Nauyaca Waterfalls: Best Access (with Video)

Last Updated: July 9, 2025

Costa Rica has plenty of stunning waterfalls but probably the most spectacular in our eyes are the Nauyaca located in the rainforest-covered mountains of the Southern Zone. With two sets of falls measuring a combined 61 meters (200 feet) tall and a large natural pool for swimming, the Nauyaca Waterfalls are indeed a sight to see. This impressive cascade now has two entrances. We have visited from both. In this post, we’ll explain the differences between the original entrance and the Nauyaca Waterfall Nature Park so you can decide how best to visit.

Why the Nauyaca?

We first wrote about the Nauyaca Waterfalls more than 10 years ago, shortly after moving to Costa Rica. At the time, there was only one way in and not much was known about it. Over the last decade, this waterfall has grown in popularity and is now one of the country’s most famous. 

The Nauyaca sits in a wide canyon that is covered in lush greenery, made even greener from the constant mist of the cascading water. There are both an upper falls (very scenic) and lower falls (for swimming). Especially in dry season when the water is calmer, the pool at the Nauyaca is amazing for swimming! The cool fresh water, dramatic size of the waterfall, and lush jungle surrounds make the Nauyaca a real standout.

Despite being remotely located, the waterfall is surprisingly easy to get to. If you are visiting Dominical, Uvita, or even Manuel Antonio during your trip to Costa Rica, you can definitely visit the Nauyaca on a day trip.

From Manuel Antonio, the drive is 1-1.25 hours, depending on which entrance you use. From Dominical and Uvita, it’s just 20-50 minutes away. If you plan to drive and need to rent a car, check out this special discount for our readers to save 10%.

Another great thing about the Nauyaca Waterfalls is the multiple ways to enter. You can:

• Hike in (around 1 hour each way)
• Take a truck ride
• Arrive on horseback

This makes it a great option for many different people, including families. 

Here’s a quick video of the waterfall

Access Points Overview

You can access the waterfall from either:

• The Original Entrance – Don Lulo (closest option from the beach)
• Nauyaca Waterfall Nature Park (about 30 minutes farther) – Our Pick

Comparison Chart – Nauyaca Waterfalls: Which Entrance Should You Choose?

Quick comparison to help you decide

Know Which Entrance You Want to Use?

Jump to the Original Entrance

Jump to the Nauyaca Waterfall Nature Park

Jump to Important Tips for Visiting

Map of Nauyaca Waterfalls Access Points

Here is a map showing the two main ways to enter along with nearby destinations.

Original Entrance (Don Lulo)

Quick Facts

• Three visiting options:
  • Horseback tour ($80)
  • Truck ride ($32 round-trip)
  • Self-guided hike ($10 pp + $5 parking fee). 2 miles (3.2 km) each way. Hike is around 1 hour each way and easy to moderate in difficulty.
• Basic, limited facilities
• Closest to Dominical, Uvita, and Manuel Antonio on all paved roads
• Has a platform near the waterfall for pictures
• The trail brings you to the right side of the waterfall near the rocks 
• Amazing waterfall views & close to main waterfall pool for swimming
• Hours: Monday-Saturday, 7:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Sunday 8:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. No horseback tour on Sundays.

Arriving at the Original Entrance

Whether you want to hike or take the horseback/truck tour, the starting point is the office of Don Lulo (see map). This is the company that owns the property. Their office is located just 20 minutes from Dominical, right off Route 243. You can’t miss it; they now have a prominent sign for the Nauyaca Waterfall. See driving directions below. 

If you’re hiking, you’ll need to stop here to buy your ticket to the falls ($10). To get to the trailhead, take the first road on the right after Don Lulo’s office. This road is very steep but you don’t need 4×4 anymore. The trailhead is about 2 km (1.25 miles) from the main road. There is a parking area. 

The Trail

The horseback tour and hike use the same well-maintained trail, first following beside the beautiful Baru River and then ascending a steep hill. If you keep an eye out, you might even see some wildlife, like monkeys or birds. We have been fortunate on our visits to spot a Great Currasow, a large, turkey-like bird found only in the tropics, and tons of different hummingbird species.

