Huasteca Potosina, Mexico Ultimate Travel Guide

This is our insanely detailed and very lengthy travel guide to the Huasteca Potosina region in Mexico, a waterfall wonderland. It is packed with information on how to get there and around, sights to see, places to stay and itinerary planning information.

Our experience in Huasteca Potosina

The Huasteca Potosina region was one of the biggest surprises for us in Mexico.

Before arriving in Mexico, we had never really heard of this place and had no plans to visit. But after finding the crowds on the Pacific Coast in Puerto Vallarta and Sayulita too much, we wanted to escape to nature.

We did some research to try and find the best place to visit, that was off the beaten track, less crowded and with some pristine nature.

Time and time again La Huasteca Potosina came up. Every photo we saw was of milky blue waterfalls, green jungles and beautiful rivers. How could we resist? We did some research and put together a plan to spend a week exploring Huasteca Potosina.

We would approach the region from Mexico City and return back there afterwards, before moving south to our next stop. We didn’t originally have plans to visit any other areas north of CDMX so I guess you could consider Huasteca Potosina a bit of a detour in our otherwise linear route of Mexico.

But man, it was worth it!

Within hours of arriving, we had fallen in love with this part of Mexico. It quickly became one of our highlights of the country (up there with Baja California Sur, of course!).

The nature here is some of the finest we have seen anywhere in the world, and we were completely captivated by the landscapes. It’s similar to the southern state of Chiapas, which we would later visit, and love just as much for its waterfalls and jungle.

Sadly, Huasteca Potosina is a region of Mexico that is little known by international visitors. I don’t know why, but I hope through this blog post I can encourage you to make this special place a must-visit in Mexico!

What is Huasteca Potosina?

To explain La Huasteca Potosina, first I need to explain the larger region this area forms part of, La Huasteca.

• La Huasteca is a geographical and cultural region that spans seven states in the northeast of the country and along the Gulf of Mexico. It includes Tamaulipas, Veracruz, Puebla, Hidalgo, San Luis Potosí, Querétaro and Guanajuato. The area gets its name from the Huastec people who populated the region at the height of their civilization around 750 to 800 AD.

• La Huasteca Potosina is a smaller part of the wider Huasteca region, located in the state of San Luis Potosi. It spans 20 different municipalities around the state and is a hub for nature and adventure tourism. The region is filled with stunning rivers, vast canyons, caves, thundering waterfalls and lush rainforest. If you’re a nature lover like we are, this region is simply paradise!

💡 Huasteca Potosina is pronounced as wass-tech-kah poe-toe-see-nah

Why visit Huasteca Potosina?

One word – waterfalls! 💦

The Huasteca Potosina region is blessed with unique geography and topography, meaning there is an abundance of waterfalls of all shapes and sizes.

And in case waterfalls overall weren’t attractive enough, most of the waterfalls in the Huasteca Potosina region are a brilliant milky blue colour! This is due to the naturally occurring minerals in the area.

You only need to see a photo of one of them to be instantly drawn to this stunning part of Mexico.

Where there are waterfalls, there are also rivers, caves, canyons, lush jungle and wildlife. Witnessing the contrasts of the azure blue water and rich green rainforest truly feels like a fairy tale. Swimming in natural pools inside deep canyons with just the sounds of nature around you is a true pinch-yourself moment.

It’s a refreshing change of scenery if you’ve been in Mexico’s mega-cities like Mexico City or Guadalajara, or the more touristy coastal areas, and an amazing place to immerse yourself in nature.

Is Huasteca Potosina safe?

Our answer to this question is definitely YES.

I think international travellers can be a bit nervous about regions of Mexico that they haven’t heard about before. As mentioned, Huasteca Potosina is definitely not on the radar of international visitors but from our point of view, it is just as safe (if not safer) than any of the more popular spots.

We spent a week in the region, and we drove ourselves around in a rental car. We felt completely safe the whole time and didn’t have any sketchy or unsafe experiences.

When you visit Huasteca Potosina, you spend so much time out and about in nature, there aren’t really too many opportunities for anything unsafe to happen!

As with most places in Mexico, we wouldn’t suggest driving at night. Not for fear of bandits or anything like that, but simply because the roads are very poorly maintained and it can be dangerous without full visibility.

The main safety concern for the region relates to swimming in rivers and waterfalls and being careful about the conditions and your abilities.

Where is Huasteca Potosina?

The Huasteca Potosina region is located in the state of San Luis Potosi. It is spread across 20 different municipalities in the eastern part of the state.

The waterfalls and other attractions are scattered far and wide, with several small towns throughout. The ‘hub’ of the region is Ciudad Valles, which is a small-medium sized city.

Major towns and cities in Huasteca Potosina

I want to preface this section by saying, in our opinion, Huasteca Potosina is not a part of Mexico you visit for the cities and towns.

Whilst there is nothing wrong with any of the towns around the region, they aren’t particularly pretty or special. I wouldn’t worry about allocating too much time in your itinerary to exploring the towns themselves.

The beauty of the region is the natural attractions, and your time is much better spent in nature than in towns or cities.

But, you will need somewhere to stay and somewhere to eat, and somewhere to travel to and from the region. So here is a brief rundown of the major towns and cities in the area.

San Luis Potosi

San Luis Potosi is the capital city of San Luis Potosi state (confusing, right?).

San Luis Potosi city technically isn’t inside the Huasteca Potosina region, but it is a very common transit point for arriving in the region, with air and bus connections.

It is an approximately 3-hour drive from Ciudad Valles (the largest city inside the Huasteca Potosina region).

Unless you are using the city as a transit point to get to the Huasteca Potosina region, I personally wouldn’t spend too much time to San Luis Potosi city. It looks cute enough with some lovely historic architecture, but it’s not close to any of the attractions in the region, and from what we have read it can be a little sketchy.

Ciudad Valles

Ciudad Valles is considered to be the central ‘hub’ of the Huasteca Potosina region. It is the largest city in the area and geographically sits in the middle of the major natural attractions.

Ciudad Valles will most likely be your gateway to the region, and where you will arrive and depart from (if you are able to avoid transiting through San Luis Potosi city).

