Tres Pilas Waterfall

Self-guided Waterfall Swimming and Rock Jumping Adventure

Tres Pilas Waterfall is one of our favorite nearby, off-the-beaten-track places to recommend for a taste of authentic Costa Rican rural tourism with an accessible waterfall thrill. The property owner is a sweet lady who will warn you to leave if it rains and offer her hose for you wash your shoes if you get muddy. As you walk through her horse pasture and palm field into the jungle beyond you will see horses and maybe even monkeys on your way to the falls. This affordable, easily accessible hidden gem is a magical corner of the jungle where you can lazily enjoy a quintessential waterfall swim and shower experience or go for the thrill and scramble to the second and third pools where you can jump from rocks (but not too high!) into the pools. Just 35 minutes from Esterillos Oeste, it’s the perfect place to bring your picnic and cool down on a hot afternoon.

• Triple-level waterfall where you can swim, climb, and jump into pools
• Park at the home of the property owner and walk 15 minutes to the waterfall (sometimes the walk can be muddy)
• $8pp (bring cash in colones or dollars)
• Pet friendly
• Undeveloped, no restrooms
• 35-minute drive
• When to go: When it’s hot and relatively dry. When it’s rainy the pools can be cloudy from soil runoff and if it is very rainy there can be flash floods.