From the trailhead, the hike is 2 miles (3.2 km) in each direction (about 45 minutes to 1.25 hours, depending on how fast you go). The trail is very easy in places, following a rough dirt road, and moderately difficult in others, with a few steep areas. 

As you get close to the waterfall, there’s a raised boardwalk (recently added). This leads to a platform and viewpoint of the upper falls. It’s a great place to take pictures. If you go to the left, it will bring you to the lower falls via some steps.

Overall, the hike isn’t too difficult or long and would be fine for most children. Just be sure to pack plenty of water as the trail is directly in the sun in many places and temps can get quite hot.

If you’re visiting during rainy season (May-November), keep in mind that the trail can get very muddy.

To swim in the lower falls, you’ll have to cross over on the rocks. Water shoes can really help if the rocks are slippery. If you need to change into a swimsuit, facilities are available before you get to the falls.

Truck and Horseback Tour Option

If you’d rather skip the hike, you can arrive on horseback or in the back of a pickup truck (with seats). This will get you very close to the falls.

For the truck, they have an option that includes lunch, but most people do just the ride to and from the waterfall.

Truck Ride Option

Cost: $32 pp round-trip

Times: 7 a.m., 8 a.m., 9 a.m., 10 a.m., 11 a.m., and 12 p.m.

*Important: This option allows for only 2 hours at the waterfall so plan accordingly.

How to Book: Book directly with the company and pay day of.

Horseback or Full Truck Tour (with Lunch)

Cost: $80 per person. Children under 3 are free.

Offered: 9:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. *Not available on Sundays.

Includes: Guide, all equipment, lunch (chicken, rice and beans, mashed potatoes, vegetable salad, tortillas, natural fruit drink, and coffee), and admission.

Maximum weight: 230 lbs (105 kg)

How to Book: Book directly with the company.

Driving Directions to the Original Entrance

To get to Don Lulo’s office, take Route 243 off the Costanera highway towards San Isidro de El General. In about 10 km (6 miles) just before the town of Platanillo, the Don Lulo office will be on the right. Here is a Google Map with the exact location.

Nauyaca Waterfall Nature Park (Our Pick)

Quick Facts

• 2 visiting options:
  • Truck ride ($38 round-trip). Or hike down and truck back up ($28) – popular option to avoid uphill hike.  
  • Self-guided hike ($28). 1.6 miles (2.7 km) each way. More difficult than at Original Entrance if you hike both ways. Getting to the waterfall isn’t bad – it’s about 1 hour and fairly easy. But going back, the trail is very steep. 
• Nice facilities: Reception with games, free coffee, and a restaurant. Rancho near the waterfall with changing rooms, bathrooms, and lounging area.
• Has additional trails near the waterfall.
• Trail ends at a small sandy “beach” on the left side of the waterfall. This is farther from the main pool for swimming (can be a negative during rainy season).
• Amazing waterfall views (close side view of upper waterfall and cool cave; slightly farther from lower waterfalls but can climb over rocks or wade in river to reach – harder in rainy season).
• This entrance is often less busy because it’s farther from the beach.
• More driving (about 30 minutes extra compared to other entrance). Last part of drive is on a rough dirt road (no 4×4 required).
• Hours: 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. every day. Last entrance is at 2:30 p.m. and the last truck leaves the rancho at 4 p.m.

Overall, the Nauyaca Nature Park is our pick because of the welcoming and friendly staff, nice facility, and well-maintained trail. Here’s more on why.

Arriving at the Nauyaca Waterfall Nature Park

The starting location of the Nauyaca Waterfall Nature Park is a charming mountain village called San Salvador de Baru near Tinamaste off Route 243.

This entrance is about 30 minutes past the original Nauyaca entrance, but we felt that the extra drive was worth it. The last part is along an unpaved country road, but no 4×4 is necessary.

Facilities

Arriving at the main office of the Nauyaca Waterfall Nature Park, you will find a large building with the reception, small restaurant, and drink bar with free coffee. Outside, overlooking the rolling mountains, is a covered patio.

