---
okf_version: "0.2"
type: "Article"
title: "Nauyaca Waterfalls: Gravel, Jungle and a Natural Pool"
description: "The Nauyaca Waterfalls are a highlight of Costa Rica's Pacific coast. Our advice: pick the farther entrance, then take in the upper waterfall first and finish at the lower one with its natural pool."
resource: "https://travelmemo.com/costa-rica/nauyaca-waterfalls-costa-rica"
language: en
translation: { lang: de, resource: "https://reisememo.ch/costa-rica/nauyaca-wasserfaelle-costa-rica" }
author: "Katja Birrer"
publisher: "Travelmemo"
photo_count: 11
tags: ["Experience", "Hiking", "Nature", "Road Trip", "Tour", "Costa Rica"]
entities:
  - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/places/costa-rica"
  - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/experience-travel"
  - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/hiking"
  - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/nature-tourism"
  - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/road-trip"
  - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/itinerary"
  - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/excursion-tips"
  - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/restaurant"
  - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/luxury-travel"
  - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/round-trip"
  - "https://travelmemo.com/author/katja-birrer"
generated: { by: "human:https://travelmemo.com/author/katja-birrer", at: 2026-07-05T07:41:34+00:00 }
verified:
  - { by: "human:https://travelmemo.com/author/walter-schaerer", at: 2026-06-08T19:55:53+00:00 }
sources:
  - id: photos
    resource: nauyaca-waterfalls-costa-rica.md#photos
    title: "Original photography by Reisememo | Walter Schärer"
    author: "human:https://travelmemo.com/author/walter-schaerer"
    last_modified: 2026-02-20
timestamp: 2026-07-05T07:41:34+00:00
---

# Nauyaca Waterfalls: Gravel, Jungle and a Natural Pool

> The Nauyaca Waterfalls, located about 10 minutes north of Dominical in Costa Rica, are a two-tiered natural wonder featuring a dramatic 40-meter upper fall and a wide lower fall emptying into a swimmable natural pool, reachable via a jungle hike through dense rainforest.

## Destination
About 10 minutes north of Dominical, Costa Rica. Easily visited as a day trip from Uvita (Marino Ballena National Park) or Manuel Antonio National Park.

## Getting there
Two separate, independently operated entrances exist. The Nauyaca Waterfall Nature Park entrance is ~50 min from Dominical; the last kilometer is on gravel road and a 4×4 is recommended. The Don Lulo entrance is ~30 min from Dominical on a paved road and is reachable without a 4×4. Both offer shuttle service to the falls.

## When to go
Start early in the day — the trail is pleasant in the morning but becomes very hot and humid by midday.

## Why visit
One of Costa Rica's most impressive waterfall settings, combining a rewarding jungle hike with a large natural swimming pool at the base of the lower falls. The Nauyaca Waterfall Nature Park entrance offers notably fewer crowds.

## What to see
- **Upper Nauyaca Waterfall** — Drops roughly 40 meters over a broad rock face — a powerful and impressive sight, though not suitable for swimming.
- **Lower Nauyaca Waterfall** — A wide wall of water crashing into a large natural pool; the main swimming destination after the hike.

## What to do
- **Hiking to the falls** — A well-maintained trail of just over 3.5 km through dense rainforest; shaded but hot and humid, with a steep descent to the falls.
- **Swimming in the natural pool** — The lower waterfall empties into a large natural pool where most visitors swim; bring swimwear, a towel, and water shoes.
- **Shuttle back to the entrance** — A shuttle carries hikers back uphill after visiting the falls, sparing the climb on the return leg.

## Good to know
Good shoes with grip are essential at both entrances as the descent can be slippery. Bring plenty of drinking water, swimwear, a towel, and ideally non-slip water shoes. Nauyaca Waterfall Nature Park (nauyacawaterfall.com): entrance USD 32, open 7:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m., free parking. Don Lulo (nauyacawaterfallscostarica.com): walking entry USD 10 or USD 32 with shuttle round trip, open 7:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m., parking USD 5/day.

