Nayarit’s waterfalls cluster in two areas: the mountains that drop toward San Blas and Matanchén Bay (El Cora, Tecuitata, Jumatán) and the south of the state, between Compostela, Jala and Amatlán de Cañas, where hot springs bubble up as well. Almost all of them are under two hours from Tepic and two to three hours from Puerto Vallarta airport, and several can be visited without a guide; the canyoning ones cannot.
Below you will find each site with directions, dirt roads, difficulty, services and whether you need a guide, plus a comparison table, the best season and the hot spring resorts (balnearios). Also check how to get to Nayarit.
The best waterfalls in Nayarit
El Cora waterfall (San Blas)
The most photographed in the state: a roughly 40-meter (130 ft) plunge inside a green-walled canyon into a wide pool where you can actually swim. Getting there: from Tepic take the road to Santa Cruz de Miramar (via Jalcocotán); at km 44, in Tecuitata, a 9 km turnoff leads to the village of El Cora. In the village follow the cobbled road until it ends and park; a short dirt track and a 20–30 minute trail downhill (30–40 back up) follow. From Puerto Vallarta it is about 3 hours. Difficulty: low to moderate; children from about 6 manage it fine in the dry season. Services: a local cooperative charges access (approx. $50–100 MXN, 3–6 USD in 2026), basic restrooms and palapas; food only in Tecuitata. Guide: not required for the pool; required for the rappel descent through the canyon. Full route in El Cora waterfall route.
Tecuitata canyon (San Blas)
In the village where the El Cora turnoff begins, the stream carves a canyon with springs, pools and chained waterfalls overlooking Matanchén Bay. It is Nayarit’s most popular canyoning route: jumps into pools from 2 to 14 meters, natural slides and one rappel. Getting there: 44 km from Tepic on state highway 76 (approx. 1 h 15 min), paved all the way to the village. Difficulty: moderate; no experience needed, but you must be fit and able to swim. Operators provide the safety briefing and gear. Guide: mandatory. A guided descent starts at approx. $1,200–1,800 MXN (65–100 USD) per person in 2026. Best season: November to June. See our adventure section for canyoning routes.
Salto de Jumatán (Tepic)
The state’s tallest waterfall: 110 meters (360 ft) down a basalt wall, only 20 km from Tepic. Getting there: Tepic–Mazatlán toll road, past the Trapichillo toll booth, and about 5 minutes later the Jumatán sign appears; access crosses a CFE hydroelectric facility, so you must ask permission at the gate. A stairway of about 650 steps leads down; the climb back is demanding. Difficulty: moderate because of the ascent. Services: none; bring water. Guide: no, but go with company and only in the dry season.
El Salto de Jomulco (Jala)
7 km from the Pueblo Mágico (Magical Town) of Jala, in the community of Jomulco at the foot of the Ceboruco volcano. A veil of clean water that swells in the rainy season; access is over a suspension bridge and a walk of about 2 km along the stream, with “tinajas” (rock pools) on the way. Getting there: Tepic–Jala on the Guadalajara toll road (approx. 1 h, 75 km), then a signposted rural road to Jomulco; the last stretch is dirt in good condition. Difficulty: low. Services: basic in Jomulco; lodging and restaurants in Jala. Guide: not needed. Combine it with the volcano climb: see the Jala page.
Cañón del Diablo (Ruiz)
Although sometimes mistakenly placed in Compostela, the Devil’s Canyon is at Real Mineral del Zopilote, in the municipality of Ruiz, north of Tepic: 800-meter gorges, crystal pools and a 70-meter waterfall, beginner-friendly with a guide. Getting there: 64 km from Tepic to Ruiz on free highway 15; cross Ruiz, take the Zacatecas road, pass El Venado and after 9 km, at the Tenamache stream bridge, a 4 km track leads to Zopilote. About 1 h 45 min. Difficulty: moderate to high (rappel and jumps). Services: very basic; operators bring food. Guide: mandatory.
