Naolinco Waterfalls Overlook Trail

The overlook trail in Naolinco begins near the town center of Naolinco de Victoria, about 40 minutes by bus or car from Xalapa in the central Veracruz highlands. No permit is required to walk between the miradors. From a starting point near the main plaza, a roughly 3-kilometre round-trip path follows paved and packed-dirt walkways along the rim of the canyon carved by the Naolinco River, with gentle undulating terrain and only a few short descents to viewpoint platforms; total elevation change is modest. The surface is stable underfoot in dry conditions, with light tree cover in places and open, sun-exposed sections along the canyon rim. Landmarks along the route include several named miradors overlooking different sections of the ten cascades that make up the Naolinco waterfalls, the 80-metre main falls fed by the El Organo River, and the dramatic Balcon de la Muerte lookout at the far end of the walk, which serves as the natural turn-around point for most visitors. There is no water source along the route, and no refuge hut or shelter, since the walk stays within the town's built-up edge rather than wilderness. Hikers should be cautious at the unfenced sections of the Balcon de la Muerte viewpoint, which sits directly above a steep canyon drop. The walk can be completed in either direction, and side streets in town offer food and drink options for before or after the hike.