Cave 10 km south of Aquismón
A huge pit in the jungle near Tampaxal, run by a Tének community, where swifts and green parakeets fly out each morning.
The Sótano de las Huahuas is a giant pit in the forested hills south of Aquismón, near the Tének community of Tampaxal. It is often called the sister of the Sótano de las Golondrinas: a vertical shaft about 60 meters across at the mouth and close to 480 meters deep, one of the deepest in the region.
Like its better-known neighbor, it is home to thousands of white-collared swifts and green parakeets, the birds that give it its name in Tének. In the early morning they leave the pit in spirals, and in the evening they return. Huahuas sees far fewer visitors than Golondrinas, so the experience at the rim is usually quieter.
The site is run by the local Tének community, which maintains the paths through the forest, offers guides and simple local food, and rents tents for camping. Their rules are strict: no dogs, no fires, no loud music and no collecting plants.
What to see and do
Be at the rim early in the morning to watch the birds fly out of the pit.
Walk the forest trail to the edge with a local guide.
Camp overnight with a rented tent and see the stars away from town lights.
Try the simple local food the community prepares.
Getting there
The pit is roughly 20 to 30 minutes by car from Aquismón: head toward Tampaxal on the road from El Limoncito, then follow the signs to the community's entrance. The last stretch is a walk through the forest. The entrance fee is small and paid in cash.
10 km south of Aquismón
Directions from Aquismón on Google Maps
Distances are in a straight line; the road is usually longer.
Plan your trip
Places to stay in Sótano de las Huahuas
Compare hotels, posadas, and rentals in and around Sótano de las Huahuas.
Tours & activities
Guided tours, tastings, and day trips in and around Sótano de las Huahuas.
Links open a partner site. We may earn a commission if you book, at no cost to you.
Weather warm
Sótano de las Huahuas shares the climate of Aquismón, 10 km away. The best months to visit are Jan, Feb, Mar, Dec.
Make Aquismón your base
Sótano de las Huahuas is an easy trip from Aquismón, a Pueblo Mágico with places to stay, food, and more to see.
Also close to
- Xilitla · 17 km away
More around Aquismón
-
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. -
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. -
Cascada de Tamul
· Waterfall · 26 km away
San Luis Potosí's highest waterfall, a 105-meter drop into a turquoise canyon, reached by paddling upriver in a wooden canoe.
Location from OpenStreetMap. Written by Puebloteca.