Cascada del Chipitín, Santiago

This route is approximately 70 km from Monterrey (about 2 hours' drive). Take the road to Santiago and when you arrive at the Cercado (after Villa de Santiago, at the height of the Presa de la Boca) we will turn right, towards the mountains, towards the Cola de Caballo. We will go up the road for approximately 12 km until we reach a place known as Puerto Genovevo, where we will take a very sharp turn to the left and start driving on dirt roads. Depending on the season, there is sometimes a Civil Protection checkpoint here. From this point on, it is recommended to drive in a 4x4 vehicle. Approximately 9 km later we will cross the river, in a place known as Las Adjuntas, where there are a couple of restaurants and recreational areas. We will continue to drive along the dirt road, eventually it becomes more technical because it is “a single lane” for both directions of traffic. On one side we have the mountain wall and on the other a ravine. Eventually this dirt road will take us to the town of Potrero Redondo.

After Puerto Genovevo the entire route is on dirt tracks. After Las Adjuntas, the dirt road is even more rugged, so a four-wheel drive vehicle is recommended. Once we arrive in Potrero Redondo, the locals kindly rent parking spaces on their properties. The cost will depend on the place and season.

Parking: $50–100 MXN per vehicle. Waterfall access: $20–50 MXN per person (may vary by season). No tolls are required to reach the trailhead. Donkey rides are also offered by locals (price may vary).

The route is visible in its entirety. There are a couple of bifurcations (especially on the way back, already reaching the end), but it's a matter of paying attention to the trail and the footsteps (and 💩💩) of the donkeys.