How to visit the Huasteca Potosina, San Luis Potosi, Mexico
The Huasteca Potosina is a spectacular region in the central part of Mexico, in the Mexican state of San Luis Potosì, northeast of Mexico City. The most amazing attraction is the network of rivers and magnificent waterfalls and caves to explore.
I finally visited the Huasteca Potosina after dreaming about it for years. It is indeed one of the most magnificent places to visit in Mexico. In this post, I will tell you all about it: what to see, how to get to the different waterfalls, and how to organize your itinerary.
In my case, I was coming from the beautiful historical city of Queretaro. I wanted to visit the beautiful Sierra Gorda and I saw that from there I could reach Xilitla.
I made a stop in the Pueblo Magico of Xilitla first to visit the Edward James Enchanted Garden. I stayed there for one night, visited Xilitla early morning, and continued with my journey to the so much acclaimed Huasteca Potosina.
With the help of my guide in the Sierra Gorda, I had finally understood the logistics of the area and how the waterfalls are spread out. I made a plan that turned out to be perfect.
I am therefore going to share this with you this post.
Keep in mind that I was traveling by bus. If you have rented a car it’s all a different story, of course, much better, but I will also explain how to visit the Huasteca Potosina by car later on in this post.
Read on if you are thinking about visiting the Huasteca Potosina.
IMPORTANT NOTE – Prices in the Huasteca have climbed steeply since my first visit. I have updated everything below to 2026 rates, but bring more cash than you think you need: entrances alone add up to 600 to 800 pesos over a 4-day itinerary, and almost nowhere takes cards.
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Where is the Huasteca Potosina?
The name Huasteca Potosina defines a region within the state of San Luis Potosi and it’s part of a bigger region of the Huastecas, which embrace the other Mexican States, so named after the Huastecan, the prehispanic civilization that was living there.
It’s a spectacular area with a variety of landscapes, from flatlands to hills rivers ad waterfalls.
The soil is mainly made of calcified sand and basalt from old lava flows that penetrate the primarily sedimentary rock molded by wind and water erosion, and that’s perfect for the water to flow, forming river waterfalls, natural pools, and caves. An amazing area to enjoy.
How to Get to the Huasteca Potosina
The Huasteca has no airport of its own; the gateway city is Ciudad Valles. You have three realistic ways in. Flying, the closest airports are Tampico (about 2.5 hours by road from Ciudad Valles) and San Luis Potosí (about 3.5 hours).
Both have connections through Mexico City. By bus, Ciudad Valles is well connected: around 7 hours from Mexico City’s Terminal Norte, 5 hours from San Luis Potosí, and 4 hours from Tampico. By car, rent in San Luis Potosí or Tampico, because there are no rental agencies in Ciudad Valles itself. I recommend checking Discover Cars to compare rental options. I always use them, especially for the low-cost Full Coverage they offer.
My route was none of the above: I came by bus from Querétaro through the Sierra Gorda, stopping in Xilitla, which I would recommend to anyone with an extra two days. You get the surrealist garden of Las Pozas and one of the prettiest mountain roads in Mexico on the way in.
When is the best time to visit the Huasteca Potosina?
The best time to visit the Huasteca Potosina is the dry season, roughly November through May, and there is one reason above all: water color. The famous turquoise blue you see in photos only exists when the rivers run clear. After heavy rains, usually June through October, the same rivers turn brown with sediment, and Tamul can even suspend boat tours when the current is too strong.
Inside the dry window, I would aim for February to May. November and December are beautiful but the water is still settling after the rainy season, and Semana Santa (Easter week) is the one period to avoid completely: half of Mexico is at the waterfalls with you, and prices double.
If you can only come in the rainy season, do not cancel the trip. The waterfalls are at their most powerful, the jungle is intensely green, and sites like the Sótano de las Golondrinas are unaffected. Just adjust expectations on the water color and check locally about Tamul boat conditions.
How to organize your itinerary in the Huasteca Potosina? How Many Days You Will Need
The short answer: plan for 4 full days, and add a fifth if you can. I was there for 4 days and it was not enough. If you want to see absolutely everything and enjoy it without rushing, you need 5 days. If you only want to see Tamul, take the picture, and move on, 3 days will do, but you will spend a big share of them on the road.
