Six ways to reach the waterfalls near Jacó, from guided hikes past 10 waterfalls and natural pools to canyoning down them, a 4x4 safari with lunch and a self-guided trail, with an honest look at how hard each one is.
What You Should Know
- Guided hikes up rivers and jungle trails to a chain of waterfalls and swimming pools in the hills five to ten minutes from Jacó, with options to rappel down the falls or ride a 4x4 instead.
- Hikes run two and a half to four and a half hours, mostly from 07:00 to early afternoon. Morning departures beat the heat; the trails are wet and slippery all year.
- Guided waterfall hikes cost $50 to $89.27 per adult, lunch versions about $75, canyoning $111.97 and a 4x4 waterfall safari $99. A self-guided trail at Bijagual costs $26.
- These are scrambles, not walks: guests climb ropes beside the falls, cross pools by swimming and clamber over wet boulders. Several found them too hard for poor balance or bad knees.
Waterfalls Near Jacó: What You Are Booking
If you are searching for a Jacó waterfall hike, there are several ways to experience the falls: a guided scramble up the river, rappelling down the cascades, a 4x4 ride to a swimming hole or a self-guided trail. A Jacó waterfall hike takes you into the forested hills just behind town, where small rivers drop through a series of cascades and pools before reaching the Pacific. The most popular hikes start at family farms around Pueblo Nuevo and Las Monas, five to ten minutes from Jacó, and follow the river upstream past as many as 10 waterfalls and 8 natural pools, swimming, jumping and climbing as you go. Guides point out cacao, banana and medicinal plants on the way, and some groups spot toucans, coatis and poison dart frogs. This is where tours differ: the two 10-waterfall hikes start from farms a few minutes apart in the same hills, so the choice comes down to the extras, a farm lunch at one and cliff jumps and a waterfall slide at the other.
How hard is it really? Harder than most listings suggest. Guests describe pulling themselves up ropes beside the falls, wading and swimming through pools to reach the next stretch, and scrambling over wet boulders; one couple in their sixties called it physically demanding even though they were fit. If anyone in your group has bad knees or poor balance, the 4x4 safari is the easier way to see the falls.
Which one should I book?
| If you want | Book |
|---|---|
| The classic 10-waterfall hike, with lunch | Finca los Solís: $55, or $75 with lunch |
| The same canyon with cliff jumps and a waterfall slide | Go Wild Adventure CR: $50 |
| A guided hike with lunch, a 4x4 ride and wildlife | Costa Rica Waterfall Tours: $89.27 |
| To rappel down the waterfalls | Costa Rica Waterfall Tours: canyoning, $111.97 |
| Waterfalls without the hard hike | ATV Adventure Tours Costa Rica: 4x4 safari with lunch, $99 |
Below we compare six tours on price, difficulty, length and what is included. Prices are live per-person rates checked on 20 October 2026. Prefer to ride? Our Jacó ATV tour guide covers the ATV rides that stop at a swimming waterfall.
Waterfalls Finca los Solís: Hike 10 Waterfalls in Jacó
Ten waterfalls and eight swimming pools five minutes from Jacó, with a guide, dry bag, photos and an optional farm lunch guests love; 173 of 188 reviews are five stars.
Book Now6 Waterfall Tours Near Jacó Compared
| Tour | Operator | Price | Online Rating | Type | Duration | Difficulty | Included | Good to Know |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Our Pick Hike 10 Waterfalls in Jacó, Lunch Included Check availability |
Waterfalls Finca los Solís | $55 hike only ($40 ages 5 to 11); $75 with lunch ($65 child) | ⭐ 4.9 (188 reviews) Read Reviews |
Guided hike, 10 waterfalls and 8 pools | 2.5 to 3 hrs; Tue to Sun, 08:00, 11:30, 14:30 | Hard: ropes, boulders, swimming | Guide, fruit and water, dry bag, photos, showers | About 4.5 miles round trip; closed Mondays; meet at the farm |
| Hike 10 Waterfalls, Swimming Pools & Much More Check availability |
Go Wild Adventure CR | $50; $45 ages 13 to 16; $35 ages 5 to 12 | ⭐ 5.0 (48 reviews) Read Reviews |
4x4 ride, then guided hike | 2 to 3 hrs; daily 09:00, 11:00, 13:00 | Hard: ropes, cliff jumps, waterfall slide | Entry, water, coconut water, fruit, dry bag, coffee | Meets at Pueblo Nuevo, 10 minutes from Jacó |
| Hiking and Waterfall Tour in Jaco Check availability |
Costa Rica Waterfall Tours | $89.27 per person (minimum 2) | ⭐ 4.9 (125 reviews) Read Reviews |
Lunch, 4x4 truck, guided hike | 4 hrs; daily 07:00 or 13:00 | Moderate: pools and cliff jumps | Guides, transport to the trailhead; guests describe a lunch at a local home | No hotel pickup |
| Canyoning in Jaco Check availability |
