3 DAYS IN LA HUASTECA POTOSINA
One of the most beautiful regions to explore in Mexico is La Huasteca Potosina. Found in the state of San Luis Potosi, La Huasteca Potosi is where you’ll find some of the most lovely turquoise waterfalls and rivers. Although it’s best to take five days or even a week to explore all the beauty, 3 days in La Huasteca Potosina will be enough time to explore if you’re on a time crunch.
These impressive waterfalls are in the sierra or mountains of San Luis Potosi. Although the area tends to be hot in the warm months, getting into the waterfalls is the perfect way to cool off. There are rivers, nature, natural swimming pools, lakes, outdoor activities, camping, and gorgeous waterfalls.
Despite the area being touristy among locals, this region hasn’t yet reached mass tourism, and you can enjoy them in its entirety. It’s not a well-kept secret, but it’s still not well-known enough and continues to be a hidden gem in Mexico.
If you are the type who loves to chase waterfalls, La Huasteca Potosina and the state of Chiapas are where you’ll find the best ones in Mexico. However, unlike Chiapas, where you can find many tours and transportation to the waterfalls, San Luis Potosi doesn’t count with as many options. Tourism is still developing here, and although you can find organized tours, the best way to get around is by car.
In this post, I’ll share how to best spend 3 days in La Huasteca Posotosina.
3 Days in La Huasteca Potosina
Table of Contents
Planing Your Route
La Huasteca Potosina is a massive region. There is a lot of driving involved between each place and many stops along the way. Although I can vouch that 3 days in the La Huasteca Potosina is a good enough time to see the best waterfalls, I can tell you we left wishing we had done at least five days. However, more days aren’t possible sometimes, and you’re probably reading this post for that reason.
We planned 3 days in La Huasteca Potosina and did previous research on which waterfalls caught our attention the most, and checked to see which ones were on the same route.
We also had to decide where to base ourselves to visit the waterfalls and how to get around. Last-minute, we agreed that staying wherever the night caught us would be the best idea, and from beforehand, we knew we would rent a car.
We decided on the route stated below because it was the most convenient for renting the car for fewer days and saving money. Therefore, we spent the night in San Luis Potosi, the city, and on day one, we woke up early to pick up the car and drive to Tamasopo, which is on the route headed to Ciudad Valles.
Planning Your Route Continued
In Tamasopo, we visited three spots in the area before dawn arrived. We visited Tamasopo Waterfalls, Puente de Dios, and stopped at a local place called El Trampolin. Instead of driving to Ciudad Valles in the dark, we chose to sleep in Tamasopo.
On Day 2, we woke up in Tamasopo and drove to Tamul Waterfall. This waterfall took most of our day because it required more time to drive and hike there. Plus, we had inconveniences upon arrival. You can read more about it in my guide on hiking Tamul Waterfall.
However, there are no other close waterfalls nearby, so it was okay to spend it all here. On this night, we drove to Ciudad Valles to sleep. That would get us closer to the waterfalls we would explore on day 3.
On Day 3, we explored three main waterfalls on the same road north of Ciudad Valles. We started our day early, which allowed us to explore all of them in one day. We got to see El Mico Waterfalls, Minas Viejas Waterfalls, and El Meco Waterfalls.
Fortunately, we arrived late at the last two waterfalls we visited that day, but it wasn’t a bad thing. Because we arrived late, we had these waterfalls to ourselves. We got some great photos and swam by ourselves in them.
However, the night caught us again, and we didn’t want to drive in Mexico back to San Luis Potosi in the dark. So, after leaving El Meco Waterfalls, we drove to the next close town, Ciudad de Maiz, and slept there. Our car was due in the morning, so we made sure to wake up early the next day to drive 3 hours and return it.
Our 3-Day Route
Day 1:
- Tamasopo Waterfalls
- Puente de Dios
- Trampolin
Day 2:
- Tamul Waterfall and Hike
Day 3:
- Micos Waterfalls
- Adventureland (skybike and zipline)
- Minas Viejas Waterfalls
- El Meco Waterfalls
Waterfalls and Places to Visit
Each waterfall we visited had its own distinct beauty. We loved them all for different reasons, and then some were a bit more unforgettable than others. Some waterfalls were more natural with less development, and some were developed into recreational areas.