How you organize those days depends on how you are moving. If you travel by car, you can simply follow the day-by-day itinerary above, enjoying the different waterfalls and their surrounding areas at your own pace. If you are traveling by bus, keep in mind that some waterfalls, such as El Salto, are not reachable by local buses at all.
My solution was a mix: we hired a taxi for the day with a knowledgeable local driver who took us around, we took buses where they ran, and for a couple of stretches we hitchhiked, which was more fun than it sounds.
There are also organized tours, which I cover further down, though most of the day tours leave from Ciudad Valles and the long-haul ones from San Luis Potosí.
Whatever you choose, base yourself strategically: the sites are spread over two hours of driving, so where you sleep decides how much of your day goes to the road. I cover the best base towns in the next section.
What to see in the Huasteca Potosina
The main attractions in the Huasteca Potosina are waterfalls and caves. They are scattered all around the region and not always at a close distance, especially if you are traveling by bus.
So I have grouped them according to their geographical location and for each different day also to suggest how to organize your trip.
Day 1 in the Huasteca Potosina – Tamasopo and Puente de Dios
My first visit was to the waterfall of Tamasopo and then Puente de Dios.
Tamasopo
Tamasopo is easily connected with Ciudad Valles by bus (Vencedor bus terminal). It costs 70 pesos (4 USD), and it takes 2 hours to get there.
Of course, by taxi, it would be about 1h 20′ because it wouldn’t make all the stops. The bus will leave you right at the gate of the waterfall, which is a huge well-kept garden with natural pools and two big waterfalls.
It costs 200 MXN per person, parking 100 MXN, open 8 to 6, last entry 5 pm, and there is now an official online reservation portal (reserva.cascadastamasopo.com)
It is not as dramatic and impactful as Puente de Dios is, but still worth visiting.
The watrfalls are surrounded by a beautiful garden with a path and small huts where you can find your changing room, showers, and restaurants.
There are platforms and cords where play your shenanigans. It’s a fun place where to enjoy swimming and jumping, on a hot day.
We stayed for a couple of hours before heading to Puente de Dios, a short distance from there.
We hopped on a taxi that took us to our next destination for 70 pesos.
As of 2026, Cascadas de Tamasopo runs an official reservation site (reserva.cascadastamasopo.com). On weekends and holidays, book before you go; capacity is limited and turned-away cars are common by mid-morning.
Puente de Dios
Puente de Dios was probably my favorite waterfall to photograph and to swim.
Entrance fee 150 MXN
You will have to walk down 380 stairs to get the spectacular (mind that you will have to climb them up afterward.
You will find some detours long the way which will take you to the on the left but that will take you just along the river which is nothing really as remarkable as the waterfall further down.
When you finally arrive, you will find a very deep lake carved into impressive rock formations with high walls from where water keeps pouring in from every side.
There are two main lakes connected by a small tunnel where you can let the current take you but you can use the cords, strategically placed to help you swim against the current and get into the other lake.
In the beginning, I didn’t want to jump in because the water was cold and I was afraid to leave my camera, but there are lockers kept safe by a couple of local guys that inspired trust and so I decided to leave everything with them and jump in. Best decision ever.
It is mandatory to wear the lifejacket to keep you safe.
The water was crystal clear which makes it even nicer and refreshing. From the waterfall to town, it’s just a 3 or 4 km pleasant walk among the sugarcane fields.
In town, we reached the bus stop and waited for our ride to Ciudad Valles. This was the only day we had everything at easy reach with local buses.
Day 2 – La Huasteca Potosina – Tamul Waterfall
The day we visited Tamul waterfalls, we had a real adventure.
If you don’t have a car, I suggest you hire a taxi for the day to avoid being left stranded on the road.
But here is what happens if you want to read about our adventure.
Following the suggestions of our hostel staff, we took the bus to Rio Verde and got out at the crossroads to Aquismon.
There we started to walk towards the town with the intention to stop at a place called LA MORENA, where we were supposed to find a ride to get to the waterfall.
Unfortunately, as we walked, nobody was actually driving along that road.
