Guided, all-inclusive tour
El Meco Waterfalls
Three waterfalls, three different thrills
About this tour
The El Meco Waterfalls tour costs $1,600 MXN per person, lasts about 12 hours and picks you up at your lodging in Xilitla or Ciudad Valles between 8:00 and 9:00 AM. The price includes round-trip transport from your lodging, breakfast, the admissions, a certified guide and travel insurance for everyone in the group.
Explore the turquoise pools of El Meco Waterfall, climb to the panoramic lookout for a breathtaking perspective, and close the day before the imposing El Salto Waterfall. The most photogenic and accessible tour in the whole region.
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There's a specific moment, around 10 AM, when the sunlight hits the pools of El Meco Waterfall at the perfect angle and the water turns literally neon turquoise. Professional photographers know about that moment. So do we — and we arrive at exactly that hour.
El Meco is perhaps the most photogenic tour in the entire region. Three different waterfalls — three textures, three heights, three kinds of pool — and a panoramic lookout from which the jungle stretches as far as the eye can see. No plastic slides, no booming speakers. Just authentic nature, perfect water and a guide who knows exactly where to position you for the best photo of your life.
El Salto Waterfall closes the day with 40 meters of free fall you hear before you see. If you're looking for the perfect tour for someone who has never seen a real waterfall — or for someone who has seen them all and wants something different — this is the one.
Huasteca Guarantee
This tour carries our seal: it goes to the most striking and best-loved places in the Huasteca, the ones you should not leave without seeing. And it comes with our service: impeccable, genuinely fun, and quality guaranteed.
Your day, hour by hour
Approximate times. We confirm your exact pickup by WhatsApp when you book.
- 8:00–9:00 AM
Pickup
We pick you up at your lodging in Xilitla or Ciudad Valles, in an air-conditioned vehicle.
- 9:30 AM
Breakfast
A buffet of regional Huasteca dishes and stews at El Taco Loco, on the way to the sites. It's included.
- 10:30 AM
Cascada del Meco
You arrive when the sun hits the pools at the right angle and the water turns turquoise. The canoe ride in front of the waterfall is included, and you swim with a life vest. There are food and drink stands, plus optional activities at extra cost: paddleboard rental, tubing and kayak.
- 1:00 PM
Panoramic lookout
A short, flat walk up to the lookout: from there you see the whole run of stepped waterfalls. Easy enough for older travellers.
- 2:30 PM
Lunch
The midday meal. It isn't included, so you choose where and how much to spend.
- 4:00 PM
Cascada El Salto
The finale: a double drop over stepped pools. At this hour a rainbow usually appears in the mist of the fall.
- 8:00 PM
Return
We drop you back at your lodging.
On this tour
- 1El Meco Waterfall
- 2El Meco Panoramic Lookout
- 3El Salto Waterfall
Tour photos
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What past travelers say
View on Google →Showing 3 recent traveller reviews.
El color del agua del Meco a las 10 AM es imposible. Nunca había visto algo así en México. El guía nos posicionó en el ángulo exacto para las fotos y el resultado fue espectacular. Tour muy bien organizado.
Carlos Reyes
Monterrey, NL · Enero 2025
El mirador panorámico vale el esfuerzo de la subida —que tampoco es tan difícil. Ver la cascada desde arriba y luego bajar a nadar en ella es una experiencia completa. Lo recomiendo especialmente para quienes llevan cámara.
Paola Jiménez
CDMX · Marzo 2025
Fui en familia con mis hijos de 8 y 11 años. Dificultad perfecta para ellos, el guía fue muy paciente y las explicaciones de por qué el agua es de ese color les encantó. Definitivamente el tour más accesible y más bonito.
Roberto Sánchez
Puebla, PUE · Febrero 2025
Who guides you
Local certified guides, on these rivers all year round.
Alex
Alejandro Tafolla Delgado
Guiding since 2017 · Xilitla, S.L.P.
- NOM-09 SECTUR guide
- Water rescue
- First aid
- Spanish · basic English
«You get to know this river by walking it every day. My job is to make sure enjoying it is all you have to do.»
