Cascada Los Tercios

Lonely Planet review

Cascada Los Tercios is a small waterfall that tumbles over a cliff of tightly packed hexagonal stone spires, a geological oddity related to volcanic activity. The falls are a bit underwhelming when the water is low (often), but the rock formation is interesting enough, as is getting there.

To visit, go south on the road in front of Iglesia Santa Lucia; it curves left, down and up again, before intersecting with a main road at a soccer field. Turn left and continue for about 1.5km. Right after a smoking garbage dump, look for a gate on your left. Enter here or continue to the next house, where one of the kids can guide you - either way, you pass through the family's property, so be sure to greet them, a simple buenas (good morning or good afternoon) or con permiso (literally, 'with permission') is nice. You can also combine a visit with a tour of the lake - ask your boat captain to let you off at the trail for the cascadas (waterfalls), walk up to the road, turn right and walk another four to five minutes. If you reach the dump, you've gone too far.