I enjoy the natural spots more, but the developed waterfall parks are also full of fun. I’m very easy to please when it comes to places, so none turned me off. So, depending on your personality, you might enjoy some waterfalls more than others.
Here are the waterfalls we visited, followed by a list of the ones we missed that you can add if you have extra days.
Tamasopo Waterfalls
Of all the waterfalls we visited, Tamasopo Waterfalls are the most developed for tourism. It’s a playground for kids and adults. It has diving platforms, hanging bridges, rope swings, natural pools to swim in, and of course, beautiful waterfalls. Here you can find restaurants, chairs to lounge in, and photo spots. It’s the least “natural” place, but it still has nature and fun things to do.
Puente de Dios
Puente de Dios is a natural swimming pool formed between walls of a boulder, giving it a cave-like feel. It reminded me of cenotes found in the Yucatan Peninsula. Here you can jump from the side rocks and into the water. The current is a bit strong, so there are ropes you can hang on to. While swimming, you look up and find yourself surrounded by nature. The water is a deep blue and beautiful to look at. It was one of my favorite spots in La Huasteca Potosina.
Tampolin
El Trampolin is not exactly on everyone’s radar in La Huateca Potosina. We only came across this place because the lifeguard at Puente de Dios told us to visit. El Trampolin is a river running through the town of Tamasopo. It’s a paradise for local people.
The water is shallow, so you find local families and kids swimming here. All around, you have people selling snacks and people picnicking. We enjoyed this place because it gave us a glimpse of local life, and it was just beautiful.
Tamul Waterfalls
Tamul Waterfalls made it to the top of my list of waterfalls I most loved in La Huasteca. These falls are majestic and impressive in size. Their height makes them beautiful to look at, and being so close to them made us love it even more. The journey there was also exciting, and it made the experience a more memorable one.
There are two ways to get there. You can see them from a boat, or you can hike up close to them and also swim underneath them. We went with the second choice, and my friend couldn’t get me out of the water. I was enjoying it a little too much.
Micos Waterfalls
When you first arrive at Micos Waterfalls, it doesn’t look as attractive. At least in my case, I wasn’t impressed upon arrival. However, you see some minor falls and a river with canoes when you enter the park.
When I discovered we could walk to the waterfalls further back, my mindset about this place changed. Micos Waterfalls are staircase falls, and you can jump from them. It’s what the park is known for, waterfall jumping. You can do a tour to jump all of them, or you can hike by the water to get to the third one.
After spending some time swimming in the natural pools and jumping from the first falls, it turned out to be a fun time at these waterfalls.
Adventureland: Skybike & Zipline
Just around Micos Waterfalls, you find a cool and unique activity to try; skybike. Riding a bike in the sky on a hanging wire above the waterfalls has to be one of the most unique experiences I’ve had.
I loved seeing Micos Waterfalls from an aerial perspective because the view is gorgeous. I wasn’t sure if to do this activity because the price was high for my budget, but I’m glad I decided to do it. You don’t get to always ride a skybike!
Minas Viejas Waterfalls
At Minas Viejas, we had a great time swimming in front of the waterfall and jumping into the other natural pools from the lower waterfalls. Minas Viejas has a beautiful color, and the waterfall is very high in length. It is nice to look at.
It is another excellent spot for families to enjoy. They have camping and tables for picnicking. I enjoyed my time here because it’s beautiful and jumping from the waterfall’s edges was fun.
El Meco Waterfalls
El Meco Waterfalls quickly became one of my favorites in La Huasteca Potosina because of their beauty. You can experience El Meco Waterfalls in two distinct ways. The first way is to go to the free-viewpoint and see them from above. It’s a gorgeous view of them.
The second way to view them is to pay for a boat ride to the front base of the waterfall. They allow you to go to the side rocks and swim at the waterfall’s base. Swimming in front of them was a wonderful experience.
