Sharing is caring!

Mexico is an amazing country with so many natural wonders to discover. Each state has something unique and beautiful to explore. The state of San Luis Potosí is no exception to the rule. In fact, this state is the home of some of the most enchanting places in the country. In this article, we want to share with you the 10 best waterfalls in San Luis Potosí. From big to small, we’ll cover as many of the waterfalls as possible here to help you explore the best of this beautiful state.

This article may contain affiliate/compensated links. For more information, please see our disclaimer here. We take all the efforts necessary to ensure the information included in this post is accurate, correct and current, sometimes, things just change! Travel information like opening hours, business operations and prices may change. If you find anything in this post that is incorrect or outdated, please let me know in the comments so I can update it for other readers. Cheers!

Where is San Luis Potosí located?

San Luis Potosi is one of the 32 states in Mexico. It’s located in Central Mexico, and the state of San Luis Potosí is bordered by seven other Mexican states. Its capital city bears the same name and includes a few other major cities like Ciudad Valles, Matehuala, Rioverde, and Tamazunchale.

The state of San Luis Potosí lies mostly on the Mexican Plateau, except for the eastern part of the state where the tableland breaks down into the tropical valley of the Tampaon River. The easternmost portion of the state lies on the Gulf Coastal Plain and is covered by the Veracruz moist forests. The eastern part is included in the region commonly referred to as “La Huasteca”. And this is where most of the waterfalls are located.

About Huasteca Potosina

La Huasteca is a geographical and cultural region located partially along the Gulf of Mexico and includes parts of seven different states including San Luis Potosí. It’s roughly defined as the area where the Huastec people had an influence when their civilization was at its height during the Mesoamerican period.

La Huasteca Potosina is filled with picture-postcard waterfalls and rivers that flow eastward from the mountains of the Sierra Madre Oriental. Wherever you are in the region, you are likely to see a waterfall, a river, or a stream running. The area is also sprinkled with mountain chains that create a dramatic landscape where these majestic waterfalls run.

Driving around Huasteca Potosina is the best way to take in these dramatic landscapes. We caught ourselves admiring these views on our road trip around Mexico. These were the nicest views we had seen in our time in Mexico thus far!

Where to stay to visit the waterfalls in San Luis Potosí

If you’re looking to visit all these waterfalls in Huasteca Potosina, the best place to set up base is in Cuidad Valles. The city is one of the larger ones located in the state of San Luis Potosí and is the perfect place to explore from. It’s a central enough hub that getting to the furthest waterfall should only be a two-hour drive.

Cuidad Valles is a larger city so you can find everything you need here – hotels and hostels for every budget, restaurants for many tastes and diets (being vegan here is slightly trickier, but you will find options), and you can find all the stores to stock up on essentials and then some.

If you are in a campervan or camping, it may be easier to change locations as most of the waterfalls either offer camping on-site or nearby.

We chose to spend five days in Cuidad Valles during our two-week road trip. It was the perfect amount of time to visit all the falls we had on our list. However, we did feel a bit rushed at times, especially considering one of the days was cloudy and cold, which meant that we stayed put and didn’t check any waterfalls out that day. Depending on how quickly you want to visit waterfalls, and how much time you want to spend at each place, this may be the perfect amount of time for you.

Booking.com

Visiting the 10 best waterfalls in Huasteca Potosina

We won’t keep you waiting much longer. Here’s everything you need to know to visit the waterfalls near Cuidad Valles. We chose to rent a car to have the liberty to explore the places at our own pace and to have the waterfalls to ourselves. We spend five days out of our 2-week Mexican road trip in Ciudad Valles with the sole purpose of visiting waterfalls.

However, if you’re not renting a car, there are plenty of tours that can take you to these places. Prices and inclusions vary, so make sure you ask around and check out reviews before booking.

Here are the 10 best waterfalls to check out from Ciudad Valles.

But before you head out, note that most places (actually, all of them) only accept cash, so make sure you have a good amount with you. A lot of places do have restaurants, but the food is never really great. We opted to pack our own lunch and snacks and to always carry water with us.

