Based on a photo by Diego Delso · CC BY-SA 4.0

Las Grietas

4.6 (1,390 reviews)

Swimming PoolSports Activity LocationPoint of InterestEstablishment

Best time to visit

Come in the morning between 07.00 and 09.00, when the water is calmest and the light penetrates the gap perfectly. The dry season from June to December provides the most stable weather for swimming all day.

Budget tips

There is no entrance ticket for swimming at the site; the only expense is a water taxi across the harbor, around 1 dollar one way. Bring your own food and drinking water because there are no stalls along the trail.

Recommended for

Snorkeling enthusiasts, Nature photographers, Budget adventurers, Families with children who are already good at swimming

Plan your visit

2-3 hours

About

Quick facts: Its water blends freshwater springs from the coral rock and seawater seeping through underground cracks, creating two distinct layers of salinity. At the bottom of the crack nearly 12 meters deep, sunlight penetrates to a visibility of about 10 meters, revealing the steep volcanic cliffs from top to bottom.

Highlights: The crack, about 10 meters wide, splits a lava cliff eight meters high, and the water is so clear that two different colors are visible from the surface to the bottom. The strong current seeping through the reef gap on the northern side feels like the ocean's breath, and experienced swimmers can trace that dark passage for hundreds of meters toward the open sea.

Insider tips

Wear water shoes or beach sandals, because the rocks around the crevice are sharp and the iron stairs can be slippery.
Rent snorkeling gear in town before leaving, around 5 dollars a day, because there is no rental at the site.
Arrive before 8 in the morning to enjoy the calmest water before the tour groups arrive.
Avoid diving into the canal at the northern end while the current is strong, just explore the main pool which is safer.