↑ ↓ to move ↵ to open esc to close
    The Pacific from the hillside by the mouth of the Palo María River, south of Puerto Vallarta, Cascada Palo María, Jalisco

    Photo by Wiper México, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

    Cascada Palo María

    Waterfall Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco Municipality of Puerto Vallarta Banderas Bay

    The waterfall closest to Puerto Vallarta: a 30 to 45 minute river walk from the Palo María bridge on Highway 200 to a jungle pool, free to visit.

    Reached on foot from Puente Palo María (Highway 200): 40 min each way. How to get there ↓

    Near here

    See everything nearby ↓

    Plan your visit to Cascada Palo María

    Where to stay near Cascada Palo María

    Compare hotels, posadas and guest houses in Cascada Palo María.

    Hotels in Cascada Palo María Houses on Vrbo

    Tours to Cascada Palo María

    Day trips and guided outings from Sayulita often include Cascada Palo María; with a local guide you can get there without a car.

    Tours from Puerto Vallarta Winner 2026 Downtown Vallarta Food Tour with Vallarta Food Tours ★ 5.0 (3,971) · From US$59
    Find tours on Viator GetYourGuide

    How to get to Cascada Palo María

    • Reached on foot from Puente Palo María (Highway 200): 40 min each way.
    • From Puerto Vallarta: about 15 min by road (~12 km)
    • Nearest airport: Puerto Vallarta (PVR), 41 min by car to Sayulita
    Rent a car at PVR Flights to PVR

    Route, map and directions ↓

    Links open a partner site. We may earn a commission if you book, at no cost to you.

    Tours from Puerto Vallarta, near Cascada Palo María

    Winner 2026 Downtown Vallarta Food Tour with Vallarta Food Tours ★ 5.0 (3,971) 3 h 30 min From US$59
    Puerto Vallarta Extreme Adventure: Wildest Bridge, ATV & Ziplines ★ 4.9 (3,357) 6 h From US$69
    Puerto Vallarta Zipline, Rappel, Water Slide & Speedboat tour ★ 4.9 (2,144) 6 h 30 min From US$69
    Food & Mixology Tour:Tequila,Tacos, Mezcal and Agave Cocktails ★ 5.0 (1,949) 4 h From US$98
    Puerto Vallarta Rhythms of the Night, Dinner Cruise and Alma Show ★ 4.5 (2,093) 5 h From US$119

    Tours, prices and ratings from Viator, checked weekly. We may earn a commission if you book.

    About Cascada Palo María

    Palo María is a small river that comes down from the Sierra Madre and reaches the sea just south of Puerto Vallarta, between Conchas Chinas and Mismaloya, beside the Garza Blanca resort and Playa Palmares. A short way up its rocky bed, less than a kilometre inland from the coastal highway, the stream drops over a granite ledge into a round pool surrounded by jungle. It is the closest waterfall to the city, which has made it one of the most popular half-day hikes in Vallarta, both for locals and for visitors who want a taste of the forest without a boat or a long drive.

    The path starts by the highway bridge over the river, across the road from Hacienda Palo María, and follows the stream uphill. Depending on how much it has rained you hop between big boulders or wade back and forth across shallow water; the trail is not consistently marked and has no facilities. Most people reach the first waterfall and its swimming hole in 30 to 45 minutes. That is where nearly everyone stops: further upstream there are more falls (guides count anything from seven to twelve), but reaching them means steep scrambling over wet rock, sometimes with ropes, and is only for experienced hikers with a local guide.

    The falls change a lot with the seasons. In the rainy months, June to October, the jungle is lush and the water strong, but storms can make the river rise quickly and the crossings dangerous; in late spring the flow may shrink to a trickle. Entry is free. Bring shoes that grip on wet rock, water and a snack, and take your rubbish back out with you.

    How to get to Cascada Palo María

    Drive from Puerto Vallarta to Puente Palo María (Highway 200): 15 min, 12 km

    The trailhead is on Highway 200 south of Puerto Vallarta, at the bridge over the Palo María River opposite Hacienda Palo María, next to the Garza Blanca resort, about 30 minutes' drive from downtown. Orange local buses to Boca de Tomatlán leave from the Zona Romántica (Basilio Badillo street, in front of the Oxxo) and run along the highway; ask to get off at the Palo María bridge, where there are stops on both sides of the road. A taxi or Uber also works, but rides back are not guaranteed, so plan your return. Half-day guided hikes leave from the Lázaro Cárdenas park area in the Zona Romántica and include transport.

    Reached on foot from Puente Palo María (Highway 200): 40 min each way.

    Directions to Cascada Palo María on Google Maps

    Distances are in a straight line; the road is usually longer.

