naranjos tour

• Destinations
• Central Valley

The town of Naranjo, settled in 1830, was originally known as “Los Naranjos” (the Orange Groves) due to the abundance of orange trees in the surrounding area. Although the name has been shortened and the amount of orange trees lessened, this city of 35,000 has remained an important agricultural hub for Costa Rica.

Set at the base of the Espírito Santo Hills in Costa Rica’s gorgeous Central Valley, the area surrounding the town is stippled with farms growing all kinds of crops– plantains, corn, tapioca, coffee, rice, beans, sugar cane, tobacco, and beef, to name a few. The coffee plantations are perhaps the best represented, and plantation tours are becoming increasingly popular among tourists. This fertile area is drained by the Grande Colorado, Molino, Barranca, and El Espino rivers, and, at an elevation of 3,398 feet (1,036 meters), the temperature is a consistently cool 68° F (20° C).

Each year a large festival honoring of the Virgin de Lourdes brings in visitors from all over the country to Naranjo. Additionally, there is an attractive baroque-style church in town that is worth checking out.

Capital city of the canton Naranjo in the Alajuela province, Naranjo is 27 miles (44 km) from San José. The town of Sarchí, renowned for its abundance of fine handicrafts, is 3 miles (5 km) west. The road north leads to Ciudad Quesada and the Northern Lowlands, and is one of the country’s most picturesque drives. Other popular destinations, including Monteverde, Arenal and Guanacaste, can be reached from here as well.

Incredible Stays

Chayote lodge.

Chayote Lodge is a boutique hotel set in the midst of coffee farms and verdant mountains. This lodge is on the road from San José to Arenal Volcano National Park, which is one of Costa Rica’s most popular parks for hiking and sightseeing.

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All You Need to Know About Visiting the Waterfalls of El Naranjo, Huasteca Potosina, Mexico

In this blog post you can read about one of the best ways to visit the Waterfalls of El Naranjo ( Cascada el Meco and Cascadas de Minas Vieja s)  located in  the breath-taking Huasteca Potosina region in Mexico.  

Below you’ll find a detailed description on what to expect from your visit including information about the waterfalls, the tour we took, top tips and things you should pack for an unforgettable adventure.

For reference, we spent a full week touring around the Huasteca Potosina region during our  3 months in Mexico.  We fell in love with this area instantly. Even after completing our full itinerary around Mexico, this region remained our absolute favourite.

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, which means we may receive a small commission if you click a link and purchase something. Clicking these links won’t cost you anything, but it will help us to keep this site up and running! Learn more about our affiliate policy.

Table of Contents

Introducing the Waterfalls of El Naranjo

There are two beautiful places just outside of the town of El Naranjo that you should visit during your Huasteca Potosina trip.

Click here for more information about the Huasteca Potosina, how to get there, how to move around and other places to visit.

1. Cascadas de Minas Viejas

Minas Viejas Waterfall is located about 20 km to the south of El Naranjo. The waterfall is located along the El Salto River. It has a 50 m drop after which the river flows through a series of pools and smaller waterfalls.

You’ll have to walk down a few hundred steps to get to the waterfall. On your way you’ll also pass a viewpoint where you can get a glimpse of the waterfall from above. 

You can enjoy swimming in the pools just below the main waterfall or even jump into the pools from the top of the smaller waterfalls. 

2. Cascada el Meco

Only a short distance to the north of El Naranjo is another stunning waterfall called Cascada el Mec o. It is a 38m high waterfall that is basically located at the end of the rapids below El Salto Waterfall which is another popular spot. 

You can either view the waterfall from an observation point above or get a boat ride that takes you right in front and underneath it. Whilst you’re not allowed to swim right in front of the waterfall, you can get out of the boat further down and cliff jump into the turquoise blue river. After the boat ride you can also enjoy swimming in the natural pools. The water here is possibly the bluest water you will ever see in your life!

General Tips on Booking a Tour in Mexico

There are many tour operators in this area that organise day-trips to the waterfalls of El Naranjo. Depending on your budget and what kind of adventure you’re looking for, make sure to shop around before you commit to a company. Below are a few tips on finding and booking the best tour:

• Your hotel or hostel will definitely have some leaflets of different tour companies so make sure to collect a few of them.
• After collecting a few, search for the companies online and see what tours they offer. I would also check some reviews and their social media sites too.
• Tours in Mexico are normally  arranged via WhatsApp.  This is great because you can get an immediate response and also use Google Translate to reach out to them in Spanish and then translate their offer. They normally send you details about the tour, what’s included and how much it would cost you.
•  Note that their online prices might be different or outdated, so don’t be surprised when they quote a different price. 
• If you’re happy with the tour then they will ask you to pay 40-45% of the total cost normally via bank transfer. You’ll have to pay the rest in cash on the day of your tour. Note that  tips to your guide are NOT included , so calculate that into your final cost.
• When you book your tour ask if they have English speaking guides available, especially if you don’t speak much Spanish. However, if you’d like to learn some Spanish, then having a Spanish speaking guide is amazing.

