Duration: 1 or 2 Days · Price: From $225 USD per group of 1–4 · Difficulty: Moderate
About this tour
The Nauyaca falls are two-tiered and massive — the upper drop falls 45 meters onto a wide rock ledge, the lower one continues 30 meters more into a deep, jade-green pool where the mist from the falls keeps the air cool even at midday. To reach them you hike roughly 8 kilometers through open cattle pasture, then a river valley corridor, then closed-canopy rainforest, crossing the river multiple times as the trail narrows and the sound of the falls begins to travel through the trees. The pool at the base is one of the finest natural swimming holes in Costa Rica, cold and clear and large enough that you can swim to the base of the lower curtain and look straight up.
This tour is offered in two formats:
**Option A — Full Day from San José ($225).** Depart San José early morning by private vehicle for the 2.5-hour drive south on the Costanera Highway. You reach the trailhead near Dominical around mid-morning and begin the hike with a certified bilingual guide. After two to three hours at the falls, you hike back and return to San José by early evening. This option works well as a standalone day or as a natural add-on if you are already staying in Manuel Antonio (30 minutes away) or near Parque Nacional Marino Ballena in Uvita (20 minutes away) — just let us know and we will pick you up from your hotel.
**Option B — 2 Days with 1 Night at Playa Dominical ($400).** Day 1: private transport from San José to Playa Dominical, check in to your accommodation (budget, regular, or luxury — confirmed at booking), afternoon at leisure on the beach. Day 2: early start for the Nauyaca hike, full morning and midday at the falls, return to Dominical for a late lunch, then private transport back to San José arriving by evening. Dominical is a small surf town with an excellent beach backed by steep jungle-covered hills — spending a night here makes the Nauyaca experience feel like a proper escape rather than a rushed day trip.
What's included
- Private transportation from San José (or hotel pickup from Manuel Antonio / Uvita area)
- Certified bilingual hiking guide
- Bottled water on the trail
- 2-day option: 1 night accommodation with breakfast (budget, regular or luxury — confirmed at booking)
Not included
- Lunch (bring your own or eat at trailhead sodas)
- Gratuities
- Personal travel insurance
Good to know
- Round-trip hike is approximately 16km — good fitness required; the trail is steady, not technical
- Bring water shoes or trail shoes you don't mind getting wet — there are river crossings
- Trail is muddier in rainy season (May–Nov) but perfectly doable
- Pack a swimsuit and dry bag for the pool — this is the highlight of the day
- Also bookable as an add-on day from Manuel Antonio or Bahía Ballena — ask us
- Free cancellation 48 hours prior