🏊 Okay here we go… this is your complete guide to Misol-Ha waterfall near Palenque. This little blog is going to give you all the details you need to plan YOUR visit.
Misol-Ha waterfall is super close to Palenque, and it’s on the way to Agua Azul waterfalls… so it would be crazy not to visit really. Admiring the long drop the water makes into the deep lagoon is just the start. As well as the Misol-Ha waterfall, there are jumping rocks, a small trail behind the falls, and a small grotto. This large lagoon is the perfect place to visit, swim and escape the sun for a couple of hours.
In case it’s not already obvious, I’m just going to announce the fact that we LOVE Palenque!
I mean what’s not to love… the Palenque Ruins are awesome, the waterfalls – Misol-Ha and Agua Azul are the perfect day trip. Not forgetting the epic Roberto Barrios waterfalls. So yep, you might say we are big Palenque fans. Naturally, we have ALL the guides you’ll need for your trip… including this complete guide to Misol-Ha Waterfall.
This post covers the best way to get to Misol-Ha waterfall. Read on to the end and learn how to plan your day trip to BOTH Agua Azul and Misol-Ha. We also list the ticket prices, transport prices + MORE. Additionally, we explore accommodation options and explain what to expect from your visit.
🤓 Read on for more Misol-Ha love and info.
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Table of Contents
About the Misol-Ha Waterfall
Unlike Roberto Barrios and Agua Azul waterfalls, Misol-Ha is a single waterfall. It’s connected to the Xanil river, and plunges an impressive 30m into a large cenote-like pool.
Fun fact! Did you know that Misol-Ha waterfall was the location where the movie Predator was filmed? Neither did I until I began investigating. In the scene where Arnold Schwarzenegger plummets from the waterfall you’ll notice bits and pieces of Misol-Ha waterfall. Though not all… I noticed it’s cut with a few other rapids and falls. Watch the clip here.
What we love about Misol-Ha Waterfall-
- you can swim and cool off, perfect when the weather is warm and humid
- there is a cute little walk behind the waterfall, great for photos and dipping into smaller waterfalls
- the grotto or cavern, definitely worth checking out
- for the hiking lovers there is a bigger walk to the viewing deck
How to Get from Palenque to Misol-Ha
Misol-Ha waterfall is approximately 20km from Palenque. In other words a short 30 minute drive if travelling by car. On the main Highway 199, that connects Palenque with Ocosingo you’ll find the turn-off for Misol-Ha waterfall. From here it’s a 10 to 15 minute walk.
Further along the Highway 199, about 40km, is the turn-off for Agua Azul waterfalls. Naturally, together both of these waterfalls can be combined in one trip to make for a fun day out. However below we explore in more detail, three options of how to get to Misol-Ha waterfall for your preferred day trip. Choose between, guided tour, self-drive, or public transport.
Best Tours to Misol-Ha Waterfall
If time is of the essence and you need to maximise all the travel time you can get, then take a tour. We have selected the 3 best tours below from Viator. From private to group tour, inclusive of ruins and other waterfalls, we have found alternatives to suit every traveller.
Misol-Ha Waterfall Tour Options –
1️⃣ The first is a group tour and combines both Agua Azul and Misol-Ha. As we have already said, given the close proximity to each other, these two waterfalls work well as a day tour. The price includes ticket entrance to the waterfalls.
2️⃣ The second option is a private tour which includes, both waterfalls and the Palenque ruins. The price includes entrance to the three attractions and for an extra fee can include a pickup or drop-off in San Cristobal de las Casas. Subsequently this option is great for travellers wanted to commute between Palenque and San Cristobal, with sights and activities included.
3️⃣ The third option is a group tour and includes the ruins and both waterfalls. Tickets are also included in the price.
Self-Drive Directions
🚙 As we mentioned above, just 21km from Palenque, around 30 – 40 minutes is the exit for Misol-Ha. If you have your own car, then this option is a no-brainer!
On the Palenque – Ocosingo Highway (199) turn right at around 19km onto Cam. a Cascada de Misol-Ha. From here follow the road to the car park, not forgetting to stop on the way to pay road tax.
Getting to Misol-Ha by Collective / Colectivo
🚐 The colectivo or mini-van, is a super easy way to visit Misol-Ha Waterfall. This is the way we planned our visit. All you need to do is get to an Ocosingo colectivo depot in Palenque – and there are a couple to choose from. These are roughly situated on and around Cuarta Calle Pte. A., which I have pinned on the map below.
