How to Get from Uvita to Nauyaca Waterfalls (and Back)

Getting from Uvita to Nauyaca Waterfalls By Bus

To get there from Uvita, you can rent a car and drive, join an organized tour, or visit independently using public transportation. As an independent traveler, I naturally went with the third option, which allowed me to reach Nauyaca Waterfalls early, beat the crowds, and enjoy the place with barely anyone else around.

Here's how I did it: I woke up at 5:30 AM, and got to this bus stop by 6 AM to catch the only morning bus from Uvita to San Isidro that passes by the entrance of Nauyaca Waterfalls. The bus was scheduled at 6:15 AM, but it could arrive anytime between 6 to 6:20 AM, so be sure to get there early as I did. I also recommend checking the latest bus schedule here before your trip in case anything has changed.

I got on the bus, told the driver to drop me off at Nauyaca Waterfalls, paid 1,000 CRC (2.20 USD) in cash, and I was off in no time. Since it is the only morning bus going in that direction, the bus was packed with locals and I had to stand for the entire ride. Thankfully, the journey only took around 20 minutes, and I got off at the entrance of Nauyaca Waterfalls at around 7 AM.

From there, I bought my entrance ticket at the Visitor's Center, which is located not too far from the entrance. The visitor's center is open from 7 AM to 3 PM every day. The ticket costs around 5,000 CRC (10 USD), and you have 2 options for getting to the waterfall.

Jeep Transfer: The easiest option. Jeeps depart hourly from 7 AM to 1 PM, giving you around two hours at the waterfall before returning at your assigned time. The round-trip costs an additional 16,000 CRC (around 32 USD) and requires only a short 5-minute walk.

Hike the Entire Trail: This is the option I chose and the one I recommend if you're reasonably fit. The round-trip hike is approximately 11 km, taking about 1 hour each way. The trail begins with a downhill walk to the parking area before continuing through shaded rainforest on a mostly gentle path.

From the main road, the trail begins with a downhill walk along the access road. Simply follow it for around 2 km (about 20 minutes) until you reach this parking lot. Cross the bridge over the river, and that's where the actual hiking trail begins.

From there, it's another 3.5 km to the waterfalls. The trail is mostly flat, easy to follow, and shaded for much of the way, taking around 40 minutes to complete. The hike itself isn't particularly difficult. The biggest challenge is the heat, especially if you're hiking back later in the morning or around midday.

If you catch the 6:15 AM morning bus, you should arrive at the waterfall by around 8:30 AM, likely making you one of the first people in the park. I remember spending over an hour swimming and relaxing at the waterfall before more people arrived. It was incredible.

Who would have thought that getting here by public transportation would turn out to be the best decision? Not only is it the cheapest way to visit Nauyaca Waterfalls independently, but it also gets you there before the tour groups arrive, allowing you to enjoy the place in peace. A win-win!

Getting Back from Nauyaca Waterfalls to Uvita

After you're done at the waterfall, it's time to make your way back. I have to admit, the return hike is definitely a bit more challenging since it's all uphill from the parking lot back to the main road. That final section is quite the knee-killer! It took me around 1 hour and 15 minutes to hike back to the entrance. You can hitchhike your way up to the main road if you see any car traveling back from Nauyaca Waterfalls.

One leg down, one more to go. Getting from the Visitor's Center back to Uvita requires a little workaround. While you can wait for the afternoon bus returning from San Isidro, it doesn't pass the entrance until around 4:30 PM, which is much later than most people finish visiting the waterfalls. I was already back at the bus stop by noon after hiking to the waterfall and back. There was no way I was going to wait another 4.5 hours just to catch the bus!

Instead, I recommend taking an Uber from the entrance of Nauyaca Waterfalls to Dominical. The ride is short, inexpensive, and saves you from waiting around for several hours. It cost me around 4,000 CRC (about 8 USD) and took roughly 20 minutes. I'd happily pay that to save more than four hours of waiting.

Once in Dominical, simply wait along the main highway right at this spot for one of the frequent buses heading south toward Uvita. These buses run almost every hour during the weekdays, and 2 - 3 hours on the weekends. Just to confirm, make sure to consult the recent bus schedule here.

This also gives you the perfect excuse to spend a few hours exploring Dominical, grabbing lunch, relaxing on the beach, or checking out one of its many cafés before catching the bus back to Uvita. My favorite cafe here was Moromo Forneria, which has a beautiful open-air space, delicious coffee, and some of the friendliest staff I encountered in Costa Rica. Be sure to check it out while you wait for your bus back to Uvita.

And that's it for this complete transportation guide to visiting Nauyaca Waterfalls from Uvita. I hope you found it helpful! If you notice any outdated information or changes to the bus schedules, please let me know in the comments below so I can update this guide for future travelers who may stumble upon it. 😉