Waterfall 26 km northwest of Aquismón
San Luis Potosí's highest waterfall, a 105-meter drop into a turquoise canyon, reached by paddling upriver in a wooden canoe.
Tamul is the tallest waterfall in San Luis Potosí: the Gallinas River runs off a cliff and drops about 105 meters into the canyon of the Santa María River, which below the falls becomes the Tampaón. In the dry months it is a set of white ribbons over a turquoise pool; after heavy summer rains the falls can spread to some 300 meters wide. Locals once called it La Sonadora for the roar it makes in the wet season.
Part of what makes Tamul special is the way in. There is no road to the base, so you travel up the Tampaón in a panga, a long wooden canoe, paddling with a local boatman against a gentle current between canyon walls and jungle. The river is a vivid blue-green when the water is low.
Most trips also stop at the Cueva del Agua, a deep, clear pool inside a cave on the riverbank where you can swim. It is one of the classic days out in the Huasteca Potosina.
What to see and do
Paddle up the Tampaón River in a panga with a local boatman to the foot of the falls.
Swim in the Cueva del Agua, a clear, deep pool inside a riverside cave.
Visit in the dry season, roughly November to May, for the brightest turquoise water.
Wear the life jacket the boatmen provide; it is required on the river.
Getting there
Boats leave from two landings in Aquismón's municipality, both under an hour's drive north of town. From Tanchachín the paddle upriver takes about two hours; from the ejido La Morena it is much shorter, around 30 minutes to an hour depending on the current. Many visitors also come on day tours from Ciudad Valles. In heavy rains the river turns muddy and boat trips may be suspended.
26 km northwest of Aquismón
Directions from Aquismón on Google Maps
Distances are in a straight line; the road is usually longer.
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Weather warm
Cascada de Tamul shares the climate of Aquismón, 26 km away. The best months to visit are Jan, Feb, Mar, Dec.
Make Aquismón your base
Cascada de Tamul is an easy trip from Aquismón, a Pueblo Mágico with places to stay, food, and more to see.
More around Aquismón
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Cuevas de Mantetzulel
· Cave · 4 km away
Four linked caves sacred to the Tének, visited with a local guide on a short but steep walk; sunlight streams into the Cueva del Sol. -
Tancanhuitz
· Town · 6 km away
A hillside Tének town founded in 1522, once one of the state's four departmental capitals. -
Cascadas de Tambaque
· Waterfall · 7 km away
Small cascades and clear pools a short drive north of Aquismón, a quiet place for a swim away from the big-name sights. -
Sótano de las Golondrinas
· Cave · 9 km away
One of the world's largest open-air pits, famous for the swifts that spiral out at dawn and dive back in at dusk. -
Sótano de las Huahuas
· Cave · 10 km away
A huge pit in the jungle near Tampaxal, run by a Tének community, where swifts and green parakeets fly out each morning. -
Cueva del Agua
· Cave · 24 km away
A deep, crystal-clear pool inside a cave on the Tampaón River, the usual swim stop on the canoe trip to Tamul.
Location from OpenStreetMap. Written by Puebloteca.