pura vida passENES

Nauyaca Waterfalls

Waterfall · Central Pacific

Nauyaca Waterfalls, waterfall in Central Pacific (photo 1 of 6)
Photo: Matthias Bethke · CC BY-SA 4.0
Nauyaca Waterfalls, waterfall in Central Pacific (photo 2 of 6)
Photo: Matthias Bethke · CC BY-SA 4.0
Nauyaca Waterfalls, waterfall in Central Pacific (photo 3 of 6)
Photo: Mark Cowell · CC BY 3.0
Nauyaca Waterfalls, waterfall in Central Pacific (photo 4 of 6)
Photo: John W. Schulze (Gruenemann) · CC BY 2.0
Nauyaca Waterfalls, waterfall in Central Pacific (photo 5 of 6)
Photo: John W. Schulze (Gruenemann) · CC BY 2.0
Nauyaca Waterfalls, waterfall in Central Pacific (photo 6 of 6)
Photo: John W. Schulze (Gruenemann) · CC BY 2.0

Nauyaca is a two-tier waterfall on the Barucito River in the forested hills above Dominical: a 45 m upper drop and a wide, stepped 20 m lower fall that pours into a big, deep pool you can actually swim in. It sits on private land with two paid entrances on opposite banks. From the original Don Lulo office on Route 243 you hike about 3.5 km each way from the trailhead parking through farmland and forest (roughly an hour each way), or ride a 4×4 truck that drops you about 200 m of stairs from the water. The newer Nature Park entrance on the east side costs more but adds a tractor-trolley ride, showers, no time limit and the only open trail to the upper fall. Plan 3–4 hours; it suits active families, swimmers and photographers. The honest downside: from about 10 am to 2 pm tour groups crowd the pool, and after heavy rain swimming gets shut down.

At the original Don Lulo entrance the upper waterfall area is closed, the raised boardwalks and viewing platforms were shut by the municipality and horseback tours ended in April 2026; the afternoon semi-private 4×4 is suspended. Swimming is closed on both sides after heavy rain.

Cost
about $10
Time there
4 h
Best time
morning
Kids
5 / 10
View
10 / 10
Crowds
6 / 10
Swimming
9 / 10
Effort
6 / 10
Location
9.25464, -83.80754 — Google Maps
How long
3–4 hours hiking in from the Don Lulo trailhead parking (about an hour each way plus 1–2 hours at the falls); about 3 hours with the 4×4 (2 hours at the falls); 3–4 hours via the Nature Park.

Before you go

Entry
$10 for visitors · ₡3,500 for residents · Nature Park: US$3 off for ages 3–12; no kids' rate listed at Don Lulo's · walk-in entry at the Don Lulo office (US$15 / ¢4,000 from 2027); parking US$5 extra; Don Lulo 4×4 from US$32 with entry and parking; Nature Park US$33–38 with trolley, parking and coffee
Payment
cash, online
Tickets
Pay at the entrance
Parking
Paid — US$5 / ¢2,500 guarded lot at the Don Lulo trailhead; free at the Nature Park office
Road
Paved all the way
Walk
60 min · back 75 min
Swimming
Yes
Facilities
restrooms, showers, drinking water
Kids
Good for kids
Dogs
Not allowed
Bring
water shoes, cash, swimsuit under clothes, water and snacks, insect repellent
Fewer people
Before 9 am is quiet; tour groups fill the pool from about 10 am to 2 pm; weekdays are calmer
Season
Dry season (Dec–Apr): clear water and the safest swimming; rainy season (May–Nov): bigger falls, muddy trail, brown water and swim closures after storms, especially Sep–Oct
Checked
2026-10

