The Nauyaca Waterfalls are one of the most impressive spots in Costa Rica, just about 10 minutes north of Dominical.
You can easily visit the falls as a day trip from Uvita (Marino Ballena National Park) or Manuel Antonio National Park. Or you work the visit into your road trip as a stopover.
Getting there feels like a little adventure of its own. And that starts with the drive in.
The last few kilometers run along a bumpy gravel road through dense jungle. No more asphalt, no signs, just red gravel dust and trees.
This is exactly where you understand why a 4×4 isn’t a luxury in Costa Rica. It’s simply the right vehicle.
Two Entrances and One Important Decision
Before you even set off, you make a decision that shapes the whole day. There are two ways to reach the Nauyaca Waterfalls.
The area is privately owned, and the two different entrances are run independently of each other.
We took the official park entrance (Nauyaca Waterfall Nature Park).
In hindsight, it was the right call.
The entrance sits a little farther out, but in return the park offers more infrastructure, with a small restaurant and restrooms, plus the decisive advantage: fewer tourists. The slightly longer approach pays off.
The Don Lulo entrance is a bit more rustic, cheaper, more popular and accordingly more crowded.
Tip: If you want fewer crowds, it’s worth driving the extra distance.
Important: Good shoes are a must at both parks. The final stretch down to the falls can be slippery and demanding.
Practical Info at a Glance
| Nauyaca Waterfall Nature Park | Don Lulo Entrance | |
|---|---|---|
| Drive time | 50 min. from Dominical | 30 min. from Dominical |
| Access | Last km on gravel road, 4×4 recommended | Paved road |
| Parking | free | USD 5 per day |
| Distance | 3.5 km | 2.7 km, but steeper |
| Shuttle | Available both ways | Available both ways |
| Facilities | Restaurant, restrooms and changing rooms | Restrooms and changing rooms |
| Opening hours | 7:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. | 7:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. |
| Entrance fee | USD 32 (walk down / trolley up) | USD 10 (walking), USD 32 with shuttle (round trip) |
| Upside | Fewer people, better views of the falls | Reachable without a 4×4, cheaper |
| Website | nauyacawaterfall.com | nauyacawaterfallscostarica.com |
Upper or Lower – the Two Waterfalls Aren't the Same
There isn’t one Nauyaca Waterfall. There are two. And they’re very different.
The upper waterfall is big and powerful. It drops over a broad rock face into the depths. It’s an impressive sight, but offers no place to swim.
Still, you absolutely have to see the upper waterfall!
The lower waterfall is the real destination. It crashes down as a wide wall of water into a large natural pool. Plenty of visitors jump straight in, and after the hike through the humid heat you understand exactly why.
Don’t forget: bring swimwear, a towel and plenty of drinking water. And if you have non-slip water shoes, pack those too!
Hiking to the Nauyaca Waterfalls: Prettier Than Expected, Hotter Than Anticipated
From the parking lot to the falls, you hike a little more than 3.5 kilometers (if you don’t take the shuttle).
The trail is well maintained and the shade of the trees is welcome. And yet you underestimate the heat.
The humid air, the steady incline, the red gravel. After a while it dawns on you: this is no walk in the park.
Tip: Start early. Not because of the waterfalls, but because of the temperatures. In the morning the trail is still pleasant; by midday it turns into a test.
The Way Back: That's What the Shuttle Is For
At the end you can spare yourself the climb back up and let the shuttle carry you up instead. That’s exactly what we did.
And we were very glad we did.
After the descent, the swim and the time spent at the waterfall, you simply have no desire (or energy) left for 4 kilometers uphill. So riding the shuttle back is a sensible decision.
The Nauyaca Waterfalls make a great day trip from Uvita – the starting point of our Costa Rica road trip.
