Special Private Waterfalls and Jungle Safari Tour

The best part of this private outing is the mix of rainforest hiking and waterfall swimming in one compact morning. You follow a natural trail through Hacienda Ébano, cross streams and bridges, then reach two separate falls with pools suited to both confident swimmers and families.

I like the personal scale, since only your group takes part, and I like the way the day combines nature with local food. César and Carolina also add a human touch, with a home-cooked lunch served in banana leaves rather than a standard restaurant stop.

The main consideration is the hike. It is described as short or medium, but the trail includes streams, bridges, and rainforest footing. The first pool is 13 feet deep, and the 20-foot jump is for capable swimmers only. You can choose the gentler second pool instead.

Key points to know before booking

• A double waterfall gives you two different swimming settings: one deep pool for experienced swimmers and one shallow-to-two-meter pool for families.
• The rainforest walk includes five streams and two bridges, with possible sightings of frogs, birds, monkeys, and tropical plants.
• The Big Mango Lookout reaches high ground by safari truck, with views toward Punta Dominical Bay, Caño Island, Diamante Waterfall, and the blue mountains.
• The meal is part of the experience: expect an authentic Costa Rican lunch wrapped in banana leaves after time at Jade Waterfall.
• This is a private tour for your group only, making it easier to set the pace and choose how much time to spend swimming.
• The price is $120 per person, a fairer deal for a group that values a private guide, transport between stops, swimming, and lunch.

A rainforest morning at Hacienda Ébano

The meeting point is Hacienda Ébano de Barú in Santa Juana, Pérez Zeledón, with an 8:30 a.m. start. Although the experience is marketed from San José, the stated meeting address is at the hacienda, not in central San José. Check your route carefully before booking, because this detail matters more than the city label.

The tour lasts about four to five hours. That gives you enough time for a real walk, two waterfall areas, a scenic stop, and lunch without turning the outing into an all-day commitment.

Because the tour is private, you are not trying to keep up with a large group. That is useful if one person wants extra time beside a pool, if children need a slower pace, or if your group wants to focus on plants and wildlife rather than rush from stop to stop.

César and Carolina are the named hosts associated with this experience. The details supplied describe them as the people who make the outing personal and educational, and a large family group specifically enjoyed learning, tasting, hiking, and swimming with them. If you want the day tailored to your group, the private format is one of the strongest reasons to choose it.

Five streams and two bridges on the forest trail

The first main section takes about three hours, including the hike and Ebano Waterfalls. You choose a short or medium route through the rainforest, then follow a path that crosses five streams and two bridges.

That sounds simple, but it is what gives the walk its character. You are not merely being driven to a waterfall, taking a quick photograph, and leaving. The route lets you see the small details of the forest, including tropical plants, huge trees, and the changing sound of running water.

Wildlife is possible, not promised. Colorful frogs, birds, and monkeys may appear depending on the season and their behavior. That is the right way to think about this part of the tour: you are entering a living forest, not visiting an animal show.

I would bring patience. Stop when something catches your eye, but do not expect a guaranteed animal checklist. The plants and streams still make the walk worthwhile when the monkeys stay out of sight.

You should also expect a nature trail rather than a paved park path. The supplied information says most people can participate and that a version for seniors is available, but it does not describe every slope, surface, or step. Ask about the route if anyone in your group has limited mobility.

Ebano Waterfalls: choose your pool carefully

At the end of the forest path, Ebano Waterfalls appear as a double waterfall hidden among the trees. The two pools offer very different experiences, which makes this stop more flexible than a single swimming hole.

The first waterfall has a pool about 13 feet, or 4 meters, deep. Water has worn a large hole into a single piece of rock over hundreds of years. The pool is considered safe for swimming, and capable swimmers can jump from a height of about 7 meters, or 20 feet.

That jump is not a casual add-on. A 20-foot leap requires confidence, sound judgment, and a careful assessment of conditions. You do not need to jump to enjoy the waterfall. If you are unsure, stay in the water at pool level or use the second pool.

The second waterfall has a wider pool with water ranging from very shallow to about 2 meters, or 6 feet, deep. This is the more practical choice for families with children and for anyone who prefers to wade, cool off, or swim without a high ledge.

I like that both pools are included in the same stop. Strong swimmers can enjoy the deeper water, while parents and less confident swimmers have a more forgiving place to spend time.

Still, the word safe does not remove the need for care. Water depth, rocks, footing, and jumping conditions can vary. Follow the guidance on site, and treat the 20-foot jump as optional, not as the expected highlight.

The Big Mango Lookout by safari truck

After the hike, the tour uses a safari truck to reach the Big Mango Lookout. The ride takes you to the top of the mountain, where you can look toward Punta Dominical Bay, Caño Island, Diamante Waterfall, and the blue mountains.

This stop lasts about 30 minutes. That is enough time to catch your breath, enjoy the view, and take photographs without turning the tour into a long sightseeing session.

The lookout also gives the morning a useful change of pace. The waterfall walk puts you under the forest canopy, while this stop opens the view outward. You see the wider area rather than only the immediate jungle around the trail.

Fresh guava and coconut milk have also been part of the welcome at the viewpoint. Those small tastes help connect the view with local produce, and they give you something refreshing after the walk.

