Nature reserve 23 km northwest of Jalpan
Where the cold, clear Ayutla River meets the warm, green Santa María at the Ayutla bridge, with river pools and acamaya dishes.
Las Adjuntas is the meeting point of two rivers in Arroyo Seco municipality, north of Jalpan, beside the community of Ayutla. The Ayutla River is born from a spring in the Sierra Gorda and runs cold and crystal clear, in shades of turquoise, while the Santa María, which marks much of the border with San Luis Potosí, is warmer and a deep emerald green.
Where they join, the two currents run side by side for a stretch without mixing, so you can see a line between the clear water and the green. The best view is from the Ayutla bridge: on one side the two rivers meet, on the other they have become one. Locals call the gravel banks here the "beach," and in the dry months the pools are good for a long swim.
Ayutla has simple restaurants that serve acamayas, the large river prawns of the Sierra Gorda, usually cooked with garlic, as well as restrooms, rural lodging and camping. The area is also good for birdwatching, mountain biking and walks along the riverbanks, and the village keeps an old sugarcane mill as a reminder of its past.
What to see and do
Stand on the Ayutla bridge to see the clear and green rivers meet without mixing.
Swim in the pools along the gravel 'beach' in the dry season.
Eat acamayas al mojo de ajo at one of the riverside eateries.
Look for birds along the riverbanks in the early morning.
Combine it with Concá and its mission, a short drive farther north.
Getting there
From Jalpan, take Highway 69 north toward Arroyo Seco and Río Verde; the Ayutla turnoff is around kilometer 26, and the drive takes about 30 minutes. Avoid swimming in August and September, when the rains raise the rivers.
23 km northwest of Jalpan
Directions from Jalpan on Google Maps
Distances are in a straight line; the road is usually longer.
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Places to stay in Las Adjuntas
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Weather mild
Las Adjuntas shares the climate of Jalpan, 23 km away. The best months to visit are Jan, Feb, Mar, Dec.
Make Jalpan your base
Las Adjuntas is an easy trip from Jalpan, a Pueblo Mágico with places to stay, food, and more to see.
More around Jalpan
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Presa Jalpan
· Lake · 2 km away
The reservoir just south of town, a calm spot for a walk by the water at the start or end of the day. -
Cueva de los Riscos
· Cave · 5 km away
A cave of rocky chambers and cold pools near Huajales, 15 minutes from Jalpan, with a 'bell' rock that rings when you tap it. -
Zona Arqueológica de Tancama
· Archaeological site · 10 km away
Huastec hilltop ruins with round platforms and a tiny ball court, 20 minutes from Jalpan; closed by INAH since Oct 2025. -
Cascada El Chuveje
· Waterfall · 11 km away
A 30-meter waterfall in the Sierra Gorda Biosphere Reserve, reached by a short river trail off Highway 120. -
Puente de Dios
· Cave · 15 km away
A guided river hike through a narrow canyon to a dripping cave and turquoise pools, about 30 minutes from Jalpan. -
Misión de Landa
· Landmark · 16 km away
The last and most ornate of the five UNESCO-listed Sierra Gorda missions, 20 minutes east of Jalpan. -
Sótano del Barro
· Cave · 23 km away
A 450-meter-deep pit full of wild military macaws, reached by dirt road off Highway 69 and a 2–3 hour uphill hike. -
Misión de Tancoyol
· Landmark · 25 km away
A UNESCO-listed mission with the most complex facade of the five, about an hour from Jalpan on a curvy mountain road. -
Concá
· Town · 30 km away
A riverside village with the first-finished Sierra Gorda mission, a giant ancient cypress and warm-water swimming. -
Misión de Tilaco
· Landmark · 30 km away
The smallest facade of the five missions, packed with mermaids and angel musicians, in a remote green valley.
Location from OpenStreetMap. Written by Puebloteca.