It’s not a particularly pretty city, but it has everything a traveller would need in terms of accommodation, transport links, restaurants, tour companies etc.

It’s also the best place to base yourself if you don’t want to rent a car, and plan to use tours to see the region.

We stayed here for a night at either end of our time in the region, and we felt completely safe. It has a welcoming vibe and there are plenty of useful resources for planning your time in Huasteca Potosina.

Tamasopo

Tamasopo is definitely a small town rather than a city. The nearby town of Agua Buena kind of merges into Tamasopo too.

Tamasopo is a pretty quiet rural town, but the attraction here is of course the waterfalls! There are three main water-related sites to see in Tamasopo.

The beauty of Tamasopo is that although the town itself is nothing special, there is a variety of really unique accommodation options outside of town, set right on the beautiful blue river.

We would absolutely recommend spending at least a night in Tamasopo whilst you see the sights around the area. And be sure you stay riverfront for a fun, alternative accommodation experience, compared to staying in the town.

El Naranjo

El Naranjo is another small town, located in the north of Huasteca Potosina.

There isn’t too much to it, besides a strip of activity along the main highway, and a few small side streets. But there is enough here in terms of accommodation and restaurants to keep most travellers happy, and it’s a good spot to base yourself for the northern part of the region.

There are three amazing waterfalls within an hour of the town, and they were some of our favourites.

As with Tamasopo, there is a river that runs just along the outskirts of the town. We would suggest finding an accommodation option on the river for a different, natural experience vs staying in the main street. I share some affordable options in the accommodation section below.

Xilitla 

Xilitla is a pueblo magico (magic town) located in the very south of the Huasteca Potosina region. Pronounced hee-lit-la, it’s one of the most popular areas in the region, but we didn’t really see the appeal.

I would say it’s halfway between a town and a small city, with plenty of activity in its centre. The town is set on top of a small hill, surrounded by mountains covered in lush tropical greenery. In our opinion, that is where the attraction ends. We weren’t really captivated by the town itself.

The main attraction in Xilitla is the Edward James Surrealist Gardens (Las Pozas), and we opted to stay closer to the gardens, rather than the town itself. This was a good decision as we were in a much quieter, rainforesty setting that was, for us, a better experience than staying in town which we found to be busy and noisy.

Aquismon

As far as we can tell, not many people stay in Aquismon, but I would really recommend it. Maybe because it is halfway between Xilitla and Ciudad Valles (1 hour from each) people don’t feel the need to stay.

But we decided to spend a night here as it is the closest town to Sotano de las Golondrinas (Cave of Swallows) which requires a very early wake-up!

It’s another pueblo magico (magic town), and it’s very cute. It’s very small, but it was bustling with markets and food stalls, it had a great affordable hotel and a few restaurants to choose from.

Huasteca Potosina map

This is a great map produced by Ruta Huasteca that highlights the main attractions and towns in the region. And hopefully helps to visualise the area before we get into the details of the main attractions.

How to get to Huasteca Potosina

How to reach the Huasteca Potosina region totally depends on where you are coming from, where your first destination is and how you plan to approach your time in the region and your itinerary.

Arriving by air ✈️

There are no airports within the Huasteca Potosina region itself.

There are two relatively large airports within a few hours drive that you can choose from. If you are arriving by air, you will also easily be able to pick up a rental car from the airport (which we recommend for the region).

• San Luis Potosi International Airport – located in San Luis Potosi city, this airport mainly receives flights from within Mexico, but there are a few international routes from the USA too. It is approximately a 3.5 – 4 hours drive to Ciudad Valles. You can find all the usual car rental places at the airport.

• Tampico International Airport – located in the neighbouring state of Tamaulipas, this airport is actually closer to Ciudad Valles than San Luis Potosi International Airport. It takes around 2.5 hours to drive to Ciudad Valles from Tampico, and the airport has all the usual car rental options too. The airport receives mainly domestic flights from within Mexico but serves a couple of international routes to the USA too.

Although Tampico Airport is closer to Huasteca, Tamaulipas is considered to one of the less safe states in Mexico, so I’d probably opt for flying into San Luis Potosi. Then you don’t have to cross any state borders either.

Arriving by bus 🚌

All of Mexico is well-connected by intercity and interstate buses. Huasteca Potosina is no exception, however, there are fewer routes available compared with larger cities and more popular tourist destinations around the country.

Ciudad Valles, San Luis Potosi city, or Xilitla are the main hubs for transport from other parts of Mexico. These cities will be the best connected via bus, and which you choose will depend on your origin city.

Depending on where you are coming from, you may not be able to get a bus directly to Ciudad Valles (the heart of the region). There are usually direct buses here from Mexico City, Queretaro, Guanajuato, and Guadalajara.

Futura, TF Frontera and Omnibus de Oriente are the most popular bus companies in this region of Mexico. We use BusBud to find routes and schedules, however we did find that the timetables listed here were not entirely accurate. If something doesn’t look right, check the bus company’s website directly to confirm.

If you can’t find a direct route to Ciudad Valles, you can book to San Luis Potosi, and get a connecting bus to Ciudad Valles.

Something to take into consideration when choosing where to start your Huasteca Potosina trip is whether or not you want to rent a car. You won’t be able to rent one from all these cities, so it’s important to factor that into your route.

• San Luis Potosi city is the best option in terms of car rentals, with all the usual companies. But arriving in San Luis Potosi means you still have a lengthy drive ahead of you (minimum 3 hours) before you even arrive in the region.

•  Ciudad Valles only has one local car rental option, but they are a good option. Getting a bus here puts you in the heart of the region and cuts out any unnecessary driving. We opted to arrive in Ciudad Valles on the bus from Mexico City and rented a car here. We think this is the most time-effective option and avoids a long drive.

• Xilitla is better connected to areas south of Huasteca Potosina, and you would be able to get a direct bus from places like Mexico City or Santiago de Queretaro. However, as far as we could tell there are no car rental places in Xilitla. So if you plan to see the region via rental car this would not be a good place to arrive.

