Jaco ATV Tour: Is the 3-Hour Waterfall Ride Worth It for First-Timers?

Yes, the Jaco ATV tour works for most first-timers. You drive your own ATV behind a guide for about three hours, climbing into the hills above Jaco to a lookout and the waterfalls at Bijagual, and the operator asks for moderate fitness rather than riding experience. Skip it if you are pregnant or have back or heart problems. If you are under 16, have no driver's license, or simply don't want the handlebars, ride on the back instead.

The ATV itself is the easy part. What decides whether you enjoy the morning is how you feel about three things: the steep ride back down, the walk to the swimming pool, and the dust or mud. The sections below take each one in turn.

Quick answer

• The Jaco ATV tour lasts about 3 hours: the operator's Viator listing splits it into about 1 hour in Jaco and 2 hours at Catarata Bijagual.
• The Jaco ATV tour costs from $105 per person. Waterfall entrance, equipment, a bilingual guide and local transport are included. Tips are not.
• Drivers on the Jaco ATV tour must be 16 or older with a valid driver's license. Children under 4 can't ride.
• The Jaco ATV tour operator requires a refundable hold on a Visa or Mastercard at check-in.

Jaco ATV tour at a glance

	What the operator's listing says
Length	About 3 hours
Route	Mountain trails above Jaco to a vista point and two waterfalls at Bijagual
Usual start times	9:00, 11:00 and 14:00 (Toorizta catalogue, checked 13 November 2026)
Included	Equipment, bilingual guide, waterfall entrance, local transport, pickup in the Jaco area on request
Not included	Gratuities
Meeting point	The operator's office in Barrio Copey, Jaco
Drivers	16 and older, valid driver's license
Passengers	Unlicensed riders and under-16s ride as passengers; under-4s can't ride
Fitness	Moderate
Weather	Runs in all weather

The operator, ATV Adventure Tours Costa Rica, was rated 4.9 from 913 reviews on Viator when we checked on 13 November 2026.

What happens in the three hours

You meet at the operator's office in Barrio Copey, or get collected from your Jaco hotel if you ask for pickup when you book. After the helmet and the briefing, you follow the guide out of town and up into the forest. The route climbs rough mountain trail to a lookout over jungle-covered valleys, then heads to the waterfalls at Bijagual.

At the falls you get out of the saddle. There is a natural pool to cool off in, and the listing mentions a 15-foot (4.5 m) jump at one of the two waterfalls "if you dare". The jump is optional, and the swim is too. Then you ride back the way the guide chooses, since the operator can change the route to suit trail conditions and the group's ability.

Is the Jaco ATV tour good for beginners?

Yes. The Jaco ATV tour is set up for people who have never driven an ATV. The catalogue listing says guides are patient with first-timers and stop often for photos and wildlife, and the operator only asks for moderate fitness. How you feel about a steep downhill matters more than any riding experience you bring.

What you need is a driver's license, enough grip to hold the bars on a bumpy track, and a willingness to follow the guide's pace rather than set your own.

The three things that decide it

The climb, and coming back down

One Viator reviewer, writing in July 2026, called the climb up the mountain trail breathtaking and said coming back down filled them "with a mix of joy and fear." If you've never driven off-road, the descent is the part to think about honestly before you book.

If that sounds like more fear than joy, you have a simple option: ride as a passenger behind someone in your group who is comfortable driving. Some travelers worry less about their own driving and more about who is driving the machine they sit on. If that's you, sort out who drives before the day, not at the briefing.

The walk down to the pool

The listing covers the riding and the waterfall stop, but not the walk between them. Other Jaco ATV guides describe rocky paths or steps on the way to their swim spots. If you have bad knees or a wobbly ankle, ask us whether the walk down to the Bijagual pool is steep before you book. Waiting at the top is also a perfectly good choice.

Dust or mud

The operator's listing says it plainly: expect mud in the rainy season and dust in the dry season. Both are part of the deal, so wear clothes you can write off.

Who should drive, ride on the back, or skip it

You are...	Our suggestion
16 or older, licensed, moderate fitness, happy to follow a guide	Drive your own ATV
Unlicensed, under 16, or nervous about the steep sections	Ride as a passenger behind a confident driver
A parent with a child aged 4 to 15	The child rides on the back of an adult driver
Traveling with a child under 4	Pick something else; under-4s can't ride
Pregnant, or living with back problems, heart problems or another serious medical condition	Skip it; the operator doesn't recommend the tour for you
A wheelchair user	Skip it; the tour is not wheelchair accessible

One group rule matters when you plan: the listing says passengers can't outnumber drivers. A family of two licensed adults and three kids would need to rethink the seating, so tell us who is coming and we will work out how it can be split.

Dry season or green season on the trail

The tour runs in all weather. What changes is the surface under your wheels and the colour of the pool.

	Green (rainy) season	Dry season
Trail	Mud	Dust
Waterfall pool	Can run murky after heavy rain	Clears up in drier weather, per the operator
What helps	Clothes and shoes you don't need back	Goggles and a neck gaiter or face covering

On the pool: after a guest said the swimming area looked brown, the operator replied on Viator that "after heavy rains the waterfall can run a little murky, but it clears up quickly in drier weather." Nobody can promise clear water on your date.

On the dust: a Viator reviewer in January 2026 noted that the helmets have face covers but still suggested goggles and a gaiter-style mask. Pack both if you're riding in the dry season.

What to bring

• Closed-toe shoes. The operator does not allow flip-flops, sandals or open-toed shoes.
• Clothes you don't mind getting muddy or dusty
• Swimsuit and towel for the natural pool
• Sunscreen
• Bug spray (optional)
• A camera or phone, ideally in a waterproof pouch
• A Visa or Mastercard for the refundable hold at check-in
• Some cash for tips, which are not included

The listing says tour photos are emailed within 7 days, but some reviewers report delays. Take your own photos rather than counting on the official ones.

How to book the Jaco ATV tour with us

The tour is on our Amazing 3-Hour Jaco ATV Tour & Jungle Waterfall page at from $105 per person. Departures are usually at 9:00, 11:00 and 14:00. Ask us for your date, and ask about the cancellation terms before you commit. The operator offers hotel pickup in the Jaco area only, so if you're staying further along the coast, tell us where and we'll check what's possible.

Still choosing where to base yourself? Our guides on getting to Jaco from SJO or Liberia and where to stay in Jaco with kids cover the before. If you're also heading inland, here is how the Arenal ATV tour for first-timers compares. For everything else in town, start at our Jaco destination page.

Also from Jaco: surf lessons, a buggy tour with waterfalls, the zipline canopy tour, beach horseback riding and, for anyone in your group who would rather sit still, the Tarcoles River crocodile tour.

Not sure who in your group should drive?

Tell us who's coming, their ages, and who is nervous about the downhill. Dallas & Marta will tell you whether the ATV fits, who should ride on the back, and what the rest of the group could do that morning instead. Message us on WhatsApp or reply to any of our emails, and ask.

Part of the Jaco guide

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• Carara from Jaco: Which Trail to Walk, and Whether You Need a Guide
• Fishing at Los Sueños Marina: Costa Rica’s Premium Offshore Destination (2026)