The Upper Falls and Rope Swing: Why Most Day-Trippers Miss It
Before you bookTwo of the eight activities sold under the Gozalandia heading actually stop at the falls. Open the listing and read the itinerary before you pay for anything.
Check availabilityHow to find it
The cement path that takes you to the lower falls continues upstream. Follow it for about a quarter mile, roughly five to ten minutes. It is the same path, same surface. No backtracking.
What you find
A second, smaller, thinner waterfall. Quieter than the lower falls. Fewer people venture this far, so the pool is typically emptier. The water is typically colder due to elevation and shade. The rope swing hangs from a tree on the left.
The rope swing
A rope swing from a tree is where most photographs of Gozalandia come from. It swings out over the pool. People jump into the pool from the rope. The safety page covers jumping risks: pool depth varies with season, visibility is poor, and deaths have been recorded from impacts. If you swing, do it knowing the risks. If you do not want to, the upper pool is worth seeing anyway.
Why most people stop at the lower falls
Fatigue, time pressure, uncertainty about the path. The lower falls are photogenic and the main event. Most day-trippers do not know the upper falls exists, or they assume it is farther or more difficult than it is. A quarter mile and ten minutes of walking is not much, but many people have already spent an hour at the lower pool and do not push on. It is a missed call because the reviewers who do go say it is the best part — the visit breakdown accounts for an extra hour if you choose to go up.
Bring time and energy
The upper falls are easy to reach but people often skip them because they did not plan ahead. Arrive early, budget time for the full pool, and you will have energy left to walk the quarter mile. 9 a.m. weekday gives you the best chance of a quiet morning with enough daylight.
Frequently asked questions
Is there an upper falls at Gozalandia?
Yes. A quarter mile up the same path, five to ten minutes more. Smaller, quieter, with the rope swing.
Is the path to the upper falls hard?
No. It is the same cement path as the lower route, just continuing upstream. Quarter mile takes about five to ten minutes.
Where is the rope swing?
On the left at the upper falls pool, hanging from a tree.
Is the rope swing safe?
Pool depth varies with season, visibility is poor underwater, and deaths have been recorded from jumping or swinging impacts. See the safety page.
Why do not more people go?
Time, fatigue, and not knowing it exists. Most people spend an hour at the lower pool and do not have energy or daylight left. Arriving early helps. 9 a.m. on a weekday gives you the best chance.