Palo Maria Waterfall: A Beautiful Jungle Hike Near Puerto Vallarta
Visiting Palo Maria Waterfall near Puerto Vallarta
Puerto Vallarta offers a variety of hiking opportunities, from coastal trails to jungle and river treks, and even urban climbs like Mirador de La Cruz. For those who love waterfalls, the rivers and mountains south of the city provide some incredible adventures. During our extended stay in Puerto Vallarta, we had an unforgettable experience hiking to Palo Maria Waterfall. This 1.4 mile out-and-back hike makes for a great half-day excursion.
Getting There
If you’re short on time or prefer a hassle-free ride, taxis and Ubers are available. However, we recommend taking the bus for a more local experience. If you do take a taxi or Uber, you’ll want to be dropped off near the Garza Blanca bus stop (next to Hotel Garza Blanca).
To get to the hiking trail from Puerto Vallarta by bus, head to the Romantic Zone. From here, buses depart south toward Mismaloya and Boca de Tomatlán. If you’re staying in the Hotel Zone or Versalles, look for a bus along Highway 200 heading toward El Centro and the Romantic Zone.
Once you arrive in the Romantic Zone, walk to the intersection of Constitución and Calle Basilio Badillo. The bus stop isn’t clearly marked, but you’ll often spot others waiting near the Oxxo on Constitución. This is the bus stop.
Buses run approximately every 15-20 minutes, though schedules can be unpredictable. Once you board the bus, tell the driver you’re getting off at Garza Blanca. The bus ride will last about 20 minutes, depending on the number of stops it makes along the way.
What to Wear
This trail involves some rock scaling and occasional river crossing (especially in the rainy season). We recommend a secure and stable sneaker or sandal. We love Altra Lone Peaks for their grip, wide toe box, and closed-toe protection. Whatever you feel most comfortable in is best!
For clothing, dress comfortably as you would for a hike, and be sure to check the forecast beforehand. Wearing a swimsuit underneath your clothes (or as shorts for men) is ideal, allowing you to jump into the water and cool off as soon as you reach Palo Maria Waterfall!
What to Pack
- Pesos: If you’re taking the bus from Puerto Vallarta, make sure you have pesos! Keeping a stash of coins with you makes hops on the bus easy and efficient.
- Sun protection: While much of the hiking trail is shaded, you’ll inevitably get some sun in arriving to the trailhead, and occasionally during the hike. A hat, sunscreen, and sunglasses are essentials.
- Insect repellent: Because you’ll be hiking in the jungle, bring insect repellent and apply before beginning the hike.
- Dry bag: A dry bag is ideal if you want to keep your valuables safe while swimming at Palo Maria Waterfall.
- Towel: We packed our trusty quick-dry towels, which are perfect for day hikes that involve a bit of swimming.
- Water shoes: Whenever there are rocks involved with swimming, we like to wear water shoes. Make sure you get a pair with good grip (these are our favorites), and you’ll swim with confidence!
- Water and snacks: Hydration is vital, especially in Puerto Vallarta’s tropical climate. We recommend bringing a liter of water per person. You also might want to pack snacks, especially if you plan to relax at the waterfall for a bit. There are no vendors on this trek, so if you get hungry, it’s whatever you’ve got in your bag.
Difficulty
We found the 1.4-mile out-and-back trek to Palo Maria Waterfall to be easy to moderate. There are a mix of packed dirt trail, as well as some rock scrambling and river crossing. There is some elevation gain (about 250 feet) but it’s all fairly gradual – no extreme climbs. For what it’s worth, AllTrails rates the hike as moderate.
While this hike didn’t get our heart rate up as much as the hike to Playa Colomitos, it was more technical. As long as you’re okay with some uneven terrain (and the possibility of your shoes getting wet), you’ll be just fine on this hike.
Duration
The Palo Maria Waterfall hike features multiple waterfalls along an out-and-back trail. We opted to visit only the first and most accessible waterfall, so our time estimate is based on this route.
