Best Waterfall Tour in Costa Rica

Jessica Jørneas • Jan 13, 2024

Best Waterfall tour in Costa Rica - Full Day Waterfall Adventure with Paddle 9

If you are spending some time in the Quepos/Manuel Antonio area of Costa Rica and want to see (and jump off of) some of the area's magnificent waterfalls- then a full day waterfall tour is well worth it! 


Here is an outline of my full day waterfall tour with Paddle 9: 


I started my day with delicious breakfast at
Villas Jacquelina, my eco hotel here in Quepos. After finishing breakfast, I was picked up by my guides directly at my hotel. I was immediately introduced to all the guides and the rest of my group, a family, an elder couple and a younger couple. This warm introduction made me feel very welcome, as I was traveling solo. 


The tour consists of 3 waterfalls, a lunch, and a beautiful beach stop to end your day. The drive is about an hour to the first waterfall, during which, the guides gave detailed information about the area, its history, and extensive knowledge about its wildlife and agricultural traits. This made the drive very pleasant, along with the stunning views along the coastal road.


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Finally, after an adventure filled couple hours at the three sites, we were taken to a local tilapia farm, where we had a delicious lunch, consisting of either the fresh tilapia, chicken, or a vegetarian or vegan option. This lunch was included in the tour, and both tasty and filling. 


Our final stop in the late afternoon was a beautiful beach close to the town of Uvita. Here we all had an opportunity to both relax, swim, and look at the natural caves located right on the beach! We had a total of 45 minutes on the beach, which was sufficient time to decompress and enjoy the ocean. 


Finally, we were taken back to our various hotels, and whilst we were on route, our guides had picked palm leaves and wove delicate grasshopper figures and roses for everyone, as little souvenirs! All in all, it was the best tour i went on  in Costa Rica, and a great way to appreciate the osa peninsula while staying in Manuel Antonio/Quepos! 


What to bring: 

  • Water shoes or strapped sandals 
  • Bathing suit + towel 
  • Ocean safe Sunscreen 


Whats included: 

  • Water 
  • Fresh fruit 
  • Professional photography at an additional cost (good value) 
  • Transportation 
  • Lunch + a drink 



If all of the above sounds like something for you, it can be booked directly for you when you stay at
Villas Jacquelina! 




Book this Tour

Manuel Antonio Travel Guide

At our first waterfall, we were given the option to either bathe at the base of the waterfall and/or jump off the edge of the waterfall from a 7 foot cliff. I was determined, and proceeded to jump- this was a very liberating experience and it fueld  my desire to do some of the more advanced jumps later in the day. 


The second stop was arguably the best stop, as the location not only offered lagoons and great jumping points, but also a natural waterslide! After jumping from some higher points, the guides carefully instructed us on how to safely navigate the waterfall slide, giving us both life vests and safety instructions. Sliding down a natural waterslide is not an experience I will forget anytime soon! Although not for the faint of heart, this experience is arguably one of the best adrenaline rushes Costa Rica has to offer. 


The third  and final waterfall was called “El Pavón”. It is characterized by a large boulder seemingly splitting the waterfall into two parts, and offers some stunning views and photo opportunities. This spot also boasted the day's highest jump, at 30 feet. I did not manage this one, but two of the others made the jump, and said it was an amazing experience. The guides also used this opportunity to show us some of their best tricks, and did some mind blowing backflips and high dives of the large cliff. 

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