Cascadas Palo Maria
Cascadas Palo Maria
4.5
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
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4.5
17 reviews
Excellent
13
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3
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Edward Medina
Puerto Vallarta, Mexico1 contribution
Nov 2020
The trip starts at the The Palo Maria bridge, its a 20 minutes from the downtown. From the bridge you have to walk upstream by the river or you can walk on a path by the side of the river (this is the fastest way). How long it will take to reach the cascade depends on wich way you choosed, it can take from 30 minutes to 60min. The first cascade has the deepest natural pool of a depth about 6-7 meters, its on a canyon-like structure what makes perfet to jump on the side of a rock wall and swim. To reach the second cascade you will have to hike, you dont need special eqquipment, from there, the cascade should be at infront of you, this is the best natural pool where you can stay all day long. the next cascades are great but when you reach the 6th cascade you will have to have guts to go up to the next cascade climbing a rusty ladder made of steel ropes. On the las cascade there is a giant stone rock of about 30 meters of diameter, from there the river continues into the jungle.
Written 27 November 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
jborrego22
Sacramento, CA10 contributions
Sept 2022 • Friends
Saw this hike on a YouTube travel blog and thought, why not? Taxi to the trail head from downtown PVR is no problem. The entrance to what is loosely called the “trail” is right at the turnoff for Garza Blanca resort and hard to miss. Before you venture onto this trail, bring plenty of water, snacks, shoes you can get wet and muddy and bug repellent! You will need all of the above. This is a gorgeous journey through the mountains and jungle outside of Vallarta but it is not for everyone, Maybe because September is the rainy season, but the trail cuts off often, is blocked by Jungle, rocks, or zig zags back and forth across the river making for an exhausting journey. Navigating the path takes physical stamina, some muscle and coordination, as well as an unwavering desire to get there. The walk takes about 1.5 hours each way and is close to a 3 miles roundtrip. You basically keep following the river until it dead ends into an immaculate waterfall with a perfect swimming hole in front. My wife and I were there all by ourselves and enjoyed the pristine natural setting.
If you want an adventure away from the crowds of Vallarta, this is a great option!
If you want an adventure away from the crowds of Vallarta, this is a great option!
Written 21 September 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Steve B
3 contributions
Mar 2019 • Couples
Son & I hiked, scrambled, and climbed our way to the 4th or 5th waterfall a couple days back. Currently there is little to no water flowing in the riverbed until you are maybe 20 minutes back. Have faith and keep going as there will still be falls worth seeing. I didnt want to carry bug spray so we lathered up & left it at the "trail head". Big mistake. I went in the water and of course it all washed off. Didnt notice and wasn't bothered by any bugs, but I was bitten all over my arms and legs. Dunno if they were mosquitoes or what bc the weird thing is they didnt start to itch until 48 hours later. One last note: going past the 1st falls is serious business. I wouldn't advertise that scaling for any novice type hiker or anyone that hasn't done some precarious climbing before. Remember, it's not the way up that is most difficult,,,,its the coming back down. Additionally, once up there,, be extremely cautious as you will not be able to retrace steps down that 1st climb if you are injured.
Enjoy--
Enjoy--
Written 23 March 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ricardochavezalarcon
Puerto Vallarta, Mexico47 contributions
Sept 2018 • Friends
when people come to visit Puerto Vallarta, and they're looking for hikes and adventurous things to do, Palo Maria is a must. only a ten drive or bus ride. it's a beautiful and easy 45 minute walk in the middle of the jungle; rock jumping through the creek. so worth it.
Written 4 October 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Grant B
10 contributions
Mar 2019 • Friends
If you want to get past the first waterfall to see what the rest of Cascadas Palo Maria has to offer, be ready that it will involve a climb. Being confident in ability of climbing because climbing past the first waterfall is difficult. I'm an eagle scout and even I found that this was slightly treacherous. If you fall past the first waterfall and break something, you won't be getting back without being on a stretcher. This becomes a high climb where there is no one responsible if you get hurt. Be wary, cautious, and only climb to your level. However only about 45 minutes to the first waterfall, still beautiful and a great sight to see. When at the bridge to the right of the Garza Blanca village, go to the right side of the bridge as the left side has barbed wire on the ground at parts, the right side of the river which follows along the green fence is the way to go. Very easy.
