💧Want to know more about how to day trip to Roberto Barrios Cascadas in Palenque? These waterfalls are probably the best we visited in ALL of Mexico!
In short, we spent many days and nights in Palenque. So our guide below tells you EXACTLY how to plan your visit to Roberto Barrios from Palenque. From the best tour, self driving directions, and how to take the collective… we got you covered.
We provide a breakdown on what we paid. And also give a really good idea on what to expect and how to see and visit the Roberto Barrios waterfalls.
No secrets here… the Roberto Barrios Cascadas… or Cascades… or Waterfalls, were easily our family favourite near Palenque. Which is a big call, considering how incredible the nearby Agua Azul and Misol-Ha waterfalls both are.
So nope, it’s not up for discussion – the Roberto Barrios Cascadas are 💯 worth it!
Seriously though, if you love a little adventure, or the outdoors, or you just want to cool off in some STUNNING fresh water pools, then you are going to drool over the beautiful aqua-blues of Roberto Barrios Waterfalls.
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Table of Contents
Planning a Visit to the 6 Cascadas of Roberto Barrios
This post is designed to help you understand and plan your visit to Roberto Barrios Cascadas in Palenque.
If there is anything you think we’ve missed, leave a comment, drop me an email. We are always happy to help.
Enjoy 💃
How to Get to Roberto Barrios Cascadas from Palenque
🚀 First of all, let’s look at how to get to Roberto Barrios Cascadas from Palenque!
There are 6 connected waterfalls, that make up the Cascadas de Roberto Barrios. These are found beside the village of Roberto Barrios in the Bascan Valley. Which by car, is only 45 minutes to an hour south of Palenque.
Therefore to get there from Palengue, you can either take a tour, drive yourself, take a private taxi, or as we did – take a collective. Continue reading below for details of how to get to Roberto Barrios for your day trip!
Tip: Skip to the end of the post for the location map.
Tours to Roberto Barrios
A day trip to Roberto Barrios can be booked among most tour operators based in Palenque. Tour prices vary from 300 – 500 pesos per person. The cost of this generally covers pick up, drop off and entrance to the park.
However, some also include guided tours of the cascadas. This means you’ll have a local guide, show you around the waterfalls. Which can be helpful in understanding how the various pools link up, and the best way to traverse sections of the falls.
It’s important to know that there are small cascadas which you can slide down, and some you can’t. There are also a couple of small caverns and caves which your guide may include. Of course this exploration is all part of the fun, if you have time to investigate on your own. If you don’t perhaps a tour is better for you.
The best guided tours we found were on Get Your Guide listed below. Though this guided tour of Roberto Barrios on Viator, may also pique your interest.
Self Drive Directions
🚗 Moving on… if you have your own vehicle then getting to Roberto Barrios is really quite simple.
To start, head south out of town on the 199 heading to Ocosingo. At around 9km out of town turn left onto La Trinitaria-Palenque – Highway 307. Then follow the 307 for a further 7.5km, before taking the turn off to Roberto Barrios town.
From here it’s around another 13km before reaching the town. Basically after crossing the river you are just about there. Continue along the main road, which leads straight to the main grassed square and ticket office. Parking is available here also, on a grassed area in front of the church.
Collective / Colectivo Transport
Taking a collective to Roberto Barrios is also relatively easy. The pick up point in Palenque is on Cuarta (4th) Pte Nte, between 5a Avenida and Sexta (6th) Avenida. So if you are staying in town, it’s likely walking distance. Find the exact location, pinned on our map at the end of this post. These colectivos run from 7.00am to 4.30pm.
As with all collectives, the van must fill before it leaves. We waited around 15 minutes which the driver said was fairly standard. The cost was 50 pesos per person and the drive was 45 minutes.
The drop off point is in the centre of Roberto Barrios village, right beside the ticket office.
We were back at the ticket office just after 4.00pm as we didn’t want to miss the last ride. Also we were a group of four, and worried about spaces. However, we need not have worried as three vans were waiting, and the drivers were organising themselves over CB radios.
Our van was the last collective out and it was a fully loaded! Including one person who sat on a bucket for the trip home. When in Mexico!
🚨 Note: the last collective leaves at around 4.30pm! So do not miss this van or it’s an expensive taxi ride back to Palenque.
Pick up a Taxi in Palenque
If you’re travelling with a small group, or don’t want the hassle with a collective, then taxi is another option. Expect to be quoted between 600 to 1000 MXN pesos for a one way taxi ride, of course this is always up for negotiation.
The risk with this option, is there is no guarantee that a taxi will be waiting at the entrance when you’re ready to return. Nor that the price will be the same. We would recommend checking with the driver in advance to confirm a pick up for the same return price.
Alternatively, jump in the colectivo for the ride back!
What to Expect at Roberto Barrios Waterfalls
Now let’s get into the good stuff! What to expect at Roberto Barrios and how to navigate your way around the waterfalls.
Arriving at the main grassed square in town, you arrive at the ticket office. So grab your tickets and have a chat to the friendly locals. Entry to the Roberto Barrios Cascadas costs 30 MXN pesos per person.
To the right of the office, a road leads towards the waterfalls. It’s a short 150m walk (according to the sign) past the church, souvenir shops, a couple of restaurants and small snacks shops.
You may also find several little pop up stalls, young kids selling ice blocks and fresh fruit on either side of the road. The end of the road opens out into a forest and if you look ahead you’ll see the river.
