Our friends on SV Soul Rebel told us about a hike to a "possible" waterfall just out of town, so we put it on our list of things to do. Nacapule Canyon is a 1.7 mile, out-and-back hike, located north of San Carlos. After a bumpy ride to the canyon, we arrived to get an early start to avoid the HOT mid-day temperatures. We understood that the soaking pools and waterfalls may not be flowing due to the lack of rain, but we decided to give it a chance.
Fresh water springs provide this area with a humid tropical micro-climate that tricks you into thinking you are not in the desert. There are lush palm trees and flowers, giving a hint to being in the middle of a jungle.
There were only a handful of people on the trail and we took our time weaving up the canyon, taking pictures and admiring all the butterflies. We came across the first "pool" which ended up being a small puddle, it was a huge attraction for the butterflies and bees! We continued up the arroy, and passed by a couple more small pools while making our way to the Ojo de Agua. When we came around the corner we found a large pool covered in a bright green algae. Since it had not rained recently, the waterfall was not running. It's safe to say no one took a dip in the pool.
We went a bit further into the canyon using a ladder that was anchored into the rock face. We enjoyed some views and then headed back down.
Although we unsuccessfully went chasing waterfalls, it was nice to get off the boat and do some hiking.
Wow, love the pictures - that looks like a tropical paradise. Too bad about no waterfalls. It's been a dry summer in many parts of the western portion of the continent.