Alto de Piedra Waterfalls, the First Waterfall
Alto de Piedra waterfalls are very pretty, and a perfect taste of the region.
Alto de Piedra is an outlying neighborhood of Santa Fe. The trailhead is about 3 miles and 1000ft above Santa Fe town center, bordering the National Park. There are a series of three waterfalls.
Trail description
The trail to the first waterfall descends about 400 ft in 1/2 km through rainforest. The trail was paved in places at one time, though it is always muddy, steep, and not well maintained. It is the easiest of the three trails, but still slippery and muddy -I wear my black rubber boots to hike it. You will see typical rainforest trees – stilt palms, guarumo, strangler figs. After descending 400 ft, you come to waterfall, perhaps 20ft in height, as steep forested slopes with large ferns surround the pool in 270 degrees. Very pretty. In the morning, we’ve seen hummingbirds play in the falls.
How to Get There
The trailhead is located off of the paved road that goes towards Calovebora. On the other side of the uncompleted center, see picture below. (please note, this is NOT the same information center as the one that my husband helped complete) the trail starts out, wandering through an orange grove before starting its descent.
In November, we’re going to start a bike and hike rental option, with bike rental and trailhead drop off for those people who would prefer to rent a bike, be dropped off at the trailhead, do the short hike, and coast down the 1000ft elevation change and three miles back to town.
What to Bring
- Water. Though the hike is short, uphill in heat is not my favorite. I bring a bottle of water with me.
- Long-sleeve shirt. I wear a long sleeve shirt for the bugs, and put on insect repellant before I go.
- Sturdy shoes.
- Be aware that there is no cell reception in the Alto de Piedra area.