For water, we always carry our Grayl Geopress with us. It’s a great way to avoid buying plastic water bottles, and it allows us to turn almost any freshwater into drinking water. It’s a great way to save some money and the planet all at the same time!

1. Visiting Salto del Agua Waterfall

Salto del Agua was probably the furthest waterfall from Ciudad Valles. It took about 2 hours to get to it by car, but the route is quite straightforward and easy to drive on.

It’s important to note that in the winter months when we visited, the water from the fall is diverted to the hydroelectric power plant, so there isn’t really a waterfall per se. However, there are a ton of pools with crystal clear water you can jump into. You can probably expect more crowds when there is actually a waterfall to see.

We actually loved spending time at this waterfall. The entrance is free, and it’s mainly visited by locals (which of course, we befriended). We visited on a Sunday morning, and surprisingly, we had the place mostly to ourselves. There was a large group there when we got to the falls, but they left shortly after our arrival.

There are a few stalls at the entrance of the waterfalls that sell drinks and some food. They also sell and rent lifevests and other water sports goods (like water shoes), but if you are comfortable in the water, you don’t need any of these. Because the location is quite desolate, we recommend you come with water, food and snacks if you plan on staying a while. If you’re lucky like we were, the friendly locals might even offer you a beer or two!

Also, there are no facilities here (aka bathrooms, lockers or changing rooms), so keep that in mind before coming here.

How to get to Salto del agua waterfall

The best way to get there is to drive from Ciudad Valles. The drive is about two hours long and is pretty much all on a paved road. The only part that is tricky is the last 100 meters as it’s on a dirt road.

We recommend you head to the Central Hidroelectrica Camilo Arriaga CFE El Salto on Google Maps. This is the hydroelectric plant that diverts the water from the fall. When you get to the plant, you will see a dirt road on the left side. Take that and bear right when the road splits a little further down.

The road goes down to an area that is shaded by trees before going back up on a very bumpy and rocky path. We recommend parking your car here before the road gets crazy. We had a small sedan and obviously didn’t want to damage it. We parked the car in the shade and walked up the bumpy road to get to the waterfall. Although some cars do choose to park closer to the falls, the walk is fine and can be done in flip-flops). The stalls we mentioned are located up the bumpy road, at the entrance of the falls.

There are also some tours that will take you El Salto waterfalls, as well as the next Huasteca Potosina waterfall on the list. If you don’t rent a car during your stay, this will help you make the best of your time chasing waterfalls near Ciudad Valles.

2. Checking out El Meco waterfalls

About 10-15 minutes driving from El Salto, you will find El Meco waterfalls. They are located on the side of the road, where there is a platform to walk down and take pictures. You can simply pull over on the side of the road and walk down the steps to view these glorious falls. There, you’ll see a few stalls selling souvenirs – this is your cue to pull over.

If you have the time and are feeling a bit more adventurous, you can also go on an adventure tour while you’re at Cascadas El Meco. There are a few guys you’ll notice hanging around the falls, by the souvenir stalls. They will offer you a tour that takes you into the river and behind the waterfalls. You can also rappel down the falls. The cost of the tour they were offering at the time of writing was $300 pesos per person.

If you don’t have the time, we recommend you stop to take a look at the falls and move on to the next place. It’s free to visit the viewing platform.

3. Spend a day at Minas Viejas waterfalls

About an hour and a half from Ciudad Valles, you will get to Minas Viejas. Directions to the falls are very well marked and it’s easy to get to. The trip is mainly on paved road, except the last few kilometers which are through sugar cane fields and on a dirt road, though the road is well-maintained and easy to drive on.

Parking your car will cost $40 pesos, and the entrance cost is $60 pesos per person. After you pay for everything, you have to walk down quite a few steps to get to the falls. It will take you about 5 minutes to walk down, and 10 to walk back up, at a leisurely pace.

To get into the inviting blue waters, you have to rent a lifejacket which will set you back $30 pesos for 2 hours. If you want to go swimming, use of the lifejacket is mandatory all throughout the park. Because we were there at the end of the day, we were able to negotiate the cost of the lifejacket down to $30 pesos for two people, for one hour. Just note that the water was quite frigid, but still welcomed, considering how many steps we walked down!

