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    River and jungle at Los Sifones, Ixtaczoquitlán, by Cascada El Elefante, Veracruz

    Photo by Isaacvp, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

    Cascada El Elefante

    Waterfall Ixtaczoquitlán, Veracruz Municipality of Ixtaczoquitlán Altas Montañas (Orizaba and Córdoba)

    A waterfall deep in the Río Blanco canyon, reached by a stairway of 500 steps, with a turquoise swimming pool next door.

    From Orizaba: 15 min by car (9 km by road) How to get there ↓

    Near here

    See everything nearby ↓

    Plan your visit to Cascada El Elefante

    Where to stay near Cascada El Elefante

    Hotel Siesta Hotel · ★★★ · 2.0 km from the center Prices Hotel HAUS Hotel · 2.3 km from the center Prices
    Hotels in Orizaba Houses on Vrbo

    Tours to Cascada El Elefante

    Day trips and guided outings from Orizaba often include Cascada El Elefante; with a local guide you can get there without a car.

    Find tours on Viator GetYourGuide Tours from Orizaba

    How to get to Cascada El Elefante

    • From Orizaba: about 15 min by road (~9 km)
    • 5 km east of Orizaba
    • Nearest airport: Veracruz (VER), 1 h 42 min by car to Orizaba
    Rent a car at VER Flights to VER

    Route, map and directions ↓

    Links open a partner site. We may earn a commission if you book, at no cost to you.

    About Cascada El Elefante

    Just east of Orizaba, the Río Blanco drops into a narrow canyon on its way toward Córdoba, and one of its best-known falls is the Cascada El Elefante. The water falls about 20 meters, and the rocks around it are shaped so that, with a little imagination, you can make out an elephant's trunk, ears, and tusks. The canyon is part of the Cañón del Río Blanco National Park.

    The way down is the attraction in itself: a stairway of roughly 500 steps, built by the local ejido, zigzags down the canyon wall through thick vegetation, with views of the river and the waterfall along the way. Going down is easy; coming back up takes good legs and a few breaks.

    Next to the stairway is Los Sifones, a natural pool of clear turquoise water fed by springs from the mountain, where people swim and picnic on weekends. A long zip line crosses high over the canyon for those who want a faster view.

    How to get to Cascada El Elefante

    Drive from Orizaba: 15 min, 9 km

    The entrance is in Barrio Nuevo, Ixtaczoquitlán, on the old Orizaba–Córdoba road, about 10 to 15 minutes by car or taxi from downtown Orizaba. Local buses toward Ixtaczoquitlán and Córdoba pass nearby. The stairway is usually open from early morning until evening; the steps get slippery in the rainy season, so wear shoes with good grip.

    5 km east of Orizaba

    Directions from Orizaba on Google Maps

    Distances are in a straight line; the road is usually longer.

    Where to stay Hotels in Cascada El Elefante Compare hotels, posadas and guest houses in Cascada El Elefante. See prices →

    Links open a partner site. We may earn a commission if you book, at no cost to you.

    From the nearest cities to Cascada El Elefante

    Drive times by road from OpenStreetMap, without traffic or stops. Times marked ~ are estimated from the straight-line distance.

    Before you go to Cascada El Elefante: hours, prices and tips

    Hours
    Open every day, 6 am to 8 pm. México Desconocido · checked Oct 2026
    Entry
    The 500-step stairway is free. The Sifones area next to it charges its own entry (amount not published); the zipline is paid separately. México Desconocido · checked Oct 2026
    Best season
    In the rainy season the steps and paths get slippery; check the weather before you go. México Desconocido · checked Oct 2026
    What to bring
    Shoes with good grip, plenty of water, sunscreen, insect repellent and a camera; the climb back up needs decent fitness. México Desconocido · checked Oct 2026

    Hours and prices change, especially around holidays. Each fact links to where we checked it.

    Visiting Cascada El Elefante: what to see and do

    Walk down the 500 steps to the viewpoints over the waterfall and the canyon.
    Swim in the turquoise water of Los Sifones (a small separate fee is usually charged).
    Ride the zip line across the canyon if it is operating.
    Pack a picnic; snack stands usually open only on weekends.

    Plan your trip

    Places to stay in Cascada El Elefante

    Hotel Siesta Hotel · ★★★ · 2.0 km from the center Find on Expedia Hotel HAUS Hotel · 2.3 km from the center Find on Expedia Regina Hotel · 2.8 km from the center Find on Expedia Rocamar Motel · 2.1 km from the center Find on Expedia Dubai Motel · 2.4 km from the center Find on Expedia Motel Secret's Motel · 2.9 km from the center Find on Expedia
    See them all on Expedia Booking.com
    Vacation rentals on Vrbo Airbnb

    Tours & activities

    Day trips and guided outings from Orizaba often include Cascada El Elefante; with a local guide you can get there without a car.

    Viator GetYourGuide

    Rental cars

    Pick up a car at VER (Veracruz): about 1 h 42 min by road to Orizaba, then 5 km more to Cascada El Elefante, on your own schedule.

    EconomyBookings Discover Cars

    Flights

    The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Veracruz (VER), about 1 h 42 min by road from Orizaba, the base for Cascada El Elefante.

    Kiwi.com

    Travel insurance

    If you plan on swimming and hiking at Cascada El Elefante, check that your policy covers it: some plans leave adventure activities out.

    SafetyWing

    Mobile data

    Signal can drop away from Orizaba: download a map of the way to Cascada El Elefante before you set out, or carry an eSIM with data.

    Airalo

    Links open a partner site. We may earn a commission if you book, at no cost to you. Hotel names from OpenStreetMap.

    Photos

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    When to go to Cascada El Elefante mild

    Cascada El Elefante shares the climate of Orizaba, 5 km away. The best months to visit are February, March, April, and December.

    Waterfalls like Cascada El Elefante run fullest in the rainiest months here (June, August, and September) and can thin out at the end of the dry season (February, March, and April).

    See the month-by-month climate of Orizaba

    Make Orizaba your base

    Gardens and red-roofed pavilions of the Orizaba botanical garden below the mountains, Veracruz mild
    Veracruz Orizaba

    Cascada El Elefante is an easy trip from Orizaba, a Pueblo Mágico with places to stay, food, and more to see.

    Also close to

    Closest to Cascada El Elefante

    All 9 towns and sights around Orizaba →

    Near Cascada El Elefante

    Drive times by road from OpenStreetMap, without traffic. Times marked ~ are estimated from the straight-line distance.

    Lists with Cascada El Elefante

    Waterfalls in Veracruz · 6 Waterfalls near Orizaba · 3 Waterfalls near Córdoba · 4 Waterfalls near Coscomatepec · 5

    Something wrong or missing on this page? Suggest a fix or addition

    Location from OpenStreetMap. Written by Puebloteca.