How To Visit The Nauyaca Waterfalls In Costa Rica (2024)
Are you planning a visit to the Nauyaca waterfalls? You’ve come to the right article.
The Nauyaca waterfall is a beautiful tiered waterfall nestled in the jungle with a large natural lagoon that you can swim in. Located just an hour from Quepos and 30 minutes from Uvita, it makes for the perfect day trip.
I hiked to this waterfall on a whim when Manuel Antonio National Park was closed, and it was one of the highlights of my trip!
So, how do you get to the waterfalls? What are the entrance fees? And where should you park?
Here’s everything you need to know to get to the gorgeous Nauyaca waterfalls.
How To Get To The Nauyaca Waterfalls
Getting to the Nauyaca Waterfalls is very straightforward. The waterfalls are located on private land so there’s two tour operators that charge entrance fees, Don Lulo’s and Nauyaca Waterfall Nature Park.
Don Lulo’s is the most popular entrance, and the original ticket office. Whereas Nauyaca Waterfall Nature Park is 30 minutes further, and they operate on the opposite side of the river.
So, which entrance should you start the hike from?
I chose to hike Don Lulo’s (original entrance) as it’s cheaper and their ticket office is less of a drive from Quepos.
As soon as I approached the waterfall on maps, I parked at their office to purchase tickets. Here you can pay for the entry + parking fee with cash or credit, from 7am-2pm (Sundays 8am-2pm).
- Note: After 2pm, they no longer sell tickets, so make sure to arrive beforehand!
For the hike, I paid $10/entry + 5 USD for parking. After purchasing tickets, I drove to their main parking lot, which is 2 miles closer to the waterfall.
Their parking lot is just a short drive down a paved road, so it’s accessible with any car (no 4×4 vehicle necessary).
But if you don’t want to hike there, you may want to consider the 2nd and newest entrance, the Nauyaca Waterfalls Nature Park.
Don Lulo’s (main entrance) offers full transportation by truck to the waterfall for $32/person while the Nauyaca Waterfalls Nature Park (new entrance) offers trolley rides for $38/person.
Additionally, the Nauyaca Nature Park offers partial transportation for $28/person, where you can hike 1.5 miles down (~45 min) to the waterfall, and hop on a tractor trolley to avoid the hike back.
Here’s a quick summary of transportation options from both entrances.
Tours From Don Lulo’s (Main Entrance)
- 4×4 Tour + 10 min walk to the waterfalls: $32/person
- Complete 4×4 Tour to waterfalls + lunch: $80/person
- Horseback riding tour to waterfalls: $80/person
Tours From Nauyaca Waterfall Nature Park (New Entrance)
- Half-hike (~1.5 miles one way/45 min), trolley ride back: $28/person
- Trolley ride + 10 min walk to the waterfalls: $38/person
The Nauyaca Waterfall Hike
If you enter at the main entrance (Don Lulo’s), it’s an approximately 5 mile round trip hike from their parking lot to the waterfall and back.
If you do the hike from Nauyaca Waterfall Nature Park, it’s a 2 mile (1.7km) hike down to the waterfall, and you won’t need to worry about hiking back, as you’ll take the trolley back up.
At the start of the hike (from Don Lulo’s entrance), I passed through a bridge, and then began hiking a dirt road shared by 4×4 vehicles.
The hike is long and mostly uphill, but it’s very scenic as you begin to reach the waterfall.
Throughout the hike, I saw beautiful horses, butterflies, and crossed over mini bridges with streams flowing underneath.
Keep in mind that the trail can be muddy after it rains, so make sure to bring water shoes, especially if visiting during rainy season.
Right as you get to the waterfalls, there’s restrooms, covered viewing areas, and stairs that lead down to the lower waterfall.
The lower waterfall is 60 ft tall and flows into a large natural pool that’s up to 19 ft deep (6 meters)!
You can swim in the lower falls if the current’s not too strong, and cliff jump if you’re accompanied by a guide. The current was strong so there were only a few people swimming, but the views were amazing.
The upper 140 ft cascading waterfall can also be seen from the middle of the pool.
Since I entered at Don Lulu’s entrance, we were on the right side of the waterfall. If you enter at Nauyaca Waterfalls Nature Park, you’ll be to the left of the river (as the people in the image below). Here you’ll have a better view of the upper falls.
Once you get to the waterfall, the entrance isn’t that important, as you can swim to either side of the pool.
Just keep in mind you’re not allowed to hike on the opposite side, because each trail is located on private land.
