Lake 7 km east of Calvillo
Calvillo's big reservoir under the Sierra del Laurel: boat and kayak trips into La Boquilla, bass fishing and lakeside fish restaurants.
Presa de Malpaso is the largest reservoir around Calvillo, a few kilometers east of town on the highway to Aguascalientes. It sits at the foot of the Sierra del Laurel, and the hills around it turn green in the rainy season, when the water is at its fullest and the whole valley looks its best.
Most visitors come for the water. Boatmen and kayak rentals on the shore take you across the reservoir to La Boquilla, a narrow arm where the water runs between steep hills and white herons and other water birds feed along the edges. Anglers come for largemouth bass and carp; you need a local fishing permit, so ask before you cast.
Small rustic restaurants along the shore serve fried fish and seafood with a view of the water, and there are cabins and camping spots for people who want to stay the night. On weekends it fills with families from Calvillo and Aguascalientes, so arrive before midday if you want an easy parking spot.
What to see and do
Take a boat or kayak trip to La Boquilla, the narrow arm of the reservoir between the hills.
Watch for white herons and other water birds along the shore.
Fish for largemouth bass or carp (local permit required).
Eat fried fish or seafood at one of the rustic restaurants on the shore.
Stay over in a cabin or campsite and catch the sunset over the Sierra del Laurel.
Getting there
The reservoir is about 15 minutes east of Calvillo on Highway 70 toward Aguascalientes; the turnoff to the shore is signposted near the village of Malpaso. Buses between Calvillo and Aguascalientes run along this highway, but a car or taxi is easier for reaching the water. Stay away from the spillway and swim only where it is allowed.
7 km east of Calvillo
Directions from Calvillo on Google Maps
Distances are in a straight line; the road is usually longer.
Plan your trip
Places to stay in Presa de Malpaso
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Tours & activities
Guided tours, tastings, and day trips in and around Presa de Malpaso.
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Weather mild
Presa de Malpaso shares the climate of Calvillo, 7 km away. The best months to visit are Jan, Mar, Nov, Dec.
Make Calvillo your base
Presa de Malpaso is an easy trip from Calvillo, a Pueblo Mágico with places to stay, food, and more to see.
More around Calvillo
-
Cascada Los Huenchos
· Waterfall · 8 km away
A rainy-season waterfall in a canyon northwest of Calvillo, reached by a 3 km walk from paid parking at La Mezquitera. -
Parque Acuático La Cueva
· Hot springs · 11 km away
A family water park with thermal-water pools, slides, temazcal and camping, about 20 minutes west of Calvillo; usually open weekends. -
Cascada El Garruño
· Waterfall · 12 km away
A waterfall in the Sierra del Laurel south of Calvillo that runs in the rainy season; the approach needs a hike, ideally with a local guide. -
Presa La Codorniz
· Lake · 18 km away
A quieter reservoir north of Calvillo where local families come to camp and grill on the shore. -
El Ocote
· Archaeological site · 22 km away
Aguascalientes' best-known rock paintings, on cliff walls in the rugged canyons of the Sierra del Laurel, with a small dam and campsites.
Location from OpenStreetMap. Written by Puebloteca.