Guided, all-inclusive tour
Stepped Paradise
Two natural gems, one perfect day to unwind
About this tour
The Stepped Paradise tour costs $1,500 MXN per person, lasts between 11 and 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.
Minas Viejas unfolds its jade-colored travertine terraces that look hand-painted; the Micos Waterfalls chain turquoise pools through the tropical jungle. The ideal tour for those seeking authentic beauty, crystal-clear waters and moments of peace far from the noise.
Keep readingShow less
The color of the water at Minas Viejas doesn't exist in any graphic-design color palette. It's a green-turquoise-jade that geologists explain through minerals dissolved in the water over centuries, but that photographers simply call impossible. The natural travertine terraces form drop by drop over thousands of years, creating perfect steps where the water flows in a gentle cascade and you can swim at every level.
Float in crystal-clear water with the jungle closing in above you — no noise, no crowds, no gimmicks. Just nature working exactly as it always has.
The Micos Waterfalls round out the day with seven falls in sequence, each one different. It's the favorite tour of families with kids — low difficulty, life vests for everyone, a patient guide — and of anyone seeking a day of total disconnection that doesn't require being in shape. Two unique destinations, one single day, memories for a lifetime.
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.
- 11:00 AM
Minas Viejas Waterfalls
A triple drop over jade-coloured pools, with a wooden bridge to cross them. There are life vests for everyone and the water sits between 18 and 22 °C: refreshing, not freezing.
- 1:00 PM
Lunch
The midday meal. It isn't included, so you choose where and how much to spend.
- 3:00 PM
Micos Waterfalls
The stepped pools of Micos, one after another. This is the stretch of the day where most people end up in the water.
- 7:00–8:00 PM
Return
We drop you back at your lodging.
On this tour
- 1Minas Viejas Waterfalls
- 2Micos Waterfalls
Tour photos
1 / 12
What past travelers say
View on Google →Showing 3 recent traveller reviews.
Minas Viejas me dejó literalmente sin palabras. Ese color jade del agua no existe en ningún otro lado. Flotar en las terrazas de travertino con la selva encima es una experiencia que no te imaginas hasta que la vives.
Valeria Guzmán
Guadalajara, JAL · Diciembre 2024
Fui con mis hijos de 6 y 9 años. El tour es perfecto para familias: fácil, seguro, con chalecos para todos y un guía super paciente. Las Cascadas de Micos las disfrutaron muchísimo. Precio que incluye más de lo que esperaba.
Rodrigo Sánchez
Querétaro, QRO · Enero 2025
Vine a la Huasteca sin expectativas y Minas Viejas me voló la cabeza. El agua es irreal. El tour estuvo perfectamente organizado, el transporte puntual y el guía muy conocedor. Ya reservé para volver el próximo año.
Isabel Torres
León, GTO · 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
- ✦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
7:00–8:00 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 Stepped Paradise?
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, Photos and video of the tour, taken by your guide. Everything is included in the price.
How long is the Stepped Paradise?
The tour lasts between 11 and 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 $1,500 MXN per adult. Children ages 6 to 10 pay 70% ($1,050 MXN) and children under 6 pay 50% ($750 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.
Is it safe to bring small children?
Yes — this is one of our most family-friendly tours. Life jackets for everyone.
Are Minas Viejas and Micos close together?
They're on the same route, about 40 minutes apart by car. We cover both in one day.
Is the water very cold?
Between 18 and 22°C (64–72°F). Refreshing, not freezing. Most people love it.
More detail in our cancellation and weather policy.
Make the most of your trip
Tours that pair well with this one
El Meco Waterfalls — El Meco, Panoramic Lookout and The Great Falls
The perfect add-on for a second day of adventure in the Huasteca.