We, unfortunately, got to Minas Viejas waterfalls around 4 pm, which was too late to fully take advantage of the place. Because you’re in a canyon, the sun starts to set earlier on the falls (and the water gets cold). We highly recommend coming here earlier. You can either start your day here or try to arrive after lunch, so you have a full afternoon enjoying it.

Here, you’ll find beautiful natural pools of clear blue water, hanging bridges, natural rock bridges, a viewing platform and a beautiful 50-meter high waterfall in a lush jungle landscape.

This place is fully stocked with the amenities you need – there are shops at the top, around the entrance. You have a few restaurants here (although the food offering is limited). You’ll also find bathrooms and changing rooms, picnic tables and areas to sunbathe or camp on.

You can also choose to visit the Minas Viejas falls on a tour. This is a great option if you don’t have a car, or if you want to take the hassle out of driving around. Tours will usually take you to Minas Viejas waterfalls, as well as to Micos waterfalls.

4. Chill out at local secret gem El Trampolin waterfalls

It’s possible that you’ve never heard of El Trampolin when searching for the best falls in San Luis Potosí, or even the best waterfalls in Mexico. And that’s kind of why we went there. El Trampolin is not on many tourists’ radars yet. It’s a local gem. And if you visit during the week like we did, you’ll have it all to yourself!

El Trampolin is located near Tamasopo falls and Puente de Dios. It’s about an hour’s ride from Ciudad Valles. You can enter ‘El trampolin oficial’ in Google Maps, and it will take you to the right place.

We arrived there mid-morning and had the entire place to ourselves for a good while. In fact, because there are different natural pools in the park, you can swim or set up base in any pool that is to your liking.

The entrance to El Trampolin is free. And to be honest, there’s nothing around in terms of amenities. There are a few small shops and restaurants, and one guy renting lifevests, but that’s about it.

El Trampolin is really a magical place – the natural water pools, and the many trees with hanging leaves that blow in the wind. The waterfalls are sprinkled around, but you can definitely feel the current that takes you downstream. There are also a few ropes that have been hung from tree branches, which are awesome to swing from to jump into the water.

You can easily spend a full day here. Make sure to bring some food and water if you plan on it, especially during the week. It didn’t seem like the restaurants here had much to offer, so you don’t want to be stranded.

If you want to spend less time here, we recommend merging your visit with a stop at Tamasopo Falls (about 5 minutes away by car) or Puente de Dios (20 minutes away).

If you’re looking for more waterfalls to explore, be sure to check out our article about the 21 best waterfalls in Mexico! You’ll have enough adventures to keep you busy for weeks!

5. Discover the amazing Tamasopo Falls

About an hour away from Ciudad Valles, you’ll find Tamasopo Falls. There are road signs along the way that point you to them, and their entrance is quite evident from the road when you’re near.

Entrance to Tamasopo Falls will set you back $100 pesos per person. Car parking will also cost $50. There, you can rent life jackets too, which are mandatory for some of the pools and activities, and they cost $60 for the whole day or $30 for 2 hours.

Tamasopo Falls is the type of place where you can spend a whole day, it almost feels like an amusement park. There are plenty of restaurants, activities, picnic tables, and so much more. You can walk the site where you’ll discover suspended bridges, various pools to swim in, hanging ‘American ninja warrior’ type activities, platforms to jump from, and waterfalls that spread out over the whole site.

Because the place has been quite developed, and it is very family-friendly, it tends to get quite crowded and rowdy at times. We visited during the week, and on a relatively gray day, which meant it was less busy than usual.

If you don’t have a car, you can easily visit this waterfall by taking public transportation from Ciudad Valles. You’ll need to take the direct bus to Tamasopo – it runs almost every hour, all day long. The ride will cost about 100 pesos, and will take 1h40m to arrive into Tamasopo town. From there, you’ll need to walk about 20 minutes to the waterfall.

Another great option for visiting these falls is to go on a tour. They will take you to a few of the falls in the area, which will take the hassle out of planning.