Written 20 March 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
malbeck67
Minneapolis, MN19 contributions
Jan 2020 • Couples
This is a great hike, and not for inexperienced hikers or people with mobility issues as there are large rocks, trees to climb under, uneven river rocks that are slippery. It's definitely worth the 40 minute trek to get to it, but be aware that there is no trail, this is a true hike and the landscape differs in all areas coming and going!
Written 26 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Amanda W
Boulder, Colorado, United States6 contributions
Jan 2020
If you're like me and love to hike, especially in new places, this is definitely worth doing. I just hiked to the first waterfall and swimming hole--which were beautiful, although unfortunately there is a long black pipe running along the hike that interferes with the pristineness of it. Still, it is a fun adventure, something different than beaches and shopping and eating, and I was so glad to have done it.
I took an Uber from the Versailles neighborhood and it was about 170 pesos, and took the bus back (10 pesos). Both are easy ways to get there (I just didn't know on my way down how long the whole excursion was going to be, so went with the Uber.) It took me about 40 minutes up, and about 30 minutes back. I did not climb to the other pools--way to technical and dangerous of a climb for me, hiking solo.
The route is a little confusing--hew to the fenceline alongside the righthand side of the river on your way up and you should be able to see the footpath. At some point, the fenceline gives way to a rock wall, and I crossed the river at that point, where the footpath picked up. You also can scramble your way along the rocks if the river is low, but only if you're surefooted (I am, and stumbled a few times).
Definitely recommend!
I took an Uber from the Versailles neighborhood and it was about 170 pesos, and took the bus back (10 pesos). Both are easy ways to get there (I just didn't know on my way down how long the whole excursion was going to be, so went with the Uber.) It took me about 40 minutes up, and about 30 minutes back. I did not climb to the other pools--way to technical and dangerous of a climb for me, hiking solo.
The route is a little confusing--hew to the fenceline alongside the righthand side of the river on your way up and you should be able to see the footpath. At some point, the fenceline gives way to a rock wall, and I crossed the river at that point, where the footpath picked up. You also can scramble your way along the rocks if the river is low, but only if you're surefooted (I am, and stumbled a few times).
Definitely recommend!
Written 8 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tavis
Bend, OR12 contributions
Feb 2019 • Couples
Best hike/scramble I have ever been on. We just can’t stop talking about it still. If you’re adventurous enough to go past the first waterfall (use the cable attached to anchors on the left), there are so many more. We had heard there were 7 waterfalls yet someone else said 10. We lost count at somewhere around 24 and just stopped counting. After 3 hours we had to turn back due to exhaustion and the energy it would take to clear the next obstacle. When you think there isn’t a way to go up any further, just keep looking around and you’ll see a way. There will be a rope, cable, pipe, or perfect hand/foot holds; something. One example is a seemingly impassable overhead boulder filling the valley with a cut through the middle for the water. But look close and you’ll see a nylon rope dangles right up the middle of the fall. Others have been here and left clues. You have to get into the water at times and your stuff will get wet. Very dangerous. You’re on your own. I consider myself fit and am above a Gumby rock climber. We hired a guide who would only go up to the 7th fall and then turned around. Best Valentine’s Day of our lives. The attached pic is the last fall we made it to. Deceiving as it’s over three stories tall but if you look close, you’ll see an attached rope on the left. I gotta see what’s on the other side
Written 18 February 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Janet B
Victoria, Canada14 contributions
Mar 2023 • Family
A nice hike to a cool swimming hole. Adequate shade in the heat of the day as we walked along the river bed. The river was not flowing in March but the waterfall was a good stream into a deep fish filled pond.
Written 11 April 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Randel T
Dakar, Senegal71 contributions
Mar 2019 • Family
This is a hidden gem near Puerto-Vallarta. The entrance to the walk up the river is a bit hard to find. It is a hard 45 minute hike over lots of boulders and rocks. Once you get there the waterfall is not impressive but the pool of cold water is deserving of a plunge.
Written 7 March 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi what is the location of the waterfall thank you
Written 4 March 2019
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