Poza Azul Boardwalk Trail

The Poza Azul Boardwalk Trail circles Poza Azul, a 5.3-meter-deep spring-fed pool inside the Cuatro Cienegas Natural Protected Area in Coahuila, home to endemic fish and turtle species found nowhere else on Earth. The trailhead is reached by private vehicle or taxi from Cuatro Cienegas town via Federal Highway 30 toward San Pedro de las Colonias; visitors pay an entry fee in cash at the reserve gate, and parking is available at the site. The loop is about 1.5 kilometers and entirely flat, with under 10 meters of elevation change, following a raised boardwalk over sensitive wetland areas combined with a level dirt path around the rest of the pool. The surface is secure and well-maintained, making this one of the easiest walks in the reserve, though the boardwalk can be slippery when wet. Shade is minimal, as the pool sits in open desert scrub. The main landmark is Poza Azul itself, whose vivid blue color comes from its depth and mineral clarity; interpretive signage along the boardwalk explains the endemic species found in the pool, part of the broader Cuatro Cienegas basin often compared to the Galapagos for its biodiversity. Because the trail is a loop, most visitors complete the full circuit rather than turning around partway. There are no potable water sources or shelters along the boardwalk itself, so the recommended 1.5 litres should be carried from town, though the reserve's entrance area has basic facilities. Swimming is not permitted in Poza Azul, unlike some other pools in the reserve, so the walk is best treated as a wildlife-viewing and photography stop rather than a swimming destination.