About the El Naranjo Waterfalls Tour

For reference, we booked the Waterfalls Circuit activity with Huasteca Total  and as it turned out we actually got a private tour. This was really amazing because we always feel a bit rushed when going on a big group tour. However, having a private one gave us the opportunity to go at our own pace a little bit more. 

This particular company offers both ecotourism and adventure tourism services. They also use environmentally friendly methods that contribute to the sustainable development of the Huasteca region. The tour included all of our entry fees, door to door transportation and other things such as life jackets and lunch. Unlike on our Tamul Waterfall tour , we had a Spanish speaking guide. We didn’t mind it as we could at least practice our Spanish with him. 

The downside was that our tour didn’t include El Salto Waterfall which is only a short distance away from El Meco Waterfall. In addition, the online tour description included a visit to  Micos Waterfall , but at the end that wasn’t included in our itinerary either. I personally didn’t mind the latter as Micos Waterfall is more catered to adventurous water activities which I’m not super comfortable with as I can’t swim very well.

The cost of the tour was  980 MXN per person.

All in all, we really enjoyed the company and would definitely recommend them. However, I still recommend shopping around before you commit to one. One thing is for sure though: whichever tour company you pick, you’re guaranteed an unforgettable day!

El Naranjo Waterfall Tour Itinerary

1. the drive to el naranjo.

Normally your tour guide will pick you up from your hotel and will drive you to the first waterfall which was Minas Viejas in our case. Depending on traffic, the drive can take between 1.5 to 2 hours from Ciudad Valles.

Since El Naranjo is located in the foothills of the Sierra Madre Oriental, the drive towards the town is very scenic. You’ll drive past countless sugarcane fields with mountains as a backdrop. One of the four sugar refineries in the Huasteca Potosina is actually located in El Naranjo. We saw many people working on the fields and also passed many huge lorries transporting the sugarcane to the factories.

Did you know? – The town actually got its name ‘El Naranjo’ because there used to be an orchard of orange trees at the site. 

2. First Waterfall Stop: Cascadas Minas Viejas

Once you arrive at the entrance of Minas Viejas Waterfalls, your guide will provide you with a life jacket and pays for your entry. Normally the entry fee costs 60 MXN and a mandatory life jacket hire is around 30 MXN. If you go with a tour, then these should be included in your total cost.

To reach the waterfall you’ll have to walk down a few hundred steps. There will be a small lookout point where you can get your first sneak peak of the 50m tall waterfall.

Once you reach the bottom, there will be a bridge that crosses the river, so you can really get to see the main waterfall from different angles.

Top Tip  – If you have a camera, I recommend bringing it to be able to take some fun photos as you can keep it dry. However, I still recommend having a waterproof phone case or GoPro with you for in-water adventures.

From there you can jump into the main pool in front of the falls and enjoy the stunning turquoise blue water. The currents can be a bit strong and the water can be cold too, so make sure you’re a good swimmer. For reassurance, the guide will be with you the entire time.

If you’d like to do a bit more of an adrenaline fueled activity, then after your swim in the pool you can also jump off the top of the smaller waterfalls further down the river. There’s a lovely picnic area just behind the bridge where you can relax and enjoy the views in case you want to skip the waterfall jumping.

Once you’re ready to leave this slice of paradise behind, you’ll have to walk back up the stairs and head to your next destination of the day: Cascada El Meco.

3. Second Waterfall Stop: Cascada el Meco

Cascada el Meco is located just to the north of El Naranjo. We genuinely thought that nothing could beat the beauty of Minas Viejas Waterfall, but boy were we wrong!

The colour of the El Salto River here was even more turquoise than at Minas Viejas. Whilst the waterfall itself was less impressive, the mixture of blue and green colours left us totally speechless.

There’s a viewpoint from where you can check out the waterfall from above. It’s next to a luxury hotel called Huasteca Secreta which also has a restaurant, in case you’re visiting the area without a tour.

However, probably the best way to see Meco Waterfall is via a boat ride that takes you as close as possible to it. Luckily, the boat ride was included in the tour, otherwise you have to pay extra for it. Unlike at Tamul Waterfall, you don’t have to row upstream as a guide will do the hard work for you. All you have to do is sit back and enjoy the stunning scenery around you.