After a good 20-minute walk, we found 4 motorcyclists passing by. We stuck out our thumbs to ask for a ride, and they waved at us happily.
Damn! A good bike ride would have been nice.
After about 5 minutes, they did stop and turned back to pick us up. That was awesome!
They seemedlike nice guys and they were going as well to Tamul. We ended up renting a boat together, and they actually paid for us.
We really had lots of fun together and had a good chat all along the tour.
I was almost sad that we had to split after the tour was over.
My new friend and I were trying to find a ride to the Sótano de las Golondrinas and see the birds come when the sun went down, but we had no luck, and we decided to head back to Ciudad Valles, which was not so easy either.
We started walking back to the bus stop, and we calculated that if we didn’t find a ride, we would have needed to walk for about 3 hours, as the distance was about 18 km.
It was 3 pm, which meant that we would have arrived at the bus stop before dark in the worst-case scenario.
I felt quite safe along that country road, although I wasn’t really longing for the 18 km walk. But we got lucky again.
A nice gentleman picked us up and took us to the bus stop in about 20 minutes ride.
Archaeology fans: the Tamtoc ruins near Tamuín, the most important Huastec site in the region, reopened after flood damage but currently only on Sundays, 9 to 6, free entry. Confirm with INAH San Luis Potosí before making the detour.
How to visit the Tamul Waterfall
But now let’s get to the practical information that you will need.
To visit the Tamul Waterfall, you will need to get to the entrance of the waterfalls, called La Morena where all the fishing boats and guides are stationed at about 3 km from the spectacular waterfall.
This is located about 3 km from the waterfall, and you will have to row to get to see it. It’s a beautiful ride through a canyon where you will be surrounded by solidified sand rocks and small waterfalls spilling from the sides every now and then
You need to contract a boat that has a fixed cost of 1500 MXN, which is split among participants. If you want the boat all for your group, you just pay the amount. If you don’t want to pay that much, because you are alone, you will be put with another group.
You are actually supposed to row, but if you can’t, no worries, because the guide will take you. (maybe, just give them an extra tip at the end). If you manage, it’s better to be with a smaller group for better enjoyment.
Once you get to the fall, the boats take turns to get close to a big rock where you can climb up and enjoy the full view of the majestic waterfall, and of course get the picture.
Unfortunately, you will need to be quick because boats there take turns as there is not a lot of space.
On the way back you will have the current in your favor and you can let the boat float all the way down. You can even float yourself on your life jacket. it’s so much fun.
You will also stop to see a cenote. It would have been a spectacular stop if it weren’t so crowded. So I didn’t even dare enter.
It’s advisable to wear those funny shoes that go in the water. They are not very fancy but super practical as they prevent your feet to hurt.
In fact on the way up to the waterfall at a certain point, you will have to leave the boat and walk for a bit.
Doing that barefoot is not fun! If you don’t have shoes, you can buy them at the entrance for 150 pesos, and you can use them for all the waterfall visits.
Although I enjoyed my little adventure I would suggest you should go by taxi. it’s half a day and it shouldn’t charge more than 700 MXN.
Day 3 in the Huasteca Potosina – Visiting el Naranjo – Salto del Meco – Minas viejas – Micos
El Naranjo is a region (locally called “Municipio”, where all these mentioned waterfalls are located.
Basically, all those falls are scattered along the same river, in different locations. So cool, if you think about that.
The highest one is El Salto, at about 2 hours from Ciudad Valles. then you will see Salto del Meco, minas Viejas and Micos.
We packed all of that in one day and we hired a taxi for 1000 MXN for the entire day, which is really cheap if you think about that. However, for better enjoyment I would suggest you should split it into two days.
That’s what I would have done if I had more time. But I am thinking of going back by car.
Anyway, doing it in one day even by taxi only gave us the time to swim in one of the waterfalls, the most beautiful actually, for all the others we could only admire them and take a picture. But let’s see them one by one.
El Salto
El Salto is the farthest and the most spectacular. Too bad we could only see the emerald green pools underneath, and only imagine the waterfall.