It took us about 45 minutes to reach the first waterfall and around 35 minutes to return, as we had a better sense of the trail. Factoring in time for a refreshing swim, you can expect the hike to take approximately 2 to 3 hours, depending on how long you linger in the water.
For those seeking more adventure and who aren’t afraid of heights, there are additional waterfalls upstream. However, reaching them requires some rock climbing. Proper footwear is essential!
If you choose to hike only to the first waterfall, it makes for an easy and rewarding half-day trip from Puerto Vallarta.
Palo Maria Waterfall Hike: Our Experience
The Trail
After hopping off the bus at the Garza Blanca stop, we headed across the street to begin the hike. You need to cross the street to begin the hike on the inland side of the road.
Once you cross the road, you’ll soon see the Palo Maria River. That’s about as much of a trailhead as you’re going to get for this hike!
Relatedly, the entire trail isn’t marked, but if you just start walking along the river, you’re headed in the right direction.
You can choose to stay close to the river – at times crossing it and scaling rocks to stay dry – or follow a trail that is further away from the river, running along a fence. We did a mix of the two, weaving our way up the trail toward Palo Maria waterfall. There may be a more efficient way, but we enjoyed the mix of packed dirt trail along the fence, with some occasional more technical river crossing.
A Reminder About Safety
As we navigated the rocky path and crossed the shallow waters of the Palo Maria river, the lush jungle surroundings offered us a sense of tranquility. And, we’ll be clear – it was tranquil. However, our experience also brought an unexpected reminder about safety that we thought we’d share here.
Midway through our hike toward Palo Maria waterfall, we encountered fellow hikers – headed back toward the road – who had their belongings stolen while swimming. We quickly realized that a pair of men had passed us minutes earlier, in quite a hurry. Unfortunately, they were in a hurry because they had taken these hikers’ belongings.
We paused to reconsider whether we want to keep hiking, but reminded ourselves that these sorts of theft can happen anywhere in the world. We decided to keep walking, but remain vigilant and keep watch over our belongings once we reached the waterfall.
Arriving to Palo Maria Waterfall
After about 45 minutes of hiking (including our stop), we made it to Palo Maria waterfall. Despite the scare, the waterfall was a stunning reward, with its emerald waters inviting a moment of peace.
Steve wasted no time and got right in to enjoy a refreshing swim.
And Zoey wasted no time dipping into the water, shoes and all!
The waterfall wasn’t crowded at all while we were there – just one other couple. We imagine the number of visitors ebbs and flows throughout the day as people come and go.
From this point, there’s also the option to continue upstream to explore additional waterfalls. While we’re always up for an adventure, the steep cliff required to continue gave us pause, and we decided we weren’t feeling quite that adventurous this time.
Heading Back
After about 15 minutes at the waterfall, we decided to turn back. With a better sense of the trail, we made quicker progress on our return. Along the way, we spotted a coati (though at first, we mistook it for a raccoon), which added a bit of excitement to the trek.
During the hike back, it dawned on us that our GoPro footage might have captured the suspects involved in the theft. Since we weren’t far behind the affected hikers, we hoped we had something useful.
Sure enough, when we reached the road, we saw the hikers speaking with Puerto Vallarta police. We crossed the street to check in and offered our GoPro footage, which the authorities were happy to receive. The experience was a strong reminder of the importance of looking out for each other on the trail – even among complete strangers.
Once we finished helping our fellow hikers, we made our way to the Garza Blanca bus stop and waited to head back to Puerto Vallarta.
Final Thoughts: Palo Maria Waterfall
Hiking to Palo Maria Waterfall was a memorable adventure, blending the beauty of Puerto Vallarta’s jungle with the refreshing reward of a secluded waterfall swim. The journey itself – navigating rocky trails, crossing the river, and spotting wildlife – added to the experience, making it more than just a simple hike.
While our trek included an unexpected safety reminder, it also reinforced the value of community among fellow travelers. Whether you’re looking for an easy half-day escape into nature or a more challenging climb to additional waterfalls, we think Palo Maria Waterfall is well worth the visit for anyone seeking adventure near Puerto Vallarta.