Mexico > Swimming in the Agua Azul Waterfall

Just before seven o’clock, most of the fellow travelers start trickling in for breakfast. I have already left my main luggage at the reception by then. The suitcases are taken to the bus by a small van. At quarter to eight, we also leave the hotel. We walk through the center of San Cristobal de Las Casas one last time. On the other side of the center, we board the bus. Until last night, it was unclear whether we could take the mountain route to Palenque. The road through the mountains passes villages whose inhabitants sometimes protest and block the road. They feel unheard by the Mexican government. The alternative is a route that takes several hours longer, which we had already taken earlier this week. Markus, our driver, has checked, and the mountain route seems passable. Just outside San Cristobal, we take the turn towards Palenque. The route immediately goes into the mountains. A winding road snakes upwards. Primitive houses line the roadside. Many houses are still “under construction.” Often only the concrete foundations have been laid, and sometimes the walls have been built, but then the money probably ran out. Speed bumps on the road are meant to prevent traffic from speeding past. This results in many speed bumps along the route. The bus has to slow down and drive slowly over each bump.

Mexico - The various levels of the Agua Azul waterfall

Apparently, there are more than 600 speed bumps on today’s route. Due to the bends and speed bumps, I cannot read on the bus. I enjoy watching everything pass by outside. Around one o’clock, we arrive at the Agua Azul waterfalls. A beautiful series of cascades. I thought you could swim under the waterfall, but swimming means going under the waterfall with a guide. That sounds fun to me. Together with a few fellow travelers, I get a life vest and shortly after dive into the water. In front of me, I see a wall of waterfalls. I swim against the current towards it. The guides point out where I can stand again and where I can go under the water stream behind the waterfall. In a small alcove, the four of us fit and watch the water crashing down in front of us. From another spot, I dive back into the basin through the water stream. I already find it an amazing experience. I let myself drift with the current to the edge. The guide helps me onto the rocks. With a running start, we can jump into the next basin. I choose the easier route, making two smaller jumps.

Mexico - Carefully we move from one pool to another

We go from basin to basin. The son of one of the guides swims along as well. Like a water rat, he jumps into the water and climbs back on the rocks. I guess he’s not even ten years old. Yet, he offers me a helping hand when I climb ashore. I’m afraid that if I slip, I might pull him into the water with me. After about three quarters of an hour, we arrive at the last jump. A jump from about three meters high. I’m never very good at jumping into water from a height. I take a deep breath, count to three, and take the leap. With a splash, I land in the water. On the shore, we thank the two guides and the boy. It was an amazing experience I wouldn’t have wanted to miss. Before heading back to the bus, I order a beer from one of the many stalls. Then we drive for an hour and a half to the city of Palenque. The modern hotel is located on the main road. This takes some getting used to after the colonial hotels we had before. In the evening, we eat with a group at the Café Jade restaurant. A nice place for good food. When I crawl into bed at the end of the day, I still think back to the fun adventure at the waterfall.