4 waterfalls · within 60 km
There are 4 waterfalls within 60 km of Puerto Vallarta in a straight line, an hour or a little more by road. The closest is Cascada Palo María, 11 km away; the farthest, Cascada El Rincón de Ixcatán, is 43 km. They are listed under the Pueblos Mágicos of Mascota and San Sebastián del Oeste, which make good bases.
Waterfalls run fullest in the rainy season, roughly June to October, and the water is clearest from November to February. In the driest months, March to May, some shrink to a trickle.
Best months, when most of these towns are dry with comfortable afternoons: Mar, Apr, May, Nov.
The Waterfalls 4
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Cascada Palo María · Waterfall · 11 km from Puerto Vallarta · Jalisco
The waterfall closest to Puerto Vallarta: a 30 to 45 minute river walk from the Palo María bridge on Highway 200 to a jungle pool, free to visit. -
Cascadas de Mismaloya · Waterfall · 15 km from Puerto Vallarta · Jalisco
A chain of three jungle waterfalls high in the hills behind Mismaloya, up to about 75 m tall, reached only on a long, hard hike. -
Cascada La Hermita · Waterfall · 36 km from Puerto Vallarta · Near San Sebastián del Oeste
A forest waterfall west of town; the easy trail starts behind the chapel in the village of La Estancia, but signage is scarce. -
Cascada El Rincón de Ixcatán · Waterfall · 43 km from Puerto Vallarta · Near Mascota
A 6-meter waterfall on the Arroyo de la Plata north of Mascota, with a rock-rimmed pool for swimming at the end of a short hike.
On the map
Distances are in a straight line; roads add about a third.
Where to stay
The Pueblos Mágicos these places are closest to, each with hotels, food and getting-there notes.
More places like these
More around Puerto Vallarta
Waterfalls elsewhere
Names and locations from OpenStreetMap; notes and write-ups are our own.