Costa Rica Waterfall Tours | $111.97 per person (minimum 2) | ⭐ 5.0 (129 reviews) Read Reviews |
Rappelling down waterfalls | 4.5 hrs; daily 07:00 or 13:00 | Moderate; no experience needed | Guides, harness gear, transport to base camp; guests describe a light lunch | Give everyone's weight when booking |
| 4x4 Jungle Safari to Waterfall & Rainforest Lunch Check availability |
ATV Adventure Tours Costa Rica | $99 per person, ages 4+ | ⭐ 4.8 (38 reviews) Read Reviews |
4x4 safari with a short walk | 4.5 hrs; daily 08:00 or 12:00 | Easy | Jacó pickup on request, lunch, water, guide | Swim at a rainforest waterfall; the stop can vary |
| Hiking Tour in Bijagual Waterfall Check availability |
Bijagual Waterfall | $26 per person, ages 8+ | ⭐ 4.6 (21 reviews) Read Reviews |
Self-guided trail with a map | About 3 hrs; open daily | Hard: steep descent, no guide | Trail map only | All sales final; in the mountains above Jacó |
ℹ️ We checked each listing's live price, options, schedule, age bands, inclusions, cancellation policy and review data on October 20, 2026. Difficulty ratings are our summary of what guests describe. Prices are in US dollars per person and exclude gratuities. Always confirm the price at checkout before booking.
What to Expect on a Jacó Waterfall Hike
About three hours from the farm to the tenth waterfall and back.
- 0108:00
Meet at the farm
Park at the farm five minutes from Jacó and get a dry bag for your phone.
- 02
Sugar cane juice
Fresh-pressed cane juice before you set off, with a short talk on cacao, banana and medicinal plants.
- 03
Up the river
Wade the creek and follow the trail upstream, climbing with ropes on the steep sections.
- 04
Waterfalls and pools
Swim at the base of the falls, jump into the deepest pool and swim under the cascades.
- 05
Photo stops
The guide takes photos and video at the best spots and sends them afterwards.
- 06
Back for lunch
Return to the farm for showers and, on the lunch option, a traditional Costa Rican meal.
- 01
Meet at the farm
Park at the farm five minutes from Jacó and get a dry bag for your phone.
08:00 - 02
Sugar cane juice
Fresh-pressed cane juice before you set off, with a short talk on cacao, banana and medicinal plants.
- 03
Up the river
Wade the creek and follow the trail upstream, climbing with ropes on the steep sections.
- 04
Waterfalls and pools
Swim at the base of the falls, jump into the deepest pool and swim under the cascades.
- 05
Photo stops
The guide takes photos and video at the best spots and sends them afterwards.
- 06
Back for lunch
Return to the farm for showers and, on the lunch option, a traditional Costa Rican meal.
This follows Finca los Solís' 10-waterfall hike. Go Wild's hike covers similar ground with more jumping; Costa Rica Waterfall Tours adds lunch and a truck ride first.
Our take (timing): We'd choose the 08:00 start. Guests mention the humidity, and the climbs are easier before the heat builds. The falls generally carry more water in the rainy months, roughly May to November, when the rocks are also at their most slippery; in the dry season the flow is lower but the hiking is easier.
Each Waterfall Tour Near Jacó Reviewed
Guided hikes first, then canyoning, the 4x4 option and the self-guided trail. Prices are per adult unless stated.
Waterfalls Finca los Solís: Hike 10 Waterfalls
$55, or $75 with lunch · 4.9 from 188 reviews · 2.5 to 3 hrs · Tue to Sun
A hike of about 4.5 miles round trip from a family farm five minutes from Jacó, up a river past 10 waterfalls and 8 pools, starting with fresh-pressed sugar cane juice. Guests swim at the base of each fall, jump into one, and describe a guide who shoots photos and helps nervous hikers through the climbs. The lunch afterwards gets as many compliments as the falls. The listing excludes transport, but two guests were picked up from their hotel, so it is worth asking.
It is the most demanding hike here: you will use ropes, climb steep rock and wade or swim between sections. We'd book it for fit families with older children; one 12-year-old managed the rope climbs, but several guests would not take young children or anyone with balance problems. You can go at your own pace: one slower group turned back after three waterfalls and still enjoyed the day.
Go Wild Adventure CR: 10 Waterfalls & Swimming Pools
$50 · 5.0 from 48 reviews (47 five stars) · 2 to 3 hrs · daily
A short 4x4 ride to the trailhead, then a hike up the river with ropes, cliff jumps and a natural waterfall slide, finishing with fresh fruit and coconut water. Guests with children of 9 to 16 call it a family favourite. One guest measured the hike at about 3.5 miles with 900 feet of climbing, and the family that runs it also rescues animals on the property.
