4-Hour ATV Ride to the Tulín River and Gamalotillo Falls

Area

Jacó, Puntarenas

Duration

4 h

Difficulty

Moderate

Four hours of jungle and river ATV riding, with stops at the Tulín River bridge, the El Tigre lookout and Gamalotillo Falls, where you can swim.

A jungle and river ATV adventure with three stops worth every minute: the Tulín River, the El Tigre lookout and Gamalotillo Falls.

Tulín River: a lovely river surrounded by lush vegetation. We stop on a tall bridge that's perfect for photos. The river runs strong in the rainy season and is calm and low in the dry season; depending on the water level, we can get in for some splashing fun.

El Tigre lookout and restaurant: an amazing reforestation project in progress. The farm's owner, born and raised in Costa Rica and a true nature lover, has been slowly reforesting a mountainside that was once cattle pasture with very few trees left, aiming to turn it into a small forest and wildlife refuge. He built a large covered deck to take in the mountains with the ocean in the background, and today it's the tour's rest area, with a traditional restaurant run by locals. It's a great chance to grab a drink, a snack or a homemade meal, or simply relax in the breeze and enjoy the view. Part of the income goes to planting trees and feeding rescued animals.

Gamalotillo Falls (swimmable pool): the riders' favorite. You reach it on a 5-minute walk along a jungle trail lined with green vegetation and tall trees, which can be muddy in the rainy season. The waterfall is about 30 feet (9 m) high and perfect for jumping into its natural pool; if you'd rather not jump, just relax and swim in its refreshing water.

Good to know: drivers must be at least 18 and passengers at least 8 years old. You may get dirty, so dress accordingly. Groups of 1 to 50 people. Honda Fourtrax 420cc and Kymco 300cc vehicles are used. Departures at 8:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. Includes the 4-hour ATV tour, bilingual guides, insurance, safety equipment, fruit and water, and breathtaking Pacific Ocean views.

Price: $145 per person on an individual quad. A quad fits 2 people: if you share one, the second rider pays only $30 extra. Prefer a buggy (fits 1 to 4 people)? It's $145 on top of the price of one quad, for a total of $290 per buggy.