    Best with a guide Tours to Cascada Palo María on Viator With transport and a guide, leaving from nearby towns and cities. See prices →

    Links open a partner site. We may earn a commission if you book, at no cost to you.

    From the nearest cities to Cascada Palo María

    • Puerto Vallarta · 12 km by road, 15 min to Puente Palo María (Highway 200), then 40 min on foot
    • Autlán · about 165 km by road, ~2 h 25 min to Puente Palo María (Highway 200), then 40 min on foot
    • Tepic · 185 km by road, 2 h 30 min to Puente Palo María (Highway 200), then 40 min on foot

    Drive times by road from OpenStreetMap, without traffic or stops. Times marked ~ are estimated from the straight-line distance.

    Before you go to Cascada Palo María: hours, prices and tips

    Hours
    Open access at any time of day; go in daylight and leave enough light for the walk back. Escapadah (El Heraldo de México) · checked Oct 2026
    Entry
    Free: there is no charge to walk to the waterfall or swim in its pools. Escapadah (El Heraldo de México) · checked Oct 2026
    Time needed
    About 30 to 60 minutes each way to the first waterfall; plan 2 to 3 hours in all, not counting travel from town. Take Me To Puerto Vallarta · checked Oct 2026
    Best season
    June to October is the rainy season: more water and greener jungle, but upstream storms can raise the river fast, so skip the hike in storms or high water. In the dry months crossings are easier but the falls can shrink to a trickle. Take Me To Puerto Vallarta · checked Oct 2026
    Guide or tour
    You can reach the first waterfall on your own; the upper falls need an experienced local guide. Half-day guided hikes include transport, water and snacks. Tours: Viator GetYourGuide Take Me To Puerto Vallarta · checked Oct 2026
    What to bring
    Shoes with good grip for wet rock, water and snacks: there are no vendors or facilities. Take your rubbish out with you. Take Me To Puerto Vallarta · checked Oct 2026
    Rules
    Do not cliff jump or cross fast-moving water; swim only where you can get in and out safely. Take Me To Puerto Vallarta · checked Oct 2026

    Hours and prices change, especially around holidays. Each fact links to where we checked it.

    Visiting Cascada Palo María: what to see and do

    Walk up the Palo María riverbed through the jungle to the first waterfall.
    Swim in the natural pool at the foot of the falls.
    With an experienced local guide, scramble on to the upper waterfalls.
    Cool off afterwards at Playa Palmares, a short walk from the bridge.

    Plan your trip

    Places to stay in Cascada Palo María

    Compare hotels, posadas, and rentals in and around Cascada Palo María.

    See them all on Expedia Booking.com
    Vacation rentals on Vrbo Airbnb

    Tours & activities

    Day trips and guided outings from Sayulita often include Cascada Palo María; with a local guide you can get there without a car.

    Viator GetYourGuide

    Rental cars

    Pick up a car at PVR (Puerto Vallarta): about 41 min by road to Sayulita, then 40 km more to Cascada Palo María, on your own schedule.

    EconomyBookings Discover Cars

    Flights

    The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Puerto Vallarta (PVR), about 41 min by road from Sayulita, the base for Cascada Palo María.

    Kiwi.com

    Travel insurance

    If you plan on swimming and hiking at Cascada Palo María, check that your policy covers it: some plans leave adventure activities out.

    SafetyWing

    Mobile data

    Signal can drop away from Sayulita: download a map of the way to Cascada Palo María before you set out, or carry an eSIM with data.

    Airalo

    Links open a partner site. We may earn a commission if you book, at no cost to you.

    When to go to Cascada Palo María warm

    Cascada Palo María shares the climate of Sayulita, 40 km away. The best months to visit are March, April, May, and November.

    Waterfalls like Cascada Palo María run fullest in the rainiest months here (July, August, and September) and can thin out at the end of the dry season (March, April, and May).

    See the month-by-month climate of Sayulita

    The closest Pueblo Mágico: Sayulita

    Palm-shaded street of shops and stalls in the center of Sayulita, Nayarit warm
    Nayarit Sayulita

    Sayulita is the Pueblo Mágico closest to Cascada Palo María, with places to stay, food, and more to see.

    Also close to

    Closest to Cascada Palo María

    Near Cascada Palo María

    Drive times by road from OpenStreetMap, without traffic. Times marked ~ are estimated from the straight-line distance.

    Lists with Cascada Palo María

    Waterfalls in Jalisco · 7 Waterfalls near Puerto Vallarta · 4 Waterfalls near Sayulita · 3 Waterfalls near Mascota · 5

    Location from OpenStreetMap. Written by Puebloteca.