Best Time To Visit Nauyaca Falls
Nauyaca Falls is open daily from 7:30am to 4:30pm. It’s best to arrive no later than 1-2pm so you have plenty of time to enjoy the waterfalls, since they expect people to leave by 4:30pm.
I recommend doing the hike very early in the morning for the best weather, and to enjoy the waterfall away from crowds.
Although the dry season has the most ideal conditions for swimming in the waterfall, anytime of year is a good time to visit. I visited during the rainy season in November and it was still one of the highlights of my trip!
Entrances: Don Lulu vs Nauyaca Nature Park
On the following map you can see the two main entrances to the waterfall, Don Lulu’s (main), and Nauyaca Waterfall Nature Park.
Nauyaca Waterfall Map
The waterfall hike starting from Don Lulu’s entrance is upstream towards the waterfall, whereas the Nature Park follows the river downstream.
Both hikes end up at the main swimming hole below the lower waterfall, with Don Lulu on the right side and the Nature Park on the left.
Nauyaca Waterfalls FAQs
Where are the Nauyaca waterfalls located?
The Nauyaca waterfalls are located just outside of Dominical, around an hour drive from Quepos, and 30 minutes from Uvita.
Where do you park at the Nauyaca waterfalls?
The main entrance at the waterfalls is Don Lulu’s ticket office, which has a large sign for Nauyaca waterfall.
Here you can purchase an entrance and parking fee, before proceeding to park at their main parking lot. They charge a parking fee of $5 USD (2,500 colones per day) which you can pay with cash or card.
Their main parking lot is just a few miles from their ticket office. To get to it, you’ll turn right at a yellow tire (100 meters up the street from the office), and drive down a dirt road until you reach the parking lot. No 4×4 vehicle is necessary to drive down to this parking lot.
Their parking lot has security, and restrooms and showers on site. It’s 2 miles closer to the waterfall, so it’s much better to park here than the ticket office.
If you’re entering at the other entrance (Nauyaca Waterfalls Nature Park), you’ll simply park at the ticket office, and begin the hike from there. Their entrance fee includes parking at their office.
Do you need a 4×4 vehicle to park at the entrances?
No, you don’t need a 4×4 vehicle to park at either entrance. From Don Lulo’s ticketing office, it’s an easy 5-10 minute drive down a paved road to get to their main parking lot.
If you’re entering at Nauyaca Waterfalls Nature Park, the entrance is also accessible without a 4×4 vehicle. It’s important to use WAZE for directions, however, since google maps may try to send you down a rough path.
To get to the entrance, you’ll head towards Tumbas off of highway 243. The last 4 miles is over a gravel path, so just make sure to drive slow if you’re not in a 4×4.
Are the Nauyaca Waterfalls wheelchair accessible?
Yes, there are several wheelchair accessible viewing stations and boardwalks at the Nauyaca waterfalls. The best way to get there is to go on a 4×4 tour from Don Lulu’s entrance, which covers round trip transportation to the waterfalls.
This route is wheelchair accessible and will allow you to see both the lower and upper waterfall.
How long and difficult is the hike?
The hike (starting at Don Lulu’s parking lot) is 5 miles round trip and can take anywhere from 2-3 hours depending on your speed. The hike is long, but not too challenging, as it’s mostly over a dirt flat road.
The most challenging part of the hike is getting to the waterfall because there’s a few uphill portions. But as soon as you reach the waterfall, you can cool off in the waters, and the hike back is a breeze.
The hike from Nauyaca Nature Park is roughly 1.5 miles, and takes around 45 minutes one way. This hike is mostly downhill, and you don’t need to worry about hiking back, since a trolley will pick you up on the way back.
How do you see the upper falls?
The upper falls is a 140 foot cascading waterfall with a small pool that you can see from either entrance. On the right side of the waterfall (Don Lulu’s entrance), I could see a portion of the upper fall, but the swimming pool was not as visible.
If you want to take pictures of both waterfalls, the Nauyaca Waterfalls Nature Park has a more comprehensive view of the upper falls.
What should you pack for the hike?
For the hike, I recommend packing snacks, drinks, bug spray, sunscreen, swim suit, water shoes, and an extra set of clothes. If you’re visiting during the rainy season, pack an umbrella, rain jacket, and shoes that you’re okay with getting dirty.
At the waterfall (Don Lulu’s side), there’s restrooms where you can change into a swimsuit.
Additionally, there’s convenient restrooms and showers at the main parking lot where you can wash off before getting back into your car.
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