Roberto Barrios Waterfalls tour near Palenque: Swim in five pools

Discover five stunning waterfalls and swim in their natural emerald pools

Roberto Barrios Waterfalls is a five-hour tour near Palenque where you swim in natural pools formed beneath five separate cascades, surrounded by forest. The tour includes an air-conditioned vehicle. Children from age three are welcome. You choose between a shared tour or a private transfer to San Cristóbal, and you have the full afternoon to move between the pools at your own pace.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Roberto Barrios Waterfalls

• Tour the five waterfalls
• Swim in natural pools
• Enjoy surrounding nature

The experience

Roberto Barrios sits in the forest outside Palenque, and the tour centers on five waterfalls that drop into turquoise pools deep enough to swim in. You spend five hours moving between them: no fixed schedule, no timed stops. The water is cold and clear, and each pool is ringed by vegetation that keeps the sun off the water. An air-conditioned vehicle brings you there and waits. Public transportation options exist nearby if you prefer to arrange your own way back.

The pools themselves are the whole point. You wade in, swim under the falls if the current allows, and move to the next one when you're ready. There's no guide narration or structured itinerary. The time is yours to spend. Children from age three travel on this tour. Infants sit on an adult's lap, and specialized infant seats are available if you need one. The fitness level required is minimal: you're swimming in pools, not hiking steep terrain.

What’s included

• Air-conditioned vehicle transport to the waterfalls.
• five hours of free time to swim in the natural pools and explore the cascades at your own pace.

Options for this experience

2 options

Roberto Barrios Waterfalls11:00Includes pickup

Includes a transfer to San Cristobal11:00In this option we don't head back to Palenque; instead we finish in San Cristobal de las Casas. Pickup is included

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 11:00

AgesAdult (18 to 60 years) · Youth (12 to 17 years) · Child (3 to 11 years) · Under 3: can't be included in the booking

GroupUp to 20

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 3 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Kichan Bajlum

Is this one for you?Book the shared tour if you're traveling solo or with one or two others. Choose private if your onward journey continues to San Cristóbal and you need the vehicle to stay with you rather than return to Palenque.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (12 to 17 years); Child (3 to 11 years). Under 3: they can't be included in the booking.

How do I get to Roberto Barrios Waterfalls from Palenque?

An air-conditioned vehicle is included in the tour and brings you to the waterfalls. Public transportation options are available nearby if you prefer an alternative.

How much time do I actually spend swimming versus traveling?

The tour runs five hours total. You have free time to move between all five waterfalls and swim in each pool at your own pace. There are no fixed stops or group timing.

What are the pools like? Are they safe to swim in?

Each waterfall forms a natural pool of turquoise water deep enough to swim in. The pools are surrounded by forest, and you can enter and exit at your own comfort level.

Do I need to be in good physical shape for this tour?

The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels. You're swimming in pools rather than hiking, so the activity is accessible to most people.