Nauyaca Waterfalls- a remote jungle oasis
Situated on the southern Pacific coast in the deep jungles of Costa Rica lies the incredible Nauyaca Waterfalls. Visiting the falls is an absolute must-do while vacationing in Costa Rica. Our day trip here was my favorite activity on our entire vacation. Not just because of how spectacular this place is, but also because of how convenient + accessible we made our day trip to be. I did a lot of research about visiting this place so that we could maximize our time and enjoy a non-stressful experience. Assuming you are currently doing the same right now, let this guide be your one-stop shop for planning your day at Cataratas Nauyaca!
Jump to
How to get to Nauyaca Falls
If you are vacationing in Costa Rica, visiting Nauyaca Falls is most easily done from the tourist towns of Manuel Antonio, Dominical, & Uvita. Renting a car is the easiest way to get there and has the advantage of experiencing the day at your own pace and freedom. From the towns mentioned above, Nauyaca is a fairly short drive by car, but it still feels very remote and adventurous. While it may be a longer drive, visiting from Jaco is also totally doable as well! You may also book a day tour with a tourism company & have a guide lead you there. The advantages of this option are that you do not have to rent a car, lunch is usually provided, and you get to meet new people who may be in your group. Noah & I drove ourselves and found the process super easy and enjoyed spending hours hanging out under the falls.
Drive times to Nauyaca Falls:
- From Jaco: 2 hours & 20 minutes
- From Manuel Antonio: 1 hour & 20 minutes
- From Dominical: 43 minutes
- From Uvita: 49 minutes
- From San Jose: 3 hours & 30 minutes
Find out more about renting a car in Costa Rica here!
Check out some tour options here!
When to go
Nauyaca Falls is a year-round destination and can be enjoyed in both the rainy and dry seasons. The falls might be more full during the rainy season which is an advantage in my opinion. We went in June and they were so full and powerful- it was quite impressive! I have seen photos where the falls look significantly dryer which is a bummer, but they are still worth visiting for sure.
Knowing the differences between “Nauyaca Falls” & “Nauyaca Falls Nature Park” on Maps
When you search for Nauycaca Waterfalls on Google Maps, it will take you to the main office of the portion owned by the Don Lulo family! This is the older and more original option for visiting Nauyaca. If you choose this option, there are several ways to actually get down to the falls from their office. First, you will have to park your car and hike up to the office to pay. From the park office, the first and cheapest option is to hike 2.5 miles or 4 kilometers down to the falls. This cost $10 USD. I have heard from people that the hike is pretty moderate and can be very challenging during mid-day when it is super hot. It may also take up to 2 hours depending on your hiking ability. Remember- you will also have to hike the 2.5 miles back up after your day at the falls!
The next option is to take the transport truck down and back. This option costs $32 USD and only allows you to stay for 2 hours. There is also a premium option that offers lunch and more time at the falls for $80 USD.
They also offer horseback rides down to the falls as well. This is an organized tour that runs from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Monday-Saturday and needs to be reserved in advance. The cost is $80 USD Find out more information on their website!
Note: To get the most accurate location on Google Maps, type in Don Lulos Nauyaca Waterfall. This is the location for their office!
Nauyaca Falls Nature Park-
Ok- I am a little biased toward the second option of visiting via Nauyaca Falls Nature Park.. but this is only because I had a 10/10 experience with them! This property allows access to the eastern side of the waterfalls and is a newer option for travelers. Firstly, driving to this entrance will take a few minutes longer than the first one, but it’s definitely worth it! Off the main road, you will need to travel down an unpaved road for about 10-15 minutes, it’s doable in any type of car. Once you’ve done that, you will arrive at the office. My first impression of this property was how lush and beautiful it was. They have nice sitting areas and hammocks to enjoy. There are then two options to get down to the falls!
Hiking: The hike down will take around 30-45 minutes and is all downhill. They even provide walking sticks for support on the steep hills. The hike up is anywhere from 45 minutes to an hour! This option costs $28 USD and actually includes a truck ride back uphill.
Roundtrip truck ride: This is the option that we took as we are not huge hikers and wanted to spend as much time at the falls as possible. For $38 USD, you can take the truck both ways. It is a short and scenic ride! The truck will drop you off at the “park rancho” which is a lovely area to relax with large hammocks, games, bathrooms & showers.. and don’t forget the incredible views! When we visited, we were the only people there and it was absolutely incredible to swing and play around like kids in the middle of the jungle before arriving at the waterfalls.
From the park rancho, you will have to walk 10 minutes on a well-defined trail to reach the waterfalls. It is very easy and doable for kids and adults of all ages.
Find out more information on their official website!
By the way- the nature park is a lot less crowded than the original entrance. We went on a Sunday & only saw 5 other people other the entire time. The west side of the falls, however, had at least 40 people hanging out at all times. Crossing over is possible, but the rocks are big and slippery so it may be difficult. For that reason, our side of the waterfall had hardly anyone on it and there was a lot of room to take photos, sit, and swim.
Spending time at Nauyaca Waterfalls
Okay- the hard part is done.. thank goodness! Now time to sit back and enjoy nature. There are plenty of places to lay out a towel and admire the falls. I really enjoyed swimming in the pools where the river continued. Swimming is also possible underneath the lower falls. We saw a lot of people jumping in and sitting under the cascades. The water is chilly but super refreshing after the walk down! There is no lifeguard on duty so please sim at your own risk. It is not allowed to swim at the upper falls because the current is so strong, but you are definitely able to hike up there and explore the area.
On the eastern side, there is a big rock that is great for taking photos with the perfect view of the waterfalls in the background!
What To Bring
Good shoes- I wore Columbia hiking boots but any pair of good sneakers will work fine. Just note that the trail may get a little muddy if it has rained.
Snacks- This day trip can usually be done in a half day. We got breakfast beforehand in Manuel Antonio and brought protein bars. We stopped in Dominical for lunch at around 2 pm and we were very hungry by then so a good amount of snacks is a great idea to support all the hiking and swimming.
Water- Make sure to bring a full reusable water bottle with you! I did not fill up when we were there but there are places to do so if needed.
Some other things I suggest bringing are a towel a swimsuit, and sunglasses! There is plenty of shade to sit in but sunscreen is essential if you plan on hiking or swimming.
Comment your Nauyaca Waterfalls tips and experiences below!
