Tamanique Waterfalls

Tamanique village sits in the hills above the surf beaches of the La Libertad coast, and below it a river drops through a gorge in a series of falls with pools between them. The walk down from the village takes around forty minutes on a steep path through coffee and forest, and at the bottom the falls are reached in sequence, with jumping from the rocks into the deeper pools a standard part of the visit and ropes fixed on some sections. Guides from the community meet visitors in the village square and the arrangement is informal. It has become a popular trip from El Tunco and the coast, and weekends are busy.

What you actually see

• The waterfall chain - the successive drops and pools in the gorge.
• The jumping pools - the deeper basins used for jumping from rocks.
• The descent - the steep path down through coffee and forest.
• The gorge - the wooded valley below the village.

When to go

November to April in the dry season, when the path is safest and the water clearest; the rains make the descent dangerous and raise the river. Weekdays are far quieter than weekends. Start in the morning.

Honest expectations

The descent and the climb back are steep and hard, particularly in heat. Jumping into pools carries obvious risk and depths vary. Guides are arranged informally in the village and prices are negotiated. There are no facilities.

Nearby

El Tunco lies on the coast below; La Libertad is east.