It's still technically winter in Jalisco, but the 85-degree temperatures are no cause to stop exploring. Guadalajara is nestled between the Sierra Madre Occidental and the Sierra Madre Sur- the crossroads of two great mountain ranges. There are rivers, canyons, and mountains around every corner and most of them are way off the beaten track. Yesterday I took a few friends to explore the Cascadas de Comala about two hours south of Guadalajara in the interior of Jalisco.
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| La segunda cascada |
We woke up at 6am. I grabbed my camera, tripod, bottle of water and we took off beating any sort of traffic out of town. The sun came up of the Sierra de Tapalpa as we headed south past the birthplace of Mariachi music, Cocula. Two hours late we had wound our way through several other pueblos to the tiny pueblito of Comala, Jalisco. From Comala we dropped down into the Canyon Aquetzalli to the Arroyo de Jalpa.
The Arroyo de Jalpa runs through the Canyon Aquetzalli from Jalpa past Comala and the waters eventually reach the Rio Armeria (a class IV/V multi-day trip). We parked by the largest of the 6 or so waterfalls in the canyon. From here we set out to the clear, cool waters further above.
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| La tercera cascada |
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| La cueva |
Past the third waterfall we came upon a series of stalactites forming on hanging firn plants. From here we swam through the tightest part of the canyon to the fourth waterfall. With no ropes we were stopped here. I'd like to come back with a canyoneering rope and equipment to descend from Jalpa to Comala.
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| Plenty of good jumping spots. The water is so clear it's easy to judge depth. |
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| Saltando en la segunda cascada |
