Agua Azul Waterfalls: How to Visit the Natural Wonder of Mexico in 2024
Are you looking for some of the most incredible waterfalls in Mexico? Well, Agua Azul Waterfalls are the slice of paradise you’ve been waiting for.
Coming from the overpriced and overcrowded cenotes of Riviera Maya, this place is a whole other world.
Escape the chaos of the Yucatan Peninsula and experience the gorgeous turquoise cascades that await at Agua Azul Waterfalls.
We’ve written this guide to not only inspire you to visit, but to give you all of the necessary info for traveling to this incredible gem.
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📍 Where in Mexico is Agua Azul?
Agua Azul Waterfalls are located in the jungle of Southern Mexico, in the municipality of Tumbala, a small town in the state of Chiapas.
They are a little under 70 kilometers south of Palenque, which is an hour and 20 minutes away, and a little under 160 km away from San Cristobal de las Casas, which is about a 4 hour drive away.
How to Visit Agua Azul Waterfalls
Agua Azul is pretty smack dab in the middle of nowhere, so there really are only two options for getting there.
🚗 The Options for Getting to Agua Azul Waterfalls
You can either take a tour from Palenque or San Cristobal de las Casas, or you can rent a car.
Both times we visited, we decided to rent a car from Cancun and did long road trips. Agua Azul is a great place to stop and see if you are driving from the Yucatan Peninsula to Chiapas, or vice versa, as it is located right in the middle.
Hours & Timetable of Agua Azul Waterfalls in Mexico
Here are some of the details for planning your visit to Agua Azul Waterfalls.
🎫 Tickets for Agua Azul
There are two different tickets to pay for Agua Azul waterfalls.
The first ticket is to use the road getting into the area, so similar to a toll, but has a per person charge of 40 pesos.
The second ticket is to actually enter the Agua Azul waterfall complex. That ticket is also 40 pesos per person.
If you happen to be coming in the late afternoon or very early in the morning, there won’t be anyone there to sell you a ticket, as there are only people working there during normal business hours.
🕘 When are Agua Azul Waterfalls Open?
Agua Azul Waterfalls are actually accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Some shops and restaurants open as early as 7 am, with the majority of them being open by 9. Many shops and close around 4 or 5, while some may be open as late as 7, while the restaurants typically stay open for dinner since there are people living there, and hotels to stay in.
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Amenities at Agua Azul Waterfalls, Mexico
Before going into what to exect while visiting Agua Azul Waterfalls in Mexico, we're going to share the different amenities that you can find on site.
🅿️ Parking at Agua Azul Waterfalls
The parking lot is located right after the ticket booth, and is large and unpaved.
🚽 Bathrooms on Site at Agua Azul
There are no free public bathrooms at Agua Azul Waterfalls. However, there are bathrooms offered by the different shops that cost 5 pesos.
There is also a main building for bathrooms and there were also showers available for 20 pesos.
📶 Is There Wifi at Agua Azul Waterfalls?
There is no service at Agua Azul Waterfalls, but there are opportunities for Wifi. There are some restaurants that advertise Wifi, but they actually sell the Wifi.
Wifi can used by purchasing a “ficha”. Some sell it for incremements of 5 pesos, and some for 10. The mast common option is to purchase one hour of internet for 10 pesos.
🍴 Restaurants & Dining Options at Agua Azul
There are a ton of sit down restaurants at Agu Azul Waterfalls, as well as plenty of kiosks that serve fresh fruit and drinks.
We definitely suggest getting the empanadas, as they are quick, tasty, and affordable. Also make sure to try the great micheladas, as well as the cut up mango.
🛍 Shops at Agua Azul Waterfalls
There are an unbelievable amount of shops on site, and you'll also find a ton of kids bombarding you to buy from them. (They'll most likely follow you and give you puppy eyes, and will even come to your car while you're inside).
You'll find everything from artesan souvenirs and clothing, to small trinkets to take back home with you. I found a beautiful handmade poncho, so make sure to take a look at the different shops past the beginning area!
You'll want to carry plenty of cash, as there really aren't a ton of the vendors that accept credit card.
🏨 Are There Hotels Near Agua Azul Waterfalls?
Right behind all of the shops and restaurants at Agua Azules is actually a small village. There are a few different options for local home stays.
This is really convenient for being able to experience the waterfalls with no one there, and not having to drive the day of.
The downside to staying here is that there is no AC, Wifi, or hot water in any of the properties that we found.
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Experiencing Agua Azul Waterfalls
As soon as you park you will find plenty of restaurants and shops lining the walkway.
The walkway goes up the left side of the river, with steps and signs along the way.
You’ll find various viewpoints along the way, the official sign for Agua Azul Waterfalls, and more and more restaurants and shops.