Arriving by car 🚗

If you have your own car, or you have rented one in another city in Mexico you can easily drive yourself to the Huasteca Potosina region.

The beauty of arriving in the region with your own car is that you can start your itinerary from whatever point you are entering.

For example, if you are coming from the south, you can make Xilitla your first stop. Or if you’re coming from the west, you might stop first at Tamasopo.

Basically, you won’t need to get to Ciudad Valles as a starting point, and you can map your itinerary from your origin point.

We could have rented a car from Mexico City and done the entire region as a looping road trip, instead of taking the bus. This is common, and a lot of people will combine this with the famous Grutas de Tolantango. But we didn’t really want to add on 9+ hours of driving, and sadly didn’t have extra time in our itinerary to stop at all the great destinations along the way. It’s also common to rent a car in Queretaro and add on some time in the Sierra Gorda as well.

How to get around Huasteca Potosina

Once you have arrived in the Huasteca Potosina region, you then need to decide how to get around.

The region spans 20 different municipalities in the San Luis Potosí state, and it can be hours between some of the major sights.

For some context, to get from the southernmost town in the region, Xilitla, to one of the northernmost towns, El Naranjo, is 3+ hours driving.

Choosing your transport option will go hand in hand with how you want to plan your itinerary and the style of trip you want to have. A road trip style trip staying in different places along the way, or using one spot as a base and heading out on day trips.

Renting a car 🚗

After plenty of research about Huasteca Potosina before we arrived, we decided to rent a car. Even the most budget travellers conceded that this is one part of Mexico that is not suitable to see via public transport.

We wholeheartedly agree. You HAVE to rent a car to see the best of Huasteca Potosina.

We always like to save money where we can, but not at the expense of experiencing a place properly, and you simply cannot experience this region independently, without a car.

The benefits of renting a car are many.

Not only will you be able to visit many of the waterfalls and sights that are inaccessible with public transport, but you can do it on your own schedule, and create an itinerary that maximises time and makes sense, without backtracking.

In comparison to public transport, it’s going to cost more. But as I mentioned, it’s not possible to visit all the major attractions with public transport. The only other option would be on an organised tour, which is costly too and I would say probably more expensive than the cost of a car rental.

The best places to rent a car are:

• San Luis Potosí city (if you are arriving at the airport or via bus)
• Tampico Airport (if this airport suits you better)
• Ciudad Valles (if you are arriving by bus)

If you are arriving in the region by bus, I would suggest making Ciudad Valles your first stop and renting a car from there. This avoids a 3-4 hour drive from San Luis Potosi city.

There is only one car rental place in the city, which is the small, locally-owned Nenek Renta de Autos.

We had a great experience with them and rented a Nissan sedan for 6 days at 1,100 pesos per day. This cost was inclusive of taxes, and insurance (both third-party liability insurance and collision). They didn’t have any of the hidden fees you can find with some of the international rental companies, and the whole process was really straightforward.

We would highly recommend Nenek, and we feel the way we planned our itinerary was the most straightforward way.

If you are planning to arrive via San Luis Potosí or Tampico, you will have tons more options for rental companies. All the usual Herz, Europcar etc. are available, and you may find a car for a more affordable cost than in Ciudad Valles. However, you will have a lengthy drive before you even arrive in the Huasteca Potosina region.

🚙 Browse rental cars in San Luis Potosí here, and Tampico here

Public transport 🚌

We can’t provide specific information about buses and public transport around the region, because we opted to go with a car.

What we can say is that there are buses between the major cities and towns around the area. But many of the best waterfalls and natural sights are not on these routes, and are tucked away on dirt roads where buses don’t go.

The bus might get you to a junction on the main highway close to an attraction, but you would have a very long walk ahead of you, or you would need to pick up a taxi (if one even passes) or hitchhike to your final destination.

If you’re on a tight budget and really want to use public transport, I think the best option is to bus between major towns in the region and accept that you will need to use taxis to reach the specific attractions.

For example, you can bus from Ciudad Valles to towns such as Tamasopo, El Naranjo or Xilitla. And then from those hubs, you can take taxis to the attractions. You are covering the longest distances by bus, but you can then use taxis to make it possible to reach waterfalls and other sights.

Taxi 🚕

This leads nicely to my next point of using taxis to see the Huasteca Potosina region. I’ve outlined one option above, which would be combining the bus between towns and a taxi to specific sights.

But another option would be renting a taxi for a half or full day and visiting a number of sights before returning to your starting point. Ciudad Valles is the best place to do this from.

You should agree on a price and time duration in advance, and the taxi driver becomes more of a ‘private driver’ for the day.

You can discuss a route for the day and combine a few sights that are close to each other, and the driver will wait for you at each one before taking you back to your starting point.

From what we have read, the cost for a daily rental should be at least 1,000 pesos, but budget for higher. Consult with your accommodation and they might have some drivers they recommend.

Tours 🚐

The other option to visit sights around the region is with a tour.

Either a fully inclusive package that includes visits to multiple attractions over a few days. Or individual day tours from a home base, which we would suggest as Ciudad Valles.

Below you’ll find some great tour options that we think are good value, and combine a lot of the best attractions. They all depart from and return to Ciudad Valles.

If you aren’t interested in hiring a car we think these tours are really good value for money and are going to allow you to experience some of the natural attractions you wouldn’t be able to reach on your own.

With a combination of these tours, you can pretty much see all the highlights of the region without renting a car.

MULTI-DAY TOURS FROM CIUDAD VALLES 🌛

• 🌿 3-Day Adventure and Nature Tour in Huasteca Potosina from Ciudad Valles: this tour covers a lot of ground and hits most of the highlights around the region. It includes white water rafting on the Tampaon River (Cascada de Tamul), a waterfall jumping tour at Cascadas de Micos, rappelling down Cascadas de Minas Viejas, a visit to the gardens in Xilitla and the chance to see the swallows return to the Sotona de las Huahuas in the evening.

SINGLE-DAY TOURS FROM CIUDAD VALLES 🌞

• 🧗🏽 Rappelling Beside Minas Viejas and Micos Waterfall: this thrilling tour combines rappelling at Cascadas de Minas Viejas with Cascadas de Micos, where you will do the waterfall jumping tour down all seven falls.

