Cataratas Nauyaca

Nice waterfall hike. I initially was going to park at the visitor center but I am so happy I paid the $5 to drive down and park at the bottom of the steep hill. It was still a great 4 mile hike in and out from the parking lot. Be careful swimming in the falls, the current is strong but it’s so refreshing. Bugs were pretty annoying but bug spray helped. Go right when they open as it gets busy with tours. Was able to shower off at parking lot which was nice. There are also bathrooms right at the waterfall. Got a little muddy at times so bring a change of shoes for when you’re done. I also changed into teva’s at the waterfall to wear into the water as the rocks are slippery.

First of all: There are TWO possible ways to get to the Waterfall, both owned by private Companies. When you drive there, you will see different company advertisements, so make sure *not* to follow the signs, you might end up at the wrong company. So think about it first, which Company you wanna pick and use waze or maps to get to the right company. They differ largely in price. This is the cheaper company with a longer hike (right side). The upper pool is a beautiful view, but was closed from the right side because the waterfall is stronger on this side. See my pictures. I recommend bathing at the bottom anyway, even if its more crowded. The bottom is shared by both companies, the top is split by each company (right and left side).

Nice hike with a great reward at the end. We park at the main entrance because we wanted to do the 11km hike but I would recommend parking at the real parking and not at the main entrance like we did. The added 2km of hike weren’t worth it as it was an amazingly steep road (not trail) to reach the entrance of the trail.

Great falls. Freezing cold though but expected of a larger fall. Hated every minute of the hike up to the waterfall 😂 loved the walk back to the car park (downhill). If I did it again, I’d get the 4x4 shuttle to the waterfall and then walk back to the car park afterwards. ($5 car park at the bottom of the hill).

Gorgeous waterfall hike! Admission is cash only (colones or US dollars accepted); we paid $10 USD each plus $5 for parking. We parked at the guarded main lot and hiked in on foot, which ended up being around 4.5 miles round trip. For an extra fee, you can take a trolley or go by horseback, but we did not use these options since we wanted to get there right as it opened at 7:00am. We are visiting in August during the “green season” so expect muddy trail conditions on your way in with a few steeper parts on the dirt road. I’d recommend sticking to the sides of the road while hiking in since they are more compacted and easier to navigate. Bathrooms and potable water are available right before you get to the falls. Be aware that the stairs down to the falls are slippery so tread with caution! The water was beautiful and refreshing after a humid hike in, definitely dip your feet in or go swimming while you’re there. We read elsewhere that jumping into the pool is only allowed with a guide present which is available between 9:30-11:30am which we did not get to try since we arrived earlier than that.

Well worth the travel. The trail was wide and very easy for even moderately experienced hikers. The water fall was absolutely amazing and we had a really enjoyable swim. Highly recommend using a swimsuit and water shoes for both the hike and swim.

This was a really fun stop on our vacation. It is recommended to get your tickets ahead of time at the building before parking at the base area. There are bathrooms and adequate parking at the base camp area, and you have the option of taking a 4x4 up to the embarkation point to the waterfalls, both the upper and the lower. Alternately, you can hike your way up which I am told takes around 45 minutes. When we were there, they had just had an amazing thunderstorm the day and evening before, so the waterfall was very powerful and impressive. We then went down to the lower portion and got in the water for an hour and just enjoyed the sound of the water, the sights and sounds of the jungle, and had an amazing time with our group and others. Speaking of others, it was not overly crowded, everybody was super polite, people gave you adequate space as the rocks were somewhat slippery, and everyone found their own little branch, rock, or nook to place their backpack and clothes before they got into the water. There are also a variety of viewing platforms where you can take your photos. This is a highly recommended stop should you be in the area and is a wonderful part of Costa Rica you shouldn't miss.

Worth the visit and staying for a little while. There are few options to get to the waterfall. Get a ride (around $35 per person, at the time of writing); horseback (not sure about the price); or walking (option one is to walk from the very entrance, or the second option is to drive to the parking lot at the base and walk from there - parking is paid). Plan on 45 to 60 min for a leisurely walk from the base parking lot. The nature is spectacular and the waterfalls are beautiful. Swimming can be done at the lower waterfall. Also, there is plenty of wildlife to be seen.