Salto del Capomo (Compostela)
A jungle canyon near Las Varas with a waterfall reached after 3.5 km of trail (7 km round trip) from the village of El Capomo. Getting there: on federal Highway 200; El Capomo is about 86 km from Tepic (1 h 45 min) and about 2 hours from Puerto Vallarta airport; from the village to the trailhead there is a dirt road that turns to mud in the rains. Difficulty: moderate because of distance and heat. Services: none at the falls. Guide: recommended (the trail is easy to lose); mandatory for the technical descent. In winter it can dwindle to a trickle.
Cascada de Luna and the Sierra de Vallejo (Compostela)
On the same Highway 200, at km 48 of the Compostela–Las Varas stretch (50 km from Tepic), a community eco-village gives access to a roughly 40-meter waterfall with guided hikes, kayaking and rustic cabins with grills. It is the most comfortable option for families in the south. In the Sierra de Vallejo (between Las Varas, Las Cuevas and Los Ayala) there are falls such as Los Chorros, in Las Cuevas, reached only with local guides along unmarked tracks. See the Compostela page.
Real de Acuitapilco waterfalls (Santa María del Oro)
An old mining village 20 minutes from the Santa María del Oro lagoon and 1 hour from Tepic, with nine waterfalls; the closest are La Silla (the tallest) and Las Ánimas. Getting there: Highway 15 toward Guadalajara, turnoff to Santa María del Oro, then a narrow rural road with dirt stretches. Difficulty: low to moderate. Services: restaurant, cabins and camping area; access approx. $100–120 MXN (6–7 USD) per person in 2026. Guide: not needed for the nearby falls. Afterwards, take a dip in the lagoon that changes color.
Comparison table
| Site | From Tepic | Dirt road | Difficulty | Guide | Swimming |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| El Cora (San Blas) | 53 km / 1 h 30 min | Short, at the end | Low-moderate | No (yes for rappel) | Yes |
| Tecuitata canyon | 44 km / 1 h 15 min | No | Moderate | Mandatory | Yes |
| Salto de Jumatán | 20 km / 30 min | No | Moderate (stairs) | No | Not advised |
| El Salto de Jomulco (Jala) | 82 km / 1 h 20 min | Yes, good condition | Low | No | Yes, in rock pools |
| Cañón del Diablo (Ruiz) | 77 km / 1 h 45 min | 4 km track | Moderate-high | Mandatory | Yes |
| Salto del Capomo | 86 km / 1 h 45 min | Yes, muddy in rains | Moderate | Recommended | Yes |
| Cascada de Luna | 50 km / 50 min | No | Low | Included | Yes |
| Real de Acuitapilco | 65 km / 1 h | Stretches | Low-moderate | No | Yes |
Best time to visit the waterfalls
- July to October (rainy season): maximum flow and intense green, but the water turns murky and there is a real risk of flash floods in narrow canyons such as Tecuitata, El Cora and Cañón del Diablo.
- November to February: the best balance: still plenty of water, pools clear up and temperatures are mild. This is peak canyoning season.
- March to June (dry season): crystal-clear pools and firm trails, though falls like El Capomo or Jomulco can shrink to a trickle. Serious heat from May onward.
Hot springs in Nayarit
Amatlán de Cañas: the valley of springs
The state’s most thermal Pueblo Mágico, 120 km from Tepic (approx. 2 h 15 min via the Guadalajara toll road, Jala–Ahuacatlán exit and the Ahuacatlán–Amatlán road, all paved) and about 3 h 30 min from Puerto Vallarta. Springs at 37–40 °C (99–104 °F) feed several balnearios in the valley: the best known is in the hamlet of Agua Caliente, beside the river promenade, with thermal pools, lawns, grills and simple lodging; entry in 2026 starts at approx. $50–100 MXN (3–6 USD). Other balnearios with hotels or cabins charge approx. $100–250 MXN (6–14 USD). Separately, El Manto is a cold-water canyon (not thermal) for swimming, rock jumping and guided rappel; entry approx. $180 MXN adults and $120 MXN children. Read the full guide on the Amatlán de Cañas page.
