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We've compiled the best of the best in Mexico - browse our top choices for the top things to see or do during your stay.
A (usually) dry riverbed called an arroyo runs through the center of Los Barriles, and it is a wild landscape to rip through on an ATV. About 20 km (12½ miles) in is a waterfall whose size changes by the month; sometimes its pool is only deep enough for a splash, but it's still miraculous to see freshwater rapidly gushing out of rocks in the middle of an otherwise barren desert.
If you've heard whispers of a waterfall, it was likely this: Cascada Sol del Mayo, located at the base of a canyon within the Rancho Ecológico Sol de Mayo, just outside of the town of Santiago. It's a bit of a journey to reach, but it's a fun adventure for active travelers. First, head down a long dirt road from the Mirador Santiago de Yola, a small observation platform overlooking Santiago's lagoons and palm groves; you'll likely lose cell reception, but it's hard to get lost (download the route on Google Maps ahead of time if you'd like the reassurance). Once you reach the ranch, you'll need to pay an entrance fee, and it's a short but steep hike down into the canyon. You'll be rewarded halfway with a view of the twinkling green swimming hole and dainty but powerful cascade. The crystal clear, freshwater pool is incredibly refreshing (especially after that descent on a warm day) and has pockets both deep (nice for jumping) and shallow (nice for standing or floating).
This small waterfall can be reached on foot or you can take a horseback ride for about 150--400 MXN ($8–$20) depending on how well you haggle. You can enter the waterfall from the lower road for free or buy a drink and snack at the restaurant on top of the hill. You can also take a swim in the cold waters below the falls, which are refreshing in summer but quite cold in the winter season.
From Mismaloya there is a trail following the river deep into the jungle and up through the mountains; it's about 4 km (2½ miles) long and it leads to a beautiful waterfall and natural pool known as El Edén. The trek can be a bit arduous for kids, but the nature around is impressive. There is a restaurant and an ecopark on-site.
The waterfall is a 40-minute walk from Ajijijc and only visible during the rainy season, but the trek is definitely worth it if you want to spend some time in nature without people around you.
