San Cristobalito, Mexico

Cascada El Chiflón

This series of waterfalls tumble into a radiantly blue river.

This waterfall is located in the highlands of Chiapas, close to the town of Comitán. Exploring the waterfall reveals an exquisitely colored natural wonder.

At the start of the trail, you’ll find a small museum exhibit explaining the history and geological features. You’ll likely spot some giant iguanas hanging around as well.

You’ll pass smaller falls as you wander along the trail that leads to the main attraction. A lookout point gives you prime views of the set of main falls, which stand more than 390 feet (120 meters) tall. The tallest waterfall is known by the name of “Velo de Novia” (Bridal Veil), a common name for this type of waterfalls in Mexico.

There is a platform in the “splash zone” closer to the falls that you can get to by climbing a set of stairs. Off the main trail, pretty well hidden, is a set of steep stairs up to the top of the main falls to another tier of the falls that sits atop them.

The turquoise color of the river and pools can sometimes be muddled by upstream rains that cause sediments to runoff. Regardless of the water’s color, it remains as refreshing and clean as any other day.

Know Before You Go

Public transport to the natural park is limited, so it's best to drive or take an organized tour. These are available from the Chiapas tourism hubs of San Cristóbal de las Casas and Palenque. Day tours that depart from San Cristóbal usually include the waterfalls and the multi-colored Montebello lakes. Those that depart from Palenque and El Chiflón are usually multi-day. Once you are in the natural park, you can either take a tour or walk along the river by yourself to reach the waterfalls.

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