Top Tip – Have a waterproof phone case or GoPro with you as you’ll definitely get a bit wet from the spray of the waterfall. 

A bit further from the waterfall you can also do some cliff jumping into the calmer section of the river. The currents at the base of the waterfall are very strong so it’s better to swim a bit further down the river. 

After your boat ride, you’ll have some free time to enjoy relaxing in the natural pools. This was definitely our favourite part of the day, as the water in the pools was just the right temperature unlike at Minas Viejas where the water was surprisingly cold! 

4. Lunch Stop and Drive Back to Ciudad Valles

Before your driver takes you back to Ciudad Valles, you’ll stop for a late lunch at Restaurante El Rancho in El Naranjo. The staff were lovely and the food was very delicious with generous portions. It will be well needed after a long day of adventures.

After you’ve had your food, you’ll head back to Ciudad Valles where your driver will drop you off at your hotel. On your way back you’ll likely witness a beautiful sunset as you drive back through the sugarcane fields and mountains. 

What to Pack to Visit the Waterfalls of El Naranjo

Here’s a list of things you should consider taking with you when you visit the Waterfalls of El Naranjo:

Items for protection:

• Reef safe sun-cream

Clothing items:

• Quick-dry towel
• Quick dry shorts and top that you don’t mind getting wet
• Change of clothes
• Water shoes
• Comfortable trainers for walking

Tech items:

• Waterproof Phone Case
• GoPro with waterproof case
• Dry bag for your tech and other items such as money

Other Items:

• Water bottle

Final Thoughts on Visiting the Waterfalls of El Naranjo

I think we definitely saved the best for last in our Huateca Potosina waterfall adventures. These waterfalls around El Naranjo were the most breath-taking in our opinion and definitely made us ask the question ‘is this Mexico?’ over and over again.

Having a private tour was also great as we could spend as little or as long at the waterfalls as we wanted. Obviously, they have to keep to some sort of schedule, but for the most part they let us explore at our own pace and we never felt rushed.

Have you ever visited the waterfalls of El Naranjo or the Huasteca Potosina region before? If so, how much of the area did you manage to explore? If not, would you want to traverse this area now? Let me know in the comments below. 

Now, let your adventure begin,

Our Top Travel Resources

Accommodation:  For hotels we always use  Booking.com  and  Hostelworld  for hostels. We also book longer stays on Airbnb or  Vrbo.

Flights:  To find the best flight prices we always check  Skyscanner ,  Google Flights  or  WayAway.  Then we also check the airlines’ websites too for comparison.

Car Rentals:  We use  Discover Cars  when we want to rent a car as it compares local, national and international companies.

Activities:  If we book organised tours we always check either  GetYourGuide  or  Viator.

Foreign Currency:  Whenever we can we prefer to pay in local currency and for that we always use our  Wise card.   We can easily withdraw money from the ATM or pay by card at most shops and restaurants.

Travel Insurance: We never go anywhere without travel insurance. You never know what will happen on your trip, so good travel insurance like SafetyWing can protect you in case of injury, illness, theft and cancellations.

eSIM and VPN: To get data abroad we use  Airalo which is an app that allows you to download a prepaid eSIM to your phone in over 190 countries. Make sure to have a VPN to avoid hackers accessing your personal data when using public WIFI. We use  Surfshark  which is the only VPN that offers one account on unlimited devices. 

Remember…It all starts with a Pin…

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Navajo Tours

THE HEART OF ARIZONA

SOUL OF THE

NAVAJO NATION

Antelope Canyon Tours: Experience natural beauty like never before.

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Antelope Canyon Navajo Tours

Antelope Canyon Navajo Tours provides one-of-a-kind tours of beautiful Upper Antelope Canyon near Page, Arizona. Antelope Canyon is made up of two magnificent slot canyons that lie on land belonging to the Navajo Nation, and is a sacred site of the Navajo People as well as a Navajo Tribal Park that can be accessed by permit only.  Antelope serves as a symbol of Mother Nature’s gifts and powers, and entering is a spiritual experience akin to entering a cathedral. It is considered a solemn event deserving of respect.

Antelope Canyon Navajo Tours operates on land belonging to the Begay family, who are longstanding members of the Navajo Nation. Dalvin Etsitty runs Antelope Canyon Navajo Tours and is a member of the Begay family who has provided Antelope Canyon tours for more than 20 years. He enjoys meeting people from diverse cultures and walks of life as well as introducing them to the Canyon and the Navajo way of life. All of our tour guides are members of the Navajo Nation who are fully authorized to give tours of the Canyon and are able to provide visitors with in-depth information related to the Canyon and Navajo culture.

