Nativa Waterfall is an amazing wall of water like nothing else in Panama! It was one of my favorite adventures in Panama and easily one of the top waterfalls in the country.
HOW TO GET TO NATIVA WATERFALL
Nativa Waterfall is in Sora in the Chame District. The Medina property, which Nativa Waterfall is on is private property. The waterfall is actually found within their farm, which seems to be common in Panama. To have an amazing hidden gem on a farm or a local property. It is actually great because it means the locals have control over the natural asset and can make a small amount of income from touring people to and from the attraction. Most importantly it means they maintain the trail and keep it clean and also maintain the safety of their visitors by offering a guide to each group.
You will need a 4×4 to navigate this bumpy road into the property. You can organize one through your hostel or hotel will know a local who is a 4×4 transporter in the area. Our 4×4 for the whole day was $100 but it can hold 10 people so the idea is to get a group of friends together. He took us to three waterfalls and we went from 9-6 pm.
You will need to call Reyes Medina in advance. He is the owner of the Medina property and organizer of the tours. I have put his contact details below. The entry to the waterfall is $3 and comes with a guide who showed us the way and then watched us hang out and take photos for about an hour down at the waterfall.
- Reyes Medina
- +507 6706 6181
The Medina family offers its visitors a local, Panamanian style lunch, prepared with traditional techniques. It was actually one of the best meals I had in Cocle! For $5 it was the perfect way to refuel for the rest of our adventure day and try some local food!
Below I have added a map that shows the driving route to Nativa Waterfall. It is not yet on Google Maps and this will be the best help available on the internet. If in doubt. Head to Sora and know that it is to the north/or above the town of Sora.
NATIVA WATERFALL IN SORA, PANAMA
We met the local guide and the Medina family at their property after an incredibly bumpy ride in! It didn’t look like much, just a local farm and a small one-room house but off we set into the fields following a small dirt path. The hike in took about 15 minutes and was not strenuous at all.
The final moments of the trail ran alongside the river, which was a beautiful soft blue. Vines, giant trees, and enormous boulders created a magical feeling in the forest only minutes after being surrounded by farm animals back at the house.
As we walked down the final stretch to the waterfall it was a beautiful view down the river to the massive waterWALL that is Nativa Waterfall. It’s a really unique waterfall as it is a rounded wall that pours into a tiny little pool and then shoots off sideways down the river.
This huge water wall was one of my favorite waterfalls in Panama because it is just so different from the regular style of a waterfall. It’s deep enough to swim in the pool below, even though it is only a 3-meter wide pool!
After the waterfall, we headed back up to the house on the Medina property and enjoyed a beautiful local meal for $5. Chicken, beans, rice, torreja (corn fritter). It was an awesome Panamanian-style meal and was really delicious!
CONTACT JERRY THE LOCAL GUIDE (MY BEST FRIEND IN PANAMA)
If you need a local guide or are looking for tips to travel through Panama I suggest contacting, Jerry, one of my best friends from Panama. He runs group tours to off-the-beaten-path locations like Escudo de Veraguas and Bayano Caves. He is a local, indigenous guide who is incredibly funny, honest, and knows Panama by the back of his hand. We explored all of Cocle together and went on some insane adventures and he became like a brother to me. If you have any questions or want help, tours, guides, or tips he is your man.
- Instagram: @jerryfit
- WhatsApp: +507 6153 8924
- Email: [email protected]
ADVENTURE BAG FROM OUR WATERFALL ADVENTURE DAY
This is an adventure bag. It is full of trash. Every time I go on an adventure I collect one adventure bag full of trash. It’s my small way of saying thanks to mother nature for allowing me to enjoy her beautiful creations. If we have time to go on an adventure we have time to collect an adventure bag on the way back out of the trail once we have enjoyed the waterfall, the hike or the beach. Adventure hard!
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!