Highlights

  • Two falls in one canyon: a 45 m free-falling upper drop and a 20 m stepped lower fall
  • A deep turquoise pool (about 6 m at its deepest) below the lower fall, plus shallower side pools for kids
  • The Don Lulo trail follows the Barú River through farms and forest — white-faced monkeys, toucans, great curassows and hummingbirds are regular sightings
  • From the Nature Park side, a trail to the upper fall with a small cave to sit under and a quieter rocky pool
  • In the dry season, staff supervise jumps from the middle ledge of the falls (Mon–Sat, 11 am–noon and 1–2 pm)
  • One of the country's most impressive waterfalls for US$10 if you walk in

Tip

Arrive by 8 am. At the Don Lulo office on Route 243 the walk-in ticket is US$10 (US$15 from 2027) plus US$5 parking, no booking needed; the 4×4 (from US$32, book ahead) gives you two hours at the falls. Entry closes at 2 pm and everyone has to be out by 3:30 pm.

Be careful

Swim only where staff allow it and stay off the rocks at the top and right under the falls. Get out of the water if the river rises or turns brown — storms upstream can raise it fast, and swimming is closed after heavy rain. Stairs and rocks are slippery, and there's little cell signal at the falls.

Getting there

Two private entrances on opposite banks. Don Lulo's (Route 243, bus stop): about 3.5 km of up-and-down dirt trail each way from the trailhead parking (about an hour each way) or 5.5 km from the office; the 4×4 drop-off is about 200 m of stairs from the pool. Nature Park (east side, via Tinamaste, last stretch on gravel): 2.7 km downhill walk or a tractor trolley, then about 10 minutes and many steps to the falls.

Tips

  • Start walking by 8 am: it's quiet until about 10, then the tour vans roll in. Weekdays are calmer than weekends.
  • Wear water shoes or grippy sandals — the stairs and rocks are slick, and at Don Lulo's you climb over boulders to reach the main pool.
  • Drive down the steep 2 km paved road to the trailhead parking instead of walking from the office: it saves about 4 km round trip. The hot climb back out is the hardest part, so save water for it.
  • Bring cash, plenty of water and snacks; there's nothing to buy at the falls. The Nature Park office has free coffee and a small restaurant.
  • Double-check your map pin: one pin has sent people into the jungle. Follow the big 'Nauyaca' signs on Route 243 — Don Lulo's office is on the right just before Platanillo; for the Nature Park keep going and turn at the Tinamaste sign.
  • Want the upper fall and no clock? Pick the Nature Park. Want a real hike or coming by bus? Pick Don Lulo's.

Good to know

  • There are two separate private entrances on opposite banks: Don Lulo's (west side, on paved Route 243 with a bus stop) and Nauyaca Waterfall Nature Park (east side, via Tinamaste, last 10–15 minutes on gravel). Your ticket only covers your side's facilities and crossing the river to the other side isn't allowed.
  • Don Lulo's: walk-in ticket US$10 (¢3,500 for Costa Ricans and residents; going up to US$15 / ¢4,000 in 2027) plus US$5 guarded parking, no reservation needed. The 4×4 costs from US$32 with entry and parking, leaves hourly 7 am–1 pm, gives you 2 hours at the falls and must be booked. Hikers can buy a ride back for US$12 cash if seats are free.
  • Don Lulo's lets people in 7 am–2 pm (Sundays from 8 am) and everyone must leave the falls by 3:30 pm. Nature Park is open 7:30 am–4:30 pm with the last trolley up at 4 pm: US$38 with the trolley both ways or US$33 to walk down and ride up, kids 3–12 US$3 off.
  • As of 2026, at Don Lulo's the upper fall area, the raised boardwalks and the viewing platforms are closed and horseback tours have ended; to see the upper fall up close, use the Nature Park entrance.
  • Stairs are unavoidable on both sides, so the falls aren't wheelchair accessible. No pets (licensed guide dogs only), no food sold at the falls.
  • Swimming is closed after heavy rain, and the water can turn brown after storms; September–October often brings the highest water.

