After more than a week in the town of Boquete I had visited many waterfalls but none so far had a sizeable cliff jump. That all changed when I paid a visit to Joguata Waterfall in Caldera. An 8-meter jump from beside a waterfall into the pool below was enough to get my adrenaline pumping for the day.
JOGUATA WATERFALL
As with almost all of the hikes near Boquete, no guide is necessary and it is possible to DIY. However, with a guide, you will easily find the location and be much safer with local knowledge. This is especially important when jumping from 8 meters. I went without a guide but I did have two local friends leading the way.
Joguata Waterfall is about a 45-minute drive away from Boquete town. We stopped out the front of a wooden house, which is home to an indigenous family. We parked and asked them about the waterfall and they asked for $5 per person. This was fine and we paid and thanked them for letting us onto their land and into their backyard.
The walk to Joguata Waterfall was quite interesting. There are rocks everywhere through the fields. Even as we were driving in huge rocks are strewn throughout the fields. Apparently, these rocks were powerfully shot out of the volcano when it erupted years and years ago. When the guys told me that I stopped and looked around. I imagined all of those flying boulders, the size of cars, whizzing through the air. There would be nowhere to hide. A gentle reminder of the power of nature.
The walkthrough to Joguata Waterfall is only about 5-10 minutes past some horses and cows along the way. When we arrived at the waterfall there was not a soul in sight. There are tours and excursions to this waterfall so we were lucky, especially because it was a Saturday.
The water was incredibly clear! I took this photo, which is not photoshopped it is just with a polarizer on my camera. How bloody clear is that water!
We scrambled up to the top pool and set our stuff down before examining the waterfall and more importantly the cliff jump.
To be honest it wasn’t my favorite cliff jump ever. The scenery was insane but I don’t like when I have to jump out over a ledge. Even if the ledge is small it still isn’t super fun when backflipping out over rocks. Having said that, I think I cleared it by a lot. It isn’t dangerous but be careful as always. Jumping forward and feet first is quite safe and easy! The water is quite deep and the waterfall crashes into the pool so aim just to the left of that but check the conditions first as you never know what lurks beneath the surface.
We hung out up on the ledge and sent a few cliffs jumps while enjoying this little waterfall spot all to ourselves for more than an hour. I love how all of the hikes in the Chiriqui region have vines and ferns everywhere. It makes every scene look like you are deep in the jungle even though we parked our car 10- minutes away!
I even found a little ledge for an up-close and personal experience with Joguata Waterfall.
If you are an adrenaline junkie and staying in Boquete, I highly recommend making your way out to Joguata Waterfall for a day trip. Send a few backflips and enjoy this epic little spot!
HAVE YOU CHECKED OUT MY OTHER PANAMA GUIDES
- 70 AWESOME THINGS TO DO IN PANAMA: The ultimate guide to exploring the whole country!
- 26 AMAZING WATERFALLS IN PANAMA: The ultimate guide to waterfall chasing in Panama.
- 6 BEST CLIFF JUMPING SPOTS IN PANAMA: The guide for thrill-seekers and adrenaline hunters.
- 37 AMAZING HIKES IN PANAMA: All of the best hiking trails. Many you’ve never heard of!
- 18 AWESOME THINGS TO DO IN BOQUETE: Hiking, waterfalls, and volcanoes.
- 12 AWESOME THINGS TO DO IN EL VALLE DE ANTON: My favorite place to base in Panama.
- 10 AWESOME THINGS TO DO IN SANTA CATALINA: Surf, hike, swim, kayak, and explore.
I hope you enjoy my guides and have a great time exploring Panama!
3 MOST POPULAR TOURS IN PANAMA
These are the three most popular activities for tourists in Panama. Personally, I love the San Blas Islands boat trip!
- San Blas Islands Boat Trip: Explore the tropical paradise of the San Blas Islands, the most beautiful region in Panama. Easily the most amazing activity I did in Panama.
- Taboga Island Catamaran Cruise: Admire Panama from the water on a sightseeing catamaran cruise to Taboga Island. Admire the city skyline, dive from the boat for a swim, relax on a beach in Taboga, and enjoy snacks and an open bar.
- Half-Day City Tour & Panama Canal: Connect with the beautiful and modern Panama City on this shared or private city tour. Stroll the narrow streets of the Old Town and watch ships sail through the Panama Canal
BEST INSURANCE FOR TRAVELERS
Don’t wait for an accident to happen… get insured! My travel insurance is HeyMondo which offers low-cost travel & medical insurance. That’s me on the left with three teeth knocked out after a motorbike crash in Bali!
You can click to read my Full Review of the Best Travel Insurance.
I’ve made several successful claims with HeyMondo and find their customer service very quick and helpful. Click the button below to get a 5% DISCOUNT