Guided, all-inclusive tour
Tamul Expedition
Three wonders in one day: Tamul by canoe, the Water Cave cenote and the Huahuas abyss at sunset
About this tour
The Tamul Expedition tour costs $1,450 MXN per person, lasts between 12 and 13 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.
Paddle by canoe through the Tampaón Canyon to Tamul Waterfall — the tallest in San Luis Potosí —, swim and dive in at the Water Cave cenote on the way back, and end the day peering into the abyss of the Sótano de las Huahuas at sunset, when thousands of birds return and plunge headlong to the bottom.
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The Tamul Expedition is the most complete tour of the Huasteca in a single day: we set out in the morning — no extreme early starts — and the day is planned to end right at the hour of the best show.
The canoe carries you through the Tampaón Canyon, a corridor of limestone rock 80 meters high where the silence is broken only by the sound of the paddle on the water. At the far end of the canyon, Tamul Waterfall — the tallest in San Luis Potosí at 344 feet (105 m) — crashes into the river with a force you feel in your chest before you even see it.
On the way back you get out of the canoe and climb up to the Water Cave: a cenote where the light enters in perfect beams and the water turns an impossible shade of turquoise. Here you do get in — you can swim and dive from the rocks — and it's the favorite moment of almost everyone who takes this tour. Up top there are stalls with snacks and cold drinks if you want a bite; lunch comes later, on the way out of Tamul, and is not included.
We close at the Sótano de las Huahuas, a 478-meter abyss, and we arrive at sunset on purpose: it's the hour when thousands of birds — parrots and swifts — come home and drop into the abyss in a spiral until they disappear. It's one of those things a photo can't explain. People who take this tour always come back, and they always bring someone with them.
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 hotel, cabin or Airbnb in Xilitla or Ciudad Valles. You don't need to stay with us.
- 9:30 AM
Breakfast
Huastec buffet breakfast at El Taco Loco, on the way to the river. Included.
- 11:00 AM
Canoe to Tamul
You enter the Tampaón Canyon by canoe: silence, the paddle on the water and, at the far end, a 344-foot (105 m) waterfall you feel in your chest before you see it.
- 12:30 PM
Photos in front of the waterfall
You climb down to the rocks of the canyon, right in front of the falls, and that's where the photo everyone shows off back home gets taken. No rush: it's the moment of the day that fills the most cameras.
- 1:30 PM
The Water Cave
On the way back you get out of the canoe and climb up to the Water Cave cenote: shafts of light, turquoise water, and here you do get in — you can swim and jump from the rocks. Up top there are stalls with snacks and cold drinks if you want a bite. Almost everyone's favourite moment.
- 3:00 PM
Lunch and the drive
Lunch for the day, on the way out of Tamul. Not included, so you pick where and how much to spend. Then the drive to the Sótano de las Huahuas.
- 5:30 PM
Sótano de las Huahuas
About a 20-minute walk to the edge of a 478-metre (1,568 ft) abyss. There you wait for sunset.
- 6:00 PM
The show
Thousands of birds — parrots and swifts — come back and drop into the abyss in a spiral until they disappear. It's how the day ends, and what everyone ends up filming.
- 8:00–9:00 PM
Back to your lodging
We drop you off where you're staying, tired and happy.
On this tour
- 1Tamul Waterfall (canoe ride)
- 2Water Cave cenote (on the way back — swimming and diving)
- 3Sótano de las Huahuas at sunset (the birds' return)
Tour photos
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What past travelers say
View on Google →Showing 3 recent traveller reviews.
La canoa por el Cañón del Tampaón hasta la Cascada de Tamul es algo que no te puedo describir con palabras. El guía conocía cada rincón y nos llevó al mirador perfecto para la foto. Asomarse al abismo del Sótano de las Huahuas también impresiona muchísimo. 10/10.
Sandra Morales
Ciudad de México · Febrero 2025
La canoa por el Cañón del Tampaón es surrealista. Las paredes de roca a los lados, el silencio, y de repente la cascada. Fui con mi pareja y fue el mejor día del viaje por mucho. El desayuno que incluyeron estaba delicioso también.
Andrés Villanueva
Monterrey, NL · Enero 2025
La Cueva del Agua es de otro planeta. El agua turquesa, la luz entrando por la cueva… las fotos que nos mandaron al día siguiente eran increíbles. Ya convencí a mis amigas para venir el próximo año.
Fernanda Ortiz
Guadalajara, JAL · Marzo 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)
- ✦Photos and video of the tour, taken by your guide
- ✦First-aid kit
- ✦Travel insurance for everyone in the group
- ✦Canoe ride through the Tampaón Canyon
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
8:00–9:00 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 Tamul Expedition?
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), Photos and video of the tour, taken by your guide, First-aid kit, Travel insurance for everyone in the group, Canoe ride through the Tampaón Canyon. Everything is included in the price.
How long is the Tamul Expedition?
The tour lasts between 12 and 13 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 $1,450 MXN per adult. Children ages 6 to 10 pay 70% ($1,015 MXN) and children under 6 pay 50% ($725 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.
Can I do this if I can't swim?
Yes. Everyone wears a life jacket for the entire trip. Swimming isn't a requirement.
What time do we leave?
Between 8:00 and 9:00 AM. We confirm your exact pickup time when you book.
What happens if it rains?
We run in light rain. If there's an electrical storm, we reschedule at no cost.
More detail in our cancellation and weather policy.
Make the most of your trip
Tours that pair well with this one
Surrealist Route — Edward James, Springs, Caves and Castle
The perfect add-on for a second day of adventure in the Huasteca.