• 💎 El Meco Waterfall and El Salto Waterfall Tour: head north to visit Cascada El Salto and Cascadas El Meco. El Salto was one of our favourite falls, and the huge blue pool was a magical place to swim around. This tour includes a ride on a wooden lancha boat, which is the only way to get up close to the beautiful El Meco.

• 💙 Tamul Waterfall and Water Cave on a Wooden Canoe: see the most spectacular of all the waterfalls, paddling upstream on a wooden lancha boat, where you will view the falls from the boat, and have the opportunity to swim in a cenote in a calmer section of the river.

• 💒 Bridge of God and Hacienda Gómez Tour: this option visits Tamasopo, hitting Puente de Dios, one of the most famous waterfalls in the region. It also visits Hacienda Gomez which is a series of seven small falls that form different pools for swimming.

• 🏰 Xilitla Surrealistic Garden and Huahuas Abyss Tour: this tour covers the southern portion of the region. It departs from Ciudad Valles south to Xilitla to visit the Edwards James Surrealist Garden (Las Pozas) and watch the swallows return to Sotona de las Huahuas in the evening.

Things to do in Huasteca Potosina

Now the fun part!

The beauty of this region is all the incredible natural attractions, and I know you will be just as amazed as we were!

Waterfalls are the main drawcard, so I will list those separately, and then share some of the other popular attractions around the area.

Huasteca Potosina waterfalls

Considering waterfalls are what most people go to Huasteca Potosina to see (us included!), I have a separate post detailing the ten best waterfalls in the region.

This post shares more detailed information about each of the cascades, such as costs, how to get there, when to visit and more. I’ve also got dedicated guides to many of the waterfalls, which I’ll link below too.

Here, I will briefly share some of the incredible waterfalls that need to be on your to-do list in Huasteca Potosina, but be sure to read my other posts for more specifics on the waterfalls.

1. Cascada El Aguacate

Cascada El Aguacate is one of the smaller and lesser-known Huasteca Potosina waterfalls, but that doesn’t make it any less magical!

A thunderous 70-metre drop tumbles off the side of a cliff into a vast canyon below, before splitting off into a few smaller falls near the bottom.

A steep walk down a few hundred stairs takes you down into the canyon, where you can admire the falls from a series of walkways and viewing platforms.

Swimming isn’t really possible under the fall itself, but follow the river upstream and you will find a deep, calm blue pool that is perfect for a dip!

This waterfall is one of the most remote, located around halfway between Ciudad Valles and El Naranjo.

2. Cascadas de Minas Viejas

Cascadas de Minas Viejas absolutely took our breath away.

Two falls cascade from over 50 metres high into an enormous bright blue pool. The main pool flows out into smaller pools everywhere you look, with perfectly calm and still water to float in.

This place was truly magical and didn’t even feel real. We felt like we were in a fairytale as we admired the vibrant blue colour of the water, contrasted against the lush green growth falling from the sides of the canyon.

Cascadas de Minas Viejas is located just half an hour from El Naranjo, and it is one of the more popular falls in the area so it can get busy. Although the site is very large it’s easy to spread out.

3. Cascada El Salto

Cascada El Salto is also referred to as Cascada Salto del Agua and was one of our favourite Huasteca Potosina waterfalls. The blue tone is especially vibrant here, and the maze of different pools is spectacular.

One thing to note about this waterfall is that it doesn’t actually flow year-round. In the wintertime, it is diverted for a hydroelectricity plant, but you will still find some incredible blue pools to swim in and we would highly recommend a visit at any time of the year.

These falls are located just half an hour from El Naranjo.

4. Cascadas El Meco

Cascadas El Meco is located just downstream from Cascada El Salto.

These falls cascade over a few smaller tiers before dropping almost 40 metres down into the El Salto River.

Cascadas El Meco is one of the more difficult waterfalls to visit, and unless you opt for an additional tour, you will only be able to view it from a free mirador (lookout).

If you want to get closer, you’ll need to jump in a wooden lanch boat and paddle upstream. There are multiple companies offering tours from different launch points along the river.

They are located just half an hour from El Naranjo.

5. Cascada de Tamul

Falling from over 100 metres high, and forming a curtain of water up to 300 metres wide during the rainy season, Cascada de Tamul is the most impressive of all the Huasteca Potosina waterfalls.

What makes this one even more special is the level of difficulty in reaching this spectacular sight. You can’t just park your car and walk down a few steps. You have to earn your chance to witness the falls. Either by paddling a lancha boat upriver or hiking to the base of the falls.

Cascada de Tamul is quite remote and is located around 1 hour from Aquismon and 1 hour from Ciudad Valles.

6. Cascadas de Tamasopo

Although not the most natural setting, Cascadas de Tamasopo was without a doubt the most fun waterfall we visited in Huasteca Potosina!

The falls are developed almost like a waterpark, just with naturally occurring waterfalls and swimming holes instead of waterslides and wave pools.

You could easily spend your whole day here, swimming under the falls, jumping from platforms, swinging from rope swings, playing on the obstacle courses, resting and eating.

The falls are just five minutes from the town of Tamasopo.

7. Puente de Dios

Puente de Dios, which translates as Bridge of God, is a little different from the other Huasteca Potosina waterfalls.

Whilst it is a waterfall, the main attraction here is the large pool inside a cavern. A small but powerful waterfall roars into the huge cenote-style pool, over 20 metres deep filled with sparkling blue water.

But the best part? A cave you can swim through to the other side to another part of the river.

Puente de Dios is very close to the town of Tamasopo. It is probably the most popular waterfall in the region, so it can get very busy. The layout of the site means it can feel really congested in and around the pool, so avoid weekends and holidays.

8. El Trampolin

El Trampolin is more of a swimming spot than a waterfall, but it’s worthy of a visit nonetheless!

El Trampolin is a series of small cascades and pools in the Agua Buena River. Formed by a tangle of earth and large tree roots that create natural bridges and walkways across the river. Fingers of land filled with lush greenery and trees jut out from the riverbank, giving a mystic and magical feeling as you float under the canopy.

