Special Private Waterfalls and Jungle Safari Tour

The best part of this private tour is its mix of rainforest walking and waterfall swimming. At Hacienda Ébano, you follow a short or medium trail past five streams and two bridges before reaching the double Ebano Waterfalls, where one pool is deep enough for a jump and another suits families.

I like the personal scale of the outing, with only your group taking part, and the way it joins active time with a home-cooked Costa Rican meal. I also like that guides Carolina and Cesar bring local knowledge to the forest, farms, viewpoints, and food.

The main consideration is the terrain. You need to be comfortable on a rainforest path, around streams, and near uneven ground. The walk can be adjusted to a short or medium version, but this is still an outdoor day, and the waterfall swimming areas may not suit everyone.

Key points to know before you book

• Five streams and two bridges: The rainforest route gives you more than a simple walk to a waterfall.
• Two very different Ebano pools: One reaches 13 feet, or 4 meters, while the other ranges from shallow water to about 6 feet, or 2 meters.
• A private outing with Carolina and Cesar: Your group has the guides and vehicle to itself.
• Big Mango Lookout: Ride by safari truck to views of Punta Dominical Bay, Caño Island, Diamante Waterfall, and the blue mountains.
• Banana-leaf lunch: The final meal adds a real Costa Rican food experience to the outdoor activities.
• A good half-day value: At $120 per person, the fee covers several stops, admission, transport within the property, guiding, and lunch.

A private rainforest outing at Hacienda Ébano

This is a half-day trip based at Hacienda Ébano de Barú in Santa Juana, Pérez Zeledón. You meet at 8:30 in the morning and return to the same point after roughly four to five hours.

That fixed meeting point matters. This is not a pick-up tour that collects you around San José city. You need to arrange your own way to Hacienda Ébano de Barú, San José, Pérez Zeledón, Santa Juana, 11909, Costa Rica. Once you arrive, the outing stays centered around the hacienda and its surrounding forest.

I like the private format here. You are not being moved through the day with a large mixed group. Your pace, swimming comfort, and interest in plants or wildlife can shape the outing more easily. The available senior version also suggests that the experience can be adapted for older participants, though you should still expect an outdoor trail rather than a paved attraction.

Carolina and Cesar are named as the hosts for this experience. The personal feel is part of its appeal. A family of nine used the tour for a full day of shared activities, from hiking and swimming to fresh guava, coconut milk, and lunch. That makes this a sensible pick for families and groups who want one private booking rather than separate activities.

The three-hour walk to Ebano Waterfalls

The first major section takes about three hours, including the rainforest walk and time at Ebano Waterfalls. You can choose a short or medium hike, which gives the day some flexibility, but the trail still involves natural ground, streams, and bridges.

The route crosses five streams and two bridges. Those details may sound small, but they change the feel of the walk. You are not simply following a dry path to a viewpoint. Water is part of the setting, and the route gives you a closer look at the forest’s plant life and large tropical trees.

Wildlife sightings are possible, not promised. Colorful frogs, birds, and monkeys may appear, depending on the season and animal behavior. That is a useful expectation to keep in mind. The forest itself is the dependable part of the walk, while animals are an extra gift rather than a scheduled attraction.

Bring patience. If you spend the whole hike watching for monkeys, you may miss the smaller details at your feet and along the streams. Frogs, tropical plants, and tree forms can make the walk rewarding even on a quiet wildlife day.

The hike is also where you should judge your own comfort. The tour says most people can participate, but that does not mean the trail will feel easy for everyone. Wet ground, stream crossings, and uneven surfaces are normal concerns in a rainforest setting. Ask about the short route if you want the forest and waterfalls without pushing for the longest walk.

Two pools, two kinds of waterfall swimming

Ebano Waterfalls are a double cascade hidden in the rainforest. The first pool is the dramatic one. Water has worn a large hole into a single piece of rock over hundreds of years, creating a pool about 13 feet, or 4 meters, deep.

That pool is described as safe for swimming and deep enough for a jump from about 7 meters, listed as 20 feet. You should treat that jump as an option, not a requirement. The presence of deep water makes this section more exciting for confident swimmers, but it also makes it less suitable for anyone uneasy around depth or jumping.

The second waterfall is more family-friendly. Its pool ranges from very shallow water to about 2 meters, or 6 feet, at its deepest point. Children and less confident swimmers can enjoy the water without needing to use the deeper first pool, although every swimmer should make a personal safety choice based on the conditions that day.

I appreciate the contrast. One waterfall offers a bold swimming and jumping setting, while the other gives families a gentler place to cool off. You are not forced into one level of activity, and the double waterfall makes the stop useful for mixed-age groups.

Still, do not read safe for a swim as a guarantee that every activity is right for you. Natural pools can feel very different from a controlled swimming pool. If you are not a strong swimmer, skip the jump and stay with the shallower water.

The Big Mango Lookout by safari truck

After the forest and waterfall section, the tour uses a safari truck to reach the Big Mango Lookout. The ride saves your legs for the rest of the day and adds a different view of Hacienda Ébano’s mountain setting.

The lookout is at the top of the mountain, with views toward Punta Dominical Bay, Caño Island, Diamante Waterfall, and the blue mountains. This is the wide-angle pause in a tour otherwise focused on trails, pools, and trees.

The viewpoint takes about 30 minutes. That is enough time to stop, take in the view, and enjoy the change of scale. At the waterfalls, you are looking closely at rock, water, and forest. Here, you get a broader sense of the area around the hacienda.