6. Check out Mexico’s most impressive Tamul waterfalls

If you only have time to visit one waterfall, make sure it’s Tamul waterfalls. These waterfalls are the product of the merger of two rivers – The Gallinas and Santa Maria rivers. At a height of 105 meters, it’s the tallest waterfall in San Luis Potosí, and one of the most impressive in Mexico. In the summer months, the width of the waterfall spans 300 meters, and hiking to the falls becomes impossible.

There are two ways to get to the waterfalls. One is to paddle a wooden lancha (boat) to the foot of the falls. Another way is to hike to the top of them, and walk down to the river below. We, of course, chose the latter. And we have to admit, we were a bit skeptical about even being able to go there at all.

From everything we read online, it seemed like getting to the hiking spot was going to be an unpleasant adventure. But when one of us (yes, Carine) has something in mind, it’s hard to not make it happen! We’ve detailed how to get to Tamul waterfalls for the hike in the article here. And don’t worry, it’s really not as bad as they all make it seem.

There are plenty of tours that will take you from Ciudad Valles to Tamul waterfalls, either for the hike or for the boat ride. For the hike, including transport, lunch, a guide and a lifejacket, we were quoted $1,300 pesos per person. We found it to be excessive, but if you don’t have a car, it may be your best option.

If you get there yourself, the entrance, including the hike, the guide, lifejacket (and a few oranges, if your guide is Alberto), will cost $1,000 pesos for a group of 1 to 5 people. That means that if you are alone, it will cost you $1,000 pesos. If you are two, it’s $500 per person, or if you meet people there, like we did, and you convince them to join your hike, it can cost you $200 to $250 pesos per person.

Try to get to the falls early, as you’ll want to spend as much time possible hanging out around there. And although you can probably get here without a guide, we actually recommend going with one. The life vest they provide is quite practical, and they can take you to some pretty cool spots that you normally wouldn’t have access to. If you have the time, we recommend spending a whole day here.

7. Discover the beautiful Puente de Dios waterfalls

Puente de Dios is another local hotspot, so make sure you visit on weekdays to have the place to yourself. If not, you can expect to have some crowds there, so brace yourself.

The entrance to the waterfalls is $70 pesos per person and another $20 pesos for parking. The waterfall is located at the bottom of the path of about 350 steps, which are lined with gift shops and other stalls. You also have to rent a lifejacket, which will set you back another $30 pesos.

Once you get through all of this, you’ll find a beautiful waterfall, in a stunning jungle setting. The water is a good temperature, especially if you want to cool down after the hike down. There are cliffs to jump from, a cave to swim through, the waterfall to swim behind and so much more. There’s also a lifeguard on duty.

Because this place is a little more developed, it doesn’t have the off-the-beaten-path experience we often crave when we get to magical places. But if you’re coming here along the way from visiting El Trampolin and Tamasopo falls, it’s a great stop along the way. It’s important to note that if it rains a lot, the river might get flooded, which means you won’t be able to swim there.

As usual, there are tours that will take you to Puente de Dios and a few other spots. These are great options if you didn’t rent a car during your stay in Ciudad Valles.

https://www.viator.com/tours/Ciudad-Valles/Bridge-of-God-and-Tamasopo-Waterfalls-Tour/d50609-208121P2

8. Check out Micos waterfall near Ciudad Valles

Located an easy 30-minutes away from Ciudad Valles, Micos waterfalls are another place you can easily spend a day. The entrance costs $100 pesos, includes parking, a lifejacket and entrance to the falls.

These are the ‘adventure’ waterfalls in San Luis Potosí, where you can not only swim in the water (with a lifejacket), but also go zip-lining, sky-biking, walk on a suspension bridge and jump from the waterfalls. Of course, activities like ziplining and sky-biking will cost you more. From what we read online, it was $800 pesos for the zipline and sky-bike package.

Because of all the amenities and activities here, this is another very popular waterfall, especially considering how close it is to the city. We would recommend going during the week to avoid the crowds.

9. Go to this off-the-beaten-path waterfall, El Aguacate

This waterfall is not on many visitors’ bucketlist which makes it even better! The entrance is only $50 pesos per person and there is room to park, bathrooms and other amenities. It’s located about 1h30 minutes away from Ciudad Valles. It’s not really hard to get to, which makes it even better!

