Trek to Gozalandia Waterfall in San Sebastian
Posted on Jan 7th, 2010 by Gwenn • Updated on Jan 23rd, 2012
Waterfalls (cascadas or saltos, in Spanish) are one of those natural beauties Ray and I try to find as we travel around Puerto Rico. We know there are loads of them in Puerto Rico, but very few of them are very well known and easy to find.
Gozalandia or Las Cataratas Waterfall in San Sebastian is sometimes called the secret waterfall even though it is actually on a couple of the official Puerto Rico tourism maps. I guess it is not that secret after all!
But, actually finding it is not that easy and one has to be a little adventurous. With the help of some people on the TripAdvisor.com Puerto Rico forum who provided the initial directions, we set off to find this secret treasure!
The Waterfall
Located in the town of San Sebastian, this waterfall is really pretty. Not only is the waterfall pretty tall (about 50 feet, I would guess), it was also kind of wide (about 20-30 feet). There was a pool at the bottom of the falls that people swim in that was deep and clean. This beauty has even been in a few movies (most recently “A Perfect Getaway”)!
The pool is deep enough that, some people jump off of the rocks into the water. There is also a small underwater "cave" on the right of the waterfall that people swim into. I hear there is a good-sized air pocket above it where one can surface and breathe. I have seen pictures where a couple of people fit inside there. Pretty cool. Unfortunately, we didn’t have the time to play and explore as just minutes after we got to the falls, it started to downpour.
A word to the wise — leave any stream or river during rain storms. Flash floods happen often and are very dangerous. So, once the pouring rain started we knew that we had to leave right away. But we will be back to play!
Getting There
Now, here is the catch with this waterfall — one has to cross private property to get to it. Of course, everyone I heard from says it is OK to go, but I don’t know who actually owns the land and so we never asked the owner. I hope he doesn’t mind!
We had to go under/over a locked chain holding a gate mostly closed. We then followed a muddy, narrow foot-path down through a cow field. I was a little leery of the bulls in the field at first, but it turned out they were more scared of me and quickly moved away from us.
We kept following the path downhill, and then csme to a new man-made pond with pavilion around it. I don’t know for sure, but I bet the new development down the road Las Cascadas is developing the area.
Anyway, we kept walking down the path (at this point much wider) into the forest — and we were able to hear the river and falls below. We then searched for a path that will led us down below the falls (it was to the left). The path is well-used and even has some safety poles and ropes that helped us get down the slippery slope to the falls. This whole trip takes maybe 10-15 slippery minutes on the way down.
On the way up — as I said it was pouring rain — the trail became a 4-inch deep stream of fast-running, manure water. When we made it back to the car, we were soaking wet and muddy, but felt it was worth it!
Details
This is how we go there- Once we were on Route 111 in San Sebastian, we turned north onto Route 446. We took this a short way until a large bridge on the right. We turned right, went across the bridge and drove up the road about 0.8 miles. There is a house on the right side of road that has a large "metal hanger" building. Right around that area, we noticed places on the sides where others have parked. There is a fence with a small opening that has been locked closed with a chain. We found it easy to go under/over the chain.
Ray y yo tratamos siempre de buscar bellezas naturales tales como cascadas y saltos de agua cuando viajamos alrededor de Puerto Rico. Sabemos que hay muchas en la isla aunque muy pocas son conocidas o fáciles de encontrar.
Gozalandia es otro nombre para Las cataratas de San Sebastián. Son también conocidad como Las cataratas secretas a pesar de que están en algunos mapas turísticos de la isla. No creo que van a ser tan secretas después de este relato.
Encontrarlas, sin embargo, no es tan fácil y uno debe ser algo aventurero. Con la ayuda de algunas personas del foro de Trip Advisor, nos dimos a la tarea de encontrar este tesoro escondido!
LA CASCADA
Esta cascada esta localizada en el pueblo de San Sebastián del Pepino y es realmente bella. Mide cerca de 50 pies de largo y entre 20–30 pies de ancho. Abajo hay una charca limpia y honda. ¡Algunas escenas de películas han sido filmadas en este bello lugar (mas recientemente "A Perfect Getaway")!
La charca es tan profunda que algunas personas saltan al agua desde las rocas. Hay también una pequeña cueva subterránea a la derecha de la cascada donde la gente también salta. He escuchado que hay una burbuja de aire dentro. Interesante. Desgraciadamente no tuvimos el tiempo para explorar y juguetear en el agua ya que a solo minutos de llegar, comenzó a llover copiosamente.
Un consejo a todos– Abandonen los ríos y cascadas cuando hay tormentas eléctricas. De modo que una vez comenzó el mal tiempo sabíamos que debíamos salir del agua inmediatamente. ¡Pero, volveremos a juguetear allí algún día!
COMO LLEGAR
Ahora viene lo bueno — para llegar a la cascada hay que cruzar una propiedad privada. Obviamente todo el mundo nos dijo que no había problema, pero no se quien es el propietario del terreno así que nunca pudimos pedirle permiso. ¡Espero que a él no le importe!
Tuvimos que pasar por debajo y por encima de una cadena la cual sujetaba un portón que estaba cerrado. Luego continuamos por un camino de lodo entre un rebaño vacuno. Al principio tuve un poco de recelo al ver a los toros sueltos, pero resultó que ellos tenían más miedo y se apartaron dejando el camino libre. Continuamos camino abajo y llegamos a un estanque rodeado de un pabellón. Me sospecho que esta área se esta preparando para una construcción o para ser desarrollada.