Since the ride is by safari truck, you do not have to hike up to the lookout. That is helpful for anyone who enjoys scenery but does not want every part of the outing to involve steep walking.

A simple farm-house pause

The farm house is available for a restroom stop and water refill. It is a small detail, but it makes a difference on a warm, active morning.

You should still arrive prepared with practical clothing and enough personal water for the trail. The farm house allows a refill, but the supplied details do not specify how much water is available or what containers are provided.

This is also a good place to reset before the final waterfall and meal. A private group can use the break without feeling rushed by a large departure schedule.

Jade Waterfall and lunch wrapped in banana leaves

The final stop combines another waterfall with lunch. You get time at Jade Waterfall, then sit down to an authentic Costa Rican meal wrapped in banana leaves.

The stop is scheduled for about one hour, so do not expect a long restaurant-style meal. The appeal is the setting and the preparation. A banana-leaf wrap is practical, local, and far more memorable than a generic boxed lunch.

A large family group described the meal as home-cooked and gourmet, with the food becoming one of the most enjoyable parts of the day. That fits the character of this tour: the meal is not an afterthought added to fill time. It is part of the connection to the farm and the region.

Jade Waterfall gives you one more chance to cool off before eating. If you have already spent time in the deeper Ebano pool, this final stop lets you decide how active you want to be. You might swim again, sit near the water, or simply enjoy the setting before lunch.

The schedule gives about an hour for this combined stop. If your group loves long swims or relaxed meals, that may feel brief. If you want a half-day outing with several different experiences, the timing keeps the morning moving.

What the $120 price includes

At $120 per person, this is not the cheapest way to see a waterfall near San José. The value comes from the number of elements packed into a private outing: a guided rainforest walk, two waterfall areas, swimming pools, safari-truck transport to a lookout, possible wildlife viewing, a water stop, and lunch.

You are also paying for a private experience. Only your group participates, so the cost can make more sense for families, couples, or friends who prefer not to share a vehicle and trail pace with strangers.

The tour is especially good value for a group that wants variety. A dedicated waterfall trip might give you more time at one swimming spot. A viewpoint tour might offer better scenery but no forest walk or local meal. Here, you get a little of each.

The price is less attractive if you only want a quick swim or if you are already staying far from Hacienda Ébano and must arrange a difficult transfer. The meeting point deserves careful planning, since the stated address is in Santa Juana, Pérez Zeledón, even though the location is presented under San José.

Who should book this private waterfall tour

I would choose this experience for a family that wants an active morning with options. The shallow-to-two-meter pool at the second waterfall is more suitable for children than the deep first pool, and the private format lets the group set a comfortable pace.

It also fits a mixed-age group. Active adults can hike, swim, and consider the higher jump, while seniors can ask about the available senior version and still enjoy the truck ride, lookout, lunch, and gentler water.

Couples and small groups may like the balance of nature and food. You are not spending the whole morning on a trail, and you are not spending it only at a restaurant. The forest, mountain view, waterfalls, and meal each have a clear role.

I would think twice if you dislike uneven outdoor paths, cannot manage stream crossings, or want a guaranteed wildlife sighting. Wildlife depends on season and animal behavior, and the route has enough outdoor activity that good shoes and a sensible pace matter.

Service animals are allowed, and the meeting point is near public transportation. Most people can participate, according to the stated information, but ask for precise route details if mobility is a concern.

Timing, weather, and cancellation flexibility

The start time is 8:30 a.m., and the activity returns to the same meeting point. The four-to-five-hour length makes it easy to plan the rest of your day, provided you allow time for the journey to and from Hacienda Ébano.

The experience requires good weather. If poor weather cancels it, you can choose another date or receive a full refund. For your own plans, remember that weather can affect trail conditions and swimming conditions even when the tour goes ahead.

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations inside that 24-hour window are not accepted for a refund, and the cut-off follows local time.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you want more than a single waterfall stop. You get a private rainforest walk, two different swimming settings, possible wildlife, a mountain lookout, and a local lunch in roughly half a day.

The strongest reason to book is the mix of experiences and the personal pace. The main reason to pause is the meeting location and the physical nature of the trail. Confirm that Hacienda Ébano de Barú in Santa Juana, Pérez Zeledón works with your plans, then choose this outing if your group is ready for streams, forest paths, swimming, and a 20-foot jump that remains entirely optional.

FAQ

Where does the tour start?

It starts at Hacienda Ébano de Barú in San José, Pérez Zeledón, Santa Juana, 11909, Costa Rica. The activity ends back at the same meeting point.

What time does the tour begin?

The stated start time is 8:30 a.m.

How long does the experience last?

The full experience takes approximately four to five hours.

Is this a private tour?

Yes. Only your group participates in the activity.

Is swimming included?

Yes. You can swim at Ebano Waterfalls, and the tour also includes time at Jade Waterfall. The first Ebano pool is about 4 meters deep, while the second ranges from very shallow to about 2 meters deep.

Is lunch included?

Yes. The final stop includes an authentic Costa Rican lunch wrapped in banana leaves.

Can children or seniors participate?

Most people can participate, and the second waterfall has a pool suitable for families with children. A senior version of the tour is also available.

What happens if bad weather cancels the tour?

You will be offered a different date or a full refund. You can also cancel up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund.