Cascada Los Azules
Cascada Los Azules
4.5
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4.5
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John P
Guadalajara, Mexico340 contributions
Feb 2017 • Friends
The town of Tequila is famous for its distilleries but I predict it may someday become a Mecca for nature lovers and outdoor adventurers, simply because it sits right between two of Jalisco’s most attractive natural wonders: Tequila Volcano and La Toma Canyon. The volcano rises to a height of 2920 meters and has a timberline climate at the top all year round while the canyon, 2000 meters below, is eternally hot, steamy and filled with lush jungle growth and tropical fruits like sapotes and chirimoyas.
While everyone knows the volcano is located just south of Tequila, hardly anyone is aware that homes at the northeastern edge of the town are perched upon the very edge of a sheer cliff overlooking La Toma Valley. Even fewer people know that a short hike along a trail down the barranca wall will bring you to one of the most beautiful waterfalls in what I have described as The Magic Circle of fascinating outdoor sites within easy reach of Guadalajara.
This waterfall is called Los Azules and for 20 years I searched for an easy way to reach it. Then I bumped into ecotourism guide Luis Medina.
“John, that waterfall you’ve been calling ‘elusive’ is only a half-hour walk from Tequila—and, guess what, it’s not one waterfall but three biggies. I’ll show you the trail this coming Friday.”
A few days later, Luis and his wife Lucy picked up Susy and me and off we drove to Tequila. We parked only one kilometer from the highway and began walking through gorgeous fields of blue-green agaves, along a road dotted with chunks of high-quality black obsidian. The fact that there was so much obsidian spread over such a large area surprised us—and, we later learned, also surprised archeologist Phil Weigand who told us this particular obsidian deposit has never been registered.
At the end of the road we had been following, we started down a narrow, steep trail surrounded by jungly growth. Suddenly we came to a clearing and there, far below us in all its splendor, lay the huge valley of La Toma, framed by high, red canyon walls. “Welcome to the Machu Pichu of Guadalajara,” announced Luis.
Fifteen minutes later, we arrived at the kind of waterfall I would expect to find in the Garden of Eden. It was 40 meters tall, wide and wispy, with a sunlit blue-green pool at its foot that beckoned us to jump right in for a swim—which, of course, we wasted no time in doing. The water, by the way, comes from springs near the top of the canyon and is perfectly clean. To our surprise, the pool temperature was neither hot nor cold, but pleasantly cool. As we swam and played in the water, dozens of blue and red dragonflies danced in the air above us, exactly like the birds and butterflies in a Walt Disney movie. In fact, the whole scene was more like a dream than reality and to top it off, we had this paradise all to ourselves the whole time we were there, which was most of the day.
“Luis,” I said, “this is heaven! In the USA, this would be a National Park with No-Swimming signs and hundreds of tourists filing by just to get a glimpse of it.”
Luis mentioned that the flow of water in Los Azules is more or less the same all year round and also during storms. This means you don’t have to worry about flash floods in this canyon, as you must in many others.
The directions below will lead you to waterfall number two, which is very attractive and easy to reach. There are, of course, a grand total of three, which explains why the name of the place is Los Azules and not El Azul. The first fall is around 60 meters high but only operates right after a storm while the third is 70 meters tall and, like the second, runs all year round.
If you’d like to have Los Azules all to yourself, visit this site on a workday, not on the weekend (especially Sunday), when a lot of people from Tequila hike down for a swim. Don’t forget your swimsuit and a camera!
How to get there
Take Libre (free) Highway 15 west from Guadalajara. Upon arriving at Tequila, watch for the traffic island with a large sculpture honoring Tequila making. 683 meters past the sculpture you’ll come to a cemetery. Turn right here onto La Paz Street and go to the end of it (a T). Turn left, drive 940 meters northeast and park (N20 53.563 W103 49.627). Continue along this same road, but on foot, for 902 meters at which point you’ll cross a dry riverbed. Now you are no longer on a road, but on a trail. Follow this downhill for about 160 meters to a Y (N20 53.874 W103 49.206). Take the left fork downwards another 150 meters to a T (approximately N20 53.895 W103 49.270). The trail to your left goes to the base of Waterfall 1 which is dry most of the year. The trail to your right takes you 240 meters to the glorious blue pool at the bottom of waterfall 2 (approximately N20 53.932 W103 49.261). The hike from your car to this pool is about 30 minutes and the drive from Guadalajara to the parking spot is about one hour.
While everyone knows the volcano is located just south of Tequila, hardly anyone is aware that homes at the northeastern edge of the town are perched upon the very edge of a sheer cliff overlooking La Toma Valley. Even fewer people know that a short hike along a trail down the barranca wall will bring you to one of the most beautiful waterfalls in what I have described as The Magic Circle of fascinating outdoor sites within easy reach of Guadalajara.
This waterfall is called Los Azules and for 20 years I searched for an easy way to reach it. Then I bumped into ecotourism guide Luis Medina.
“John, that waterfall you’ve been calling ‘elusive’ is only a half-hour walk from Tequila—and, guess what, it’s not one waterfall but three biggies. I’ll show you the trail this coming Friday.”
A few days later, Luis and his wife Lucy picked up Susy and me and off we drove to Tequila. We parked only one kilometer from the highway and began walking through gorgeous fields of blue-green agaves, along a road dotted with chunks of high-quality black obsidian. The fact that there was so much obsidian spread over such a large area surprised us—and, we later learned, also surprised archeologist Phil Weigand who told us this particular obsidian deposit has never been registered.
At the end of the road we had been following, we started down a narrow, steep trail surrounded by jungly growth. Suddenly we came to a clearing and there, far below us in all its splendor, lay the huge valley of La Toma, framed by high, red canyon walls. “Welcome to the Machu Pichu of Guadalajara,” announced Luis.
Fifteen minutes later, we arrived at the kind of waterfall I would expect to find in the Garden of Eden. It was 40 meters tall, wide and wispy, with a sunlit blue-green pool at its foot that beckoned us to jump right in for a swim—which, of course, we wasted no time in doing. The water, by the way, comes from springs near the top of the canyon and is perfectly clean. To our surprise, the pool temperature was neither hot nor cold, but pleasantly cool. As we swam and played in the water, dozens of blue and red dragonflies danced in the air above us, exactly like the birds and butterflies in a Walt Disney movie. In fact, the whole scene was more like a dream than reality and to top it off, we had this paradise all to ourselves the whole time we were there, which was most of the day.
“Luis,” I said, “this is heaven! In the USA, this would be a National Park with No-Swimming signs and hundreds of tourists filing by just to get a glimpse of it.”
Luis mentioned that the flow of water in Los Azules is more or less the same all year round and also during storms. This means you don’t have to worry about flash floods in this canyon, as you must in many others.
The directions below will lead you to waterfall number two, which is very attractive and easy to reach. There are, of course, a grand total of three, which explains why the name of the place is Los Azules and not El Azul. The first fall is around 60 meters high but only operates right after a storm while the third is 70 meters tall and, like the second, runs all year round.
If you’d like to have Los Azules all to yourself, visit this site on a workday, not on the weekend (especially Sunday), when a lot of people from Tequila hike down for a swim. Don’t forget your swimsuit and a camera!
How to get there
Take Libre (free) Highway 15 west from Guadalajara. Upon arriving at Tequila, watch for the traffic island with a large sculpture honoring Tequila making. 683 meters past the sculpture you’ll come to a cemetery. Turn right here onto La Paz Street and go to the end of it (a T). Turn left, drive 940 meters northeast and park (N20 53.563 W103 49.627). Continue along this same road, but on foot, for 902 meters at which point you’ll cross a dry riverbed. Now you are no longer on a road, but on a trail. Follow this downhill for about 160 meters to a Y (N20 53.874 W103 49.206). Take the left fork downwards another 150 meters to a T (approximately N20 53.895 W103 49.270). The trail to your left goes to the base of Waterfall 1 which is dry most of the year. The trail to your right takes you 240 meters to the glorious blue pool at the bottom of waterfall 2 (approximately N20 53.932 W103 49.261). The hike from your car to this pool is about 30 minutes and the drive from Guadalajara to the parking spot is about one hour.
Written 21 May 2017
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.
Graziee
Brasilia, DF18 contributions
Feb 2015 • Solo
Mexico is a box full of surprises! I had no idea this country would turn out to be one of the most diverse countries in the world. Deserts, beaches, mountains, cities…. A place touched by God, and he was inspired!!
Cascada Los Azules is a precise example of beauty on Earth. The colour of the water makes you speechless hoping never to come back home.
Cascada Los Azules is a precise example of beauty on Earth. The colour of the water makes you speechless hoping never to come back home.
Written 11 December 2015
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.
Sheila_Martinez
Santa Maria, CA4 contributions
Sept 2016 • Couples
Four of us ate and all the meals were delicious and the waitress was attentive & helpful. Best food in Tlaquepaque Mexico!
Written 23 September 2016
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.
Pilar
10 contributions
May 2019 • Friends
The waterfalls are amazing, unfortunately they have a lot of pipes at the top to get water to houses nearby and its not very clean. The trail to get there is steep so I would not recommend it for little kids
Written 20 May 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.
Manuel O
Mexico City, Mexico29 contributions
Oct 2017 • Couples
My wife and I adventured going by ourselves, it’s a 25 minute walk from downtown Tequila to where the trails begin. I would recommend bringing cross country tennis shoes with good traction as the trails are very steep and many loose rocks. Also, try to follow the red dots painted on rocks and trees once you enter the trail, as they will lead you through the worthy paths (we didn’t and wasted valuable time and energy). We would also recommend to arrive as early as possible if you’re going by yourself. Besides that, it’s a nice place to visit, absolutely recommend it.
Written 29 October 2017
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.
