Malacara Canyon Guided Hike: Natural Pools & Forest Walk

4.98

(49 reviews)

What’s the experience like?

The first thing that hit me was the cool air as we stepped onto the Malacara Trail. Right at the entrance, those canyon walls just towered above us—honestly, you can’t help but pause for a photo. Our guide, Rafael, gathered us for a quick chat about how to walk safely and why it’s so important to stick to the marked paths. He had this way of making everyone feel at ease, even the folks who looked a bit nervous about river crossings.

We followed the path along the Malacara River, shoes crunching on pebbles. The forest here smells fresh—like wet leaves after rain. Rafael pointed out a bright blue butterfly (he called it “borboleta azul”) fluttering near some wild ginger. After our first river crossing—water was chilly but not bad—we stopped again. This time, Rafael picked up a smooth stone and explained how these canyons formed over thousands of years. You could hear birds calling overhead, and every now and then, a breeze would shake loose drops from the trees.

There’s a spot about halfway where springs bubble right out of the ground. We all filled our bottles—coldest water I’ve tasted in ages. The last stretch is a bit rocky but worth it. Suddenly, you’re at these natural pools at the end of the canyon. Some folks jumped straight in; I dipped my toes first (it’s colder than you’d think). We had time for snacks, photos, and just lying back listening to the water echo off the canyon walls. On the way back, I noticed how quiet everyone was—just soaking it all in.