Navigating the 6 Cascadas / Waterfalls
From the ticket office follow the river down stream. The area is made up of six main waterfalls or cascadas and pools, with several miradors or view points. The main path is well worn and the signs that point to the cascades help navigate the way.
As you will discover, each cascada is different from the next. Some smaller, some bigger, some swimming holes with singular waterfalls, and others with multiple waterfalls. But for sure, there is plenty of space to find a quiet spot.
The final swimming area at the base of the large falls, is more like a small lake or laguna. But again it comes with plenty of places to sit and relax, or enjoy a packed lunch.
Our favourite place at Roberto Barrios was above the final waterfall, where a series of pools gently cascade from one into another. There was shade, a hidden cave, multiple small pools to explore and a natural waterfall slide.
Yes you heard me right! Sit at the top of the waterfall, and you’ll find a worn path. Propel yourself forward and it’s a fun slippery ride down into the lagoon below.
Our Suggestion: Explore all the main cascades first following the signs in sequence. Find your favourite space. Then when you’ve got your bearings, go back to your preferred spot and settle in for the day.
Best Time of the Year to Visit
The best time of the year to visit is during the dry season, which is between November to April. Less rain fall means that the aqua coloured waters are at their best. Also the flow of water is reduced so you can enjoy both the waterfalls and the swimming pools.
During the wet season the waterfalls can become brown and the extra water flow can make them dangerous to swim in.
5 Extra Tips for Visiting Roberto Barrios
Below we’ve listed 5 tips that we think might help when planning your trip to Roberto Barrios Cascadas. So be sure to read on for our travel hacks.
👨🦯 Grab a Local Guide
There are a lot of hidden gems, so one of the best ways to make sure you get the full experience is to hire a local guide. They will take you up, down, across and around the various pools. In other words, a local guide can show you which ropes lead you to which pools, the best natural slides, the hidden cave and other secret spots.
You’ll find the local guides hanging around the entrance to the cascades. Alternatively ask at the ticket office on arrival. As always, negotiate a price, and tips are always welcomed if you are happy with the experience.
🙊 Look Out for Monkeys
The cascades are surrounded by natural rain forest, so keep an eye out for the various wildlife. This part of Mexico is full of incredible bird and butterfly species waiting to be admired. And if you’re lucky, you may encounter a troop of howler or spider monkeys, that are known to frequent the area.
🧭 Visit Via the Northern Side of the Falls
The northern side of the cascades offer a less accessed entrance, given that they can only be accessed when coming by taxi or private car. As such they are supposed to be more secluded and provide access to some less frequented spots.
Getting to the northern side of the falls: about 250m before you cross the bridge into Roberto Barrios village, look for an unsealed road. It can easily be seen on Satellite view of Google Maps.
While it’s not an access point we explored, it’s one that we might have, if we’d had wheels.
🌱 Travel Sustainably
As with all forms of travel, try where possible to reduce your impact. Get yourself a LifeStraw to save yourself buying plastic bottles. Take all your rubbish out with you and where possible try to dispose of these properly.
Also, if you do find any rubbish on the track or in the water, why not pick up it up. In addition avoid applying sunscreen and insect sprays before entering the water.
⏰ Get There Early
Naturally, the earlier you get there the quieter Roberto Barrios Cascadas will be. We definitely noticed that it was busier after midday.
Map to Roberto Barrios
What to Pack for a Visit to Roberto Barrios
Pack simple as you can. The last thing you want, is to be lugging a bag through the cascades. Wear shorts, t-shirt, sunnies, swimmers and sling in a towel – that might be all you want. But for those that are all in, then a good camera, Go-Pro and a drone may also be on your list.
Some of the essentials –
- Hat and sunglasses
- Dry bag – you can traverse the falls and swimming pools
- Swimmers and micro-fibre towel
- Cash – there are no ATMs in Roberto Barrios
- Water camera or Go-Pro – fun for the natural water slides
- Food – the town is quiet, so snacks are a good idea just incase things are closed
- LifeStraw filtering water bottle
- Waterproof Tropic Feel Shoes – I don’t travel without them!
Is it Worth a Trip from Palenque?
If you are in Palenque for more than two days then HELL YES!!! Roberto Barrios cascades is so, so, so worth it. For us it was number two on our list after Palenque Ruins. It’s just such a beautiful spot and totally worth spending a whole day.
⭐️ It’s beautiful… easy to get to, and super cheap to boot. We give it a solid five stars!
Visiting Roberto Barrios from San Cristobal de las Casas
I’m adding this section here just in case you are considering the mission from San Cristobal de las Casas. Honestly, I believe it’s too far for a day trip. I would instead plan to spend one or two nights in Palenque and make a few days of it.
For example, I’d recommend combining it with a trip to the Palenque Ruins and / or the Misol-Ha and Agua Azul Waterfalls.
More on Palenque
Don’t miss our other awesome guides from in and around Palenque and beyond –
- All you need to know on how to visit the Palenque Ruins
- Complete guide to Yaxchilan and Bonampak
- How to day trip to Agua Azul and Misol-Ha Waterfalls
- Our ultimate guide to Palenque (post coming soon)
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Thanks for the post! I’ve been to Chiapas many times but never to this waterfall. I’m about to visit Palanque for a few days and was considering visiting here. Some of the other roads in Chiapas can be a bit rough and I’ve gotten car sick on all the turns in the mountains. How’s this road?
Thanks in advance 🙂