Cascada El Chuveje Style Trail to Salto de Texolo

The trail to Salto de Texolo begins at the mirador on the edge of Xico, a small town about 20 minutes from Coatepec in the central Veracruz highlands, reachable by taxi, colectivo, or bus from Xalapa. From the mirador parking area, a paved-then-stone path drops roughly 130 metres over about 1.25 kilometres to the base of the falls, passing through banana groves and shade-coffee plantations typical of the region. No permit or entrance reservation is required, though a small entrance fee is collected at the mirador gate. The descent is on stone steps and packed dirt, unshaded in sections near the top and shaded lower down under coffee and banana canopy; the steps become slick and uneven after rain, and there is no handrail for much of the lower section. Along the way, hikers pass a suspension footbridge over the gorge with views of the 80-metre Texolo waterfall and the adjoining, smaller Cascada de la Monja, a landmark many use as a turn-around point if they prefer not to descend all the way to the base pools. The full descent reaches a viewing platform and rocky pools at the base of the main falls, though swimming is not permitted in the strongest current areas. There are no water sources, shelters, or refuge huts along the route; the walk is short enough that carrying 1 to 1.5 litres of water is sufficient. Return is via the same stone path, which is notably more strenuous climbing back up than descending, given the elevation gain over uneven steps.