Basically you are going to take one of the collectives to Ocosingo, but get off at the Misol-Ha turn-off. Negotiate a price with the driver for a Misol-Ha drop-off before you get into the van. Then simply hop out on the main highway. We also explain the colectivo prices further below.
From the turn off you will need to walk to the Misol-Ha waterfall entrance. However it’s only 1.5 km and an easy walk along a quiet road. Funnily enough, you still have to pay the road tax, but this was only 10 pesos per person. And hey, if it helps the community with road maintenance, then we won’t object to it.
What to Expect at Misol-Ha Waterfall
After you’ve paid at the ticket office, the first thing you’ll notice is the large restaurant to your right. Turn away from the restaurant and make your way down towards the waterfall and lagoon.
From here you have a choice of what to visit first – the grotto or the waterfall.
For the grotto, take the path to your left, around the lagoon and behind the falls. Or turn right down to the swimming hole. We explain what to expect in more detail below. But if you’d rather, skip ahead for our short video of Misol-Ha, details on ticket prices, or how to plan a day trip.
Swimming at Misol-Ha
🌈 The view from the swimming area, over the large lagoon and towards the falls is impressive. Especially when the rainbow is visible.
The best spot to take a dip is at the bottom of the steps. Here you’ll find an area of large rocks and boulders, where you can leave your belongings while you swim. Then it’s a bit of a clamber over some large boulders and into the water.
There is a slight current pushing out from the waterfall and the fresh water makes it harder to float. So if you’re not a confident swimmer then a life jacket may be helpful. These are available for rent, and they cost 50 MXN pesos when we visited.
Depending on your swimming ability you can either take a splash to cool off, or swim across to the other side for a closeup of the falls. It gets noisier the closer you get and depending on the water flow, but note the pressure can be pretty intense.
Behind the Waterfall
The view of the waterfall from the swimming hole is amazing, but the view from behind the falls is even better. Especially from midday, when the sun comes up over the falls.
The walk around the lagoon takes about 5 – 10 minutes depending on how many people there are and how many photos you stop to take. The walk is easy, but does have a couple of steps. Also mind your step as sections of the track are wet and you’ll need to be prepared to get a little wet yourself.
The first part of the walk is through a small section of jungle. You then emerge at the base of the cliff which passes behind the falls. From here, it’s around 100 metres to the cave, passing under sections of deep overhangs. There are also smaller sections of water and falls emerging from the rock. These provide fun for the kids, or kids at heart!
The Grotto / Cave
The grotto or cave, is at the end of the walk around the lagoon and behind the waterfall. Reaching the entrance after climbing a small section of stairs. There is a small entrance fee, which you pay at the beginning of the grotto, and you’ll be provided a much needed torch.
The cave is only 20 – 30 metres long and takes only 5 minutes to view. So you might want to skip this visit, but we’re always intrigued by a cave walk and couldn’t turn the opportunity down.
Follow the stream into the cavern… note you’ll definitely get wet feet. This brings you to a small pool, that’s filled by a mini waterfall which gushes out of the rock-face. It’s cute, and fun to see. Then you take a u-turn back out the way you came.
Best Time to Visit Misol-Ha Waterfall
As with all waterfalls in and around Palenque, the best time of the year to visit Misol-Ha waterfall is in the dry season between November and May. This is purely because the water colour is better and it’s a safer time of year to swim.
However! Misol-Ha waterfall isn’t renowned for its beautiful blue waters and therefore this makes it less important to visit during certain months. That’s my opinion on the matter. For reference we visited in April.
How Long You’ll Need for a Visit
You don’t need a great deal of time to visit Misol-Ha waterfalls as it’s a short walking distance between the activities. We recommend one to two hours maximum is enough time to have a swim, walk to the cave and get the photos.
In saying this, you may decide to stop at the restaurant for lunch, or to do some of the other walking activities on offer.
Our visit at Misol-Ha lasted 90 minutes. But it was quiet and this didn’t include the walk down from the main highway nor the walk back up. So on a busier day, maybe allow some extra time, and if you’re taking a collective, add the 30 minutes for the walk in and out.
