Catarata El Salto de Gamalotillo
Parks & Wildlife · Jacó & Herradura · Waterfall and swimming pool
Family-run waterfall about 45 minutes from Esterillos and Bejuco: a 6 m (20 ft) fall into a deep round pool, a shallow wading area, picnic spot and a 1.5-hour forest trail past a second fall.
closed in rainy season (May 4 – Dec 1, 2026 per the guide); call ahead Sep–Nov
- Hours
- Daily 08:00–16:00; the guide reports it closed in rainy season (4 May – 1 Dec 2026) except for groups by arrangement
Prices (as published)
| Adults | ₡3,500 |
| Kids 3–12 | half price |
| Under 3 | free |
Before you go
- Entry
- ₡3,500 for residents · ages 3–12 half price, under 3 free
- Payment
- Cash only
- Parking
- Free
- Road
- 4×4 needed
- Walk
- 5 min
- Swimming
- Yes
- Kids
- Good for kids
- Bring
- water shoes
- Season
- washouts more common Sep–Nov
- Checked
- 2026-10
Contact & directions
- Phone: +506 8709 1198
- Location: 9.60528, -84.43361 — Google Maps · Waze
Secret spots nearby
- Catarata El Indio (Río Turbio, Mastatal)Waterfall · about $24 · hidden gemOne of the tallest waterfalls in the Puriscal hills: the Río Turbio glides across a rock shelf and disappears over the edge in a drop of more than 200 m.
- Caribou plane photo stop (Esterillos Town Center, Bejuco)Landmark · Free · hidden gemA retired De Havilland C-7A Caribou cargo plane (ex-US Air Force) parked as a roadside display at the Esterillos Town Center shops in Bejuco — a quick, quirky photo stop on the Costanera between Jacó and Quepos.
- Playa Esterillos EsteBeach · Free · hidden gemA long, wide, palm-backed stretch of gray sand south of Jacó, where you can walk for kilometers and meet only a few surfers and fishermen.
- Mirador Del MarViewpoint · hidden gemA viewpoint near Parrita, Puntarenas province.
- Playa BejucoBeach · FreeA sleepy palm-lined beach village halfway between Jacó and Manuel Antonio.
- Playa Esterillos CentroBeach · Free · hidden gemThe calm middle section of the long Esterillos beach, between the Oeste and Este sides, with a handful of restaurants and cabinas and almost no crowds.