The Cascada de Misol-Há (Misol-Há Waterfall) is a one-drop 25-metre tall waterfall with an amazing pool for swimming. It’s one of the closest waterfalls to Palenque in the Chiapas region of Mexico, located only a 20-minute drive from the city.
Its proximity and accessibility makes this waterfall also one of the most popular waterfalls in the area, so expect lots of tourists unless you go there really early or even better stay overnight.
If waking up to the sound of running water, hollow monkeys, and birds is your kind of vibe, we definitely recommend staying at the cabanas of Misol-Há. We really wanted to immerse ourselves in the nature that Chiapas had to offer, so we opted for an overnight stay at a cabana.
How to get to Misol-Há
There are two ways to travel to Misol-Há. By tour or by collectivo (local mini buses).
The easiest way to get there is by taking a tour that includes both Misol-Há and Agua Azul waterfalls. Since both of the waterfalls are located on the way to San Christobal, a lot of tour operators offer you a transfer to San Christobal that includes visiting both waterfalls.
The price for the tour is very reasonable too at between 600-900 pesos. Seeing Misol-Há this way is best for these who are limited on time but still want to explore these beautiful places.
The downside of the tour is that you will be given a very limited time to spend at each waterfall which will take away your opportunity to really soak in their beauty. If you decide to take a tour, the chances are high that you will arrive during peak hour and meet lots of crowds.
The other option is to take a collectivo from the city centre of Palenque just a couple of blocks from the ADO bus station. You will pay 50 pesos per person before getting into the mini bus.
During the day, there are many collectivos leaving every 20 minutes or until it's full. The last collectivo goes at 6 pm from Palenque, but it’s always better to not wait till the last one as it can be full.
After approximately 30 minutes, you will reach an intersection where the passengers need to exit the collectivo. Note if you want to visit Agua Azul after seeing Misol-Há, you’ll need to return to this intersection to take the same collectivo in the same direction towards Ocosingo.
From the intersection, you can share a taxi or moto taxi to Misol-Há for only 10 pesos. It takes about a five-minute walk to arrive at the entrance. If you prefer to walk, the distance from the intersection to the waterfall is 1.5 km, or about a 15 - 20 minute walk.
The entrance fee to Misol-Há
There is a standard entrance fee to the national park of 10 pesos (what they call a ‘road tax’). Which for some reason, we didn’t have to pay, but I heard other tourists having to pay it.
Once you get closer to the waterfall, you have to pay another 20 pesos to access it. However, if you are planning to stay overnight in their cabanas or you have a reservation, just let them know and then you don’t have to pay this fee.
Staying overnight at Misol-Há
The cabanas are quite simple, but have everything you need for a good night’s sleep. The price was very reasonable too at only 350 pesos per person. If you book through the website in advance, for some reason the price is higher.
All cabanas have their own bathroom with hot water. There are a few cabanas right next to the waterfall, so you can fall asleep to its sounds and have some tea in the morning overlooking the jungle. There are also a couple of cabanas close to the restaurant.
Since we were there during the week, we were lucky to stay at the cabanas right next to the waterfall. You can book the cabanas online or try your luck at arrival.
Note their restaurant is quite basic and barely had anything plant-based. If you are vegetarian, you can have quesadillas and an egg plate for breakfast. But as a vegan, you may want to take some food with you. You can also get a grilled or boiled corn cob during the day, some mango, and coconuts.
Our experience at Misol-Há
When you stay overnight, you get the opportunity to have the waterfall all to yourself after closing hours. The pool is quite big and deep, but you can’t get too close to the waterfall because of its powerful stream.
We were there during the dry season, so the waterfall wasn’t that powerful, but we could imagine during the rainy season it would be even more challenging to get close to it.
Another way to enjoy this beautiful place is to walk behind Misol-Há via some steps to really feel the power of it. You will see a path on the left side to the main waterfall.
Keep walking and you will see a very different angle of this place when you are behind it. Watch your step and hold onto the rail handles as it’s very slippery.
At the end of the path, you can discover a cave which leads to a tunnel with a small waterfall inside it.
When you reach the entrance to the cave, a local will approach you for another payment to get in. He charges for his guided service and a flashlight.
You cannot enter the cave without a guide, so make sure you have some cash with you. They charge 10 or 20 pesos, depending if you are a local and the size of the group. He will make sure you safely reach the waterfall through a dark tunnel.
It was a really beautiful surprise to get there and enjoy a peaceful moment by ourselves. You can go for a quick dip in the small pool formed by the waterfall before being guided back.
Since we were staying there for a while, we discovered some hidden spots along the river. You can either find this path from the cabanas below or near the restaurant where the cabanas start.
You can go for a swim at these spots without the crowds. We really liked it there because it’s surrounded by the jungle and you can still see Misol-Há waterfall from a distance.
Our ultimate guide to Chiapas
Don't forget to read our article on the 25 best things to do in Chiapas!
