Misol-Há sits just off the road between San Cristóbal de las Casas and Palenque, tucked into thick jungle and often visited as part of a broader day trip through northern Chiapas. It’s one of those places that almost everyone passes through quickly, camera out, shoes off, back in the van an hour later. And while it may not be the most expansive waterfall system in the region, it does have a particular atmosphere that makes it worth stopping for, especially if you’re already on your way through.
We visited Misol-Há as part of a weekend trip to Palenque from San Cristóbal de las Casas with friends from our digital nomad co-living space, Co-404. The plan was loose but intentional: move slowly toward Palenque, breaking up long drives with time in nature, and seeing how the landscapes of Chiapas shift as the highlands give way to jungle.
Misol-Há was our first major stop.
For travelers who don’t want to coordinate transport themselves, Misol-Há is often included in organized day trips that also pass through Palenque and nearby waterfalls. This is the tour many people opt for, particularly when time is limited: Day tour from San Cristóbal to Palenque with Misol-Ha.
Arriving at Misol-Há
The approach to Misol-Há is straightforward. You leave the highway, park, and walk a short, shaded path through dense greenery. The sound of water arrives before the waterfall itself, growing louder as the trail curves inward. When the trees open up, the waterfall appears all at once: a single, heavy curtain of water dropping into a wide basin below.
Unlike tiered waterfalls that stretch across a landscape, Misol-Há is compact and contained. Everything happens in one frame. The pool beneath the falls is large enough for swimming, with shallow edges and deeper sections closer to the center. The water is noticeably cold, even on hot days, and feels especially refreshing after hours in a car.
Where jungle weight gives way to falling water
We arrived late morning, when the light was still soft and the air humid but manageable. There were other visitors around, though it didn’t feel overcrowded. Some people were swimming, others sitting along the edge of the pool, and a few were heading toward the path that leads behind the waterfall.
Swimming beneath the falls
Swimming at Misol-Há is one of its main draws, and it’s easy to see why. The basin is calm enough to feel safe, but the presence of the waterfall keeps the water moving and alive. Getting in takes a moment, mostly because of the temperature, but once you adjust, it’s difficult to want to leave.
Cold water, sudden courage, and a moment suspended
The closer you swim toward the falling water, the more you feel its force. The sound becomes physical, vibrating through your chest, and the spray thickens the air. It’s not a place for long-distance swimming or drifting, but rather for pausing, floating, and cooling down.
We spent a good while in the water, alternating between swimming and sitting along the edge with our feet submerged. It felt like a natural midpoint in the day, a chance to slow down without fully stopping.
The cave behind the waterfall
One of the more unexpected features of Misol-Há is the path that leads behind the waterfall itself. From the right side of the pool, a narrow trail wraps around the rock face and disappears behind the falling water. The temperature drops slightly here, and the light changes, becoming dimmer and more diffuse.
Walking paths behind the falls
Walking into the cave is brief but memorable. The sound of the waterfall echoes off the stone, and inside, you can see smaller cascades trickling through the rock. It’s not a long or technical cave, but it adds a sense of depth to the place, a reminder that the waterfall isn’t just something to look at, but something formed over time, carving its way through the landscape.
We didn’t manage to get any decent photos inside because of the low light, but that almost felt appropriate: it's more a secret and special surprise for those who dare to venture.
Agua Azul
Originally, our group had planned to stop at Agua Azul as well, since it’s one of the most well-known waterfall systems in Chiapas and often paired with Misol-Há on the same day. However, someone in our group wasn’t feeling well, and we collectively decided to skip it rather than push through just to say we’d been.
Agua Azul is widely regarded as beautiful, especially for its turquoise color during the dry season, and it remains a popular stop for good reason. Even though we didn’t make it there ourselves, it’s still worth considering if you have the time and energy, and this guided tour from San Cristóbal to Palenque includes a visit to both Agua Azul and Misol-Há.
Roberto Barrios waterfalls, and why we preferred them
Later in the trip, we visited Roberto Barrios waterfalls, and it quickly became clear that this was the place that resonated most with us.
Compared to Misol-Há, Roberto Barrios feels much more expansive. Instead of a single waterfall and pool, you’re met with a series of cascades spread across a wide area, each with its own character. There’s more room to wander, more places to swim, and a stronger sense of discovery as you move from one section to the next.
We found Roberto Barrios more impressive overall, not because Misol-Há lacked beauty, but because Roberto Barrios offered variety and scale. You can easily spend several hours there without feeling like you’ve seen everything, moving between different pools and viewpoints at your own pace.
If we had to recommend just one waterfall stop near Palenque, Roberto Barrios would be it. Misol-Há works well as a calm, focused stop, but Roberto Barrios feels like a place you can settle into for longer, especially if you enjoy swimming and exploring.
Visiting Misol-Há as part of a Palenque weekend
Misol-Há fits naturally into a Palenque weekend itinerary. Its proximity to the ruins and to other waterfalls makes it easy to include without significant detours. Whether you’re traveling independently or as part of a group, it’s a manageable stop that doesn’t require much planning.
Descending through leaves toward the sound of water
For those coming from San Cristóbal de las Casas, the drive itself is part of the experience, as the landscape gradually shifts from highland pine forests to dense jungle. Breaking up that journey with a stop at Misol-Há helps ease the transition and makes the long drive feel more intentional.
Light filters through leaves
If you prefer not to handle logistics yourself, this organized day trip San Cristóbal de las Casas to Palenque remains a practical option and includes Misol-Há along the route.
