
easy
8–9 hours
Suitable for most fitness levels; involves short uneven walks and standing at the falls for up to 90 minutes
Trade Huatulco’s bays for a climb into the Sierra Madre del Sur to swim in shallow waterfall pools and tour an organic coffee farm. This full-day trip pairs river walks and a traditional Oaxacan lunch with a hands-on coffee tasting and herbalist visit.
The van peels away from Huatulco’s seaside heat and climbs into the Sierra Madre del Sur; within an hour and three-quarters the air cools, the road narrows to packed dirt and the jungle leans in close. You step out where a village of roughly 90 people keeps watch over a handful of clear pools and a single, broad waterfall. The water here doesn’t roar so much as insist—gentle currents carving limestone and offering shallow, waist-deep basins that dare you to cool off.

Pools are shallow but rocky—water shoes or sturdy sandals protect feet and make moving across slick stones easier.
Apply reef-safe sunscreen and insect repellent before the river walk; shade is plentiful but open areas can be exposed.
Bring cash for coffee, crafts and small purchases at the farm—card payment may be limited.
You’ll be swimming and sitting in damp places; a quick-change and a towel at the ready keeps the return drive comfortable.
Llano Grande sits on slopes where traditional coffee cultivation bridged coastal and mountain economies; coffee farming in this region developed alongside communal land practices.
The tour supports small-scale organic coffee producers and encourages low-impact visits—carry out any trash and respect farm harvesting areas.
Protects feet on rocky riverbeds and makes wading comfortable.
summer specific
Needed for the pools and waterfall swims.
summer specific
Carries water, sunscreen, camera and a change of clothes for the return trip.
Keeps bugs and sun exposure from spoiling riverside time.