Waterfall Jumping: it’s the gleeful, childlike, hippie-dippy version of cliff-diving!

Even better, as travel writer Tim Leffel points out, the churning water at the bottom of a fall softens the harsh smack-landing that a several-foot plunge might make. Plus, there’s the bubbly rush of being one with the falls. Here are a few great spots to try:

1. Gravity Falls, Costa Rica

facebooktwitterpinterest Photo credit: Credit: Desafio Adventure Company

Check out this canyon next to Arenal Volcano National Park, La Fortuna de San Carlos with Desafio Adventure Company for the chance to rappel down a 140ft. waterfall and jump several waterfalls of up to thirty feet!

This is a perfect trek for the free-spirited explorer who loves cooling off after an intense jungle hike (so, basically, all of us!) An ideal canyoning experience in the Costa Rican rainforest.

2. Micos Canyon, San Luis Potosí, Mexico

facebooktwitterpinterest Photo credit: Ruta Huasteca Expediciones

Rappel along the 164 ft. Minas Viejas waterfall and head off to do some waterfall jumping along the one-kilometer stretch of the emerald-colored Micos River, where you’ll float through seven falls.

Sliding down a 25ft. waterfall is nature’s most incredible waterslide and a feeling that can’t be recreated by any theme park. The Micos Canyon is an epic circuit of 7 waterfalls of different heights where you can jump. The height of the waterfalls varies from 1 to 8 meters and the canyon is surrounded by rocky walls and jungle vegetation. Contact Ruta Huasteca Expediciones for more information and get your jump on!

3. Kembar Waterfall, Sambangan, Indonesia

facebooktwitterpinterest Photo credit: Green Bali Adventure

Kembar is a 32-foot fall nestled in a hidden corner of Bali. The scene will steal your breath as much as the leap will. If you go with Green Bali Travel, they’ll also take you for a tour of the Secret Garden where water is translucent during the dry season, and the famous Pura Ulun Danu next door.

4. El Yunque Rainforest, Puerto Rico

Just your average, everyday tumble off 30 feet of jagged, rocky waterfall while your life flashes before your eyes!

El Yunque is the only tropical rainforest protected by the United States Department of the Interior, with a range of gorgeous waterfalls among its extraordinarily diverse habitat.

5. Nauyaco Waterfalls, Dominical, Costa Rica

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You know how wave pools will have a choice of diving boards with varying heights? Well, the Nauyaca Waterfalls are three falls 66-148 feet with ledges of several different heights to choose from.

Gorgeous and versatile, these falls offer a great thrill and one of the most beautiful natural pools you’ve ever seen!

6. The Blue Hole, Ocho Rios, Jamaica

This is one of those hidden gems, a spot in the rainforest mountains that serves as an escape from the touristy crowds. A slice of paradise where you can leap into turquoise waters and soak in the magic of the falls on a hot day.

There are also prime cliff-jumping spots, tiny caves to crawl through, and a rope swing for those who want to show off their acrobatic skills. If you need inspiration, check out some truly phenomenal waterfall jumping moves at the Blue Hole here:

For those interested, there’s an international waterfall jumping competition in Bosnia every year that produces some of the most incredible photos I’ve ever seen. They probably come closest to capturing the intense, rushing feeling of going down with the waterfall, and the tingly spark of aliveness it brings.

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Feature image credit: cataratasnauyaca.com