, that’s a different place.
Go here instead
Waterfalls to Visit Instead Near Grecia and the Airport
La Paz Waterfall Gardens
A private park in Vara Blanca, about 45 minutes from SJO, with a series of waterfalls along 3.5 kilometers of trails and viewing platforms. It’s open daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and the park suggests entering by 3 p.m. Adult admission for foreign visitors is $56 plus tax through Dec. 15, 2026. It’s the most organized waterfall stop near the airport.
Catarata del Toro
A waterfall about 90 meters (300 feet) high dropping into an old volcanic crater in Bajos del Toro, about 1.5 hours from SJO. The hike is about 350 steps down and back. See our Catarata del Toro guide for hours and prices.
Farther afield
- La Fortuna Waterfall, near Arenal, with a swimming hole at the base
- Río Celeste in Tenorio Volcano National Park, known for its blue water
- Llanos de Cortés in Guanacaste, an easy walk to a wide fall and sandy pool
- Nauyaca Falls near Dominical on the southern Pacific coast
For photo tips, see our guide to photographing waterfalls in Costa Rica.
Nearby
What Else to Do Around Grecia
- Sarchí: a short drive from Grecia, known for painted oxcarts and woodworking shops. See our guide to the Costa Rican oxcart.
- Poás Volcano: up the mountain from Grecia and Alajuela. See our guide to Costa Rica’s volcanoes.
- Hiking: see our guide to hiking in Costa Rica for trails that are open and maintained.
Most of these places are easiest by car. See our guide to Costa Rica car rental.
FAQ
Los Chorros Waterfall FAQ
Is Los Chorros waterfall in Grecia open?
Not officially. The Municipality of Grecia closed the park after Tropical Storm Nate damaged it in 2017, and it hasn’t announced a reopening. Informal access through neighboring land has come and gone, and in 2026 visitors reported a new fence at the entrance.
Where is Los Chorros waterfall?
In a municipal park on the Río Prendas between Tacares de Grecia and Poás, in Alajuela province, about 30 minutes from SJO airport.
How tall is Los Chorros waterfall?
The main fall, Catarata Zamora, is about 40 meters (130 feet). A second fall, Catarata Prendas, is upstream.
Can you swim at Los Chorros?
Visitors used to wade in the cold pool below Zamora, but the park is closed, unmaintained and has no lifeguards or rangers. We don’t recommend going.
Is Los Chorros in Tapantí National Park?
No. Los Chorros is near Grecia in Alajuela. Tapantí National Park is near Orosi in Cartago, about two hours away, and has its own waterfall lookout.
What’s the best waterfall near Grecia instead?
La Paz Waterfall Gardens in Vara Blanca, about 45 minutes from SJO, or Catarata del Toro in Bajos del Toro, about 1.5 hours from SJO. Both are open and staffed.
The short version
Los Chorros near Grecia has been officially closed since 2017, with no reopening date.
Informal access is unreliable and unsafe, and a fence went up at the entrance in 2026.
Go to La Paz Waterfall Gardens or Catarata del Toro instead.