Waterfall Ciudad Valles, San Luis Potosí Huasteca Potosina
A staircase of seven turquoise travertine falls on the Micos river near Ciudad Valles, famous for guided waterfall jumping, kayaking and swimming.
From Ciudad Valles: 30 min by car (23 km by road) How to get there ↓
Near here
See everything nearby ↓
Plan your visit to Cascadas de Micos
Where to stay near Cascadas de Micos
Compare hotels, posadas and guest houses in Cascadas de Micos.
Tours to Cascadas de Micos
Day trips and guided outings from Aquismón often include Cascadas de Micos; 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 Cascadas de Micos
- From Ciudad Valles: about 30 min by road (~23 km)
- Nearest airport: Tampico (TAM), 2 h 49 min by car to Aquismón
Links open a partner site. We may earn a commission if you book, at no cost to you.
Tours from Ciudad Valles, near Cascadas de Micos
Tours, prices and ratings from Viator, checked weekly. We may earn a commission if you book.
About Cascadas de Micos
The Cascadas de Micos are a chain of stepped waterfalls on the river that flows down from the Sierra Madre past Ciudad Valles, known along this stretch as the Río Micos. There are seven main falls in all, built up over time from calcite left by the mineral-rich water: the river spreads over wide travertine shelves and drops in curtains between pools of a striking turquoise colour, framed by green, forested hills. The state tourism board's tour listing puts the jumps at roughly 1 to 8 metres depending on the season, and the tallest falls are well above that.
The name means "monkeys' falls". People long believed spider monkeys lived here, but the animals they saw were probably kinkajous (martuchas), which look a little similar. The river also powers a small hydroelectric plant, first set up decades ago to bring electricity to Ciudad Valles. When the plant diverts water, one of the falls can run nearly dry; in early 2024 photos of it went round social media, and the municipality and the state tourism office answered that the park was open and most of the falls were full.
Micos is a developed park rather than a wild spot. From the entrance it is about a 250-metre walk to the riverside, where there are steps down to the water, palapas with tables and grills, restrooms, changing rooms and food stalls. The classic activity is a guided descent of the falls, jumping and sliding from one pool to the next in a helmet and life jacket; kayaking, rafting, short boat rides, zip lines and a high suspended "Skybike" are also on offer. It gets very busy at weekends and in Holy Week.
How to get to Cascadas de Micos
Drive from Ciudad Valles: 30 min, 23 km
Micos is about 30 minutes by car from Ciudad Valles, northwest of the city (roughly 18 km). Most visitors drive or come on a day tour from Valles that includes transport, entry, guides and gear. From the park entrance it is a walk of about 250 metres down to the river.
Directions to Cascadas de Micos on Google Maps
Distances are in a straight line; the road is usually longer.
Links open a partner site. We may earn a commission if you book, at no cost to you.
From the nearest cities to Cascadas de Micos
- Ciudad Valles · 23 km by road, 30 min
- Ciudad Mante · 119 km by road, 2 h 5 min
- Rioverde · 130 km by road, 2 h 5 min
Drive times by road from OpenStreetMap, without traffic or stops. Times marked ~ are estimated from the straight-line distance.
Before you go to Cascadas de Micos: hours, prices and tips
- Hours
- Daily, 7 am to 7 pm. El Universal San Luis (Apr 2026) · checked Oct 2026
- Entry
- About 100 pesos per person (2026), including parking and the life jacket. Activity packages (waterfall jumping, zip line, bridges, boat) cost from about 750 to over 1,000 pesos. El Universal San Luis (Apr 2026) · checked Oct 2026
- Time needed
- A guided waterfall-jumping trip from Ciudad Valles takes about 7 hours, starting around 9 am. Visita San Luis Potosí · checked Oct 2026
- Guide or tour
- You can swim on your own with the entry ticket; waterfall jumping and the other adventures are done with certified local guides, booked on site or as a tour from Ciudad Valles. Tours: Viator GetYourGuide Visita San Luis Potosí; El Universal San Luis (2026) · checked Oct 2026
- What to bring
- For the jumping tour: clothes and shoes for walking on uneven, wet ground, a dry change of clothes, biodegradable sunscreen and insect repellent. Visita San Luis Potosí · checked Oct 2026
- Rules
- Life jackets are mandatory in the water. You may bring your own food and drinks, but no glass. El Universal San Luis (2026); Milenio (2023) · checked Oct 2026
Hours and prices change, especially around holidays. Each fact links to where we checked it.
Visiting Cascadas de Micos: what to see and do
Jump and slide down the falls on a guided waterfall-jumping tour, with helmet and life jacket.
Swim in the turquoise pools between the travertine shelves.
Paddle the falls in a kayak or raft with a local operator.
Take a short boat ride on the calm pool below the falls.
Ride the zip lines or the Skybike, a bicycle on a cable about 80 m above the ground.
Have a picnic under the palapas by the river.
Plan your trip
Places to stay in Cascadas de Micos
Compare hotels, posadas, and rentals in and around Cascadas de Micos.
Tours & activities
Day trips and guided outings from Aquismón often include Cascadas de Micos; with a local guide you can get there without a car.
Rental cars
Pick up a car at TAM (Tampico): about 2 h 49 min by road to Aquismón, then 55 km more to Cascadas de Micos, on your own schedule.
Flights
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Tampico (TAM), about 2 h 49 min by road from Aquismón, the base for Cascadas de Micos.
Travel insurance
If you plan on swimming and hiking at Cascadas de Micos, check that your policy covers it: some plans leave adventure activities out.
Mobile data
Signal can drop away from Aquismón: download a map of the way to Cascadas de Micos 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.
Photos
When to go to Cascadas de Micos warm
Cascadas de Micos shares the climate of Aquismón, 55 km away. The best months to visit are January, February, March, and December.
Waterfalls like Cascadas de Micos 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 Aquismón
Weather in Cascadas de Micos now and the next 7 days
Live forecast from Open-Meteo. Chance of rain is the day's highest.
The closest Pueblo Mágico: Aquismón
Aquismón is the Pueblo Mágico closest to Cascadas de Micos, with places to stay, food, and more to see.
Also close to
- Ciudad del Maíz · San Luis Potosí · 58 km away
Closest to Cascadas de Micos
-
Ciudad Valles · City · 19 km away
-
Cascadas de Tamasopo · Waterfall · 31 km away
-
Cascada de Tamul · Waterfall · 33 km away
-
Puente de Dios · Waterfall · 33 km away
-
Cueva del Agua · Cave · 34 km away
-
Cascada de Minas Viejas · Waterfall · 35 km away
-
Zona Arqueológica de Tamtoc · Archaeological site · 40 km away
-
Zona Arqueológica Tamohi · Archaeological site · 45 km away
Near Cascadas de Micos
Drive times by road from OpenStreetMap, without traffic. Times marked ~ are estimated from the straight-line distance.
Lists with Cascadas de Micos
Waterfalls in San Luis Potosí · 8 Waterfalls near Ciudad Valles · 6 Waterfalls near Aquismón · 5 Waterfalls near Ciudad del Maíz · 6Location from OpenStreetMap. Written by Puebloteca.