The thing is we went in the dry season, which allowed us to see the beautiful colors of the water but there was a waterfall on that side because, I was explained, in the dry season, the hydro-electric company situated just beside the fall, is using all the water which is therefore deviated from its original stream right before the fall.
If you want to see it you will need to go there in the rainy season when there is enough water for all.
The scenery was still beautiful anyway, and the natural pools at the bottom were still full of emerald-colored water coming from subterranean or lateral streams.
I was glad I went anyway and enjoyed that view.
El Salto del Meco
You can see the beautiful waterfalls from the “Mirador” (viewpoint). A man-made terrace created at the most suggestive point of the river, from where you can watch massive and powerful waterfalls.
If you have time you can take some tours such as jumping from one natural pool to another, following the stream of the heavy waters, and a boat tour upstream from the riverside towards to fall to take you as close as possible. There was a guy offering them from there.
Unfortunately, we didn’t have time as we wanted to see them all and move on to the next destination.
The tours were not expensive at all. 300 pesos for the jumping one and 200 for the boat ride, per person of course.
Right by the “Mirador” there is a restaurant which is open to the public only for lunch and dinner, from after 2 pm. It belongs to the nearby luxury hotel, which is actually a great option if you wish to travel easily and comfy.
The hotel is called Huasteca Secreta a sort of Glamping and luxury room right by the river below Salto del Meco.
From there they will take you on private tours anywhere you go. This is a very comfortable way to see the Huasteca Potosina if you are willing to splurge.
Minas Viejas
We did enjoy Minas Viejas, probably the highlight of the day.
Even to get to Minas Viejas you really need a taxi (or a car rental) because it’s about 30 minutes drive off the main road, which was also deserted. So impossible to find a ride.
The entrance cost is also 100 MXN. Once you park your car in the parking lot, you must climb down some stairs, about 200 steps, during which you will have a glimpse of the beautiful waterfall among the trees.
It’s just so spectacular, it will leave you speechless.
Once arrived by the waterfall base, you can leave your stuff with a guy and jump into the little lake.
I wanted to take some pictures first since it was indeed a photogenic place but once I was satisfied with my photo shooting I left my stuff and jumped into the freezing water.
There I was left breathless. It was so freaking cold, I couldn’t speak. But once you are inside you can get used to the low temperatures.
Also here the lifejacket was mandatory for 1 USD:
Right, where the water is falling there are some rocks where people had fun climb up and jumping down. I managed to do it too just because there were a couple of guys helping me, as I am scared of everything.
There is no official locker room but if you ask the guy who sells the lifejackets, he will look after your belonging.
Also remember on the way back up, halfway where the bathrooms are there is a path that leads you to a “mirador” where you can check out the fall from above. It’s amazing.
Micos waterfalls
The waterfalls of Micos are located only 30 minutes from Ciudad Valles, and you can easily make it a half-day trip from the city if you are staying there, and join the multiple activity options you have.
Unfortunately, we just stopped by on our way back and we only had time to have a look. Besides, it was 4 pm and the sun was down, and so was the temperature.
Among the things you can do in Mico Waterfalls, you can hike up and swim down with big floating device which takes you down the small waterfall terraces. That must have been fun.
Also, there are small boats that take you close to the waterfall as well, for a better view. (200 pesos (10 us) for 30 minutes ride.)
Remember to visit Micos Waterfalls in the morning or around midday, especially in wintertime.
The entrance is 100 PESOS (6 USD) then you will walk through a lovely park and pass through shops and restaurants and you will get to a huge concrete terrace right in front of the waterfalls.
Day 4 – Sótano de las Golondrinas, Puente de Dios y Caves of Mantetzulel
After the amazing day we had at El Naranjo we decided to hire the same driver for the next day to take us to the Sótano de las Golondrinas, and other interesting places in the surrounding.
Now you know why you need more time, there is so much to do and see in this area.
INSIDER TIP – If you are coming from Xilitla, like me, it’s much better if you make a stop to Aquismon and from there visit all these places and then move to Ciudad Valles and do the rest.
Sótano de las Golondrinas
To see this amazing place you need to be there before sunrise, which meant leaving Ciudad Valles by 4.30 am to the latest. That’s why I was suggesting staying in Aquismon for this tour.
