September 5, 2024 - Recap Pura Vita Costa Rica Trip Day 6 | Horseback Riding to Nauyaca Waterfalls

Horseback Riding to Naucaya Waterfalls

Tanya's Daily Scoop 
CURRENTLY IN: ORANGE COUNTY, CA

Hello and a huge warm (make that a very HOT) greetings from SoCal where the high temps are gonna be a craaaayzee triple degree nonsense from today through Monday. Ughhhhh

It's September and we've made it this far without any extreme weather...And now this?!  

I am not made for the heat.  Just sayin'.

In fact you'll be lucky to catch me stepping outside until this miserable heat goes away.  I'll be indoors enjoying the cold air coming from my new A/C unit.   The truth is that I keep it so chilly in here that I generally need to wear a sweater around the house and have no clue what it even feels like outside.

Lucky for me that although Costa Rica can definitely get warm, it was generally a very pleasant temperature with the exception of our time spent at Manual Antonio National Park - that just about did me in. I was fried.   Any longer and you might've found me splooting on the ground next to some of the wildlife.

SPLOOTING explained:
​Splooting is lying in a spread-eagled, prone posture. It is typically performed by four-legged mammals such as dogs and squirrels when they wish to relax or cool down. It may also be known as frogging or pancaking.


A look back on our day to Naucaya Waterfalls.

We had a fairly early 6:30am start, driving 2 hours out to the stables that were located near the visitors center at the Naucaya Waterfalls, which is where we had to check in for our ride.

The drive to the waterfalls (c)travelincousins.com

Sights along the drive (c)travelincousins.com

We have arrived (c)travelincousins.com

Before our horseback journey (c)travelincousins.com

We were introduced to our guide and our horses, discussed horseback riding experience and saddled up.

Sitting on Eeyore (c)travelincousins.com

Ready to giddy up (c)travelincousins.com

The ride was gorgeous (as expected) and based on our previous experience, we were able to definitely do more than just walk the horses to the waterfalls. The trotting was a bumpy and bouncy ride as always. But when we were in a canter is when the fun really started!   

Bamboo forest (c)travelincousins.com

A little selfie action (c)travelincousins.com

We enjoyed our ride out to the falls so much, that I almost forgot that the horseback riding was a means to a sought out destination!! LOL

We arrived at the beautiful Naucaya Waterfalls and it was like being in paradise... 

We made it (c)travelincousins.com

At the Naucaya Falls (c)travelincousins.com

THE RUSHING NAUCAYA FALLS 

I need to get into my bathing suit (c)travelincousins.com

The only thing left to do was get in!
The only problem is that the water was kinda chilly and I kept freezing up - I am not one of those who just jump right in (at least not into the water).

Portrait at the falls

WELCOME TO NAUCAYA WATERFALLS

The water was a bit chilly (c)travelincousins.com

So, I did suck it up and make it in...SLOWLY
At least over to a rock that I swam to and that I managed to sit on for a while as I enjoyed the atmosphere and watched Dave scramble up some rocks and jump in!  
This was a bit too daring for me (but was it really? I just did this a few days prior).    
When the time to get back on the horses and start heading to lunch, I started getting dressed but when I turned around and looked back, it was just too darn pretty that I had to go back, take some more of it in and of course grab a few more pictures.

Don't slip (c)travelincousins.com

Enjoying the falls (c)travelincousins.com

Splish Splash (c)travelincousins.com

One more photo (c)travelincousins.com

The ride back was just as beautiful, but not we were seeing it from the opposite direction! LOL

Beautiful scenery (c)travelincousins.com

Lunch time was also quite lovely and we spotted a monkey in the trees above us!

Lunch time (c)travelincousins.com

This poor little guy was up there in the trees making cute little sounds and  foraging on his own.

Lonely little monkey (c)travelincousins.com

Our guide had decided to place a banana out for him in hopes to give us a closer look. It worked!

Monkeys and bananas (c)travelincousins.com

After lunch (c)travelincousins.com

Fed and ready to head back (c)travelincousins.com

All in all it was a great and recommended way to spend the day going out to the falls. Would I do it again - HECK YEAH!

Then we had that 2 hour drive back and decided to head over to check out Jaco. We found some lovely vegan empanadas (there will be a future Costa Rica vegan foodie issue - keep your eyes peeled), ​we had some delish coffee and just browsed around the rugged little town.