We'd give it the edge over Finca los Solís for thrill-seekers, since guests talk more about the jumps and the slide, but expect to be soaked: you swim the pools in your shoes.
Costa Rica Waterfall Tours: Hiking & Waterfall Tour
$89.27 (minimum 2) · 4.9 from 125 reviews · 4 hrs
Guests describe a meal at a local home, an open 4x4 truck up the mountain and a hike to hidden falls where you jump into pools, with sloths, coatis, morpho butterflies and poison dart frogs along the way.
It costs more than the farm hikes, but we like it for the guiding and the wildlife. Bring cash for tips and drinks: one guest was caught short.
Costa Rica Waterfall Tours: Canyoning in Jacó
$111.97 (minimum 2) · 5.0 from 129 reviews (126 five stars) · 4.5 hrs
Rappelling down a series of waterfalls with harnesses, guides and a light lunch at a local home first. No experience is needed, and guests say the guides balance feeling safe with real adventure. One group did four waterfall rappels plus two short ziplines and a cliff jump, and a 13-year-old managed it all. We'd lean toward it for teenagers after a bigger thrill: it is the only tour here where you go down the falls on a rope rather than climbing up beside them.
Give every rider's weight when you book for harness fitting. One afternoon group found the order of the day different from the listing, so confirm the plan with the guide.
ATV Adventure Tours Costa Rica: 4x4 Waterfall Safari
$99 · ages 4+ · 4.8 from 38 reviews · 4.5 hrs
A custom 4x4 takes you up into the hills behind Jacó and Los Sueños for a swim at a rainforest waterfall and a countryside lunch, with only a short walk. The listing names the Pura Vida waterfall; recent guests also describe visits to the Bijagual and Pacayal falls, so the stop can vary. Pickup in Jacó is included on request.
We see this as a good fit for grandparents, young children or anyone who wants the waterfalls without the scramble.
Bijagual Waterfall: Self-Guided Trail
$26 · ages 8+ · 4.6 from 21 reviews · all sales final
Entry and a trail map for the Bijagual waterfall in the mountains above Jacó, with no guide. Guests describe a steep descent, longer than the signed distance, and some broken handrails, and one was charged far more for lunch than the menu price.
We'd only choose this if you are fit, confident hiking alone and have your own car, and we'd skip the café.
Comparing with waterfalls further south? See our guide to waterfalls near Manuel Antonio.
Where Are the Waterfalls Near Jacó?
The waterfalls near Jacó fall into two areas, and the tours split the same way.
| Area | Distance from Jacó | How you visit | Tours here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pueblo Nuevo and Las Monas | About 6 km, roughly 10 minutes by road | Guided hikes up the river from family farms | Finca los Solís and Go Wild Adventure CR |
| The hills behind Jacó and Los Sueños | Reached by 4x4 or truck from town | Guided hikes, canyoning and 4x4 safaris | Costa Rica Waterfall Tours and ATV Adventure Tours Costa Rica |
| Bijagual | About 31 km, roughly 45 minutes by road via Tárcoles | Self-guided trail, or a stop on some 4x4 and ATV tours | Bijagual Waterfall |
The two 10-waterfall hikes start from farms a few minutes apart in Pueblo Nuevo, each with access to its own stretch of river; the listings do not say whether any of the falls are shared, so treat them as separate hikes in the same hills. The hills directly behind Jacó and Los Sueños are where the truck-based tours go, and some ATV rides stop at the same swimming waterfalls. Bijagual is a different trip altogether: further inland, unguided unless you go with a tour, and best for confident hikers with their own car. Distances are our calculations from Mapbox driving directions without traffic.
How Much Does a Waterfall Hike Near Jacó Cost?
Guided waterfall hikes near Jacó cost $50 to $89.27 per adult, with lunch adding $20 at Finca los Solís. Canyoning costs $111.97 and the 4x4 safari $99. Most tours do not include transport, but the farms are five to ten minutes from town. What matters more than price is the lunch: it adds $20 at Finca los Solís and gets as many compliments as the falls, while Costa Rica Waterfall Tours folds a meal into its higher price.
Two adults and two children aged 5 to 11 on Go Wild Adventure CR ($170), Finca los Solís' hike only ($190) or Finca los Solís with lunch ($280).
Finca los Solís with lunch for $150, or Costa Rica Waterfall Tours' hike with lunch and a truck ride for $178.54, or canyoning for $223.94.
The Bijagual trail for $52, or ATV Adventure Tours Costa Rica's 4x4 safari with lunch for $198.