What travelers love

  • How big and beautiful the two-tier falls are, and swimming in the huge pool after the hike
  • Wildlife along the trail — monkeys, toucans and other birds
  • The Nature Park's comforts: showers, hammocks, Wi-Fi at the rancho, free coffee and no time limit
  • Great value — the US$10 hike for a waterfall of this size

What some travelers don't like

  • Crowds and tour groups from mid-morning to early afternoon
  • Confusion between the two entrances, conflicting prices online and wrong map pins
  • The steep, sunny climb back out, and stairs you can't avoid even with the 4×4
  • Only two hours at the falls on Don Lulo's 4×4
  • A muddy trail and swimming closures in the rainy season

Questions travelers ask

Which entrance is better, Don Lulo's or the Nature Park?

Both reach the same pool from opposite banks. Don Lulo's is cheaper, has a real hike and a bus stop, but its 4×4 gives only 2 hours at the falls; the Nature Park costs more, has a short trolley-plus-walk, better facilities, no time limit and the only open trail to the upper fall.

Do I need to buy tickets in advance?

Not to walk in at Don Lulo's — you pay at the office. The Don Lulo 4×4 needs a reservation, and the Nature Park sells online to foreign visitors; same-day tickets are usually fine outside peak season and holidays.

Can I swim if it has been raining?

After ordinary rain, usually yes. After heavy rain the staff close the pool because of strong currents and the water turns brown; message the entrance on WhatsApp the morning you go in the rainy season.

Is it doable with young kids?

Yes, but skip the full hike: the operator doesn't recommend the walk for small children. Take the 4×4 or the Nature Park trolley, use the shallow side pools, and put kids in water shoes.

Can I avoid the stairs if I have bad knees?

No. Even with the 4×4 there are about 200 m of stairs down to the water at Don Lulo's, and roughly 300 steps between the rancho and the falls at the Nature Park. Uvita Waterfall is a much easier alternative.

Can I see the upper waterfall?

You'll see it from the lower pool on either side, but as of 2026 the upper fall area is closed from Don Lulo's. The Nature Park has a trail to the upper fall with a small cave viewpoint.

Can I get there without a car?

Yes, to Don Lulo's: buses between Dominical, Uvita or Quepos and San Isidro stop at the office on Route 243. Check afternoon return times with the driver; the Nature Park has no bus service.

Can I still ride a horse to the falls?

No. Horseback tours at Don Lulo's ended in 2026; the options now are walking or the 4×4 truck.

Places nearby

  • Nauyaca Waterfalls (Cataratas Nauyaca, Don Lulo family)Parks & Wildlife · from $10Private entrance to the multi-tiered Nauyaca waterfalls above Dominical, run by the family of Don Lulo.
  • Parque ReptilandiaParks & WildlifeSmall reptile park near Dominical with crocodiles, caimans, snakes and frogs in spacious glass enclosures; no booking needed, and reviewers praise the owner for his hands-on explanations.
  • Restaurante ScalaFood & CoffeeHilltop restaurant in Escaleras with a wide view over the coast, between Dominical and Ojochal; reviewers praise fresh ceviche, pizzas, risotto and whole fried red snapper, with vegan options and warm service.
  • Alturas Wildlife SanctuaryParks & Wildlife · from $5Alturas is a non-profit wildlife rescue center on a jungle hilltop between Dominical and Uvita, the only one covering this stretch of the southern Pacific.
  • La ParcelaFood & CoffeeA restaurant on a rocky point between Dominical and Dominicalito with the ocean on both sides — the view is the reason to come.
  • Phat NoodleFood & CoffeeA long-time Dominical favorite for Asian-inspired food in a quirky outdoor space where the kitchen sits inside an old school bus: pad thai, curry bowls, sesame tuna steak and lettuce wraps.

Read more

Sources: OpenStreetMap node/5408690422 · Wikidata Q111590330 · https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q111590330 · https://www.earthtrekkers.com/nauyaca-waterfalls/ · https://mytanfeet.com/activities/nauyaca-waterfalls-in-costa-rica-dominical