One of the most amazing things about Costa Rica is that whenever you think you’ve heard about all the possible places to visit, it proves you wrong. The Piedra del Indio Waterfalls are a fantastic example of this. These 4 waterfalls are located on a local farm, and the family that owns it is starting to open it up to lucky tourists. “Piedra del Indio” means “Indian’s Rock”, and refers to a rock full of ancient petroglyphs that you’ll find right as you enter the farm.
We went to check it out during the weekend, and it makes a great half day trip from Nuevo Arenal. It’s just about an hour away, and the drive around the lake and through the mountains of Tilarán is gorgeous! Like most places to visit around this area, we do recommend having a car to get there. With that said, if you’re around and need help with transportation, don’t hesitate to reach out to us!
Entrance to Piedra del Indio
You’ll first arrive at a little office with a restaurant. This is where you’ll pay the entrance fee, which is ₡4000 (less than $8 USD), and get some information about the petroglyphs and waterfalls you’re about to see. The place is run by Sandra and Alejandro. They’re a lovely couple who will likely greet you at the restaurant and explain how to get to the farm entrance. Once you’re all set, you’ll have to get back into your car and drive about 10 more minutes. While the drive from Nuevo Arenal to the little restaurant is on roads that are accessible with any vehicle, this part is trickier. We made it in a sedan, but don’t necessarily recommend it 😉
If you don’t have an SUV, no need to worry! They have an ATV and a 4×4 available onsite to take you to the entrance to the trails. Alejandro is a fantastic guide and will join you on your hike to give you additional details about the area! Upon arrival, the first thing that you’ll see if the famous “Piedra del Indio”. According to the information they gave us, the carvings on the rock were likely made by the Corobicí people, around 1500 B.C. The spirals on the petroglyphs are believed to represent water. You can also find the image of an important figure – probably a shaman or a cacique (king/chief).
A little warning: you may be lucky enough to be experiencing Tilarán weather in all its glory (aka extremely windy). If this is the case, please be careful not to get blown into the barbwire fence that is close to the rock. There’s a very good reason why there are so many wind turbines around here!
Hiking Trail and Waterfalls
The trail is pretty short (around 700m total), but as usual with waterfall hikes, it’s quite steep going down, and even more coming back up! At least, it feels like it, the inclination is obviously the same. Right before you enter, you can grab a walking stick, it’ll help.
The first waterfall is El Jabillo, and it gets its name from the spiky tree in front of it. Be careful with the spikes and enjoy the view.
The other waterfalls are very originally named 2, 3 and 4. Waterfall 2 shoots right out of the rocks and if you’re brave enough, you can jump in and swim around. It’s very deep, though, and only recommended if you’re a strong swimmer. We skipped taking a dip this time, due to the powerful and cold wind on that day. Getting wet did not seem very appealing!
The third waterfall is the tallest one, at around 80m! It’s definitely a sight to behold and we were excited to find out that they have plans of adding a rappelling tour here. Alejandro has lots of experience with adventure tourism, so it will be interesting to see what they come up with. We’ll be back to check it out for sure, as dangling over the abyss on a line is one of my passions!
Last, but definitely not least, Waterfall 4 is not quite as tall (about 50m), but is very dramatic. If you’re feeling brave, or the weather is milder than when we went, you can jump in and play around behind the falls. The good news is that you don’t need to be a swimmer for this part!
Of course, what goes down now must come back up! The hike back to the entrance is steep, but relatively short. If you’re in reasonable shape, it won’t be too much of a problem (use the hiking sticks!)
Time to head back home (or to a new adventure!)
Aaaand you’re done! Piedra del Indio is a fantastic place to visit, especially if you like to go off the beaten path. Plus, you’ll be supporting a great rural tourism project. This is more important than ever during COVID-19 times, as local communities have been extremely affected.
If you’re in the area, and want a more extreme hike with beautiful waterfalls, you’re in luck! The Viento Fresco Waterfalls are located about 5 minutes before Piedra del Indio, on the same road, if you are coming from Nuevo Arenal. These are amazingly gorgeous as well, but the hike is definitely longer and harder (not that it’s a bad thing).
How to get there
Piedra del Indio is on the way from the Arenal area to Monteverde. It’s a great place to stop if you’re heading there, or just a fun day trip if you’re just staying in Arenal. It’ll take you about an hour to get there from Nuevo Arenal.
Sushi Time
At Sushi Wind in Tilaran
On the way back, we stopped at a new sushi place in Tilarán. Sushi is not that easy to come by in this area, and is usually pretty pricey. However, Sushi Wind was both delicious and affordable! The rolls aren’t exactly traditional, but they are very creative and we’re sure that you’ll find something that you’ll love. We tried the Dragon Roll and the Crazy Tuna Roll and will be back to taste the rest!
Each roll is only ₡4000 (less than $8 USD), and the service is also great. Definitely give them a try if you’re in Tilarán!
