Waterfall El Naranjo, San Luis Potosí Municipality of El Naranjo Huasteca Potosina
Twin waterfalls of about 50 m pouring into turquoise pools near El Naranjo, with swimming, picnic lawns and camping in the northern Huasteca.
From Ciudad Mante: 1 h 40 min by car (84 km by road) How to get there ↓
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Plan your visit to Cascada de Minas Viejas
Where to stay near Cascada de Minas Viejas
Casa Lorette / Rio Club Jopoy Hotel · 3.3 km from the center PricesTours to Cascada de Minas Viejas
Day trips and guided outings from Ciudad del Maíz often include Cascada de Minas Viejas; with a local guide you can get there without a car.
Tours from Ciudad Valles
Rafting in Tampaon River from Ciudad Valles
★ 5.0 (845) · From US$115
How to get to Cascada de Minas Viejas
- From Ciudad Mante: about 1 h 40 min by road (~84 km)
- 30 km east of Ciudad del Maíz
- Nearest airport: San Luis Potosí (SLP), 2 h 39 min by car to Ciudad del Maíz
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Tours from Ciudad Valles, near Cascada de Minas Viejas
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About Cascada de Minas Viejas
Minas Viejas is a waterfall in the municipality of El Naranjo, in the northern Huasteca Potosina. Two falls drop side by side from a height of roughly 45 to 50 metres, depending on the source, down a wall thick with vegetation, into a large turquoise pool. From there the water spills into a scatter of smaller pools spread across the site, and El Salto and El Meco, two other well-known falls, are in the same municipality.
The site is run for visitors but development around the falls themselves is limited. From the car parks a path with railings descends more than 300 steps, about ten minutes, past food stalls, shops, toilets and changing rooms; the climb back up is tiring. Below there are palapas, grills, picnic tables and a large lawn, and you can camp for an extra fee. Lifeguards enforce the compulsory life jackets, which are included in the entrance fee, and local operators offer rappelling down beside the falls.
The main pool gets busy on weekends and long holidays, especially in the afternoon; walking away from it in the opposite direction usually leads to quieter pools. The water is clearest in the dry months, roughly November to March. After heavy rain, between about July and October, the river can turn muddy and access can be dangerous, although just after the rainy season the falls carry the most water.
How to get to Cascada de Minas Viejas
Drive from Ciudad Mante: 1 h 40 min, 84 km
From El Naranjo take the road towards La Hincada for about 16 km and turn off where signs point to Maitínez and Minas Viejas; the drive takes about 30 minutes. From Ciudad Valles it is about 1 hour 30 minutes by car, and about 2 hours from Tamasopo; the road is paved but has potholes and unmarked speed bumps. From the parking area, more than 300 steps lead down to the falls.
30 km east of Ciudad del Maíz
Directions from Ciudad del Maíz on Google Maps
Distances are in a straight line; the road is usually longer.
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From the nearest cities to Cascada de Minas Viejas
- Ciudad Mante · 84 km by road, 1 h 40 min
- Ciudad Valles · 70 km by road, 1 h 55 min
- Tampico · about 195 km by road, ~2 h 55 min
Drive times by road from OpenStreetMap, without traffic or stops. Times marked ~ are estimated from the straight-line distance.
Before you go to Cascada de Minas Viejas: hours, prices and tips
- Hours
- Open daily, 7 am to 6 pm (2025). Sally Sees (Oct 2025) · checked Oct 2026
- Entry
- 100 pesos per person (2025), including life jacket, toilets, palapas and grills. Parking is separate (50 to 150 pesos depending on the lot); camping 200 pesos per tent; rappelling about 350 pesos. Sally Sees (Oct 2025) · checked Oct 2026
- Best time of day
- Early on a weekday morning; weekends and long holiday weekends are crowded, especially in the afternoon. Sally Sees (Oct 2025) · checked Oct 2026
- Best season
- Best from November to March, when the water is clear; September to November, just after the rains, the falls run fullest. July to October the river can be muddy and access dangerous after heavy rain. Sally Sees / México Desconocido · checked Oct 2026
- What to bring
- Shoes you can get wet, food for a picnic, biodegradable sunscreen and insect repellent. México Desconocido · checked Oct 2026
- Rules
- Life jackets are compulsory for swimming and lifeguards enforce it. Reaching the falls means going down more than 300 steps. Sally Sees (Oct 2025) · checked Oct 2026
Hours and prices change, especially around holidays. Each fact links to where we checked it.
Visiting Cascada de Minas Viejas: what to see and do
Swim in the main turquoise pool at the foot of the twin falls, life jacket on.
Walk away from the main pool to find the quieter small pools downstream.
Rappel beside the falls with an on-site operator.
Spend the day with a picnic or grill under the palapas, or camp overnight.
Combine the trip with El Meco and El Salto, also in El Naranjo municipality.
Plan your trip
Places to stay in Cascada de Minas Viejas
Casa Lorette / Rio Club Jopoy Hotel · 3.3 km from the center Find on ExpediaTours & activities
Day trips and guided outings from Ciudad del Maíz often include Cascada de Minas Viejas; with a local guide you can get there without a car.
Rental cars
Pick up a car at SLP (San Luis Potosí): about 2 h 39 min by road to Ciudad del Maíz, then 30 km more to Cascada de Minas Viejas, on your own schedule.
Flights
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is San Luis Potosí (SLP), about 2 h 39 min by road from Ciudad del Maíz, the base for Cascada de Minas Viejas.
Travel insurance
If you plan on swimming and hiking at Cascada de Minas Viejas, check that your policy covers it: some plans leave adventure activities out.
Mobile data
Signal can drop away from Ciudad del Maíz: download a map of the way to Cascada de Minas Viejas before you set out, or carry an eSIM with data.
Links open a partner site. We may earn a commission if you book, at no cost to you. Hotel names from OpenStreetMap.
Photos
When to go to Cascada de Minas Viejas mild
Cascada de Minas Viejas shares the climate of Ciudad del Maíz, 30 km away. The best months to visit are January, February, March, and December.
Waterfalls like Cascada de Minas Viejas run fullest in the rainiest months here (June, July, and September) and can thin out at the end of the dry season (January, February, and March).
See the month-by-month climate of Ciudad del Maíz
Weather in Cascada de Minas Viejas now and the next 7 days
Live forecast from Open-Meteo. Chance of rain is the day's highest.
Make Ciudad del Maíz your base
Cascada de Minas Viejas is an easy trip from Ciudad del Maíz, a Pueblo Mágico with places to stay, food, and more to see.
Also close to
- Tula · Tamaulipas · 80 km away
Closest to Cascada de Minas Viejas
-
El Naranjo · Town · 16 km away
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Cascada El Meco · Waterfall · 21 km away
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Cascada El Salto · Waterfall · 24 km away
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Cascadas de Micos · Waterfall · 35 km away · San Luis Potosí
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Cascadas de Tamasopo · Waterfall · 49 km away · San Luis Potosí
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Puente de Dios · Waterfall · 50 km away · San Luis Potosí
Near Cascada de Minas Viejas
Drive times by road from OpenStreetMap, without traffic. Times marked ~ are estimated from the straight-line distance.
Lists with Cascada de Minas Viejas
Waterfalls in San Luis Potosí · 8 Waterfalls near Ciudad del Maíz · 6 Waterfalls near Ciudad Valles · 6 Waterfalls near Ciudad Mante · 3Something wrong or missing on this page? Suggest a fix or addition
Location from OpenStreetMap. Written by Puebloteca.