If You Have 5 Days: Add These Places
The truth is, 3 days in La Huasteca Potosina is not enough time if you want to enjoy the region’s beauty thoroughly. I highly recommend two more days because, in all honesty, I regret not taking five full days to explore.
We missed some major spots that required more driving and days. I was recommended the following spots by locals and friends who have visited. Here are some popular spots you can add to your itinerary if you add 2 days to your trip.
Sotano de las Golondrinas
Sotano de las Golondrinas is an open air pit cave near the Aquismon area (by Tamul Waterfall). It has 568 stairs to walk down but also back up. However, it’s worth it and you can see many golondrinas (swallows) while you visit.
Xilitla
Xilitla is a Pueblito Magico, or Magical Town in the state of San Luis Potosi. In the town, you can find ancestral traditions and lots of nature.
Edward James, an English artist and poet created the “Convent of Saint Augustine” known as the “castle.” It’s a structure in the middle of the mountains and jungle but its architecture is to admire. It has stairways and alleys that lead to nowhere, which is the reason it’s fun to explore.
El Salto
Cascada El Salto is another beautiful turquoise fall you can find only minutes from El Meco Waterfalls. This is a perfect stop to enjoy and swim in. My friend Liz got to enjoy the beauty of this place during her visit. You can camp, rappel, kayak, go tubing, and more. If you enjoy hiking, it’s something else you can do while visiting.
How To Get To Around
By far, the best way to get around is by rental car. This gives you the freedom to drive around at your own pace, saving you money from costly tours.
You can rent a car in San Luis Potosi, the main airport city in the state. You’ll find more cars available, and the drive isn’t too far. If you prefer, you can also take a bus to Ciudad Valles and rent a car from there. This city is closer to the waterfalls. Personally, I didn’t want to ride a bus to and back to Ciudad Valles, and I thought it was easier to drive from San Luis Potosi.
Your next option is to take organized tours. However, some of the waterfalls are harder to reach, and therefore tours don’t always visit all of them. Plus, the road conditions are terrible, and you’ll see buses driving at a turtle pace for safety. Because of that, they might only focus on one or two waterfalls a day.
If you prefer to have things organized for you and you don’t mind big groups, then an organized tour might be for you.
I also know you can go to Ciudad Valles and hire a taxi to take you to the waterfalls. However, this can get costly. This is an excellent choice if you’re worried about driving in Mexico but still want the freedom of having a car and stopping where you want.
Driving In La Huasteca Potosina
When driving in Mexico, one of my concerns is safety, but this region felt completely fine. My only tip is to drive during the day and avoid driving at night. It’s also safest to drive on roads with tolls, but you should be okay if you drive the roads without tolls too. Usually, the roads without tolls have many little towns to pass. So again, just avoid them at night.
The roads with tolls are wide and well taken care of, making them much easier to navigate. The more minor roads will have more curves, so be careful when passing. I noticed in San Luis Potosi that drivers move to the far right to let you pass. You can do the same for other cars if you see them wanting to pass you.
The biggest concern you should have is driving carefully. The small road north of Ciudad Valles leading to Micos Waterfalls, Minas Viejas, and El Meco Waterfalls is in terrible conditions. It has enormous potholes and roughly paved streets. The heavy trucks that carry agriculture have damaged the roads, which is very noticeable.
You don’t want to fall in a pothole or get a flat tire. You’ll notice it’s like a game of Tetris trying to go around all of them. So, don’t go too fast and make sure to get car insurance. This is one place you need it, just in case.
Plus, speed bumps in Mexico are excessive. Make sure you’re on the lookout for them when getting close to a town. Sometimes you might not see them and accidentally fly over them like I did a few times.
The road to the Tamul Hike is also a rough dirt road. You don’t necessarily need a 4X4, but you’ll want to drive it very slowly if you rent a compact car.
You’ll pass a National Guard checkpoint when you leave San Luis Potosi. This is normal and a daily routine check. Just have your driver’s license with you.
In Mexico, self-serving gas is not a thing. There is an attendant who pumps it for you. Having cash is a good idea and tipping a few pesos is a custom.
