Waterfall Hikes in Puerto Vallarta
Puerto Vallarta offers a limitless amount of adventure & exploring above the sand & unda da sea. Though the beaches are the reason most travelers choose Vallarta, the jungle offers just as many sights to see & things to do, with short trips or all day excursions, & almost free!
Each of the waterfalls on this list are located on the southern end of Puerto Vallarta. The climate in this part of Banderas Bay is much more tropical & includes a lush jungle, crystal clear swim holes, cascading waterfalls & tons of local wildlife thanks to the booming ecosystem of the Sierra Madre Mountains.
Peak Season for Waterfalls in Puerto Vallarta:
June - November
Getting there:
To get to any of these enchanting waterfalls you'll need to catch the orange bus located on the corner of Basilio Badillo & Calle Constitucion labeled “Mismaloya”, or take a taxi/Uber directly to your starting destination. The bus stop is called 'Parada de Camiones a Mismaloya', or in English 'Truck Stop to Mismaloya'. All bus, taxi & Uber drivers will be familiar with this stop.
Once you're at the bus stop, just ask your bus driver to notify you when you arrive at your destination. Most bus drivers in PV do not speak any English, so simply say words like "Chico's Paradise" or "Boca de Tomatlan", and they will nod yes and let you know when to get off the bus. Each direction will cost you 10 pesos, but try not to overwhelm the driver with large bills greater than 50 pesos.
What to bring:
Sunscreen
Hat
Sunglasses
Light hiking clothes
Bug Spray
Lots of water
Snacks
Bathing Suit
Tennis/Hiking shoes
Water shoes/Flip-Flops
Camera gear/Go Pro
Extra batteries
Small first aid kit
Snorkel Gear to Las Animas Hike
The Waterfalls
1. El Nogalito EcoPark
Difficulty: Moderate
Duration: 1.5 Hour hike one-way to first waterfall
This waterfall hike will take you about an hour in each direction from the El Nogalito EcoPark parking lot. The trail starts & stops often along the way, so expect to walk in or along the river for a good part of the journey.
The best spot to begin this hike is in the small town (pueblo) of El Nogalito where the Eco-Park begins. The bus will not take you to this spot, so if you get off at the bus stop expect to walk for a good 25 minutes before you get to the entrance of the park, then an hour to the first waterfall. You can always Uber or taxi to here from centro for around 150 pesos.
Tips & Highlights:
el nogalito ecopark
The halfway point is bordered by these magnificent rock walls! Lined above by a lush green forest & the bright sun, it was a breathtaking day of adventure & exploring.
During rainy season (July-Oct) this pathway is full of water and harder to walk through. This photo was taken in mid-July and the water was low.
The waterfall is slippery but there is a rope to climb it. Above it is another gorgeous swimming hole & several other waterfalls a few kilometers ahead.
El Nogalito On the map:
2. Palo Maria
Difficulty: Moderate to Intense
Duration: 1 HOUR Hike One-way To the first waterfall
This hike varies in options. There are a total of 12 waterfalls to see on this hike, however depending on your skill level you may only be able to reach one or two.
Take the orange bus mentioned above to the Garza Blanca Resort, then hike up the mountain from there. The hike follows between the river & the resort with a mostly rocky riverbed. Closed-toed shoes highly recommended.
After a roughly 45 minute hike over large rocks & a dried up riverbed, you'll reach the first waterfall & swimming hole shown above, frequented by locals who do awesome cliff diving off the rocks into the pool.
Tips & Highlights:
rio Palo Maria
Above the first swimming hole is this rock wall that reaches a height close to 50 feet. In order to reach the next waterfall, you must conquer it. The rocks are dangerously slimy & the cable that is bolted to guide you is slippery in your wet hands, but it's worth it.
There are a few spots where there is nothing to hold on to & no where to step, so I only recommend this to experienced climbers. The locals, however, use this rock as a jumping point right into the swim hole - bare foot & ballsy.
The clear water swim holes were cool, clean & refreshing after our rigorous hike through the jungle & over rocky cliffs. The water is deep enough to jump into without worry & clear enough to snorkel. The earlier you arrive the better - there will be many less visitors in your way.
Watch the Video
Palo Maria On the map:
3. Yelapa Town
Difficulty: Easy Paved Uphill walk
Duration: 6 Hour day, 30 minute walk one-way to waterfall
Getting to Yelapa is half the fun! This is a full-day trip that will have you traveling by foot, bus & water taxi.
Once you're on the orange bus in centro, ask your driver to let you know when you've arrived in Boca de Tomatlan. Once there, you'll be approached by several people asking if you need a boat ride to Yelapa, Las Animas, Playa Colomitos, etc. The prices are about the same no matter who you choose, so don’t waste the energy trying to negotiate. You'll pay 50 pesos per person for a round trip ticket to places like Colomitos & Las Animas, & $180 pesos round trip to Yelapa.
Tips & Highlights:
old yelapa town
Yelapa is a charming little town, with culture as close to old Mexico as you can find in this part of Jalisco. Your boat will arrive at the center of this crescent beach, where you'll be greeted by the locals offering beach chairs, umbrellas & icy cold cerveza. Follow the beach headed south & look for the entrance to the path of the waterfall that will be hiding in between two houses. Don't be afraid to ask someone to point you in the right direction.