Our kids also really enjoyed the pool table and ping-pong table inside. It kept them busy while we were getting the tickets.

Closer to the waterfall is another building. This area has nicely maintained bathrooms, changing rooms, showers, and a big open rancho with swings, hammocks, games, and Wi-Fi.

Ticket Options – Nauyaca Waterfall Nature Park

From the main office, you have two access options.

Hike in and Take Truck Out – $28 pp adults, $25 pp children (ages 3-11)

One option is to hike from the office to the waterfall, then take a truck ride back up when you are done. This is what we did.

The hike is about 1.6 miles (2.7 km). It goes along the quiet village road, down a dirt road to the changing rooms and rancho, and then to the waterfall trail.

Since it was mostly downhill, it was easy, even for our youngest son (then age 5). This option took us about one hour (going slowly). We stopped frequently to see butterflies, bugs, flowers, and a friendly goat along the road.   

Truck Both Ways – $38 pp adults, $35 pp children (ages 3-11)

If you are short on time or don’t want to walk as much, you can take the truck both ways.

With this option, the truck will drive you all the way to the changing rooms and rancho where the waterfall trail starts. You’ll still need to hike 15 minutes down to the waterfall.

Trails and Scenery at Nauyaca Waterfall Nature Park

From the rancho and changing rooms, the main trail to the waterfall begins.

There is no vehicle access here, just a narrow, but well-maintained, trail through the lush jungle. The trail descends quickly. We counted about 300 steps in total to reach the main waterfall pool.

Trail conditions were good considering the rugged terrain. Rope handrails make the hike a bit easier, and the steps weren’t too big.  

As you meander down, you’ll see large trees, lush vegetation, and maybe some wildlife.

We heard toucans and howler monkeys nearby but didn’t get a glimpse. It was still beautiful, though.

Accessibility Note: Even though this entrance provides easy access, you will still need to hike along dirt steps and over rocks and roots. Conditions can be wet and slippery at times. We recommend footwear with good grips. Keep in mind also that there are a lot of steps to climb on the way back up. They do have a couple of benches for resting.

Waterfall Access from Nauyaca Waterfall Nature Park

After about eight minutes of walking from the rancho, you will come to a split in the trail. To the left, you will be able to visit the upper falls. To the right, the lower falls and river area. Both are just a few minutes from this fork. There is a sign and map at this intersection. 

Upper Falls

Reaching the upper falls, you will see a giant rocky cliff with wispy waterfalls trailing down. How much water will depend on the season and recent rain.

The cool thing about this access point is the cave that you can sit under. There was also a nice swimming area naturally made of rocks. Conditions for swimming were fine during our visit in July (early rainy season) but always use caution.

Lower Falls

Going back to the trail fork and down some more steps, you will reach the lower falls. This is the main event.

The lower falls come plummeting over another cliff into a wide pool. From below, you also can see the upper falls, so the combination is quite the photo opportunity.

Swimming

The trail drops you off at a small sandy beach along the river. This is a good spot for swimming. When the river isn’t too strong, you could wade through the water to get up to the main waterfall pool. When we visited (July), the river was too strong due to recent rain.

Although we couldn’t reach the main pool, it was great to be able to swim in the river. We watched people on the other side who accessed the waterfall from the original entrance slipping on the rocks and struggling to get to the pool. This was definitely an advantage of the Nauyaca Waterfall Nature Park.

Other Trails at Nauyaca Waterfall Nature Park

When getting our tickets, the staff told us about some additional trails they had made. They are all located near the waterfall and marked with signs. Doing them all would take about one hour.

We were more focused on the waterfall for this visit but hope to return again to check these out. If you’ve done them, leave us a comment below about the experience.

Return & Lunch

Having stayed at the waterfall for a couple of hours, we soon made our way back up to the rancho to catch our truck ride back to the top. Using the Wi-Fi at the rancho, we messaged the office and they sent the truck down.

Back at the top, we enjoyed a delicious traditional lunch (see options below) and mountain views. Lunch was 5,000 colones (about $10) and just what we needed after the hike and waterfall fun.

