Waterfall Sliding and Cliff Jumping in Costa Rica

Another day of stormy forecasts gave way instead to sunny skies, a perfect greeting to our day of adventure!

We signed up for the full day Waterfall Tour with Paddle 9 and they picked us up promptly at 9:45 from the hotel parking lot adjacent to our Airbnb lodging. Our first stop was Portalon Cataratas, dubbed “the appetizer” of the trip with its 8 and 10 foot jumps. The clear spring water was chilly, yet refreshing, and quickly got the blood and adrenaline pumping!

The next stop was Catarata Uvita, where we enjoyed a slightly taller jump (about 12 ft) and a rushing waterfall slide.

A juicy snack of fresh pineapple and watermelon awaited us outside the tour van when we emerged from the forest.

Our final jump took us atop a 30-foot cliff at Cascada El Pavon. 

A few brave souls even dove from the rock perched in the middle of the waterfall into the churning waters below!

All that hard work of jumping and sliding helped us work up the appetite required to partake of the delectable farm-to-table meal prepared to order at the adjacent tilapia farm. The whole fried fish meal with salad, rice, cassava, and plantains was the recommended selection and it lived up to its reputation. So flavorful!

The drive between locations was accompanied by interesting tidbits of information from our native guides, including an introduction to this aromatic flower from the Cananga Odorata tree that is used in one of the world’s most renowned perfumes: Chanel No. 5

We said goodbye to our fabulous tour guides back at the hotel drop-off where we were able to snag a few photos of the setting sun. 

We finished out the evening with a visit to the acclaimed Quepos Farmers Market where fresh fruits and vegetables and handmade goods galore enticed locals and tourists alike.

I claimed a sweet, juicy mango for myself, and the boys feasted on pizzas by this local vendor who humbly served us freshly baked goods from his hand-crafted cart constructed during the pandemic to provide an income source to replace what was lost when tourism disappeared for a season. We’re so grateful that Costa Rica has reopened and is enthusiastically welcoming visitors so that we can share in the beauty of this magnificent country while helping support those who are working hard to make a living for their families.