It’s just up the road from the town of Tamasopo, and even closer to the neighbouring town of Agua Buena. This site is entirely free to visit!

9. Cascadas de Micos

Cascadas de Micos is the most adventurous and thrill-seeking of all the waterfalls in Huasteca Potosina.

Occupying a kilometre-long section of the Micos River, Cascadas de Micos is a series of seven small falls and brilliant milky blue pools.

Although it’s possible to simply enter and hang around at the closest fall, the best way to experience Cascadas de Micos is to organise an additional adventure-style tour, where you can jump from each of the seven falls.

These falls are the closest to Ciudad Valles, and as such can be very busy on weekends and holidays.

10. Cascada Los Comales

Cascada Los Comales is located in Xilitla, in the southern part of La Huasteca Potosina.

Whilst it is far from the most impressive waterfall in the region, if you are in the area it is worth a stop for a cooling dip.

Cascada Los Comales is very close to the popular Edward James Surrealist Gardens and combining the two in one day would make sense.

Other things to do in Huasteca Potosina

If you’re sick of waterfalls (who am I kidding, it’s impossible to get sick of waterfalls!), there are a range of other natural and cultural attractions in Huasteca Potosina.

1. Edward James Surrealist Garden

If you haven’t heard of the waterfalls of Huasteca Potosina, chances are you have heard about the mystical gardens in the rainforest.

Also known as ‘Las Pozas’ the Edward James Surrealist Gardens is a one-of-its-kind sculpture garden, located just outside the town of Xilitla.

Without going into the full history (this is best explained at the site!), Edward James was a British-born poet, who had a complicated and unfortunate childhood. James had a passion for the surrealist style of art and thinking, and Las Pozas was the realisation and expression of his dreams.

The gardens are set in a lush rainforest and have both natural and man-made features.

A key element of the gardens is the natural plants, waterfalls and collection of orchids.

What is most impressive and draws visitors from all over the world, are the sculptures and surrealist art. Stairs leading to the sky, doors to nowhere and ornate and detailed sculptures of flowers and animals create a weird and wonderful place, that feels like it belongs in an alternate reality.

Access to the gardens is only via a guided tour, to protect and preserve the structures and sculptures. Visitors must purchase tickets in advance, and there are capacity limits in place. This also avoids lengthy lines and wait times for visitors.

The gardens are open from Wednesday – Monday (closed Tuesday). Tours run ten times per day, from 8 am. There are specific English-speaking tours, and at the time of writing these were at 10 am and 3 pm.

You can purchase your tickets online here, and we would suggest doing this in advance especially if you want to visit on a weekend.

The tours run for approximately 90 minutes (ours was closer to two hours), and you must depart the gardens at the end of the tour.

Entry to the gardens is 150 pesos per person, and on top of this you need to pay for the guided tour, which is 30 pesos for Spanish tours or 60 pesos for English tours.

2. Selva Teenek Ecopark

Selva Teenek is an animal rescue centre in Huasteca Potosina that rescues, rehabilitates and houses native wildlife.

You can visit for a tour of the park, or you can choose to stay a night, which we highly recommend.

They have both glamping tents, and more luxurious cabañas and every stay includes dinner and breakfast, plus a tour of the park and the animals that call it home – but more on the accommodation aspect later.

Selva Teenek does two main types of work with animals.

The first is acting as a safe home for rescued animals that are unable to be rehabilitated and released back into the wild. They have a focus on big cats, and they house a jaguar, puma, lynx and ocelot among others.

I always have reservations about any animals kept in captivity, but Selva Teenek reminded me of the multitude of reasons why sometimes that is the best option.

Many of these animals were kept as pets from the time they were small, and as a result, are completely adapted to humans. They were rescued from mistreatment, but unfortunately don’t have the skills to survive in the wild. So they live their days safe, fed and loved by the wonderful vets and staff at Selva Teenek.

The second area of work they do is rescue and rehabilitation work for animals that are reported as injured or mistreated. They treat them in their clinic, get them better, and back out into the wild if it’s possible.

We were lucky enough to see some of the beautiful animals currently in their care in the clinic and learn more about the plans for their release.

Like most animal rescue centres, they rely on donations to operate and the passion of their staff who work incredibly hard to care for these animals.

If you’re in Huasteca Potosina please go and visit and support! Not only does it help them, but the experience is amazing. If you love animals as much as we do, you will really enjoy a visit to Selva Teenek.

If you are staying the night at the park, a tour to see the animals is included. You also get the chance to do a night tour, where you accompany the vets feeding the cats.

If you just want to visit for a tour of the park during the day, it’s suggested you get in contact with Selva Teenek in advance to organise it.

3. Sotano de las Golondrinas

Sotano de las Golondrinas, or Cave of Swallows, is an open-air pit cave located near the town of Aquismon.

At its opening, it is over 60 metres wide. But drop down 512 metres into the cave and the width expands to a huge, dark room over 135 metres wide.

Whilst the cave itself is impressive, what draws visitors here is the daily exit, and return, of thousands of birds.

Despite what the name suggests, they are not swallows. The birds are actually white-collared swifts and green parakeets. Someone incorrectly thought they were swallows, and the name has stuck!

Every morning at sunrise, after waking up and getting ready for the day, the birds fly from their nests in flocks.

You can hear them before you can see them, as they circle around the cave, rising towards the opening before shooting out in search of food. The sound of their wings flapping as they circle around the cave like a whirlwind is simply incredible.

At sunset after a day out in the forests, the birds return to their nests in the cave in the same way. Flocking back in together in large groups before nightfall.

The cave is managed by a local community, and entry (at the time of our visit) was 100 pesos per person.

To reach the cave, you will need to walk down over 600 stairs. Not too challenging going down, but going back up again will get your heart racing!

Once you arrive at the mouth of the cave, there are some natural rocky ledges you can sit on, looking down over the opening.

When we visited there were also some locals with ropes and rappelling-style gear. For a small tip, you could get hooked up to the ropes, and peer over the edge of the cave into the abyss.