Nuevo Ixtlán (Compostela)
Mind the name: these hot springs are not in Ixtlán del Río but in the community of Nuevo Ixtlán (Las Cañadas), deep in the Sierra de Vallejo, municipality of Compostela. They are about twenty terraced stone pools in the forest. Getting there: Highway 200 to the Altavista junction (10 minutes north of La Peñita de Jaltemba), then about 10 km of well-kept dirt road to the balneario, 2 km past the village; approx. 1 h 40 min from Puerto Vallarta airport. Usual hours 8:00 to 17:00; entry approx. $70–100 MXN (4–6 USD) per person, with camping for about $100 MXN more. There are palapas, grills and restrooms; bring food and cash. Around Jala and Ixtlán del Río there are no established thermal resorts; the nearest alternative is the warm volcanic lagoon of Santa María del Oro.
Balneario Agua Caliente (Tepic)
Fifteen minutes from the city on the road to Bellavista, a popular balneario with two large pools and several small sulfurous pools at about 35 °C (95 °F), among mango and guava orchards. Simple, packed on Sundays and cheap (approx. $50–80 MXN, 3–5 USD). Ideal to close a day in Tepic or after climbing back from Jumatán.
Safety and ethics at waterfalls and rivers
- In the rainy season, never enter a canyon if it rained in the mountains the night before or if the water is murky: flash floods arrive in minutes. Leave the streambed as soon as you hear thunder.
- Do not jump into any pool until someone has checked depth and rocks; the jumps at Tecuitata and El Manto are done only where the guide says.
- Hire operators with certified gear and insurance; technical descents (Tecuitata, Cañón del Diablo, El Cora by rappel) are not do-it-yourself.
- Carry out all your trash, fruit peels included. Do not use soap or conventional sunscreen in the pools: use reef-safe or, better, rinse off beforehand.
- Respect the fees charged by cooperatives and ejidos (communal landholders): they maintain the trails. Pay in cash, eat in the village and do not light fires outside designated areas. More in ecotourism in Nayarit.
Frequently asked questions
What is the tallest waterfall in Nayarit?
Salto de Jumatán, a 110-meter drop over basalt, 20 km from Tepic. Access passes through CFE facilities and requires permission at the gate.
Can you swim at El Cora waterfall?
Yes, the pool at the base is swimmable, especially from November to May. In heavy rains the current picks up and it is best to stay on the bank.
Do I need a guide for Nayarit’s waterfalls?
Not for El Cora, Jomulco, Real de Acuitapilco or Cascada de Luna. Yes, mandatorily, for canyoning in Tecuitata, Cañón del Diablo and the technical descent at El Capomo.
When do the waterfalls have the most water?
From July to October, in the rainy season. For clear pools and safe canyoning, November to February; from March to June several falls carry little water.
Where are the hot springs in Nayarit?
In Amatlán de Cañas (Agua Caliente and several balnearios), in Nuevo Ixtlán (Compostela, in the Sierra de Vallejo) and at the Agua Caliente balneario 15 minutes from Tepic.
Area map
- 1El Cora waterfall San Blas waterfall; rappelling with an operator.21.43031, -105.11378 · Open in Google Maps
- 2Jumatán falls Waterfall at Jumatán, Tepic municipality.21.6432, -105.0316 · Open in Google Maps
- 3Jomulco waterfall Waterfall with pools near Jomulco.21.10166, -104.40603 · Open in Google Maps
- 4Cañón del Diablo (Real Mineral del Zopilote) Canyon access, Ruiz municipality; guide required.21.9585, -104.93424 · Open in Google Maps
- 5Salto del Capomo (El Capomo) Compostela village; start of the Salto del Capomo descent.21.1139, -105.1212 · Open in Google Maps
- 6El Manto natural pools Cool-water pools and falls between rock walls, in El Rosario.20.89163, -104.48063 · Open in Google Maps