Ángel Velazco
Guiding since 2021 · Xilitla, S.L.P.
- NOM-09 SECTUR guide
- First aid and rescue
- Spanish · basic English
«I grew up next to these rivers and no two days out here are ever the same. That's what I want you to take home.»
All included ✦
- ✦Round-trip transport from your lodging in Xilitla or Ciudad Valles, in a comfortable air-conditioned vehicle
- ✦Buffet breakfast on the way to the sites, at El Taco Loco: typical regional dishes and stews
- ✦Admission to all attractions
- ✦NOM-09 SECTUR certified guide
- ✦Safety gear (life vests, helmets and whatever each activity requires)
- ✦First-aid kit
- ✦Travel insurance for everyone in the group
- ✦Canoe ride in front of El Meco Waterfall
- ✦Photos and video of the tour, taken by your guide
Book direct with us
You deal with the people who take you, from booking to the tour itself.
Hold your spot with 30%
Pay the rest on the day of the tour.
Pay us directly, in pesos
No middlemen: by card or bank transfer.
WhatsApp the same team
The people who guide you answer.
Our own NOM-09 guides
Certified by SECTUR, Mexico's tourism ministry.
Our own hotel and restaurant
In Xilitla, 400 m from Las Pozas.
Pickup & transport
We pick you up at your lodging — hotel, hostel, cabin or Airbnb— in Xilitla or Ciudad Valles, and bring you back at the end of the day. Round-trip transport is included; you don't need to stay with us.
Xilitla
Sierra, Surrealist Garden and surroundings
Ciudad Valles
Waterfalls, Tamul and the Tampaón river
Pickup time
Between 8:00 and 9:00 AM
Transport
Round trip, included
Approx. return
8:00 PM
Staying somewhere else? Tell us where and we'll see if we can reach you. We confirm the exact pickup time and address by WhatsApp after you book.
Ask about your pickup →Book with total confidence
Free cancellation
Up to 48h before · Full refund
We run in the rain
If the river is unsafe you choose: refund or new date
Photos and video included
Taken by your guide · No extra charge
WhatsApp support 24/7
Reply in under 1 hour
Card, cash or transfer
Encrypted payment · Processed by Stripe
Before you book
Frequently asked questions
What's included in the El Meco Waterfalls?
Round-trip transport from your lodging in Xilitla or Ciudad Valles, in a comfortable air-conditioned vehicle, Buffet breakfast on the way to the sites, at El Taco Loco: typical regional dishes and stews, Admission to all attractions, NOM-09 SECTUR certified guide, Safety gear (life vests, helmets and whatever each activity requires), First-aid kit, Travel insurance for everyone in the group, Canoe ride in front of El Meco Waterfall, Photos and video of the tour, taken by your guide. Everything is included in the price.
How long is the El Meco Waterfalls?
The tour lasts approximately 12 hours.
Can I cancel my booking?
Yes. Free cancellation up to 48 hours before the tour. Full refund, no questions asked.
What is the price per person?
The price is $1,600 MXN per adult. Children ages 6 to 10 pay 70% ($1,120 MXN) and children under 6 pay 50% ($800 MXN). The discount applies when you book online.
Where does the tour depart from?
There is no single departure point: we pick you up at your lodging — hotel, hostel, cabin or Airbnb — in Xilitla or Ciudad Valles, and bring you back at the end of the day. Round-trip transport is included and you don't need to stay with us. We confirm the exact time and address by WhatsApp after you book.
What time does it start?
We pick you up at your lodging in Xilitla or Ciudad Valles between 8:00 and 9:00 AM. We confirm the exact time by WhatsApp after you book.
Can I swim at every waterfall?
Yes. Every pool on this tour is swimmable, and a life jacket is included.
Is lunch included?
Breakfast is included; midday lunch isn't — there are places to eat along the route.
Is this suitable for older travelers?
Yes, the difficulty is low. Reaching the lookouts is a short, flat walk.
More detail in our cancellation and weather policy.
Make the most of your trip
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Stepped Paradise — Minas Viejas & Micos Waterfalls
The perfect add-on for a second day of adventure in the Huasteca.
