8 Glorious Waterfalls in the South Pacific of Costa Rica! VistaDelFuegoCostaRica.com
#1 The Waterfall in Uvita
The Waterfall in Uvita is a blast and super easy to access. Coming from highway 34, turn left into Uvita town just before the big BCR (Banco Costa Rica). Continue on this road, pass the cemetery. After the cemetery, you’ll take a slight left, counting up the hill for about another kilometer or so. There are signs for “La Catarata Uvita” to make it even easier! The entrance will then be on your right, where you’ll find a small restaurant and a parking lot. It’s a relatively leisurely walk from Uvita if you don’t have a car.
Once you arrive, you’ll need to pay 1,000 colones ($2) for admission. Then you’re ready to go! You’ll head down some stone stairs to arrive at waterfall. These are a bit steep and can be slippery, but there is a plastic railway to help. It only takes five-ten minutes. Once at the bottom of the stairs, you might have to cross a small, ankle-deep river (depending on the season you visit.) Food, beverages, and well-behaved pets are allowed.
#2 Nauyaca Waterfalls--
Cataratas de Nauyaca can be reached by foot, truck, or hire a horse and go on horseback. “Cataratas” meaning waterfall in Spanish. Just outside Dominical there’s a turn towards San Isidro del General, this is the same road to the starting point for the Nauyaca Waterfall. The walk from the parking lot is 5 km. It is mostly uphill so wear good hiking shoes or sneakers with good treads, bring water/snack, swimsuit, a hat, and wear lots of bug off!!! There is not drinkable water inside or a place to buy it.
You can actually drive your car down the first kilometer and park it at the base and hike up from there. (instead of leaving car where you buy your tickets) We recommend driving down the steep first kilometer and then hiking from there.
The waterfalls are magnificent, probably the best in the country. Make sure you swim in with crystal clear water. This has always been a highly recommended thing to do!
(Cataratas de Nauyaca is also known by the name of Don Lulo's or Santo Cristo.)
#3 Hills of Portalon Waterfall
Only 2 km from beautiful Vista del Fuego, the Río Savegre is a Costa Rican national treasure soon to be designated a new National Park. Starting high in the Talamanca mountains on the famed Cerro de la Muerte (peak of Death) it tumbles over dozens of waterfalls and through amazing rapids before flattening, slowing and emptying into the mangroves.
#4 Eco Chontales Waterfall--
If you've taken the day to go "waterfall hopping", you should first see Nauyaca. Then continue up the mountain through some of the most beautiful scenery in Costa Rica to Eco Chontales Waterfall. The drive is not for the faint of heart, as you will cross a couple of bridges that are just barely wide enough for a mid-sized 4x4, but your efforts will rewarded through all your senses when you see this towering 63 meter powerful force. Admission is $8 and the horseback riding tour is $40, which includes admission, breakfast and snack.
#5 Posa Azul--Dominicalito
Poza Azul waterfall, Dominicalito. Much smaller than Nauyaca, but much easier to get to and free of charge. The lovely Poza Azul waterfall is beautifully set in the jungle of Dominicalito. It has a nice natural swimming pool and trees provide shade to cool down in the water on a hot day. But please keep in mind that this river can (almost) dry-up in the summer months January, February and March.
Getting There
Poza Azul waterfall is located just outside Dominicalito which is located a little south from Dominical just off Costanera (route 34). Take the exit next to the bus stop, drive through the village, after going over a little bridge make a right turn. It is only 1 minute up, you will see a parking area on the left; the entrance to the waterfall is on the right (opposites from the parking area). Currently, there is a sign saying Poza Azul. It is a very short walk down; but quite steep and some people will have some difficulties walking over the roots of the trees. Please do not leave any valuables in the car. No entrance fee. No 4x4 car needed.
#6 Diamante Waterfalls--Dominical
http://diamanteverdetours.com/
35 minutes from the beach town of Dominical you find the Diamante Waterfall in the village of Las Tumbas near Tinamaste. The landscape here has both lush, rolling mountains and open valleys that are sometimes enshrouded in clouds. You take the same road to Nauyaca but you keep going straight up Highway 243 towards San Isidro del General. You’ll wind up and down the mountain, passing several small towns like Baru and Platanillo. In about 25 minutes, you’ll get to the town of Tinamastes at the top of the hill where the road levels off. After a large church on the right, take your first right onto a dirt road (there should be a sign for Valle de Vida). This will lead you into Las Tumbas. Follow this road for about 10 minutes, passing a bridge and a small church.The scenery is amazing but be careful on the trek up the mountain, following the steep, rocky path. After 2 hours arrive at two twin, 85-foot (26 meter) waterfalls with a few gigantic boulders which formed the base of a cave which you can go into. You can continue hiking up to the tallest waterfall which is about 600 feet (183 meters) up.
#7 Cascada Verde--Uvita
Another waterfall that is easily accessible is Cascada Verde waterfall in Uvita. Also this waterfall is surrounded by Jungle where monkeys and toucans are often seen. It is not a big waterfall but several paths provide access to several very nice swimming holes.
Getting There
From the Costanera (route 34), take the exit at the BCR in Uvita, follow that road and go left where you see the sign of Cascada Verde. Keep going up, it will be on your right hand side (do not go left taking the exit for Cascada Verde Hostel/Lodge). The road going up is better with a 4x4 car, but mostly it is also possible with a 4x2 car. The family that runs the restaurant there, also takes care of the paths towards the waterfall and swimming holes. They charge CRC 1000 ($2) entrance fee per person (from 5 years and older).
#8 El Pavon--Ojocal
The last waterfall we will discuss is Cascada El Pavon a little south of Ojochal. This waterfall has a big rock stuck between the waterfall openings on the top, which makes it quite unique. You have a nice natural swimming pool at the waterfall. But this river provides more excellent natural swimming pools, like just before the path going to the waterfall. On the way to El Pavon waterfall you will pass a restaurant which has their own tilapia farm. Even if you do not like fish, it might be nice to stop for a while to see the giant old Ceiba tree.
Getting There
El Pavon waterfall is located in the far south of Costa Ballena in an area called Punta Mala (between Ojochal and Coronado). It makes a good combination with a visit to Playa Ventanas for a day trip from Dominical. Go south on the Costanera (rout 34), after passing Ojochal you have to watch out for a couple of signs besides the road (left hand side), with one of them being from the El Pavon Talapia farm & restaurant. Take this exit and keep following it, there will be a sign on the left hand side saying ‘Cascada el Pavon’. No entrance fee for the waterfall. No 4x4 car needed.
