2-Day Sierra Gorda Adventure: Mountain Tubing & Hiking
Paddle down rivers and hike into hidden canyons where few tourists venture
A 2-day mountain adventure in Sierra Gorda de Querétaro combining tubing, hiking and rappelling through remote corners of the biosphere reserve. You'll tube about 3 km downriver, rappel 45 meters into a forest waterfall, hike canyon trails, and swim in natural pools, with one night's accommodation, all meals, specialized equipment and a professional guide included. Departures run from San Miguel de Allende or Santiago de Querétaro.
Options for this experience
2 optionsStep-by-step itinerary
Day 1: Hiking and rappelling in Sierra Gorda
- Meet guide at office or hotel
- Rappel 45 meters near waterfall
- Eat traditional meal
- Travel to Jalpan de Serra
- Visit Franciscan mission and walk by Jalpan dam
Day 2: River tubing and swimming adventure
- Breakfast
- Tube 3 km down river
- Walk to water pools for swimming and jumping
- Relax before return
What’s included
- Professional guide in English, Spanish or French.
- private transportation from San Miguel de Allende or Santiago de Querétaro.
- one night accommodation in Jalpan de Serra or Concá.
- all meals across both days.
- specialized equipment for rappelling and tubing.
- insurance coverage.
- Every day 07:00
Information
Spend 2 days tubing down mountain rivers and hiking through canyons in Sierra Gorda de Querétaro: rappel into a waterfall, swim in turquoise pools.
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The experience
You get picked up from your hotel in San Miguel de Allende or Santiago de Querétaro and driven into the Sierra Gorda, where the first day opens with a 45-meter rappel down into a forest canyon with a waterfall at the base. After that descent, a traditional meal refuels the group before you travel to Jalpan de Serra (a small colonial town built around a Franciscan mission), where you walk to the Jalpan dam and explore the pueblo on foot. You sleep that night in either Jalpan de Serra or the nearby village of Concá.
Day two starts after breakfast with the river section. You board an inner tube and float about 3 kilometers downstream, paddling through rapids formed by the current while the canyon walls rise around you. The water is clear enough to see the riverbed, and the route passes through stretches where you can spot local plants and wildlife. Before heading back, the group stops to hike a short trail leading to a series of natural pools where you can jump and swim, letting the morning's exertion drain away before the drive home.
The guide speaks English, Spanish or French depending on the option you choose. All specialized gear (tubes, rappelling equipment, harnesses) is provided, as is insurance. Transportation, accommodation and meals are included across both days, so the only thing you arrange is which departure point works for your schedule.
Top questions
What languages is the tour guided in?
Live guide in English, Spanish and French.
Can children come?
Yes. Ticket types: Child (12 years). Children under 12 can't be included in the booking.
What happens if it rains?
It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.
What's the rappelling part like on the first day?
The rappel drops 45 meters into a forest canyon with a waterfall flowing at the base. A professional guide manages the setup and descent, and the specialized equipment is provided. This is not a climb back up, just a controlled descent into the canyon.
How difficult is the tubing on day two?
The 3-kilometer float covers river sections with rapids formed by the current, so you'll paddle and navigate moving water rather than drift passively. The route includes calm stretches and faster sections, and a short hike to natural pools happens before the return, giving you time to recover.
Where do I sleep between the two days?
You stay one night in either Jalpan de Serra or Concá, both small pueblos in the Sierra Gorda. The accommodation is included in the price, and your guide will confirm which village the option you book uses.
What meals are provided across the 2 days?
A traditional meal is served on day one after the rappel, and breakfast is included on day two before the tubing starts. Lunch happens after the morning river section, so you're fed between each major activity.
Can I do this trip if I'm visiting San Miguel de Allende for just a couple of days?
Yes, the 2-day adventure runs from San Miguel de Allende, so hotel pickup is included. You'll return to the city by evening on day two, leaving the next day free if your schedule allows.
What should I bring for the tubing and swimming sections?
Bring a change of clothes, a towel, sunscreen and water shoes or sandals that can get wet. The tubing and pool swimming happen in river water, so plan to be soaked for those sections. Specialized equipment like tubes and rappelling gear is all provided.
Operated by EXXI CHALLENGE MÉXICO. Explorevia does not run this tour: we compare it with similar options, and you book it with our booking partner.
Prices and times updated 5 days ago
2-Day Sierra Gorda Adventure: Mountain Tubing & Hiking
2d · EN · ES · FR · at your hotel
from US$ 359 per person
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