I consider this an easy hike because the path is paved the entire way, lined by adorable little houses & stunning Mexican architecture. And though this is rather easy hike, it is straight up the mountain & can be very hot in the middle of the day. Early morning is the best time to start any hikes in Mexico to avoid the heat, foot traffic & dusk.
Take the opportunity to stop & get some good pictures of all the local wall art you'll see along the way. There is usually a couple ladies that have set up stands to sell their homemade jewelry, pottery, artwork & other nifty little trinkets you might want to bring home.
Photograpy x My Deztination. Click here to book your Yelapa Town & Photo Tour Now!
Yelapa On the map:
4. Chico’s Paradise
Difficulty: Easy Walk
Duration: 5 Minutes to Waterfalls
Chico's Paradise, an off the beaten path eco-tour hot spot that features two restaurants, zip lining & a killer swim hole. I've rated it as a very easy hike because you enter the eco-park almost immediately after you step off the bus & follow the restaurants & boardwalks down to the river.
Tips & Highlights:
Chico’s Paradise
This cute little photo worthy bridge lays above the river, where you can look down to see the waterfalls & look up to watch this zip liners zipping by.
This little waterfall is the perfect spot to dive off of, the water is deep & cool & it's easy to climb to. We were sitting having lunch at one of the restaurants when we saw the locals doing this. Great entertainment!
Check out this video of Chico's Paradise by my friend Jessica, a fellow travel videographer from Pink Plankton!
The smooth rocks indicate that the river water can get pretty high some parts of the year. We visited in mid June & the water was pretty low.
The over haning rocks are a great spot to relax, get a tan, drink a couple beers while zip liners fly above your head, admiring all that Chico's Paradise has to offer.
Chico’s Paradise on the map:
5. The Falls at Playa Colomitos (Las Animas Hike)
Difficulty: Intense
Duration: 40 Minutes one-way to WAterfall, 2.5 hours to Las Animas
This small waterfall is hidden in the hills behind playa Colomitos on the popular nature hike that runs from Boca de Tomatlan to Las Animas. The hike from Boca to Colomitos takes about 40 minutes, riddled with natural root-built staircases, breathtaking color contrasts & lush jungle. It's a rigorous hike and the trail often changes or disappears in rainy season, so be sure to bring good shoes, bug spray, sunscreen & swimwear.
Note: A tour guide is recommended on this hike after the damages of tropical strom Narda.
Tips & Highlights:
Jungle coastline waterfall hike to las animas
There are a few signs & maps to guide you along the trail from Boca de Tomatlan to Playa Colomitos, but the trail is often washed out and changing. There are two paths to take to get to the beach, one that mostly follows the ocean & the other that is more inland. The ocean trail is the best.
Be sure to bring a lot of water with you on this hike, it's rather rigorous for beginner hikers. Always start your hikes as early in the day as you can (before 9am is recommended). If you can make it all the way to Las Animas, you will be able to purchase lunch & drinks from the beach bars, but I recommend bringing extra snacks.
For those who are too exhausted to hike home or want to spend more time enjoying the beaches & falls along the way, you can catch a private water taxi back to Boca de Tomatlan or even all the way to Los Muertos Beach in Puerto Vallarta for under $150 pesos. Ask the coconut guy at Playa Colomitos to help you get the boat.
Photograpy x My Deztination. Click here to book your Las Animas Hike & Photo Tour Now!
Watch the Video
Las Animas on the map:
6. The Falls at Quimixto
DIFFICULTY: MODERATE - INtense
Duration: 1.5 Hours ONe-way to Waterfall from Quimixto Town
This is one of the largest waterfalls in the area and one of the only waterfalls that you can swim in year around, even outside of the rainy season. You can arrive to Quimixto waterfall by hiking from Boca de Tomatlan or Las Animas, or if you’re looking for a little less of a challenge you can take the panga boat for less than $160 pesos round trip straight to Quimixto Town.
TIPS & HIGHLIGHTS
THE FALLS AT QUIMIXTO
This is a perfect day trip from centro Puerto Vallarta if you would like to experience a small oceanside Mexican beach town surrounded by ranches, cowboys & hidden mountain trails. I recommend starting the hike before 9am from the Orange bus station listed at the beginning of this article, head to Boca de Tomatlan and arrive in Quimixto by boat around 10am. There are only a few places to eat in Quimixto but the options are delicious. Bring lots of snacks a stay fully hydrated. Ask the locals when you arrive where the best way to acces the trail is, and be extra cautious in rainy season. Once you reach the waterfall you will see a small bridge leading to a restaurant that serves some of the best guacamole in the area. The swimming is great in this waterfall and the photo spots are stunning!
The local Mexican cowboys use the trail frequently with their horses and donkeys, so if you get too tired from the rigorous trail you can rent one to bring you back to the shore.
Quimixto on the map:
Safety:
Contrary to popular U.S. propaganda, Puerto Vallarta is one of the safest cities in the world, and recently ranked the safest city in Mexico by AARP.
Each of these hikes are protected eco-parks, safe for the visitors & focused on conserving the wildlife & culture of Mexico. They do not, however, have regular maintenance and are often rerouted or not visible in rainy season. A tour guide is recommended for most hikes around Puerto Vallarta.
There are wild cats & crocodiles in the jungles of Mexico, but don't often frequent the areas of these falls. Be mindful on your journey and watch your step.
Bring a bag with you to help pick up trash along the way to help keep our Jungles in Mexico clean.
For tips & advice on how to stay safe while traveling abroad, refer to my safety tips here.
Thanks for reading!
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