In terms of times to visit, you can opt for the morning when the birds are leaving the cave or at dusk, when they return for the day.

Check the exact times you should arrive with your accommodation or a local tour provider. It can change with the season and sunrise/sunset times.

If it is raining or very cloudy, it’s best not to visit as the birds are unlikely to leave the cave.

Aquismon is the closest town to the caves, and we would suggest staying there the night prior if you want to visit in the morning. We had a rental car so we drove ourselves. But it would be possible to organise a taxi in town the day prior to pick you up, wait for you, and take you back.

4. Sotano de Las Huahuas

Sotano de Las Huahuas is an alternative option to Sotano de las Golondrinas, offering a similar experience with potentially fewer other visitors.

Sotano de Las Huahuas got the name right! ‘Huahuas’ means parakeet in the local indigenous Huastec language, and you can see them along with swifts flying in and out of the cave.

This cave is just as impressive in size, over 60 metres wide at its opening, and 480 metres deep. To reach the mouth of the cave is around 20 minutes of walking.

We didn’t visit this site (we opted for Sotano de Las Golondrinas instead), but it seems you first walk uphill, and down on the way back.

The timings of the birds exiting and returning to the cave will be similar to Sotano de Las Golondrinas, and you can expect to witness a similar phenomenon. This cave is also located around 30 minutes from the town of Aquismon, and you can drive yourself or pre-arrange a taxi.

5. Cuevas de Mantetzulel

This is a sight we missed out on visiting and I’m really upset about it!

Note – you will see in the below section that I included this in our itinerary. We definitely could have fitted it in, but it was insanely hot when we visited and we just needed a rest!

The caves are located just outside the town of Aquismon and are managed by a local community. There are three caves you can visit, and you must hire a local guide to accompany you.

The hike to reach the caves is uphill, and we hear it is pretty tough. From the photos we have seen, and reviews from other travellers, the caves are spectacular and well worth a visit.

The entrance fee is 35 pesos, and the cost for a guide is 300 pesos per group.

How many of the caves you visit will depend on how much time you have. Most people tend to choose two caves, and you can discuss the options with your guide.

6. Archaeological sites

We decided not to visit any archaeological sites in Huasteca Potosina, as we were most excited to visit the natural attractions and we had just enjoyed Teotihuacan and other ruins in Mexico City.

If this is something you are interested in, there are a few different sites around the region.

The main one is Zona Arqueologica de Tamtoc, located east of Ciudad Valles close to the town of Tamuin. There are over 70 structures within the complex, and each has a circular floor or rounded corners. This unique site was inhabited by the Huastec civilisation and was thought to be the capital of the region at its peak.

You can also visit nearby Zona Arqueologica Tamohi, which is another large ancient city.

Where to stay in Huasteca Potosina

Ciudad Valles

if you’re using Ciudad Valles as a base, or staying there on your first and final nights, we recommend Casa AMMAH for a mid-range option, with exceptional reviews, lovely hosts and a communal kitchen.

If you’re on a budget, we stayed at Hostal Casa Huasteca and really loved it. Or if you want a little splurge, Hotel Casa Ortiz is a stunning option with a pool.

Tamasopo

We recommend spending at least a night in the Tamasopo area to hit the three main sights there over two days. But we highly suggest skipping the town and finding some accommodation set right on the riverfront.

There is nothing wrong with Tamasopo, but it is nothing exciting and some of the accommodation options outside of the town set on the river are absolutely incredible!

We stayed at Cabaña Aventuras and had the best time swimming in the beautiful river and enjoying their rope swing. Plus it was still affordable, at just 850 pesos a night for a private room with a bathroom. Hotel Real Tamasopo is a bit nicer, located a short way upstream.

You can also camp at a few different spots right near here. Anywhere around the location of Cabaña Aventuras will be amazing, and you will have a beautiful river to swim in anytime you like. 

However, a new boutique hotel has just opened in town, which may contradict my previous opinion of staying outside of town. Check out Refugio Huasteco Hotel Boutique and tell me what you think!

El Naranjo

If you’re road-tripping it, El Naranjo is a logical place to stay to see the northern section of Huasteca Potosina.

There aren’t too many accommodation options listed on the online booking platforms, but a quick search on Google Maps and we found some gems.

Both Hotel Bella Vista and Hotel Rio Paraiso are located right on the river and offer basic, but charming rooms. We stayed at Hotel Bella Vista and couldn’t stop gawking at the incredible blue river right outside our door! 

Hotel del Valle is a more standard hotel-style option in town.

Xilitla

Most people will spend at least a night in Xilitla, as it is quite a distance from Ciudad Valles and would be a long day trip to visit the sights in this area.

We stayed in what was formerly known as Casa Caracol but has since been taken over by Ceveceria James. This strange little place is famous for being a weird and wonderful option right in the heart of the rainforest next to the gardens. It takes inspiration from Edward James’ surrealism, with funky painted teepees, colourful gardens a range of different rooms and cabañas available.

We want to recommend this place, but we just can’t. We were sucked in by the ‘vibe’ but the experience did not live up to the hype. It was one of the most expensive accommodation options we’ve stayed in throughout Mexico, and frankly, it sucked. I don’t want to rehash the entire experience, but before you get drawn in by the Instagram vibes, you have been warned!

I did some alternative research for other accommodation options in Xilitla that would have been better.

We loved staying right near the gardens, and Hotel Paraíso Encantado is located in a similar location with great reviews. If you’re looking for something a bit cheaper, Anamaya Hostel in town is a hit with travellers. Posada El Castillo is a unique boutique option, which as the name suggests, is a castle style!

Aquismon

Aquismon is a tiny little town, but surprisingly had one of the best accommodations we stayed in the whole time. It’s the perfect base to visit the sotanos, which require a very early wake-up!

Hotel Boutique Santa Lucía was a cute and colourful hotel right next to the square, with large rooms, continental breakfast included and affordable prices.

If you’re looking for something a bit cheaper, Hostal Aquismon is highly rated.

Not in the centre of town, but Gran Tamoanchan is a near-new stunning boutique eco-hotel that looks simply gorgeous!

