Two things usually come to mind when you think about vacationing in Costa Rica: beautiful beaches and lush nature, but there are many hidden secrets in the jungle. Costa Rica is a privileged country where you can find a great variety of microclimates, rainforest, dry forest, cloud forest and all the amazing flora and fauna that is found in them. The rainfall lasts at least 7 months of the year which makes for an abundance of rivers in the mountains, they bring everything to life, and they make for beautiful waterfalls that are enjoyed by local and foreign tourists.
If you are vacationing at Los Sueños, you have the great advantage of being so close to many incredible tourist attractions, waterfalls being one of them.
The Bijagual Waterfall is probably one of the most popular in the area, it is located about 10 km from the Tarcoles River (crocodile bridge) going towards Jacó until arriving at the intersection of Villa Lapas, from this point its another 5 km up a gravel road.
The hike to get to the waterfalls is of moderate to difficult intensity, the landscapes are an amazing site, getting to the waterfalls is certainly easier than making the way back to the car, but it’s a great experience where you’ll find several swimming holes and natural pools.
El Encanto Waterfall is another small but breathtaking location. This one is a little further from Los Sueños, in the area of Baron in Esparza, Puntarenas. The waterfall comes down some 60 feet. To get to EL Encanto there is a trail of 188 stairs and the calm waters are ideal for a refreshing swim.
If you are willing to take a longer drive, on the road to Manuel Antonio National Park in Quepos, you’ll find a waterfall that is very well-known by locals, the El Salto Waterfall (different from the El Salto waterfall in Guanacaste which is very popular). The location of the waterfall can be found in Waze, once you leave the car in the parking space the walk is close to 2.5 kilometers (1.5 miles) after which you can appreciate the view of the waterfall. Jumping in is an option, but consider that the way back up is not as simple as it was on the way down.
The area of Uvita, also has a couple of secret waterfalls that are worth visiting, Cascada Verde, also known as Uvita Waterfall and the Pavon Waterfall, both have easy access and are a great way to enjoy a hot day. At Uvita waterfall you can join the locals and jump into the swimming hole, it’s a scary but fun experience.
Pavon waterfall is an impressive site as it sits right between two huge rocks and the waterfalls right behind it. It’s a very safe waterfall if you are traveling with kids.
Be careful when navigating the trails and rocks around the waterfalls, these could be slippery especially during the rainy season, we recommend to book your tours with HRGvacations.com to ensure a safe and pleasant experience; it is not a good idea to venture out on your own in areas you are not familiar with.