A particularly nice touch is the fresh guava and coconut milk served during this part of the outing, as described by the family group. Those simple tastes connect the view to local produce and make the stop feel less like a quick photo break.

Weather will affect this stop. On a clear day, the bay, island, waterfall, and mountains should provide the strongest views. On a cloudy or wet day, the lookout may be less impressive, which is one reason the tour’s weather policy matters.

A farmhouse break before the final stop

The route includes a farm house where you can stop to use the restroom or refill your water. It is a modest detail, but useful on a four to five hour outdoor outing.

You should make use of this pause if needed rather than waiting. The day includes a long first section, waterfall time, a truck ride, and another waterfall stop. Staying hydrated matters in warm, humid conditions, especially if you swim and walk in the same morning.

This stop also gives the day a practical rhythm. You are not expected to rush from one natural feature to the next. The farm house break provides a moment to reset before Jade Waterfall and lunch.

Jade Waterfall and lunch wrapped in banana leaves

The final scheduled stop is Jade Waterfall, with about an hour set aside for the waterfall and lunch. It gives you another chance to cool off before the meal, so bring a swimsuit or clothing suitable for getting wet if you plan to enter the water.

The supplied details do not give Jade Waterfall’s exact pool depth or trail length, so you should not assume it offers the same kind of swimming as either Ebano pool. Think of it as a final refreshing stop, with the conditions best judged on the day.

Lunch is one of the strongest parts of the outing for me. You get an authentic Costa Rican meal wrapped in banana leaves, prepared as part of the hacienda experience. This is more memorable than eating a standard packed lunch from a bus or restaurant.

One family described the meal as gourmet and home cooked. That tells you what kind of finish to expect: food is part of the welcome, not just fuel between activities. The banana-leaf wrapping also gives the meal a clear local character.

The food may be especially valuable if you are traveling with children or a mixed-age group. A waterfall outing can leave everyone hungry, and a proper lunch helps the day feel complete rather than cut short after the swimming.

What $120 per person gets you

At $120 per person, this is not the cheapest way to see one waterfall. It offers more than that, though. The fee includes admission for the planned stops, guiding, the safari truck ride to the lookout, access to several natural areas, and lunch.

The private format is the main value question. If you are alone or a couple watching every dollar, the price may feel high compared with a simple self-guided walk. If you are a family or group, the private arrangement becomes more practical because everyone shares one outing and can move at the group’s pace.

You are also paying for variety. In four to five hours, the day includes a rainforest hike, streams, bridges, possible wildlife, two Ebano pools, a mountain viewpoint, a farm house stop, Jade Waterfall, and a cooked meal. That is a full half-day rather than a single short attraction.

The tour is booked an average of 87 days ahead, so planning early makes sense, especially for a private family outing. Confirmation is received at booking, and free cancellation is available until 24 hours before the start time. Cancellations inside that window are not refunded, and changes are not accepted within 24 hours.

Who will enjoy this tour most

I would choose this outing if you want active nature time without giving up lunch, a viewpoint, and a private guide. Families can use the shallower second Ebano pool, while confident swimmers can enjoy the deeper first pool.

It also suits groups who value local contact. Carolina and Cesar are not presented as distant coordinators. They guide the day across forest, waterfalls, viewpoints, and food, with the private setup allowing more direct conversation.

This is a good option for people who want a mix of activity levels. One person can swim, another can watch from the pool edge, and the group can still share the same waterfall setting. The senior tour version may help older participants, but the trail and stream crossings remain important considerations.

I would think twice if your main goal is an easy, paved outing or guaranteed animal sightings. Wildlife depends on season and animal behavior, and the natural route includes uneven terrain. Poor weather can also cancel the outing, with a different date or full refund offered in that case.

Service animals are allowed, and the meeting area is near public transportation. The activity says most people can participate, but you should still ask about the trail option if mobility is a concern.

Should you book the Hacienda Ébano tour?

Book it if you want one private half-day that combines forest, waterfalls, mountain views, swimming, and a Costa Rican meal. The strongest reasons are the two different Ebano pools, the personal guiding by Carolina and Cesar, and the banana-leaf lunch at the end.

Choose a different activity if you want a short, effortless walk, a city pick-up, or a guaranteed wildlife encounter. For everyone else, $120 buys a varied outing with real time in nature and enough structure to make the morning easy to follow.

FAQ

Where does the tour start?

It starts at Hacienda Ebanode Barú, San José, Pérez Zeledón, Santa Juana, 11909, Costa Rica.

What time does the tour begin?

The start time is 8:30 am.

Where does the tour end?

The activity ends back at the meeting point at Hacienda Ébano.

How long does the tour last?

The approximate duration is four to five hours.

Is this a private tour?

Yes. Only your group participates in the activity.

How much does the tour cost?

The listed price is $120 per person.

Can I swim at Ebano Waterfalls?

Yes. The first waterfall has a pool about 13 feet, or 4 meters, deep. The second pool ranges from very shallow water to about 2 meters, or 6 feet.

Is jumping available at Ebano Waterfalls?

The first pool is described as deep enough for a jump from about 7 meters, listed as 20 feet. Jumping is optional.

What wildlife might I see?

You might see colorful frogs, birds, or monkeys, along with tropical plants and large trees. Wildlife sightings depend on the season and animal behavior.

Is lunch included?

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

Can older people join the tour?

A senior tour version is available, and most people can participate. The outing still includes a rainforest path, streams, and bridges.

What happens if the weather is poor?

The experience requires good weather. If it is canceled because of poor weather, you will be offered another date or a full refund.