Rainforest Hike: Boca Tomatlan to Quimixto Waterfall

After several weeks in La Cruz, we have done a fair amount of exploring and are always keeping an eye out for new adventures.  On the morning cruiser’s net, we learned about a woman named April and the guided tours she leads.  When April announced on the radio that she would be leading a rather challenging hike through the rainforest, Trisha was quick to get us signed up.  It was a nice coincidence that the hike would take place on Derrick’s birthday.      

On Saturday morning, April and her friend brought a large white van to the marina and picked up three cruising couples: the crew from Interabang, Brenda and Rod from Glory Days and Liz and Chris from Espiritu. The ninety minute drive took us south through Puerto Vallarta and along the southern edge of Banderas Bay past Los Arcos. Finally we parked the van reached Boca Tomatlan, the starting  point for the hike to the waterfall in the town of Quimixto.  Here is a photo tour of our hike:

The hiking party

The hike began in Boca Tomatlan

Our tour guide, April, was full of great stories

One of several dilapidated bridges along the way

Sections of the trail crossed beautiful beaches

amazing views

This was NOT in the brochure!

The view of the trail behind us

We came upon a resort that had been abandoned in the late 1990's.  It must have been quite a place in its day.

The headboard of a bed

and the hottub

This was a nice place for a dip

Lunchbreak at a palapa in Los Animas

We reached the town of Quimixto to begin the hike to the falls.  Eighty percent of the families in the town make their livelihood renting horses to tourists hiking the trail to the falls.  

The waterfall was worth the trip

Derrick reported that the water was frigid yet refreshing

A brief stampede on our way down the trail

Trisha is happy on the panga ride back to the van

All in all, it was a great birthday for Derrick!