The show you will see is thousands of birds coming out of the cave, forming a huge vortex. It was totally worth it, in fact.
We also managed to see the sunrise right after the birds came out, and although we were devastated by the early wake-up call, it was all worth it.
Entrance fee 100 pesos.
You will have to hire a local guide to take you down, but we were happy to do it to support the local community. We gave him 50 pesos each.
Once we arrived at the cave, a huge, dark, deep hole, we all sat there with other visitors waiting for the birds to come out.
When the sky started to clear up, a few birds started to come out, and after that, more and more every second until a black cloud moved like a whirl in the sky. It was unbelievable, a real show.
Get there for 6 am. The show is the birds spiraling out of the cave mouth at first light, tens of thousands of them, and by 8 it is over. There are more than 500 steps down to the viewing platforms, so wear real shoes and remember you climb them all on the way back. Entrance is 100 pesos as of 2026.
You can also get closer to the edge, as a guide was there helping you and holding you with a cord skillfully placed around your body. Although I am scared of heights, I did it and it was so much fun.
Once we climbed out of the cave we found an amazing sunrise lightening up the entire valley which we couldn’t see when we arrived. It was beautiful a beautiful surreal place off the beaten path.
After a rich breakfast, the thoughtful taxi driver took us to our next stop, the Caves of Mantetzulel.
Caves of Mantetzulel
I didn’t know about the existence of these caves until the taxi driver told us. It was amazing and I am glad I followed his advice and went to explore them.
This area is managed by a local community that lives there and looks after the maintenance of the paths and the caves.
There are 3 caves, one of which is the biggest and the farthest. It was a 45-minute hike, all uphill. It was an easy hike as it was made of all man-made steps, although tiring.
The first cave was a beautiful natural artwork of stalactites and stalagmites forming internal canals and spaces.
It was huge and overwhelming. On the way down you will find the other two caves, although we saw only one as we were exhausted. It was like walking in the belly of mother earth and feeling so small.
The cost of this tour was only 150 pesos per group. We reached back to the car happy and tired and off we went to the next and last stop.
Puente de Dios (2)
This was another unexpected waterfall, less known and in the middle of nowhere. The driver almost wasn’t sure he was in the right direction.
The locals explained that it would be much nicer to visit in the rainy season from September through December as there are more streams of water coming down from the top of the hills and filling the natural pools that were empty when we were there in January
With some imagination, we thought that place was another secret magic place of the region. If you have a spare time you should definitely go and see it. The ride is only 300 pesos, for one hour.
Xilitla and Las Pozas
If you have a fifth day, spend it in Xilitla. This mountain Pueblo Mágico on the southern edge of the Huasteca is where the English poet Edward James spent decades building Las Pozas, a surrealist garden of concrete staircases to nowhere, orchid-shaped columns, and jungle pools.
It is genuinely unlike anywhere else in Mexico, and it pairs naturally with the waterfalls since you pass through anyway if you arrive from Querétaro.
Book Las Pozas tickets online in high season; entry is timed, and the garden caps daily visitors.
How to move around in the Huasteca Potosina
As I mentioned multiple times, there are multiple ways to visit the Huasteca Potosina, and although I had so much fun, I didn’t choose the best way. Anyway, below is a summary of how to visit the Huasteca and the different options.
Rent a Car to visit the Huasteca Potosina
This is obviously my favorite way to travel around because you will be free to drive at your own pace, store your staff, and do basically everything that you want to do.
With google maps now you can find everything – If you don’t have roaming or don’t have data, remember to set up the route before leaving your hotel while you have the wifi so that it will stay registered in google maps even when you are on the road.
However, I wanted to remind you that there are no car rentals from Ciudad Valles and you would need to rent it either from San Luis Potosí or Tampico.
Also bear in mind that if the rental pickup city is different from the drop-off, there is an extra fee to pay which is usually quite expensive.
I would check out rates in Discover Cars and pick the most convenient.
Visit the Huasteca Potosina waterfalls via private taxi
This could be even better than the car so that you don’t have to worry about anything else other than having fun.
You should ask the hotel or hostel where you are staying because they are normally able to recommend trustable drivers that they always work with.