Bring cash for tips and drinks: several tours include fruit and water but not beer, and guides expect a tip.
Our Take
What we see again and again in reviews is that guests underestimate these hikes, not the waterfalls: the happiest reviews come from people who expected a climb and wore water shoes, and the disappointed ones booked it as a gentle walk.
Tips for a Waterfall Hike Near Jacó
- Wear shoes you can swim in. Guests say regular trainers and hiking boots end up soaked; water shoes or sandals with straps and grip work best. No flip-flops.
- Be honest about fitness. Expect rope climbs, boulders and swimming between pools. If balance or knees are a concern, choose the 4x4 safari.
- Wear a swimsuit and bring a towel. You will be wet from the first river crossing. Finca los Solís has showers for afterwards.
- Use the dry bag for your phone. Several tours provide one; guides also take photos so you do not have to.
- You do not have to reach all ten falls. Guides let groups set their own pace, and turning back after a few waterfalls is fine if the climbs get too much.
- Go early. The 08:00 or 09:00 starts are cooler, and the trails are quieter.
- Bring cash. For tips, drinks and the sugar cane juice with rum that one farm offers for $5.
- Visiting in March? Our Jacó in March guide covers what the end of the dry season means for the falls, the hottest weeks of the year and how to plan around Semana Santa.
- Visiting in May? Our Jacó in May guide covers how the first rains change the trail, why grippy shoes matter more on wet rocks, and the best time of day to go.
- Visiting in October? Our Jacó in October guide covers the late green season, when high water and wet rock make the hike harder, and the drier tours to book instead.
- Visiting in November? Our Jacó in November guide covers the end of the rainy season, when the falls run fullest and the pools are clear and cold, plus November hotel prices.
- Want a different way to the falls? Our Jacó ATV tour guide covers rides to swimming waterfalls, and our Jacó horseback riding guide covers rides near town. Visiting in the dry season? Our Jacó in January guide covers the weather and what runs that month. Comparing waterfalls further down the coast? Our waterfalls near Manuel Antonio guide covers the tours there.
- Planning the rest of your trip? Our best things to do in Jacó guide ranks the top nine experiences and covers the free ones, from the beach to the crocodile bridge. Travelling with kids? Our best things to do in Jacó for families guide adds minimum ages and prices for a family of four.
How We Selected These Tours
The Costa Rica Day Trip team searched every waterfall, hiking and canyoning tour listed for Jacó and checked each live listing on 20 October 2026: price by age and option, departures, inclusions, cancellation policy and the full star distribution. We required a guest review in the past six months and enough reviews to judge each tour. One waterfall adventure was left out because it had only one review in the past year, and Finca los Solís' second listing for the same hike is covered by the row we show. ATV rides that stop at a waterfall are covered in our Jacó ATV guide. We then read the most recent reviews of all six tours, plus their most recent one- to three-star reviews, paying close attention to how hard guests found each hike. The difficulty ratings in our table summarize what guests describe.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there waterfalls near Jacó?+
Yes. A chain of waterfalls and swimming pools sits in the hills five to ten minutes from Jacó, around Pueblo Nuevo and Las Monas, and the Bijagual waterfall is in the mountains above town. Most are reached on guided hikes from family farms.
How much is a waterfall hike in Jacó?+
Guided waterfall hikes cost $50 to $89.27 per adult, checked October 2026, or $75 with lunch at Finca los Solís. Canyoning costs $111.97, a 4x4 waterfall safari $99, and the self-guided Bijagual trail $26.
How hard is the 10 waterfalls hike in Jacó?+
It is strenuous. Expect about 4.5 miles round trip with rope climbs, wet boulders and swimming between pools. Fit teenagers and adults manage it; guests with poor balance or bad knees found it too hard.
What should I wear on a Jacó waterfall hike?+
A swimsuit, quick-dry clothes and water shoes or strapped sandals with grip. Your shoes will be soaked, so avoid hiking boots and never wear flip-flops.
Can kids do the waterfall hikes near Jacó?+
Older children usually can: guests describe 9 to 16-year-olds loving Go Wild's hike, and a 12-year-old managing Finca los Solís' rope climbs. For young children, the 4x4 waterfall safari (ages 4+) is the safer choice.
Is there a waterfall near Jacó without a hard hike?+
Yes. ATV Adventure Tours Costa Rica's 4x4 safari drives you most of the way to a swimming waterfall, with lunch, for $99. The ATV rides in our Jacó ATV guide also stop at swimming waterfalls.
When is the best time to see the waterfalls near Jacó?+
The falls carry the most water in the rainy season, roughly May to November, when the trails are also most slippery. In the dry season the flow is lower but the hiking is easier.
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