Capitán Jose Cruz here with a secret from the west side. Up in the hills near San Sebastián, Gozalandia is a pair of connected waterfalls with swimming pools, a rope swing and an underwater cave, and it costs almost nothing to visit. Here is what you need to know before you go.
What Makes Gozalandia Different
Unlike most of what you see on this site, Gozalandia is not a tour you book. It is a natural spot on private land, open to the public for a small parking fee. The main falls drop about 50 feet into a wide swimming pool, and a short scramble over the rocks upriver takes you to a smaller upper falls with a rope swing. On the right side of the main pool there is a small cave behind the falling water with an air pocket you can swim into.
Getting In: Parking, Hours and Access
From PR 111, turn north onto PR 446. After a short distance you cross a large bridge. Turn right just after it and drive about 0.6 miles to a large gate on the left. Parking runs around $10 per car, with attendants guiding you in. Gates usually open between 9 and 10 a.m. and close at 6 p.m. Hours can shift with the season, so call ahead if you are making a special trip. From the parking area it is about a 5 minute walk down a paved path and steps to the main falls. The upper falls add roughly 10 more minutes of rock scrambling.
What There Is to Do
Most people spend an hour or two swimming, jumping from the lower rocks and taking turns on the rope swing at the upper falls. Use your head on the jumps, because the depth changes with the rain. There is a small restaurant and bathrooms on site. Coolers are not allowed, so plan to buy food there or eat before or after. The path and steps get slippery when wet, so water shoes make a real difference.
Best Time to Go
Weekday mornings are the quietest. Our afternoon showers can raise the river fast, so if it has rained hard, ask the attendants about conditions before you swim. Bring cash for parking and food, a dry bag for your phone, and sunscreen, because there is not much shade by the main pool.
Want a Guide Instead of Going Alone?
Gozalandia is easy to visit on your own. If you would rather have someone handle the directions and the timing, and pair it with other stops in western Puerto Rico, a private land tour is the way to go.
Questions about your trip? Write me and I will help you figure out what fits.
Written by a real person
Capitán Jose Cruz
Boat captain in Puerto Rico and the person behind ThingsToDoPR. I write these guides myself, as a local and a ciudadano who uses the same roads, beaches and guaguas you will. Yes, I also run boat trips and transportation, but informing you comes first. If the honest answer is to take the bus, that is what you will read here. ¡Nos vemos en el agua!