Nauyaca Nature Park Hours

7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. every day. Last entrance is at 2:30 p.m. and the last truck leaves the rancho at 4 p.m.

Directions to Nauyaca Nature Park

From Highway 34 (near Dominical), take Route 243 into the mountains to Tinamaste. You will pass the other Nauyaca entrance on the way – just go by it. At the top of the hill near a church, take a right towards Las Tumbas. There will be a sign for Nauyaca Nature Park. Follow this dirt road for about 10-15 min. until you reach their office. Free parking is available.

Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/E8po2DKbSzpuq53P6

*The location on Google Maps is slightly different, but this map goes right to their office.

Restaurant

The small restaurant at the main office has two options for lunch: arroz con pollo (rice with chicken) or a vegetarian casado (rice and beans with an egg, avocado, and salad). Cold fruit juice, smoothies, beer, and soft drinks and coffee are also available. 

Buying Tickets

You can just arrive at the park and buy your tickets. Or to purchase entrance tickets in advance, you can visit the Nauyaca Waterfall Nature Park website.

Important Tips for Visiting the Nauyaca Waterfalls

Here are our general tips for visiting the Nauyaca Waterfalls. They apply to both entrances.

Avoiding the Crowds

The Nauyaca Waterfalls is a popular attraction. Arrive as early as possible to avoid the crowds. The original entrance opens at 7 a.m. and the Nauyaca Nature Park opens at 7:30 a.m. The busiest time is from around 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. 

Rainy Season

If you’re visiting during rainy season (May through November), we recommend getting an early start as rain is typical in the afternoon.

Keep in mind that the waterfall can become dangerous if there has been a lot of rain recently. This can create a strong current in the waterfall pool and river. Sometimes they even close the waterfall for swimming for safety reasons.

The water can be more of a brown color after big storms, making it a lot less photogenic. This is more of a problem later in rainy season (August-November), but this area of the country is one of the rainiest so big storms are possible at other times.

Waterfall Jumping

Some people climb up on the lower rocks of the waterfall to let the water cascade over them.

The daring even climb farther up the rocky ledge to jump in! If you decide to do this, be careful. The pool is deep but it can be very slippery climbing up the rocks. Always watch a local jump first to know the best spots. 

What to Bring/Wear

No matter which way you enter, you’ll want to have sturdy shoes (boots or sneakers for hiking), insect repellent, a hat, sunscreen, plenty of water, and snacks. There are no amenities near the waterfall. 

If you have kids, we highly recommend water shoes. These will protect their feet and help them not slip when climbing on the rocks. Read more of our tips on traveling to Costa Rica with kids.

Also don’t forget a towel and change of clothes.

Conclusion

The Nauyaca Waterfalls are definitely one of Costa Rica’s most impressive natural attractions. The twin-tiered waterfall and lush pool for swimming make for a memorable visit. If you don’t mind a little extra driving, we’d recommend using the Nauyaca Nature Park entrance for the better facilities and trail. But we also have fond memories of the rustic hike at the original entrance. We hope that this guide has helped you plan your visit.

Have a question about visiting the Nauyaca Waterfalls or want to share your experience? Leave a comment below.

Looking for more information to help you plan? Check out these posts:

Things to Do in Dominical – Learn about other fun activities in the Dominical area like a mangrove kayak tour and wildlife sanctuary.

9 Things to Do in Uvita – Not far from Dominical is the town of Uvita with its own activities. Learn about a local coconut tour, the famous Whale Tail, and another awesome waterfall to visit.

Hacienda Baru Wildlife Refuge – If you’re looking for a nice day hike in Dominical, Hacienda Baru is the best option. This small reserve has a solid network of trails through thick rainforest. We always see a lot of wildlife here.

Reptilandia – You’ll likely pass this reptile exhibit on the way to/from the Nauyaca Waterfall. There are tons of snakes, lizards, and turtles, nicely displayed in landscaped enclosures.

Don Emilio Coffee Tour – This family-run coffee farm offers an authentic tour in the mountains near Uvita.  

Things to Do – Looking for more adventures for your trip? Our Things to Do articles cover 150+ activities all around Costa Rica.