Cascadas Roberto Barrios are our absolute favorite waterfalls near Palenque.
We visited several waterfalls in Chiapas, including Misol-Há and El Chiflón, but Roberto Barrios stood out the most. The main reason is how accessible and interactive the waterfalls are. Instead of viewing them from a platform or path, you can actually walk along the rock formations, swim between different pools, and stand directly under or even behind the cascades.
The waterfalls are spread out over several levels, creating a mix of shallow pools, stronger flows, and calmer swimming areas. This makes it easy to spend a few hours here without it ever feeling repetitive. It’s a place that suits both relaxed swimming and a bit of exploration, which is why it ended up being our favourite waterfall experience near Palenque.
What makes Roberto Barrios different
Many Palenque itineraries funnel travelers toward Misol-Há and Agua Azul. We made it to Misol-Há and loved it—the drama of the single curtain of water, the jungle amphitheater, the echoing roar. Agua Azul, famously turquoise, eluded us this time.
But Roberto Barrios eclipsed them all.
What sets these waterfalls apart is not one defining cascade, but a series—a stepped system of falls and pools that stretch through dense jungle. Each level offers a different mood: shallow turquoise basins, smooth rock slides, thundering whitewater, quiet pockets where the sound drops away and you’re left with birds and breath.
And crucially: you can walk on them.
The limestone here is textured, sculpted by time and flow. You’re not fenced off or forced to observe from afar. You climb, wade, balance, sit. Water rushes over your shoulders, along your spine, against your legs. You can stand behind the falls and feel the vibration through stone.
It’s playful. Physical. Alive.
Jungle first, water second
Getting to Roberto Barrios is part of the experience. The road winds away from the town of Palenque, slipping into thicker vegetation, smaller settlements, quieter edges.
When you arrive, the jungle announces itself before the water does.
You walk in under a canopy of green—dense, humid, layered. The air feels heavier here, holding sound differently. Then the stairs begin: a series of concrete steps descending into the trees, each turn revealing flashes of blue between leaves.
The first glimpse of the water is almost disorienting. That color—milky turquoise, mineral-rich, luminous—feels out of place against the dark jungle greens. And yet, once you’re there, it makes perfect sense.
Moving through the waterfalls
Roberto Barrios is made up of a series of cascading waterfalls rather than one single drop, which gives you a lot of freedom to move around. You can follow the flow of the water downstream, stopping at different pools along the way, or stay in one area and swim, sit, or climb across the rock shelves.
Some sections have gentler water that’s ideal for floating or cooling off, while others have stronger cascades where the water crashes down with more force. One of the highlights is that you can walk behind parts of the falls, standing in the hollow space between the rock and the falling water. It’s an easy thing to do here and doesn’t require any special effort or equipment.
There are usually plenty of people swimming throughout the area, but because the waterfalls are spread out, it rarely feels cramped. You can almost always find a quieter pool if you walk a little further.
Practical notes
Roberto Barrios is easy to enjoy without much planning, but a few practical details are worth knowing. The water is cool and refreshing, especially if you’re visiting during a warm day in Palenque, though it’s not uncomfortably cold. Footwear with some grip is a good idea, as the rocks can be slippery in places, particularly near the cascades.
You’ll want to give yourself at least two to three hours here to fully enjoy the area without rushing. Facilities are basic but functional, with local vendors and simple amenities rather than a large, polished tourist setup. This keeps the experience feeling relaxed and low-key rather than overly commercial.
If you want a quieter experience, arriving earlier in the day usually means fewer people, especially compared to more famous waterfalls like Agua Azul.
Most Palenque tours skip Roberto Barrios
It still surprises us that so many Palenque tours skip this place.
The reason is simple: logistics and habit. Tours follow familiar loops. Misol-Há and Agua Azul are well-established names. Roberto Barrios requires a separate route and a bit more time.
But that extra effort is precisely why it feels different.
Fewer tour buses. More space. More freedom to explore without being herded from viewpoint to viewpoint.
Getting there
You can arrange transport independently, but for many travelers, a dedicated tour from Palenque is the most straightforward option—especially if you don’t want to negotiate colectivos or drive unfamiliar roads.
The tour we recommend departs directly from Palenque and focuses solely on Roberto Barrios—no rushing, no bundling with other stops.
It’s a clean, simple way to experience the falls without compromising the time you get to spend there.
Plan your visit
Out of all the waterfalls we visited around Palenque, Roberto Barrios was the one we enjoyed the most. It offers more freedom to explore, more places to swim, and a generally more relaxed atmosphere than many of the better-known alternatives.
If you’re short on time and choosing just one waterfall to visit near Palenque, this is the one we’d recommend. It’s especially well suited if you want to spend a few unhurried hours swimming and moving between different pools rather than just stopping for photos.
Most standard Palenque tours don’t include Roberto Barrios, which is why booking a dedicated trip makes sense. If you want an easy and reliable way to get there, this tour from Palenque focuses entirely on the waterfalls and gives you enough time to actually enjoy them.
If you’re planning your time in Palenque and deciding where to prioritize, Roberto Barrios is well worth making room for.
