Nauyaca Waterfalls, Natural waterfall reserve in San José Province, Costa Rica

Nauyaca Waterfalls lie in an approximately 80-metre-wide gorge of the Rio Barucito near the hamlet of Santa Juana, above Dominical. One fall drops 45 metres in free fall; the other descends 20 metres in steps and forms a pool of 1,000 square metres and 6 metres deep at its base. Smaller natural pools lie nearby.

The site takes its name from the Nauyaca family, who opened a trail through their land to the falls. Access was later organized from the hamlet of Santa Juana, on Route 243, with a 4 km footpath leading to the gorge of the Rio Barucito.

The site holds meaning for both locals and visitors seeking connection with nature and the raw power of flowing water. The way people spend time here, swimming, photographing, and sitting quietly by the cascades, shows how this place serves as a natural refuge.

The site can be reached by hiking trail, horseback tour, or four-wheel-drive vehicle, giving you options based on your fitness level and preference. Wear comfortable shoes and bring swimwear, as the trails are muddy and the pools offer refreshing dips along the way.

The gorge of the Rio Barucito is about eighty metres wide. The stepped fall drops twenty metres into a pool of one thousand square metres and six metres deep. Smaller natural pools lie nearby, and a four-kilometre footpath leads from the hamlet of Santa Juana to the falls.