How to Visit Misol-Ha & Agua Azul in 1 Day
To get the most out of a day trip, we recommend starting first at Agua Azul waterfalls, followed by an afternoon at Misol-Ha. There’s no doubting the fact that Agua Azul is the prettier of the locations, and it’s also the busier. Consequently, we thought it was best to get to Agua Azul before the crowds.
Though, of course the journey could be made the other way around too.
Below was the timetable we followed for our day trip to both waterfalls. This schedule meant we were home before nightfall. Click through to our complete guide to Agua Azul waterfalls for all the information you need to know for your visit.
| 8.30am | 🚐 Colectivo from Palenque to Agua Azul exit |
| 9.30am | 🚕 Taxi from the highway to Agua Azul ticket office |
| 9.45am | 🧭 Explore the Agua Azul waterfalls and trail |
| 2.15pm | 🚕 Taxi back to the highway |
| 2.30pm | 🚐 Colectivo to Misol-Ha exit |
| 3.15pm | 🚶 Walk from the highway to Misol-Ha ticket office |
| 3.30pm | 🧭 Explore Misol-Ha waterfall and cave |
| 4.45pm | 🚶 Walk back to the highway |
| 5.00pm | 🚐 Colectivo to Palenque |
| 5.45pm | 💥 Arrive back in Palenque |
Taking a Colectivo from Misol-Ha to Agua Azul
We had questions about the logistics of taking a collective between the two waterfalls. Mainly because there were four of us, and we were unsure about the frequency and availability of these minivans.
In actual fact it was very easy, as there are many collectives passing by on the Ocosingo / Palenque highway. Simply wave one down, negotiate a price and off you go. We waited on the main highway for no more than 15 minutes on one occasion, and 2 minutes on another.
Prices & Costs of Misol-Ha Waterfall
Below we list the prices for the costs associated with a visit to Misol-Ha. Of course public transport prices will always differ, depended on who’s quoting, the time of year and demand. It’s always a good idea to ask around and when the price seems high, try negotiate for a better one.
| Colectivo Palenque to Misol-Ha | 50 MXN pp |
| Road tax to Misol-Ha | 10 MXN pp |
| Entry to Misol-Ha | 20 MXN pp |
| Grotto Entrance | 10 MXN pp |
| Colectivo Agua Azul to Misol-Ha | 50 MXN pp |
👨👩👧👦 If you’re travelling with children, it’s also a good idea to question whether kids pay or not. Often when we asked, the kids ended up not paying.
At the end of the day, we calculated that our self-guided trip of Agua Azul and Misol-Ha waterfalls totalled 1200 MXN pesos. Which we thought was pretty good for a day out as a family of four!
Location Map of Misol-Ha Waterfall
Use this interactive map to zoom in and out. And also to get a better understanding of where Misol-Ha is situated in relation to Palenque and Agua Azul.
Staying at Misol-Ha
Book one or two nights stay at Misol-Ha for something different. There are 12 cabins available and they do get booked up in advance. Check the Misol-Ha website for more info on how to book and to see photos of the accommodation options.
What to Pack for a Day Trip
Pack as if you were going to the beach. We wore our swimming costumes under our clothes as we felt it was easier. Also given the warmth and humidity, like us you’ll probably welcome the wet swimmers under clothes feel. Though there are changing rooms available.
- Sunblock, swimmers, towels, hats, sunglasses
- A Go-Pro can be fun for destinations like this
- Camera and mobile phone waterproof cover if you have one
- Water / walking shoes – I love my Tropic Feel Shoes for destinations like this
- Water bottles – I love my LifeStraw so I’m not using single-use plastics
- Cash
- Snacks!
Video of Misol-Ha Waterfall
To help you get a better understanding of what to expect at Misol-Ha and Agua Azul, we prepared this short video. I will note, we are not YouTubers, so please don’t expect a feature film… and don’t judge 😜
More on Palenque
This concludes our guide on how to visit Misol-Ha waterfall near Palenque, Mexico. We hope it helped, and don’t hesitate to get in touch if you have any questions. Browse through more of our really cool Palenque travel guides below…
- How to visit the Palenque ruins without a tour
- The best things to do in Palenque (post coming soon)
- A complete guide to Yaxchilan and Bonampak ruins
- Everything you need to know about Roberto Barrios waterfalls
- Find out if you should visit Aluxes Ecopark or not?
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