To get to these waterfalls, you have to hike down a steep 150 steps that lead to a thunderous waterfall. There are many viewpoints to take in the beauty of the area, and you get to swim in a cenote-type pool.

Because this waterfall is off the beaten path, it’s not super busy. But we still recommend going during the week to make the best of the place.

10. While in Xilitla, check out Los Comales waterfalls

This one is a bit further from Ciudad Valles, and worth visiting if you’re in Xilitla. Los Comales is a small waterfall – don’t get your hopes up, it’s not comparable to the other waterfalls in Huasteca Potosi. The entrance fee is $75 pesos per person.

Located near Las Pozas, the surrealist garden by Edward James, these waterfalls are a great place to cool down in the summer months. In the winter, the water is not as abundant, and the weather is colder, which is why we didn’t go here. We were also told by a local that because the 30-foot waterfall is not as powerful, it’s not as impressive to see and would be a waste of time and money. However, she did tell us that it’s highly recommendable in the summer.

Planning your visit to the waterfalls in San Luis Potosí

If you plan on staying in Ciudad Valles for five days, here is how we recommend you visit the waterfalls in San Luis Potosí. We’ve placed them in order of preference, so if you are spending fewer days in the city, you can still make the best of it.

• Day 1: Tamul Waterfalls
• Day 2: El Salto, El Meco, Minas Viejas, Puente de Dios (Choose three of the four)
• Day 3: El Trampolin, Tamasopo falls
• Day 4: Micos (if you have time, you can try to go to one of the falls you skipped on Day 2)
• Day 5: El Aguacate, Los Comales

Just another reminder that these waterfalls only accept cash, so make sure you have enough to get through the day. Also, make sure you have a full tank of gas if you’re driving. this will make sure you don’t get stuck anywhere, even if you get lost along the way.

If you don’t plan on renting a car, you can easily visit these falls by booking a tour. There are plenty of options available and most will pick you up from your hotel and bring you back.

How to get to Ciudad Valles

As we mentioned earlier, Ciudad Valles is the best place to stay when trying to visit the waterfalls in Huasteca Potosina. It’s one of the largest cities in San Luis Potosí, so you’ll be sure to have everything you need here.

There are a few ways to get to Ciudad Valles. They all depend on where you’re coming from, and if you’re renting a car or not.

If you choose to fly in, there are a few international airports nearby:

• Tampico International Airport (123 km)
• Ciudad Victoria International Airport (190km)
• Querétaro Intercontinental Airport (196 km)
• San Luis Potosí International Airport (200 km)

Tampico and San Luis Potosí International airports are the biggest airports in the area, and they’re the main ones used for getting into Ciudad Valles. After arriving to one of these airports, you can rent a car or take a bus to Ciudad Valles.

We drove to Ciudad Valles with a car we rented in Mexico City. Ciudad Valles was the third stop on our Mexico road trip from the capital.

Exploring San Luis Potosí’s 10 best waterfalls

There you have it! The top 10 waterfalls in the state of San Luis Potosí. We visited these waterfalls in the winter, which meant that some had less water (read a little less impressive), but at the same time, lower water levels mean you have calmer waters that are safe to swim in.

Here’s a recap of the top 10 waterfalls in Huasteca Potosina:

1. Salto del agua waterfall
2. El Meco waterfall
3. Minas Viejas
4. El trampolin
5. Tamasopo Falls
6. Tamul waterfalls
7. Puente de Dios
8. Micos
9. El aguacate waterfall
10. Los Comales waterfall

We hope this article will help you make the best of your time chasing the beautiful waterfalls in San Luis Potosí.

We haven’t had a chance to visit other falls in the country yet, but we’re convinced the waterfalls in San Luis Potosí are some of the best in Mexico! Comment and let us know what you think! Which ones were your favorites to visit? Did we miss any waterfalls on this list?

---

We put a lot of time and effort into the content we create. Please like, comment and share, every action on your part helps us out tremendously and is very much appreciated.

You can also help us by pinning it for others to find.

---