Seguimos caminando por la vereda, la cual se ensanchaba en este lugar, adentrándonos en la maleza y ya comenzábamos a escuchar el rio y la cascada abajo. Luego comenzamos a buscar el camino que nos llevara a la chorrera. (Estaba a la izquierda). El sendero se ve que se utiliza mucho e incluso tiene unas barandas de seguridad y también sogas las cuales nos permitieron bajar por el camino resbaladizo hacia los chorros. De ahí en adelante se tomarán cerca de 10–15 minutos en llegar.
Para subir nuevamente– como les indiqué, llovía copiosamente– el camino se convirtió en un salto de agua enfangada. Cuando llegamos al carro, estábamos empapados y llenos de lodo, pero valió la pena.
DETALLES
Así llegamos al lugar– En la ruta 111 en San Sebastián, giramos hacia el norte en la carretera 446. Tomamos este atajo hasta encontrar un puente grande a la derecha. Doblamos a la derecha, cruzamos el puente y continuamos directo por cerca de 0.8 millas. Hay una casa a la derecha de la carretera la cual tiene un gran hangar de metal. Una vez ahí, notamos un lugar a la derecha donde estaban estacionados algunos carros. Hay una cerca con una abertura pequeña la cual estaba cerrada con una cadena. Nos resulto fácil pasar por debajo y por encima de la misma.
Use this map to locate places mentioned in this article. You can click on a placemark to view the GPS coordinates for that place.
I love this waterfall. It is so different from your typical waterfall. I always comment that it reminds me of an ancient Indian Tribal Chief’s face! It is quite a trek to get there, not a bad walk, but tricky on slippery rocks and mud. But oh so worth it…just don’t trip! I am hoping that they are making the area easier to travel, it looked last year that they may be making some attempts to make the walk a little easier.
Comment by Lee Foxwell on January 7th, 2010 at 10:29 pmThe movie he’s talking about is “A Perfect Getaway” with Steve Zahn and Milla Jojovich! Watch out though, they say its in hawaii!
To me, it’s the best waterfall in puerto rico! Go on the weekends to really see what Gozalandia is about–aka when there are other people around. You will see you can actually climb into the waterfall and jump out of it. I’d recommend watching the crazy locals go off the top first to calm your nerves! It’s dangerous and they’ve had people die there, so be careful because that air lift ain’t comin for a while. I don’t even think my cell worked down there!
Like the other waterfalls, the rainfall affects the size of the waterfall…so if it rains for a few days then the waterfall is going to be nuts ( like you see above) or if its pretty dry the waterfall is pretty weak and very easy to hop out of! Be careful!
Also guys, there is a rope swing to the left. Quick tip: you have to hold onto the rope, swing yourself to the large rock wall on the left and kick off it to get a good swing where you will clear the rocks and go into the deep
HAVE FUN and clean up after yourself!
Comment by Nate on January 7th, 2010 at 10:46 pmThis is one of the best ways to experience the Real Puerto Rico. I have been to this waterfall a few times and the last trip there, they were actually setting up for “The Perfect Getaway”. Thus, I traveled up the river to another waterfall which I like too. Both are on the same gentlemans property. I met him my first time there. A little out of my element I took the wrong path and he drove up on a 4 wheeler and chatted with me. I apologized for being on his property and he gave me a very nice invitation to see the waterfall. He gave me directions and offered to carry me over there on his 4 wheeler. It is a beautifule place and the other fall is great too. I don’t remember the rope being on the lower fall but I know there is one on the upper fall. There is also an underwater cave on the right side in the water looking at the fall. It depends on the water level as to whether or not you can see the enterance. Looking at the picture above, just to the right of the water there is a dark area, this is wher the cave is. You will have to work to get there because after you walk a little bit you have to either jump the fall or climb down the side. Great exercise but dangerous. Make sure you get your footing because it is slippery. It is a bit confusing to find but worth the work. Go early to avoid getting lost.
Everytime I have been there have been locals that are most helpful and fun to watch. It is really a great slice of the natural Puerto Rico that is not on the tourist maps! (well most of them anyway)
This is private property so please be respectful to the owner and to nature. Please clean up after yourself! I am actually leaving in 2 days to visit again and look forward to seeing my faithful waterfall companion. When you go through the fence above (there is another way with a wide white paved road too) you will feel lost but look for the clearing and listen for the fall, you will hear it and the locals playing.
Comment by Denise on January 19th, 2010 at 2:28 pmWe really enjoyed this waterfall on a recent trip. The pool is quite deep and jumping from the cliffs is quite a joy! Several of the jumps require you to clear the overhanging rock faces below, so make sure that you jump way out into the pool if you go. The cave is also pretty cool and not too difficult to access. I would suggest that you use your feet to feel for the floor of the cave, as this will allow you to stand once you’re in there.
We did have some difficulty finding the gate near the parking area. Is it located down the street from the metal shed (westward towards San Sebastian). The trailhead is located near a cement runoff ditch on the North side of the road (left if you are headed uphill).
Comment by Jason on April 2nd, 2011 at 7:27 pmHey guys!
I just wanted to say thank you so much for posting this information online! I went to check out the falls today and it was one of the most amazing things I have ever experienced. As someone else mentioned, there is another access point I found to be much better with a white paved road. This one is much easier to use as you don’t have to follow the very narrow footpath littered with rocks. You can access it by simply driving a little farther down the road than the coordinates mentioned above and you will see there is a better place to park, one that is used by many people. I also like this way better because it makes carrying things a lot easier… like a cooler
bring lunch and spend the day! the locals do it, why not you?
So thanks again, I couldn’t have found this place without your help!
-Kaylie
Comment by Kaylie Herron on June 18th, 2011 at 8:25 pmThanks for the GPS coordinates!!!…. was so much easy to find the waterfalls with that. Really appreciated.
Comment by chonfla on June 23rd, 2011 at 10:58 am