We went to rediscover Playa Naranjo Puntarenas where we visited a beautiful reserve called Karen Mogensen with a crystal clear perfect waterfall.
How to get there?
Take Route 27 until you reach the Puntarenas ferry, then take the ferry to Playa Naranjo (tickets can be purchased online), and after getting off the ferry you get out and turn left for 400m until you reach the Hotel Pacific.
Waze: https://waze.com/ul/hd1g80j4du
Distance:6km
Difficulty:Medium
Accessibility: not accessible
What to bring?
Light clothes, repellent, swimsuit, towel, trail tennis shoes or sandals, snacks, beverages and an excellent attitude.
Vehicle:High car
Parking:Yes
Pets:Yes
Camping:No
Contact:www.opacificohotel.com
Cost:
Standard rooms for 2 people (queen or 2 twin beds) $ 130/2 people
Double rooms (2 queen beds) $ 180/4 people. (includes breakfast)
Karen Mogensen Waterfall Tour $ 35 (includes snack)
We left San José towards Puntarenas before 5 am to catch the ferry from 6:30 to Naranjo Beach, in 1 hour we had already crossed the Gulf of Nicoya to drive just 2 minutes to the Hotel O’Pacífico which is very cool, in front of a private beach where you can breathe the peace and tranquillity like nowhere else.
After breakfast, we went to our first 9 am an adventure to get to the starting point of the hike through a White River in Jicaral de Puntarenas. We paid the guy 1,000 colones and started walking upriver.
The trail is incredibly beautiful, under a forest of monstrous trees and pretty easy to follow along the riverside. In very few places you have to walk along the channel, but still, if you lose your way you can continue upriver.
During the tour, you will pass by a lot of pools of crystalline water with a slightly turquoise colour in the deepest parts that make you want to jump in.
Overall we walked a little more than 3 km until we reached the Velo de Novia waterfall (Bride’s veil) which is GIGANTIC… With a small pool below it. We chilled here and ate some fruit. Then we went into a pool downstream to cool off and then head back to the starting point.
The reserve is incredible, the intensity of the mountain really absorbs you and it is completely worth the short walk.
