Bethania

Bethania lies on the tropical Papaloapan plain, about 40 m above sea level, within the municipality of San Juan Bautista Tuxtepec. The population has kept growing: the 1950 census counted 397 people, 1980 counted 1,021, 2000 counted 1,931 and 2020 counted 2,147, after a dip to 1,866 in 2010.

What draws people from Tuxtepec is its waterfalls. One tourism guide describes a series of clear-water falls along the river, with streams for a dip and a wide green area beside the water for picnics, camping and walks. Another guide warns that these are rainy-season falls, strongest in spring and summer, and that the paths to them are short. April and May are usually the hottest months, when the water is most tempting.

The community is largely evangelical, and one tourism source says alcohol is strictly prohibited there; that is worth confirming with local authorities before you go. No official source publishes opening hours, fees or facilities, and road conditions change, so the sensible move is to ask at the entrance. The Zuzul eco-tourism centre, another swimming spot in the area, is a different place, in the community of Vega del Sol.