As I mentioned in the Bahía Ballena post, I had to do an article to talk just about Nauyaca Waterfall! For me, this is the most majestic waterfall in Costa Rica, and you should visit it. Let me show you why!
Short on time? Take a quick look:
- Location: Barú, San José (Drive there)
- Difficulty: Easy
- Access: Any car
- Contact: Nauyaca Waterfall Nature Park: +506 8771-4222 / Nauyaca Waterfalls: +506 6280-1790
- Cost: From 3,500 colones ($6) to 50,000 colones ($80)
- Parking: Yes
- More info about the place: Nauyaca Waterfall Nature Park IG and Nauyaca Waterfalls IG
- Hidden Gem Score: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Ways to access Nauyaca Waterfall
This article will be a different article from what I generally write. Usually, when I write about a place, I mention everything you need to know about one place (tickets, facilities…). You can access Nauyaca Waterfall in two ways or with two different companies, let’s say. Company number one is Nauyaca Waterfalls Nature Park, and company number two is Nauyaca Waterfalls. So since I have accessed Nauyaca Waterfall through the two ways, I will let you know about both.
For both options, you’ll have to take route 243 (San Isidro-Dominical road). You can take it from San Isidro (San José) or Dominical (Puntarenas). Both times I took this road from Dominical, the road is in better shape, and I was also vacationing near the area (in Manuel Antonio, 1h 30min away).
Here is how long it takes from key touristic places of Costa Rica:
- San José: 4h
- Jacó: 2h
- Manuel Antonio: 1h 20min
- Bahía Ballena/Uvita: 50min
- San Gerardo de Dota: 2h
- Corcovado: 2h
Related Post: Manuel Antonio National Park Full Guide
Exact Locations
You can access both places with any car, and also both parks have a parking lot. Nauyaca Waterfall Nature Park has parking free with the entrance. At Nauyaca Waterfalls, you’ll have to pay $4 extra.
Nauyaca Waterfall Nature Park
- Exact location: Nauyaca Waterfall Nature Park location
To get there, you’ll have to deviate from the main road for around 15min. After that, you’ll find the place at your right, almost at the end of the road. The parking lot is for approximately 25 cars, but more space is to park near the place even if it’s full.
Nauyaca Waterfalls
- Exact location: Nauyaca Waterfalls
Two big pros of this park are: One, it’s right in front of the main road (route 243) and two, it’s closer to the more tourists areas. The parking lot in front of the site is limited (maybe for ten cars). But they have another larger parking lot inside the property. The only thing is that the road isn’t paved, and I’m not entirely sure if a sedan type of car could make it in the rainy season. Just make sure to ask the company and consider that some days have sunny mornings in the rainy season, but after mid-day, things change.
Tickets and Packages
Nauyaca Waterfall Nature Park
- National visitors: 12,000 colones Adults / 10,000 colones Children (3 to 12 years old)
- International visitors: $30 Adults / $20 Children (3 to 12 years old)
Both fees offer a ride to and from the beginning of the trails. If you want to walk to the beginning of the trails (around a 45min walk), you can do it, and you’ll pay less. Please confirm this with the park.
Nauyaca Waterfalls
There are four packages you can purchase with this company. The fees of these four packages varied depending on if you are a national or international visitor:
- Walk-Hike: $10 (Internationals) / 3,500 colones (Nationals)
- Economic 4×4 Tour: $32 for both
- Horseback Riding Tour: $80 for both
- Tour 4×4 Premium Tour: $80 for both
The distance from the office to the waterfall is 12Km and from the larger parking lot to the waterfall is 8Km (total). If you pay for the Walk-Hike package, you’ll have to walk. The distance depends on where did you leave the car. If you don’t want to hike, you can take one of the other three options. The Horseback Riding Tour and the Tour 4×4 Premium include lunch and a guide.
Facilities
You need to know that I visited most recently Nauyaca Waterfall Nature Park. I visited Nauyaca Waterfalls two years ago, so some things have changed. Everything I put here is based on my best research and what I remember when I visited this place.
Nauyaca Waterfall Nature Park
This park opened less than one year ago. They have an office where you pay for the fee and leave that car. This place also has plenty of tables to have lunch (they offer lunch service, but you have to request it with time). The bathrooms are in good shape, and there’s a small gift shop where you can buy local craft beer and coffee.
