Nauyaca Waterfalls & Hacienda Ébano tour from San Jose

Two waterfalls and a 1,500-foot ocean view in one morning

A guided tour from San Jose to Nauyaca Waterfalls and Hacienda Ébano nature reserve in Barú, Costa Rica, with a naturalist guide and driver. You visit two waterfalls (the first a 130-foot drop with a viewpoint, the second a 65-foot cascade with a deep pool for swimming), then hike through the reserve and stop at an elevated ocean lookout for a tropical picnic before returning with a riverside lunch.

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit waterfalls and nature reserve

• Arrive at Nauyaca Waterfalls
• Visit top waterfall viewpoint
• Visit lower waterfall and swim if allowed
• Travel to Hacienda Ébano ocean lookout
• Enjoy tropical snack picnic with ocean view
• Hike nature reserve trails and see wildlife
• Visit Ébano waterfall and swim option
• Have Costa Rican lunch by river or restaurant

The experience

Nauyaca Waterfalls sit in the Barú region of Pérez Zeledón, a two-part cascade that frames the day. The first waterfall drops 130 feet with no pool below, built for the view itself. Five minutes away is the second, a 65-foot wide cascade that feeds into a deep pool, around 20 feet at its deepest, where you can swim if the weather and water level allow. A team member stays on-site to give safety advice. Bathrooms and filtered drinking water are available at the site.

After the waterfalls, a short drive takes you to Hacienda Ébano, where the reserve's trails open up. A naturalist guide leads a hike of short to medium length through the property, pointing out wildlife and the reserve's own waterfall, which also has a swimming option depending on conditions. The hike ends at an ocean lookout perched 1,500 feet above sea level (close enough to the Pacific to see and hear the waves), where you eat a tropical snack picnic while facing that view.

Lunch is Costa Rican-style, served on banana leaf either next to a river or at the Ébano restaurant depending on weather and the season. The whole experience runs five to six hours from pickup to return.

What’s included

• Lunch and tropical snacks.
• parking fees.
• naturalist guide and driver throughout the tour.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 07:30

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Youth (13 to 17 years) · Child (6 to 12 years) · Infant (1 to 5 years)

GroupUp to 15

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go 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.

ConfirmationConfirmation within 48 h

Prices and times updated 7 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effort

Operated by Hacienda Ebano

Is this one for you?Small groups with children as young as one year old will find the mix of waterfalls, easy hiking and ocean views manageable across five to six hours. The naturalist guide handles the wildlife education while you move between two distinct landscapes without a rushed pace.

Traveler reviews

5.00★★★★★★★★★★

1 verified traveler review

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (13 to 17 years); Child (6 to 12 years); Infant (1 to 5 years).

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.

Can you swim at Nauyaca Waterfalls?

The second waterfall has a large deep pool where swimming is possible, but only if weather permits and the water level is not high: conditions a team member on-site will assess. The first waterfall has no pool below it.

What is the ocean lookout at Hacienda Ébano like?

The lookout sits 1,500 feet above sea level on an elevated spot called The Mango, close enough to the Pacific to see and hear the waves. You eat a tropical snack picnic there while watching the ocean.

How much hiking is involved in the nature reserve?

The hike through Hacienda Ébano's trails is short to medium length, suitable for all physical fitness levels. Your naturalist guide leads you through the reserve and to the Ébano waterfall, which also has a swimming option.

What kind of lunch is served?

Costa Rican-style lunch is served on banana leaf, either next to a river or at the Ébano restaurant depending on weather and season. The meal is included in the tour.