When To Visit
When visiting La Huasteca, it’s essential to consider the right time. There is a rainy season and a dry season. So naturally, you’ll want to avoid the rainy season. Here is a breakdown.
- December-February: The Waterfalls and rivers still have plenty of water. There isn’t rain, and the weather is nice. It’s not hot or cold.
- March-May: This is the season before the rain begins. The rivers and waterfalls have less water (I went in May, and the waterfalls still looked amazing). The temperature is scorching and can hit 40 degrees.
- June-August: These months are the rainy season, and you’ll most likely encounter chocolate-colored water. Some places close because they can become dangerous with strong currents and high water levels.
- September-November: The rainy season has ended, and the rivers and waterfalls will have a lot of water. They will have a lovely turquoise color, and it’s warm.
One thing to note is holiday weekends and Semana Santa (holy week/spring break) get incredibly crowded, and hotel prices go up. So, plan accordingly.
My visit was in early May. This is the season when the water is starting to dry up, and the rains are soon arriving. However, the waterfalls had plenty of running water during my visit, and they still looked amazing. This might not be the case each year, but you won’t see them completely dry.
It was also very hot, in the 90s. However, I had no issue with the heat because this made getting into the water much more refreshing.
I’ve also heard avoiding the summer rains is best, but some people have had good experiences. Of course, visiting during the rainy season will be cheaper, but the risk is missing out on turquoise-colored water and the rain potentially messing up your plans.
Consider what the best option for you is and plan accordingly.
Total Cost for 3 days in La Huasteca Potosina
The prices listed below are for one person when spending 3 days in La Huasteca Potosina. However, if you split the cost of hotels, gasoline, and parking, the total cost is less. I didn’t include food because the food price will depend on the type of person. My friend and I were happy with street tacos and picking up snacks along the way. But you can add $10-30 per day on food if you eat at well-established restaurants.
I also spent a little extra on the sky bike, which put me up to $40 more. If you skip it, you can save money. If you add guided tours, the price can also go up quite a bit. We were on a budget, so our price reflects budget travel without guided tours.
Inside the waterfalls, you can find tours for canyoneering, hiking, waterfall jumping, and more. However, we were happy with simply visiting and swimming in the natural pools.
- Tamasopo Waterfalls
- Entrance: 100
- Life Vest: 15-30
- Parking: 50
- Total: 165 MXN (8.31 USD)
- Puente de Dios
- Entrance: 80
- Life vest: 30
- Parking: 50
- Total: 160 MXN (8.06 USD)
- Trampolin
- Entrance: Free
- Parking: Free
- Total: Free
- Tamul
- Entrance: 70
- Life Vest: none
- Parking: none
- Total: 70 MXN (3.53 USD)
- Micos Waterfalls
- Entrance: 100
- Life Vest: included
- Parking: free
- Total: 100 MXN (5 USD)
- Adventureland (skybike and zipline)
- Tour: 800
- Parking: free
- Total: 800 MXN (40 USD)
- Minas Viejas Waterfalls
- Entrance: 60
- Life Vest: 30
- Parking: 40
- Total: 130 MXN (7 USD)
- El Meco Waterfalls
- Entrance: 35
- Viewpoint: Free
- Life Vest: included with canoe
- Canoe: 150
- Parking: free (along the street)
- Total: 175 MXN (8.81 USD)
Waterfall Totals: 800 MXN (40 USD)
Sky Bike: 800 MXN (40 USD)
Hotels: 1,608 MXN (81 USD) (4 nights-One night in San Luis Potosi the day before)
Car Rental: 2,111 MNX (105 USD) 3 full days
Gasoline: 1,390 MXN (70USD) (inflation and gas prices were high during our visit)
Road Tolls: 278 MXN (14 USD) (We paid that the first day and avoided them on the return)
Total: 4,876 MXN ($245 USD) excluding food (entrances for one person)
What to Pack:
How to Hike Tamul Waterfall
- Cash: You will need it for tours, entrance fees, small family-owned restaurants, etc. Although Mexico uses credit cards in cities, it’s still a cash society for smaller businesses.