In Jaco and having some coffee (c)travelincousins.com

Sloth mural (c)travelincousins.com

And then we managed to catch this amazing sunset before getting ready for dinner. What a fabulous day!

Sunset at Hermosa Beach (c)travelincousins.com

Be sure to bop over to Elisa's column for the full scoop on Naucaya Waterfalls.

Catch ya on Saturday with the next installment of a look back at my Pura Vida trip to Costa Rica!

Ciao 4 Now,
​-Travelin' Tanya

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A Closer Look at Nauyaca Waterfalls

Elisa's Daily Scoop
CURRENTLY IN: LONG ISLAND, NEW YORK

Hey there!! Happy Thursday!  Coming back atcha from good ole Long Island!

Unlike Tanya out in SoCal, we have been having the most absolutely gorgeous weather here on Long Island!! In fact, Kelsey and I have been enjoying our regular afternoon iced tea at our favorite place, The French Workshop, in Garden City, sitting outside in the warm (yes, not hot) sunshine and refreshing, dry breeze!!

(c)travelincousins.com

With this being "back to school" week, I'm trying to settle into my new routine.  This is the first year in 16 years that I haven't had to drive a child to school!! Not going to lie - it feels pretty good not having to wake up at the crack of dawn with the William Tell Overture playing in my head!

At the same time, it's pretty bittersweet because it's a phase of my life that is over (insert sad mommy face).

Of course, travel talk always gets me in a high vibe mood!

Today, I'm doing a little piggy backing on Tanya's continuing ongoing recap of her Pura Vita Costa Rica trip, from which she returned to California late last week.

I hope you enjoyed her lovely photos of from her excursion to Nauyaca Waterfalls! 

As I look at Tanya's photos, I can't get over just how green and lush Costa Rica is!

Well, let's dive in (no pun intended) to the world of the Nauyaca Waterfalls --

(credit: Nauyaca Waterfall Nature Park)

It was no holds bar for Tanya when it came to letting her adventurous side shine during her time in Costa Rica - from the rainforest, to hot springs to walking across jungle bridges and then on Day 6, horseback riding to Nauyaca Falls- she indulged in the best of Costa Rica!

Personally, I have always been enamored with the majesty of waterfalls.  To me, they are such a natural delight and filled with a magical appeal!

Located in the south of Costa Rica, around 20 minutes inland from the beach community of Dominical on the Pacific coast. the Nauyaca Waterfalls lie deep in the rainforest,. Though your's truly has never been to these falls, my research has confirmed that many consider them the most beautiful and spectacular of all of Costa Rica's many waterfalls, which is saying quite a bit consideirng the number of Falls found in this country.

(c)travelincousins.com

Nauyaca Waterfall Nature Park is where the falls by the same name are located. Upon arrival, there are several ways to access the falls. From what I've ready in my research, you can hike from the entrance to the falls, (which is around 1.67 miles, or approximately 45c minutes), however, the way is rough and steep on gravel roads.

Considering the hot tropical sun with no cover from the shade, it is probably wiser to take one of the 4×4 Shuttles that run regularly from the entrance to the shelter where the hiking trails begin. From there, it is a short hike to the upper and lower falls – roughly half a mile to both and about .3 mi back up to the pickup point. 

In Tanya's case, she opted to drive their rental to the horsey stables in the park where they met their "horse rides" and took them all the way to the falls -  which looks absolutely delightful from her photos today!

Gorgeous Nauyaca Falls!! (c)travelincousins.com

​A few facts about Nauyaca Falls for ya'll to tuck away if you journey to this area:

• Visiting Nauyaca Waterfall from the Nature Park entrance allows for access to a better view of the upper falls. The first trail ends in a little cave with beautiful up-close views of the upper falls’ 177 foot drop!
• The lower falls can be accessed on the trail about a third of the way up towards the upper trail.
• The lower falls are wider  than the upper falls with an 85-foot drop into a 22 ft deep pool.
• At the bottom of the lower falls trail you can enter the pool or turn around and follow the side trail down to the creamy blue river.
• At the entrance of the Nature Park there are beautiful views overlooking the rainforest and Diamante Waterfall, with hammocks and picnic tables, with free water and coffee.
• The best time of day to visit Nauyaca falls is early morning – both because of the beautiful lighting with the sun streaming over the falls, and to avoid crowds.

Wow - such a beautiful place!! Glad Tanya had so much fun!!

That's it for me today! 
Till next time,
​-Travelin' Elisa

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