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    The Río Pescados flowing under the bridge at Jalcomulco, Veracruz

    Photo by Koffermejia, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

    Jalcomulco in its green river valley seen from the hills, Veracruz

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

    Orange church on the plaza of Jalcomulco, Veracruz

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

    Rafters running Class IV rapids on the Río Pescados, Jalcomulco, Veracruz

    Photo by Wikimedia, CC BY 1.0, via Wikimedia Commons

    Street of tile-roofed houses in Jalcomulco, Veracruz

    Photo by Koffermejia, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

    Jalcomulco

    Town Jalcomulco, Veracruz Xalapa and the coffee hills

    A warm river village in a canyon below Coatepec, Veracruz's main base for whitewater rafting on the Río Pescados.

    From Xalapa: 50 min by car (39 km by road) How to get there ↓

    Near here

    See everything nearby ↓

    Plan your visit to Jalcomulco

    Where to stay near Jalcomulco

    Hotel Cotlamani Hotel · ★★★ · 800 m from the center Prices Hotel Sommeil Natural Resort Hotel · ★★★ · 1.8 km from the center Prices
    Hotels in Coatepec Houses on Vrbo

    Tours to Jalcomulco

    Day trips around Coatepec sometimes stop in Jalcomulco; a tour is the easy way to see it without a car.

    Tours from Veracruz Private Sunrise Taj Mahal Tour from Delhi By Car -All inclusive ★ 5.0 (546) · From US$14
    Find tours on Viator GetYourGuide Tours from Coatepec

    How to get to Jalcomulco

    • From Xalapa: about 50 min by road (~39 km)
    • 25 km southeast of Coatepec
    • Nearest airport: Veracruz (VER), 1 h 37 min by car to Coatepec
    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.

    Tours from Veracruz, near Jalcomulco

    Private Sunrise Taj Mahal Tour from Delhi By Car -All inclusive ★ 5.0 (546) 12 h From US$14
    Aquatico Inbursa Waterpark: Veracruz - Ticket ★ 4.1 (49) 8 h From US$25
    Full Day Tour to Catemaco and Los Tuxtlas with Transportation ★ 4.6 (29) 12 h 30 min From US$92
    Tajín and Papantla Tour from Veracruz or Boca del Río by Highway ★ 5.0 (23) 12 h 30 min From US$112
    6-Day Private Tour of Delhi, Agra, Jaipur, and Varanasi from Delhi ★ 5.0 (20) 6 days From US$802

    Tours, prices and ratings from Viator, checked weekly. We may earn a commission if you book.

    About Jalcomulco

    Jalcomulco is a small village on the banks of the Río Pescados, the stretch of the La Antigua river that runs through a canyon southeast of Coatepec. It sits much lower than Coatepec, so the cool coffee hills give way to sugarcane, mango trees, and a warm climate that averages around 24 °C. Its name comes from Nahuatl and is usually read as "in the corner of the sand."

    Since the early 1990s the village has lived largely from adventure tourism. The Pescados has class III and IV rapids and can be run all year, with the biggest water in the rainy season, and more than a dozen outfitters and lodges line the river. Besides rafting they offer rappelling, climbing, ziplines, mountain biking, hikes into the canyon, and a temazcal, the traditional steam bath, to finish the day.

    The area also has a film connection: much of Romancing the Stone (1984) was shot around here. Many trips end right in the village, where you can climb out of the raft and sit down to river fish and a cold drink.

    How to get to Jalcomulco

    Drive from Xalapa: 50 min, 39 km

    Jalcomulco is roughly 30 km southeast of Coatepec; by car the winding road down through coffee and cane country takes about an hour. Book rafting ahead, especially on weekends and holidays, and ask the outfitter whether lunch and transport are included. Bring clothes that can get wet and sun protection: it is much hotter than in Coatepec.

    25 km southeast of Coatepec

    Directions from Coatepec on Google Maps

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

    Best with a guide Tours to Jalcomulco on Viator With transport and a guide, leaving from nearby towns and cities. 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 Jalcomulco

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

    Before you go to Jalcomulco: hours, prices and tips

    Time needed
    A standard rafting trip takes about 4 hours (closer to 4.5 counting the safety briefing). Expediciones México Verde · checked Oct 2026
    Best season
    The Pescados section (class III–IV, about 18 km) runs all year; the gentler Antigua section (class II–III) only from July to October, depending on the river level. Expediciones México Verde · checked Oct 2026
    Guide or tour
    The village itself needs no guide, but rafting is done with an operator and certified guides; México Verde's 4-hour Rafting Express starts at 990 pesos, insurance and gear included. Tours: Viator GetYourGuide Expediciones México Verde · checked Oct 2026
    What to bring
    Closed sneakers or water shoes, clothes you don't mind soaking, and sunscreen. Expediciones México Verde · checked Oct 2026
    Rules
    Rafters get a life jacket, helmet and paddle before launching; the adult rate applies from age 12, and online bookings need at least 2 people. Expediciones México Verde · checked Oct 2026

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

    Visiting Jalcomulco: what to see and do

    Raft the Río Pescados with a certified outfitter; trips usually take around two hours on the water.
    Try rappelling, ziplining, or a canyon hike with one of the adventure camps.
    End the day in a temazcal steam bath.
    Eat river fish and other local dishes at the restaurants by the water.

    Plan your trip

    Places to stay in Jalcomulco

    Hotel Cotlamani Hotel · ★★★ · 800 m from the center Find on Expedia Hotel Sommeil Natural Resort Hotel · ★★★ · 1.8 km from the center Find on Expedia Hotel Quinto Sol Hotel · ★★ · 480 m from the center Find on Expedia Aqua Ceiba Hotel · ★★ · 3.0 km from the center Find on Expedia Aldea Rodavento Hotel · 410 m from the center Find on Expedia Río Aventura Expediciones Hotel · 630 m from the center Find on Expedia
    See them all on Expedia Booking.com
    Vacation rentals on Vrbo Airbnb

    Tours & activities

    Day trips around Coatepec sometimes stop in Jalcomulco; a tour is the easy way to see it without a car.

    Viator GetYourGuide

    Rental cars

    Pick up a car at VER (Veracruz): about 1 h 37 min by road to Coatepec, then 25 km more to Jalcomulco, on your own schedule.

    EconomyBookings Discover Cars

    Flights

    The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Veracruz (VER), about 1 h 37 min by road from Coatepec, the base for Jalcomulco.

    Kiwi.com

    Travel insurance

    Medical and trip cover for Mexico, by the week or month.

    SafetyWing

    Mobile data

    Signal can drop away from Coatepec: download a map of the way to Jalcomulco 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 Jalcomulco mild

    Jalcomulco shares the climate of Coatepec, 25 km away. The best months to visit are February, March, April, and May.

    See the month-by-month climate of Coatepec

    Make Coatepec your base

    Colorful facades with balconies along a street in Coatepec, Veracruz mild
    Veracruz Coatepec

    Jalcomulco is an easy trip from Coatepec, a Pueblo Mágico with places to stay, food, and more to see.

    Also close to

    Closest to Jalcomulco

    All 8 towns and sights around Coatepec →

    Near Jalcomulco

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

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

    Location from OpenStreetMap. Written by Puebloteca.