- Water: This area of Mexico is hot, near 90 degrees. I recommend taking a water bottle that keeps your water cold.
- GoPro/Camera: You’ll want to take some great pictures of this waterfall. The GoPro is perfect if you cliff jump or take photos and videos while swimming.
- Swimsuit: You’ll want to refresh with a swim. Trust me; it’s hot. You can find many cute swimsuits online.
- Towel: A travel towel is perfect because it doesn’t take up much space.
- Water shoes: You don’t necessarily need them, but some rocks have moss and can be slippery. Since you’ll be going around La Huasteca, they’re nice to have as an option.
- Sunscreen: It’s good to take care of your skin.
- Daypack: I always travel with a small daypack to carry for day trips. It’s perfect for having hands-free and carrying your cash, water, clothes, towels, and extra shoes. I also bring my phone, GoPro, phone charger, and sunscreen.
- Waterproof phone case: These are always helpful if you want to bring your phone into the water to take pictures.
- Waterproof backpack: If you don’t trust leaving your valuables on the side while you swim, a waterproof backpack is always a great choice. We didn’t have one, so we put our things on the side where we could keep an eye on them.
Where To Stay For 3 Days In La Huasteca Potosina
Accommodation will depend on your route. A base city for traveling La Huasteca is Ciudad Valles. Many people book their hotel nights here every day and drive here every night after visiting different waterfalls.
Ciudad Valles is an excellent option because it’s a large city with pharmacies, stores, banks, restaurants, gas stations, etc.
In my case, I didn’t want to drive back to Ciudad Valles each night. Instead, I wanted to sleep wherever the night caught me. So I left without a set plan. This is a good idea if you can go with the flow. On the other hand, if you like to be organized, I recommend you stay in Ciudad Valles or at the places we stayed if you follow the same plan we did.
We started out sleeping in San Luis Potosi the night before starting our route. Then, we woke up to pick up our rental car, drove to Tamasopo, did the waterfalls near there, and slept in that same town.
On day two, we woke up early to drive to Tamul, spent the whole day there, and then drove to Ciudad Valles to sleep and be closer to the waterfalls we would visit on day 3.
On Day three, we explored the waterfalls north of Ciudad Valles, finished late, and slept in a small, not well-known city called Ciudad de Maiz. We woke up early the next day and returned the car before 9, so we wouldn’t be charged an extra day.
Here are some hotel options you have in the cities we slept in. The first one listed in each place is where we slept.
- Cuidad Valles:
- Tamasopo:
- San Luis Potosi
- Ciudad de Maiz (if you’re driving back to San Luis Potosi):
- 1 Hotel Casa Grande (*we stayed here)
- 2 Hotel La Mision
- 3 Hotel San Jose
- *These hotels don’t show on Booking. The city is small.
3 Days in La Huasteca Potosina
Travel Booking Resources
Book Your Flight:
To find cheap flights, check Skyscanner and Google Flights. These search engines check airlines to find you the best deals. The more flexibility you have, the better flight deals available.
Book Your Accommodation:
Booking.com is my favorite booking site for hotels but it also shows great deals on hostels and apartments. Plus, when you reach Genius Level, you get special discounts, included breakfasts, and upgrades on some hotel rooms. Hostelworld is specifically for budget travelers who enjoy hostels. This is the best place for finding great options.
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance and Visa Applications:
Travel insurance will protect you against theft, injury, illness, and cancellations. Sometimes unexpected things happen during a trip and protections will keep you covered. Two great options are: Safety Wing and World Nomads. Also, iVisa can help you get a visa if you need one.
Book Tours:
Sometimes the best way to see a place is through tours. I recommend checking out Get Your Guide for some fun and unique adventures wherever you go.
Check out my other travel resources to help you book your trip!
Disclaimer: Some of the links on this page are affiliate links. This means that if you click on a link and purchase a product, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Please note I only recommend products and brands that I personally use or have used and believe in.
3 Days in La Huasteca Potosina
