Stepped Paradise — Minas Viejas & Micos Waterfalls

The color of the water at Minas Viejas doesn't exist in any graphic-design color palette. It's a green-turquoise-jade that geologists explain through minerals dissolved in the water over centuries, but that photographers simply call impossible. The natural travertine terraces form drop by drop over thousands of years, creating perfect steps where the water flows in a gentle cascade and you can swim at every level.

Float in crystal-clear water with the jungle closing in above you — no noise, no crowds, no gimmicks. Just nature working exactly as it always has.

The Micos Waterfalls round out the day with seven falls in sequence, each one different. It's the favorite tour of families with kids — low difficulty, life vests for everyone, a patient guide — and of anyone seeking a day of total disconnection that doesn't require being in shape. Two unique destinations, one single day, memories for a lifetime.