Matacanes: Canyoning, Water Jumps & Rappelling Adventure

★★★★★★★★★★ 4.93 (1,781 reviews) 94% rated it 5 stars

Travelers' pick

1/10

Duration1d

GroupUp to 25

LanguagesEN · ES

Mobile ticketAccepted

Matacanes canyoning adventure with caves waterfalls & wild swims

You’ll feel your pulse race as you leap into crystal pools, slide through ancient tunnels, and rappel beside roaring waterfalls on this Matacanes canyoning day trip from Monterrey. With expert guides and all gear included—even breakfast—you’ll taste adventure (and probably a little river water). This is for anyone who wants to feel alive in wild nature.

Step-by-step itinerary

Matacanes Canyon adventure

Receive life-jacket, helmet, wetsuit, harness
Descend into Matacanes Canyon
Walk through river and rapids
Swim in natural pools
Explore subterranean tunnels and caves
Climb and rappel waterfalls
Enjoy views of cliffs and waterfalls

The Experience

I didn’t expect my heart to pound just from zipping up a wetsuit at dawn outside Monterrey. The air was sharp and smelled like wet stone—honestly, I almost chickened out when our guide, Chuy, handed me the helmet. He grinned and said something about “aguas frías” (cold waters) that made everyone laugh, but I only half got the joke. Then we started hiking down into Matacanes Canyon and the sound of the river got louder with every step—like it was daring us to come closer.

The first jump wasn’t even the highest (maybe five meters?), but standing on that rock above the blue-green pool felt like forever. My hands were shaking a little. Chuy counted uno-dos-tres and I just went for it—the water was freezing and tasted so clean it almost stung my teeth. After that, everything blurred together: sliding down smooth rocks, ducking into dark tunnels where you can’t see your own feet, clinging to ropes while cold spray hit my face. At one point we all sat in silence under a cave’s dripping ceiling, just listening to the echo of water somewhere deeper inside. I still think about how small I felt right then.

We covered nearly 12 kilometers—scrambling over boulders, swimming through narrow channels, rappelling beside a waterfall that looked taller than any building I’ve lived in. The snacks tasted way better than they should’ve (maybe hunger or maybe adrenaline). Chuy kept checking on everyone and somehow remembered all our names by lunch. By the end my legs were jelly but nobody wanted it to end yet—except maybe my toes.

What’s included

Your day includes hotel pickup from Monterrey if needed, continental breakfast before setting out into Matacanes Canyon, all technical gear—wetsuit, harness, helmet, life vest—and plenty of snacks along the way as you hike, swim, jump and rappel through caves and waterfalls with your local guide before returning tired but happy.

Good to know

Moderate physical levelNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Gaia Xtreme Tours