## Photos

```yaml
photos:
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/nauyaca-waterfalls-rainforest-rock-face-tropical.webp"
    caption: "Der obere Nauyaca Wasserfall stürzt hier aus etwa 40 Metern Höhe über mehrere Felsstufen hinab"
    keywords: ["Costa Rica", "Dschungel", "Felswand", "Gruene-Vegetation", "Naturschauspiel", "Naturwunder", "Nauyaca Wasserfälle", "Reisememo", "Reisetipp", "Rundreise", "Steinbloecke", "Tropischer-Regenwald", "Wasserfall", "Wasserkaskade"]
    captured: 2026-02-20
    geo: {latitude: 9.2548, longitude: -83.8069}
    credit: "Reisememo | Walter Schärer"
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/nauyaca-waterfall-bathing-area-cascades-natural-pool.webp"
    caption: "Die mehrstufigen Nauyaca Kaskaden bilden natuerliche Pools zum Baden und Entspannen."
    keywords: ["Badestelle", "Costa Rica", "Erfrischung", "Felswand", "Kaskaden", "Naturerlebnis", "Naturpool", "Nauyaca Wasserfälle", "Reisememo", "Reisetipp", "Rundreise", "Tropenwasser", "Wanderer", "Wasserfaelle", "Wasserfall"]
    captured: 2026-02-20
    geo: {latitude: 9.2551, longitude: -83.8081}
    credit: "Reisememo | Walter Schärer"
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/catarates-nauyaca-waterfall-costa-rica.webp"
    caption: "Die zweistufigen Nauyaca-Wasserfälle gehören zu den spektakulärsten Naturwundern Costa Ricas"
    keywords: ["Badestelle", "Catarates Nauyaca", "Costa Rica", "Dschungel", "Naturpool", "Regenwald", "Reisememo", "Tropenwasserfall", "Wanderung", "Wasserfall"]
    captured: 2026-02-20
    geo: {latitude: 9.2551, longitude: -83.8081}
    credit: "Reisememo | Walter Schärer"
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/nauyaca-waterfall-hiking-trail-costa-rica.webp"
    caption: "Der vier Kilometer lange Wanderweg führt durch dichte Regenwaldvegetation"
    keywords: ["Costa Rica", "Dschungel", "Naturpfad", "Nauyaca", "Nauyaca Wasserfälle", "Regenwald", "Reisememo", "Reisetipp", "Rundreise", "Schotterstrasse", "Wanderung", "Wanderweg", "Wasserfälle", "tropische Vegetation"]
    captured: 2026-02-20
    geo: {latitude: 9.257, longitude: -83.8028}
    credit: "Reisememo | Walter Schärer"
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/nauyaca-waterfall-hiking-trail-katja-gravel-road-costa-rica.webp"
    caption: "Katja auf dem Wanderweg durch dichten Tropenwald zu einem der schönsten Wasserfälle Costa Ricas"
    keywords: ["Costa Rica", "Costa-Rica", "Dschungel", "Naturpfad", "Nauyaca Wasserfälle", "Regenwald", "Reisememo", "Reisetipp", "Rundreise", "Trekking", "Tropenwald", "Wanderung", "Wanderweg"]
    captured: 2026-02-20
    geo: {latitude: 9.2578, longitude: -83.8047}
    credit: "Reisememo | Walter Schärer"
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/nauyaca-waterfall-hiking-trail-rainforest-stairs.webp"
    caption: "Der steile Abstieg führt über natürliche Stufen tief in den üppigen Regenwald hinein"
    keywords: ["Abenteuer", "Costa Rica", "Dschungel", "Naturpfad", "Nauyaca Wasserfälle", "Regenwald", "Reisememo", "Reisetipp", "Rundreise", "Treppe", "Tropenwald", "Urwald", "Vegetation", "Wandern", "Wanderweg"]
    captured: 2026-02-20
    geo: {latitude: 9.2585, longitude: -83.8043}
    credit: "Reisememo | Walter Schärer"
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/nauyaca-waterfall-jungle-entrance-hiking-trail.webp"
    caption: "Der Wanderweg zu den Nauyaca Wasserfällen führt durch dichten Regenwald"
    keywords: ["Costa Rica", "Dschungel", "Nationalpark", "Naturschutz", "Nauyaca Wasserfälle", "Regenwald", "Reisememo", "Reisetipp", "Rundreise", "Tropenwald", "Wanderweg", "Wasserfall"]
    captured: 2026-02-20
    geo: {latitude: 9.2567, longitude: -83.8076}
    credit: "Reisememo | Walter Schärer"
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/nauyaca-waterfalls-jungle-trail-stone-staircase.webp"
    caption: "Der Abstieg zu den Nauyaca Wasserfällen führt über steile Steintreppen durch dichten Tropenwald"
    keywords: ["Costa Rica", "Dschungelpfad", "Dschungelwanderung", "Naturpfad", "Nauyaca Wasserfälle", "Regenwald", "Reisememo", "Reisetipp", "Rundreise", "Treppe", "Tropenwald", "Wanderweg"]
    captured: 2026-02-20
    geo: {latitude: 9.2553, longitude: -83.8082}
    credit: "Reisememo | Walter Schärer"
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/nauyaca-waterfalls-rainforest-hiking-trail-holzsteg.webp"
    caption: "Der Wanderweg zu den Nauyaca Wasserfällen führt durch dichten tropischen Regenwald"
    keywords: ["Costa Rica", "Dschungel", "Holzbrücke", "Naturpfad", "Nauyaca Wasserfälle", "Regenwald", "Reisememo", "Reisetipp", "Rundreise", "Tropen", "Urwald", "Wanderweg"]
    captured: 2026-02-20
    geo: {latitude: 9.2563, longitude: -83.8075}
    credit: "Reisememo | Walter Schärer"
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/nauyaca-waterfalls-shuttle-gravel-road-costa-rica.webp"
    caption: "Mit dem Shuttle fährst du wieder zurück zum Parkeingang"
    keywords: ["Abenteuerreise", "Autofahrt", "Costa Rica", "Costa Rica Roadtrip", "Dschungelstrasse", "Manuel Antonio", "Mietwagen Costa Rica", "Naturerlebnis", "Nauyaca Wasserfälle", "Reisememo", "Reisetipp", "Rundreise", "Schotterpiste", "Tropenwald"]
    captured: 2026-02-20
    geo: {latitude: 9.2571, longitude: -83.8028}
    credit: "Reisememo | Walter Schärer"
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/nauyaca-waterfalls-telephone-box-costa-rica.webp"
    caption: "Wenn du es überstanden hast, rufst du Mutti an ;-)"
    keywords: ["Ausflugsziel", "Call your Mom", "Costa Rica", "Naturerlebnis", "Nauyaca Wasserfälle", "Pura Vida", "Regenwald", "Reisememo", "Reisetipp", "Rundreise", "Telefonzelle", "Tropisch", "authentisch"]
    captured: 2026-02-20
    geo: {latitude: 9.2564, longitude: -83.7957}
    credit: "Reisememo | Walter Schärer"
```