Selva Teenek Ecopark

Not located in any specific town, but an incredible option nonetheless, Selva Teenek Ecopark is one of the most unique accommodations we have ever stayed in.

I talked about the park earlier as a must-visit attraction in the Huasteca Potosina region. But, you can also stay there!

You can choose from one of their luxe cabañas, or more affordable glamping tents. All stays include dinner and breakfast at their on-site restaurant. As well as tours of the park to see all the animals in their care.

They offer a night tour where you can accompany the carers feeding the animals. And then throughout the day all you need to do is ask to go and visit the animals, and someone will escort you.

We stayed in a glamping tent and absolutely loved the experience.

It was cute and cosy and located right in the middle of the jungle. We could hear the cats in the distance as we fell asleep. The communal toilets and showers were clean, and the meals were absolutely delicious.

For what you get included in the package the price is very affordable. And knowing that your stay is contributing to the great work they are doing in the park makes it even better.

I would highly recommend spending at least a night at Selva Teenek! It is right next door to Cascadas de Micos so you can combine these two sights.

Where to eat in Huasteca Potosina

I usually include a detailed section on where to eat in all my travel guides. Food is an important part of travel for us, and we always like to hunt out the best spots.

However, we sadly didn’t delve into the local cuisine or restaurants here, so I don’t have any amazing suggestions for you! Most of our time was spent at the waterfalls and out in nature, with limited options, so food was kind of just sustenance!

We took the opportunity to try and save a bit of cash, and had a fair few DIY meals, as we didn’t feel we were missing out on anything amazing. There are plenty of scenic spots to enjoy a picnic!

The Huasteca region does have some great local specialities though, so please do better than we did and hunt out some good local food! Look out for tamales, enchiladas Huastecas, barbacoa tacos, bocoles and moletes.

All the towns around Huasteca Potosina have some restaurants and food stalls to choose from if you’re looking for a meal. You can usually find a small supermarket, convenience store or local market if you want to buy some fruit, vegetables or ingredients for your own meals.

Most of the waterfalls also have restaurants available.

How long to spend in Huasteca Potosina

We spent a week (which was 6 full days of exploring), and we felt that was a good amount of time to see all the highlights.

We would have loved to stay longer in the region and take it a bit slower as our road trip was very fast-paced.

If we had more time, we wouldn’t have necessarily seen any more, but we would have stretched out the time we spent in each spot. We would have appreciated some extra time to soak up the stunning environment and have a few afternoons simply relaxing at one of many beautiful rivers, or taking it slower at the waterfalls.

To hit all the highlights – a week.

If you have less time, I would suggest choosing one part of the region to explore, either the north or the south. I would say at least 3 full days to do these areas justice.

• ⬆️ North: the north area would encompass Ciudad Valles, El Naranjo and Tamasopo and the surrounding attractions and waterfalls in these areas.
• ⬇️ South: the south would include Ciudad Valles and its surrounds, as well as the area around Xilitla and Aquismon.

If you just have a few days, this tour leaving from Ciudad Valles hits some highlights across the north and the south and takes care of all the logistics for you.

Planning a Huasteca Potosina itinerary

I’ve deliberately left this section until the end after you have read about the region, the major cities and towns, the attractions to see, and how to get around.

Now that you know all this information, you can work out how you want to approach the Huasteca Potosina region.

We see there are two main options:

• 🚗 Approach the region road-trip style – rent a car and map a route through the region, staying in a different place each night or each couple of nights.

• 🏡 Set up a base and do day trips from there – Ciudad Valles is the most obvious base, and each day you can branch out to different attractions via whatever method of transport suits you.

Below are a few thoughts to consider on both itinerary options, both positive and negative, to help you decide which option is right for you.

ROAD TRIP STYLE 🚗

• 🗺️ Maximise your time by planning an efficient route that combines attractions located in close proximity to each other
• ⏰ Get more time in the day to see attractions without needing to factor in return time to Ciudad Valles
• 🛖 Get a better insight into different destinations by staying the night (and experience some of the unique accommodations in the region)
• 🚗 No backtracking each day and wasting time driving to and from Ciudad Valles
• 😴 Having to pack up your things and move accommodation most days can be tiring

BASE IN CIUDAD VALLES 🚗

• 🧳 Stay in one accommodation the whole time, unpack your bags and not worry about relocating every day
• 🚕 If you are taking tours or want to hire taxis, this is the best option for you
• 👎🏼 Ciudad Valles isn’t an amazing city, and you would be spending longer than needed in a spot that isn’t very attractive
• 😴 Days would be very very long, reaching places like Xilitla or El Naranjo is 2 + hours drive each way 
• 🗺️ Not the most efficient or linear approach to exploring the region

Possible Huasteca Potosina itineraries

Below you will find a few possible itineraries you could use, depending on how much time you have in the region.

Of course, you can chop and change, cut things out you aren’t interested in and add attractions that we missed. Or adapt any of them to fit in with the amount of time you have, and your transport options within the region.

If you’re arriving via San Luis Potosi, you might want to tweak the order of this route, possibly starting in El Naranjo or Tamasopo. Same goes if you are driving from Queretaro or Mexico City, in which case Xilitla is probably your first stop.

The idea here is to share what we did and provide some thoughts on how we would have done it if we had more or less time.

One week highlights

This is basically the itinerary we followed, with a few small changes we would make with hindsight! We followed a road-trip style itinerary which we highly recommend, but you could follow a similar route with day trips to/from Ciudad Valles. 

DAY 1

We were coming from Mexico City and spent the first day on a Futura bus to Ciudad Valles. Use this day to get yourself to Ciudad Valles, wherever you are coming from!

🌛 Where to stay:

• 💰 Hostal Casa Huasteca
• 💰💰 Casa AMMAH
• 💰💰💰 Hotel Casa Ortiz

DAY 2

Pick up a rental car from Nenek Renta de Autos in Ciudad Valles and head north. Drive approximately 1.5 hours to Cascada El Aguacate, and then another 1.5 hours to Cascadas de Minas Viejas. Head to El Naranjo for the night (30 minutes).

