Hacienda Baru Rainforest Tour & Nauyacas Waterfall Swim

Rainforest wildlife on shaded trails, then a waterfall you swim in for hours

A full-day tour from Quepos combines a two-hour guided rainforest walk at Hacienda Baru with a trip to Nauyacas waterfall, where you spend two hours swimming and exploring after a 4x4 drive through the reserve. The trails are flat and less crowded than Manuel Antonio Park. A bilingual guide leads the wildlife spotting, and lunch at a local seafood restaurant rounds out the day.

Step-by-step itinerary

Rainforest walk and waterfall visit

• Meet at Hacienda Baru
• Walk 2 hours in rainforest
• Drive 15 minutes to waterfall reception
• Take 4x4 vehicle 30 minutes to waterfall
• Explore waterfall area for 2 hours
• Return 4x4 vehicle 30 minutes to reception
• Drive back to cars
• Have local seafood lunch
• Return to hotels

The experience

Hacienda Baru sits in the Guapil area, and the tour starts there with a two-hour walk through flat, shaded rainforest trails. You'll move slowly enough to spot sloths, monkeys, peccaries and birds without the crowds that pack Manuel Antonio Park. A bilingual guide carries an HD spotting scope to pull distant wildlife into view, and you get time to photograph whatever appears. The trails stay mostly level, so the walk is steady rather than strenuous.

After the rainforest section, you drive about fifteen minutes to the Nauyacas waterfall reception area. Once you pay the entrance fee there, a 4x4 vehicle takes you another thirty minutes into the reserve and drops you at the waterfall for two hours. You can swim in the pools, explore the falls and change clothes in the facilities provided. The 4x4 picks you up at the same spot and drives you back out, another thirty minutes to the parking area.

Lunch follows at a local restaurant that specializes in seafood and regional dishes made with local ingredients. After eating, the guide drives you back to your hotel or your starting point. The whole day runs about seven and a half hours from start to finish.

What’s included

• Hacienda Baru entrance fee and Nauyacas waterfall entrance fee.
• transportation from the reception area to the waterfall and back in a 4x4 vehicle.
• bilingual tour guide with HD spotting scope.
• lunch at a local seafood restaurant.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

AgesAdult (6 and older) · Infant (under 6)

GroupUp to 15

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 14 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortPublic transport nearbyNot recommended with heart problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Private tours with Freddy Tours

Is this one for you?The tour includes pickup from your hotel or meeting point at Hacienda Baru, so you don't need a car to reach either site. If you're staying in Quepos or nearby without transportation, this settles the logistics of getting to both the rainforest and the waterfall in a single day.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Infant (under 6).

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What kind of wildlife will I actually see on the rainforest walk at Hacienda Baru?

Sloths, monkeys, peccaries and birds are common in the Guapil rainforest. The guide uses an HD spotting scope to help you see animals at a distance, and the flat, shaded trails give you time to watch and photograph without rushing.

How much time do I get to spend at Nauyacas waterfall?

You have two hours at the waterfall after the 4x4 drops you off. That time covers swimming in the pools, exploring the falls and changing clothes in the facilities there before the vehicle picks you up.

Do I need to arrange my own transportation to Hacienda Baru, or is pickup included?

Pickup is included in the tour. If you don't have a car or are staying elsewhere in the area, ask about transportation availability when you book. If you do have your own vehicle, you can follow the guide instead.

Is the rainforest walk difficult, or can someone with moderate fitness do it?

The trails at Hacienda Baru are flat and shady, and the walk lasts about two hours at a steady pace. You should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness, but the terrain itself is not steep or technical.

What's included in the price, and what do I need to bring?

The tour includes the Hacienda Baru entrance fee, the Nauyacas waterfall entrance fee, transportation from the reception area to the waterfall and back, the bilingual guide and lunch. Bring extra clothes to change into after swimming, sun protection, a swimming suit, water and mosquito repellent.