There are also other facilities at the beginning of the trails (this is where the truck leaves you). Here you will find a place to rest while waiting for your ride and clean bathrooms and showers.
Nauyaca Waterfalls
At the office, there are bathrooms and showers in great shape. There are also places to rest after enjoying the adventure. During the hike, there is a small facility with restrooms and areas to fill your water bottles.
It’s important to know that there are no facilities right next to the waterfalls for both places.
The Adventure
Ok, here starts the fun part! I enjoyed it a lot both times I went to visit this impressive waterfall. Both times I went around July-August (middle of rainy season). The weather was nice, a bit warm during the morning and rainy during the afternoon, and the river flow was strong, a lot of water in the waterfall! If you visit in the dry season, the waterfall will still have water but not as much as during the rainy season (less photogenic).
If you came to Costa Rica for a vacation, I suggest visiting the Manuel Antonio area and take a one-day tour to Nauyaca Waterfall. Did you rent a car? I suggest you visit Nauyaca Waterfall and also Uvita Waterfall. If you want to learn more about this zone, check this article: Uvita Waterfall in Bahía Ballena
The hiking trails
Both parks offer trails in excellent shape, they might be muddy depending on the season, but nothing to worry about. Also, there are two kinds of trails here, the long trail (if you didn’t pay for the ride) and the short trails (just the ones near the waterfall). I enjoyed the short trails of Nauyaca Waterfall Nature Park more because these had more signs, and it was deeper in the mountain. But for the long trail, I thought Nauyaca Waterfalls had a better trail cause all the trail was inside the rainforest. The other park had a part in the town.
In Nauyaca Waterfall Nature Park, there are also four different trails (Upper Falls Trail, Big Pool Trail, Riverwalk Trail, Rainforest Trail, and Mountain Goat Trail). During each trail, you’ll find places to sit and rest and, in some, even places to make a picnic. The trails are not long (525m/0.3mi the longest) and easygoing, even for my parents that are above 60 years old.
In Nauyaca Waterfalls, there are not as many signs telling you where you are as in the other park. You have to follow just one road until you get deeper into the rainforest and then find the waterfall and natural pool.
Attractions
One big difference between the two parks is that they will get to a different side of the waterfall. With Nauyaca Waterfall Nature Park, you’ll see the waterfall from the left and Nauyaca Waterfalls from the right. The significant differences are two, one, from the left side, you’ll be able to see a cool cave right next to the waterfall where there are even places to sit and enjoy your time there.
The other big difference is the access to the natural pool. From the right side, I remembered that the access was a bit more complicated (slippery), and it’s usually more crowded. Nauyaca Waterfalls opened more than three years ago, so it’s more known while Nauyaca Waterfall Nature Park opened almost one year ago. There are generally fewer people on the left side (Nauyaca Waterfall Nature Park), making it easier to access the big natural pool.
Also, from the left side (Nauyaca Waterfall Nature Park), there is a “small beach” right next to the river that it’s an excellent option for the elderly or the kids. You can also access this “small beach” from the other side, but it’s more complicated since you’ll have to cross the river or the natural pool swimming.
Other Majestic Waterfall: Llanos de Cortés Waterfall in Guanacaste
Most Photogenic
I think the photos from the left side look a lot cooler since you can take pictures where you can see both waterfalls from the second waterfall. The photo above was taken from the left side (Nauyaca Waterfall Nature Park).
Safety
Both companies offer safety recommendations and give you a number in case of emergency. Nauyaca Waterfalls Nature Park has their phone number in every sign you see along the trails in case you needed. There is also a person at the waterfalls/natural pool/river section that is always helping everyone or even telling everyone more about the zone.
Final Results
By now, maybe you have already made up your mind and decided which park to visit. I enjoyed my time in both parks and recommended both. If you are in the mood to do a longer hike or do it via horseback riding, I recommend visiting Nauyaca Waterfalls.
If you don’t want to walk too much, I recommend visiting Nauyaca Waterfall Nature Park since the short trails are fantastic and easygoing. Either option you choose will be a good choice!
