Waterfall 5 km east of San Joaquín
Three waterfalls, the tallest about 30 m, with turquoise pools at the end of a half-hour forest trail, 25 minutes from San Joaquín.
Las Maravillas is a set of three waterfalls in a humid, forested ravine east of San Joaquín, and it is the town's best-known natural outing after the caves. The name, "the wonders," is no exaggeration in the rainy months, when the water runs full and the forest around it is at its greenest.
The main fall is about 30 meters high and slides down a curved, concave rock face. A second fall of roughly 15 meters drops into a pool of clear turquoise water and spills on in smaller cascades, and a third, only about 5 meters tall, ends in a deep blue pool. The walk down to them takes about half an hour on a forest path.
It is a good place to swim in the pools, picnic, watch birds and look at the ferns and mosses of the ravine, and there is space to camp. The trail can be muddy and slippery, so hiring a local guide is recommended, especially the first time.
What to see and do
Walk the half-hour forest trail down to the falls.
Stand at the foot of the 30-meter main waterfall.
Swim in the turquoise and blue pools below the smaller falls.
Look for birds, ferns and mosses in the humid ravine.
Camp overnight if you bring your own gear.
Getting there
The falls are about 12–13 km from San Joaquín by road, around 25 minutes by car, followed by a walk of about 30 minutes. Ask in town for a local guide, wear shoes with good grip, and stay out of the water when the river is high after storms.
5 km east of San Joaquín
Directions from San Joaquín on Google Maps
Distances are in a straight line; the road is usually longer.
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Weather cool
Cascadas Las Maravillas shares the climate of San Joaquín, 5 km away. The best months to visit are Feb, Mar, Apr, May.
Make San Joaquín your base
Cascadas Las Maravillas is an easy trip from San Joaquín, a Pueblo Mágico with places to stay, food, and more to see.
More around San Joaquín
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Zona Arqueológica de Ranas
· Archaeological site · 1 km away
Hilltop ruins of a pre-Hispanic cinnabar-mining town with ball courts; closed since Oct 2025 for repairs, so check first. -
Grutas Los Herrera
· Cave · 2 km away
Show caves 2.5 km from San Joaquín, with walkways, lighting and six chambers of stalactites on a guided tour. -
Zona Arqueológica de Toluquilla
· Archaeological site · 5 km away
A long, narrow ridge-top city with four ball courts, the best preserved in the Sierra Gorda; closed since Oct 2025. -
El Doctor
· Town · 8 km away
An 18th-century mountain mining village of adobe houses, fossil hunting and an Easter-Sunday 'burning of the devils'. -
Grutas de Xajhá
· Cave · 19 km away
Thermal pools inside caves at the bottom of the Moctezuma River canyon, on the Querétaro–Hidalgo border; go with a local guide.
Location from OpenStreetMap. Written by Puebloteca.