Book organized tours
I am an independent traveler by nature, and the Huasteca rewards having your own wheels. But I will be honest: this is one region where an organized tour makes sense for a lot of people. The sites are spread over two hours of driving, several are down rough roads, and the best experiences (the Tamul lancha, the Golondrinas sunrise) have local logistics that tours handle for you.
A good tour from Ciudad Valles runs around 1,000 to 1,300 pesos per person per day including transport and guide, entrance fees usually excluded. Day tours also leave from San Luis Potosí city, but the 5-hour round trip eats your day, so base yourself in Ciudad Valles if you can.
➤ Huasteca Potosina day tour from Ciudad Valles — Get Info
➤ Tamul Waterfall and Cueva del Agua tour — Get Info
➤ Minas Viejas Waterfall and Micos Waterfalls Tour— Get Info
You can find more tours and information in my dedicated post to the best Huasteca Potosina tours.
Public transportation
As you have read before there are some tours where you can definitely get there by local bus like Tamasopo, for all the rest it’s just not possible because the buses don’t take you to your destination and you need to rely on a passerby which is not always possible or available.
Where to stay in the Huasteca Potosina: the logistics
I was staying in Ciudad Valles as a base, a not-so-charming city but strategically located in the heart of the Huasteca, at a relatively close distance from all the waterfalls, which are not all in one place, as you might believe.
From there you can take buses or hire a taxi to take you to the different waterfalls.
If you plan to rent a car, mind that there is no car rental in Ciudad Valles, there were no car rentals from Ciudad Valles when I was there. Now I found two local car rentals on Google Maps but I have no idea how they operate.
I would check out rates in Discover Cars and pick the most convenient.
Discover Cars Mexico Review
Discover Cars is one of the most popular car rental companies for many reasons, including:
✔︎ straightforward information
✔︎ full coverage add-on
✔︎ listing of different companies with reviews
The safest way is to rent a car in San Luis Potosíi or in Tampico, in which case I would suggest moving around and camping or renting a place close to the waterfalls, much more fun.
There are camping places almost everywhere. You don’t need to book in advance, you just get to the destination and ask around.
But I would still suggest you make an approximate itinerary, at least, for which this post will be useful.
Best Hotels in the Huasteca Potosina
If you have a car, the best way to enjoy the Huasteca Potosina is to stay by the waterfalls.
There are many cute hotels scattered around the area for any budget and style. Here are my favorites.
Best hotels near Tamasopo and Puente de Dios
Meson Carranza – Basic but very clean and with excellent service – perfect if you travel on a budget. Check Rates and Availability
Hotel Cosmos – Guests love this hotel for its great location in Tamasopo, its beautiful setting and the great on-site restaurant. They also appreciate the cleanliness and the great shower, as well as the lovely staff. Check Rates and Availability
Refugio Huasteco – An amazing upscale boutique hotel in Tamasopo. If you are willing to splurge this is your place. Check Rates and Availability
Best hotels near El Meco, Minas Viejas and El Naranjo
Casa Lorette – Rustic but upscale cabañas immersed in nature. Guests loved the private access to a beautiful waterfall and river and the thoughtfully designed cabins. Check Rates and Availability
Best Hotels in Ciudad Valles- Huasteca Potosina
Casa AMMAH – Casa Ammah is probably the most upscale hotel that you can get in Ciudad Valle. So if you are looking for a bit of extra comfort, you may want to check it out. Check Rates and Availability
Hostal Casa Huasteca – Hostal Casa Huasteca is where I stayed. I love the small garden and the friendly staff. You can choose among dorm rooms if you are on a budget or private rooms with bathroom. Check Rates and availability
Is it safe to visit the Huasteca Potosina?
I am telling you. Here I hitchhiked for the first time in my life, and I have never felt safer. It was two of us because I met a girl in the hostel where I was staying, and we went exploring together.
Probably if I were alone I wouldn’t have done that. But I really felt super safe everywhere in the area overall.
Visit the Huasteca Potosina: Final thoughts
I hope this post is helpful in organizing your trip to the spectacular region of the Huasteca Potosina. Feel free to get in touch should you have any questions.