Upper Antelope and the History of Antelope Canyon

Upper Antelope Canyon, which is also known as “The Crack,” is the most popular of the two slot canyons that make up Antelope Canyon. It is also the most-visited slot canyon in the American Southwest and the most-photographed in the world. The radiant sun beams that shine through its walls in the spring and summer are one of its main claims to fame, while its changing colors in the fall and winter are another mesmerizing sight to be seen. The Upper Canyon’s ease of access and lack of climbing also make it extremely popular with the family set as well as visitors who may require easy travel but still want an exciting experience in nature.

Antelope Canyon was formed over many hundreds of years by water that ran through sandstone, giving it its unique geography. Upper Antelope is called Tsé bighánílíní in Navajo, which can be translated to “The place where water runs through rocks” in English. Antelope Canyon got its name from the belief that Antelopes once grazed along the canyon in the winter.

What Visitors Say

What are visitors saying about their Antelope Canyon, Arizona tour experience with us? Here are just a few testimonials from happy tourists:

“Our experience was marvelous.  Frank, our guide, started out by helping all of us change our camera settings so we would get good color shots.  He then proceeded to show us exactly what to look for, where to stand and how to get those ‘million dollar pictures.’  I could not have been more satisfied with our experience!” – Ellen K . on Yelp!

“We had a blast visiting the upper canyon, we came about an hour before our tour to check in, which was very quick and efficient.” – Nandez E. on Yelp!

“Loved this tour and our guide! Very knowledgeable, friendly staff.”  – Jillyhowes on TripAdvisor

“Our guide was not only knowledge about the history and geology of the canyon but he helped everyone on the tour adjust their Iphones or androids or cameras to take the best pictures possible!” – BackPacker648287 on TripAdvisor

You can find even more reviews on our testimonials page. We are committed to helping visitors have the best tour experience possible so they can go home with happy memories and newfound knowledge that they can cherish for a lifetime.

Whether you are ready to learn more about Antelope Canyon or want to get ready to book your tour, Antelope Canyon Navajo Tours is here to help. Here are some more resources that we have created to help tourists stay informed and get as much enjoyment out of their experience at Antelope Canyon as possible:

• Booking Information
• What to Wear on Your Tour
• Tickets and Prices
• About Us and the Canyon
• History and Formation of the Canyon
• Contact Antelope Canyon Navajo Tours

You can find even more resources for tourists, such as hotel and weather information, on our tourist resources page. We have also compiled some information on Antelope Canyon’s location as well as some fun facts to get you even more excited for your unique tour experience.

Booking Upper Antelope Canyon Tours

Are you ready to book your tour? Get started today, right here on our website . Please note that we do not take reservations over the phone – everything is completed right here on our user-friendly site. That being said, we always enjoy helping our visitors and potential guests with their questions and concerns. Do you have a question about our company, the Canyon or our guided tours? You can learn how to get in touch with our team on our contact page. The beauty and majesty of Antelope Canyon is only a booking away – secure your reservation today and prepare for your exciting adventure.

CASA TAYRONA LOS NARANJOS

Amazing environment.

At only 5 minutes by car from Tayrona Park, in Los Naranjos beach where the river Piedras end, is our exclusive Boutique-hotel, with beautiful facilities in front of the sea. This hotel, designed to the detail is located in a similar environment as Tayrona Park. On one side, Los Naranjos beach and by the other side the river Piedras finishing on the sea. At back of the hotel, the forest with beautiful palms and far away you can see the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. A really special place that stands out his location and his design. In the morning, it is an unique spectacle to see the sunrise in front of the hotel and in the evening, the sunset in Sierra Nevada.

We have a personalized service by a crew that make you feel like home, in this paradise.

LAURA – United Kingdom

TAKA – Canadá

JAMES – United Kingdom

ALYSHA – U.S.A.

LUCÍA – Uruguay

Parque Eco-Arqueológico Los Naranjos

Western Honduras

On the northwest side of the lake, this park was first occupied around 1300 BC, and is thought to be the largest Preclassic-era Lenca archaeological site. The main reason to visit, however, is the wildlife. The park has 6km of trails that wind through the forest over hanging bridges and on a lakeside boardwalk, providing fantastic opportunities for birdwatching.

The ruins themselves are not terribly interesting: they’re made of clay, so have been only semi-excavated, to protect them from environmental damage. The little museum near the entrance has a few nice pieces of pottery and information panels.

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