After several sets of stairs, you'll find a mirador on the right overlooking the falls, and it's just across this small bridge.
The park goes a bit further, and you’ll notice when the park of Agua Azul Waterfalls finishes, once you end up at a forest area.
There are small pools there, and this is a very relaxing area to hang out. You’ll also see a bridge that crosses the river, but this is not accessible or allowed to be crossed.
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🏊🏼♀️ Can You Swim in Agua Azul Waterfalls?
Swimming is permitted in certain areas of the park.
We originally saw people taking pictures along the rocks right in front of the waterfalls, but that area is now blocked off.
You can no longer swim in this area of the falls.
Walk a little further to the “main area” of Agua Azul waterfalls, and you’ll find the area that is blocked on the sides as the designated swimming area. The waterfalls are calm and cool, and there is even a tiny “beach” you can relax at.
🚡 Agua Azul Zipline
There is a brand new zip line being built that goes right across the falls! Unfortunately, it was not open yet, and we just saw it being set up.
It looks really cool, and we would imagine just as fun and epic as the one that we did at El Chiflon Waterfall.
It is set to open sometime in June, so if we find out any info about the price or hours of operation we will update this part of the article.
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Where to Stay for Visiting Agua Azul Waterfalls
The closest city to Agua Azul Waterfalls is Palenque, which is also a city known for its impressive Mayan ruins.
We stayed in Palenque the night before, and drove to Agua Azules the following day. If you are coming from the Yucatan Peninsula, this will definitely be one of your best options, and if you are coming from Chiapas, you can San Cristobal de las Casas.
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Other Things to Keep in Mind While Visiting Agua Azul Waterfalls in Mexico
Now that you know what your visit to Agua Azul Waterfalls will look like, let’s go over a few final details so you can have an amazing time.
☀️ Weather at Agua Azul Waterfalls
Palenque was one of hottest and most humid places we have ever visited, and even worse than the Yucatan Peninsula.
Luckily the temperatures do drop when you start to get closer to Agua Azul Waterfalls, and even more the farther east into Chiapas you go.
We visited Agua Azul Waterfalls in the end of May and the weather was sunny, hot, and pretty humid.
📆 The Best Time to Visit Agua Azul Waterfalls
The best months to visit Agua Azul Waterfalls are in May and June, when the temperatures are warm enough to swim, and the days are dry and sunny.
The rainy season is in August and September, so this is the worst time to visit Agua Azul Waterfalls. We also don’t recommend visiting the months following the rainy season, as the waters actually turn brown from their normal beautiful blue color, as the sediment rises from all of the storms.
Our first time visiting Agua Azul Waterfalls was in October, and the water looked drastically different from this last time we visited in June.
The best time for blue waters is before the rainy season.
🌄 What is the Best Time to Visit Aguas Azul Waterfalls?
The best time to visit Aguas Azul for less crowds is either early in the morning. Even during the day though we didn’t find it overly crowded though, and you can still enjoy it in the peak hours.
🎒 Packing for a Day at Agua Azul Waterfalls
Here are some of the things we suggest bringing for your visit to Agua Azul Waterfalls:
- Sunscreen
- Sunglasses
- Insulated Water Bottle (to hold the temperature)
- Flip Flops (we personally always get Havaiana flip flops, as they are comfy and long lasting)
- Small Bag or Backpack - take a look at these backpacks for travelers!
- Power Bank (we use Anker power banks, as they are the best in the market and last super long)
- Beach Towel
- Bathing Suit
- Camera - (we use the Sony A7Riii)
- Action Camera (we use the GoPro for underwater shots, and the Insta 360 with the extra long selfie stick for drone-like shots)
- Waterproof Phone Pouch (we use the Case Mate Phone Pouch)
- Drone (We use the Mavic Mini 4 Pro because it's super light and has amazing quality)
Having a drone at Agua Azul is a must.
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🤔 Is Agua Azul Worth it?
Despite being very pretty away from other major tourist attractions, Agua Azul Waterfalls are absolutely worth the trip.
This gorgeous set of waterfalls will simply blow your mind with its bright blue waters and endless cascades.
⏳ How Much Time Do You Need at Agua Azul Waterfalls?
We recommend spending half a day at Agua Azul Waterfalls.
You can see the park in under an hour if you’d like, but there are a lot of cute shops, 3 areas to swim in, and plenty of places to eat and drink.
If you’re with a big group, or like a bit of a slower style of traveling, then you could also opt to stay a night at Agua Azul Waterfalls.
You could easily spend several hours at Agua Azul waterfalls.
Tips for Visiting Agua Azul Waterfalls
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So are you ready to check out the stunning Agua Azul Waterfalls? We hope this guide has helped you plan your visit, and has inspired you to explore more off the beaten path.
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