🌛 Where to stay:

• 💰 Hotel Bella Vista
• 💰 Hotel Rio Paraiso
• 💰💰 Hotel del Valle

DAY 3

Drive 30 minutes north to the town of El Meco, and visit Cascada El Salto and Cascada El Meco. If you just view Cascada El Meco (and don’t do any extra tours or boat rides), you can also squeeze in a visit to Cascadas de Micos today, which is around 2 hours drive. Accommodation for the night is right next to the falls, and is an attraction in itself! Selva Teenek Ecopark is an animal rescue centre and included in your stay you will have a night tour to see the animals being fed.

🌛 Where to stay:

• 💰💰 Selva Teenek Ecopark

DAY 4

Breakfast is included at Selva Teenek Ecopark, and then have a tour of the park during the day to see all the animals. Drive to Tamasopo (1 hour), and check in to your accommodation. We highly suggest Cabaña Aventuras which is right on the river and feels like an amusement park with rope swings, a pool and of course a beautiful river to swim in! Check out Puente de Dios this afternoon, which you can walk to if you are staying at Cabañas Aventuras.

🌛 Where to stay:

• 💰 Cabaña Aventuras
• 💰💰💰 Refugio Huasteco Hotel Boutique

DAY 5

Visit Cascadas de Tamasopo and El Trampolín, both very close to your accommodation in Tamasopo. Spend the afternoon driving to Xilitla, which is the longest drive of the trip (~ 3 hours). Check in to your accommodation and relax this evening.

🌛 Where to stay:

• 💰 Anamaya Hostel
• 💰💰 Posada El Castillo
• 💰💰 Hotel Paraíso Encantado

DAY 6

Visit the Edward James Surrealist Gardens (aka Las Pozas). Visits are only via pre-booked tour, the English tour is at 10 am. Drive approximately 1 hour north to the town of Aquismon and visit Cuevas de Mantetzulel this afternoon, before staying in town for the night. 

🌛 Where to stay:

• 💰 Hostal Aquismon
• 💰💰 Hotel Boutique Santa Lucía
• 💰💰 Gran Tamoanchan

DAY 7

Wake up very early to drive 30 minutes to Sotano de las Golondrinas (Cave of Swallows) to witness thousands of birds flying out of the cave at daybreak. Return to town for breakfast. Drive approximately 1 hour north to Cascada de Tamul, and hike or take a lancha boat to the falls. Return to Ciudad Valles in the afternoon and return your rental car to Nenek Renta de Autos.

🌛 Where to stay:

• 💰 Hostal Casa Huasteca
• 💰💰 Casa AMMAH
• 💰💰💰 Hotel Casa Ortiz

DAY 8

Depart Huasteca Potosina for your next destination. For us, this meant a 10-hour bus trip back to Mexico City.

Shorter itineraries

If you have less than a week, I would suggest choosing one half of our suggested itinerary.

Either the first half (days 2, 3, 4 and half of day 5), which is the northern region.

Or the second half (days 6 and 7, and possibly a few other attractions around Ciudad Valles such as Selva Teenek Ecopark and Cascadas de Micos) which is the southern part of the region.

El Naranjo to the north and Xilitla to the south are the furthest points of the region and if you have less than a week I wouldn’t suggest trying to cram in both of these areas. The distances will become too lengthy and you won’t have enough time for the actual attractions.

Longer itineraries

As I mentioned, if we had any longer we probably wouldn’t have added too many more sights. I think we would have just taken it a bit slower and spent two nights in a few places such as Tamasopo (we were devastated to leave Cabaña Aventuras after just one night!). And also take it a bit easier on day 3, which was a big day.

What to bring

If you’re planning an epic adventure to the waterfalls of Huasteca Potosina, here are a few things you’ll want to pack.

• 🥾 Water shoes – a must-have for Huasteca Potosina, you are going to be in and out of the water constantly, clambering over sharp rocks, on slippery banks and on rickety bridges. Water shoes are the way to go. I always wear my Teva sandals and Brayden has some trainer-style water shoes.
• 📱 Waterproof camera or phone case – bring a GoPro or a case for your phone so you can take photos while you’re in the water. Some of the best vantage points for photos of the waterfalls require you to swim, so you want something you can take in with you. There are vendors selling waterproof phone cases at most of the falls.
• 👙 Swimmers – an obvious one, you are going to want to swim! The water is actually surprisingly cold here, so if you’re sensitive to cold water, it’s a good idea to bring a longer bathing suit or rash top, which also helps for sun protection.
• 💧 Towel – a quick dry one preferably, as you’ll hit multiple waterfalls in one day.
• 🎒 Waterproof bag – for any activity involving water (or possible rain) we use a waterproof bag. We have both an entire backpack that is completely waterproof, and also smaller waterproof sacks that we use for the camera and drone, as an added layer of protection and peace of mind. You will be crossing rivers, and walking very close to the waterfalls so you don’t want to take any risks with your stuff.
• ☀️ Sun protection – whatever that means for you – sunscreen, hat, sunglasses, rash top. Please make sure you use reef-safe sunscreen if you do have to use it. It’s best to avoid putting any pollutants into the beautiful waterfalls, but choose an eco option if you can’t avoid it altogether.
• 🦟 Insect repellent – the mosquitoes can be brutal around here, especially in the evenings if you’re staying outside the main cities. Please consider using a natural spray.
• 💧 Water – bring plenty of water! You will be walking a lot, and swimming is tiring! Be sure to use a reusable bottle and avoid creating any more plastic pollution. You’ll be out for full days most of the time, so consider packing multiple bottles to avoid having to buy single-use bottles at the waterfalls.

Huasteca Potosina Travel Guide Conclusion

Phew, 10,000 words later I hope this is everything you need to know about visiting La Huasteca Potosina!

If there is anything I’ve missed, or you still have questions, please let me know in the comments below.

I hope you will consider adding this incredible part of Mexico to your itinerary. It was without a doubt one of our favourite places in the whole country.

We can’t believe that we had never even heard of it before visiting, bu we are so glad we discovered this special place.