Writer_M_Ryan
Guadalajara, Mexico9 contributions
Mar 2019
I can't express how magical this place is....but it's wonderful. There are several pools and falls to visit and it's easily an all day event (although you can do a morning to early afternoon hike in and hike out). The hike isn't easy, you must have good shoes and be in reasonably good shape. The trip down is 45 minutes to an hour, depending on which pool and how fast you go, coming back out is tough, it's a huge elevation change. Take lots of water and snacks, there's nothing there but nature. The trails are reasonably well marked, if you go downward, you'll end up somewhere on the stream and if you upward you'll eventually hit the trail head. Keep in mind that you have to park on a dirt road in an agave field at the top of the valley, so don't have valuables in the car. You can also park in the last neighborhood road before the trail head and depending on the day and time you might find a resident willing to keep an eye on your car. It's a great trip and I highly recommend making a day of it. Oh, while I haven't used them, there is a tour that takes people and you can belay down the middle falls, about 60 meters or so, I'm told.
Written 10 September 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.
TineMatthys
Playa del Carmen, Mexico32 contributions
Mar 2019 • Solo
I tried to find the waterfalls with maps.me but the app did not take me to the right spots. It is dangerous to go without a guide and easy to get lost and never find the waterfalls. I just asked a local kid passing by to show me and paid 50 pesos as a tip. It was great.
Written 26 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.
Amy G
1 contribution
Jul 2024 • Friends
If you require an intermediate level of sebderiamo although the route is short, I invite you to accompany the local guides who are out there, will help them with the shorter routes and support locals, it is an intermediate route take into account wearing shoes for that
The water there is delicious, fresh, the Guide made us feel very safe at all times
The water there is delicious, fresh, the Guide made us feel very safe at all times
Automatically translated
Written 20 July 2024
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.
Del centro de tequila en vehiculo 10 minutos despues se deja este y se camina 20 a 25 minutos para llegar a la segunda cascada o 30 a 35 minutos para llegar a la tercer cascada.
Si es tu primera vez se recomienda llevar guia.
Written 14 April 2018
Hola buen dia me podrian apoyar en decirme cuanto es el costo de la entrada a las cascadas
Written 17 January 2018
Es libre, no hay cuota de ingreso, aunque es recomendable contratar un sevicio de guia.
Por lo regular la gente se pierde, abajo no hay señal y es un terreno accidentado.
Puedes llegar solo pero mejor acompañado, busca en facebook Tequila adventure ellos te pueden guiar.
Written 5 March 2018
So ... I tried to find this waterfall the other day.
I got to the end of the road that was ... literally ... "littered" with obsidian.
I found the trailhead and took the first two turns (for some reason my GPS did not agree at all with the coordinates given,
but that could well have been my fault.
After those two turns I was presented with several more "folks in the trail" and though I persisted for some time,
I was unable to decipher the correct trail to the falls. The falls is now noted in Google maps, but alas there was not enough resolution there to help me find the actual falls.
While I would like to see the falls, it was a great outing anyway... good exercise, and if you keep taking the right turn at every opportunity you will be rewarded with a very interesting find....
A spring-fed brick and stone pool of large dimensions that I would estimate to be at least 75 years old.
I'd love to know the history of it.....
Written 20 October 2017
Hola James,
Yes, my GPS goes a little crazy along that trail....well I should say trails, as there are paths leading to all three waterfalls. How about giving me the coordinates of that brick-n-stone pool..., if you have them? Why don't we try to get together with the plan of making a fairly accurate map that would guide people to the fall of their choice? I could try to get Luis Medina, who knows those paths really well, to guide us. Cheers.
Written 28 October 2017
PedroAlonsoA
Tlaquepaque, Mexico
Hola ¿¿quisiera saber si es de libre acceso o se tiene que pagar cuota de ingreso??
Written 8 May 2017
Hola! No hay cuota de ingreso, sin embargo te aconsejo contratar un guía de la ciudad ya que el camino es complicado y es mejor ir con alguien que conozca el lugar.
Written 9 May 2017
Did you go with a tour guide? If so, where did you find one?
Written 29 March 2017
yes i did, you can find it as tequila adventure.
Are two beautiful waterfalls
Written 30 August 2017
Hola, es obligatorio el contratar una compañía de paseos o puedo llegar por mi cuenta?
Written 20 September 2016
hola Maria yo estive ayer y cuando llegue a Tequila pregunte a informacion turistica y nos cobraba el guia 400 pesos por persona, un timo, asi que meti en el google maps cascada de los azules y nos indicaba el camino, eso si suele haber muchos turistas visitandola en fin de semana para que vayas preguntando a todos por donde agarrar; luego ten en cuenta que es un sendero de alta dificultad; pendientes muy inclinadas y zonas donde hay que caminar con mucha precaucion; por lo que hay que estar preparado fisicamente un poco, y sobre todo no tener miedo a las alturas, por lo que ya en funcion del riesgo y ganas de curiosidad tu puedes investigar por tu cuenta y visitar con amigos sin guias o para sentiete mas tranquilo con guia.
tiempo estimado de hacer el camino son tres horas, ida y vuelta; ya que ida es cuesta abajo; y vuelta cuesta arriba;y se entretiene uno haciendo fotos
lugar espectacular !!!!
Written 31 October 2016
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