Have you ever wanted to visit a hot spring waterfall? Guatemala is where dreams can come true. Many sites will leave just about any tourist in awe of the beauty of the nature and ecotourism, especially the Cascadas de Finca El Paraíso. Cascadas de Finca El Paraíso is a natural hot spring waterfall, that is a cheap day trip away from the small town of Fronteras, or as it is more commonly referred to, Rio Dulce.
Cascadas de Finca El Paraíso are open every day, year-round, from 7 am to 5 pm. These hot springs make a natural, and cheap, spa/jacuzzi. The spa is complete with hot and cold-water therapy, a lap pool style river, and organic high end mud masks.
There is plenty of activities for everyone in the family, or group, to keep any personality entertained for the day. Don’t forget to bring a pair goggle so you don’t miss out on seeing the small cave tucked underneath the waterfall. The cave is big enough to fit one head, where no one will be able to see that you’re there. Be careful at the other caves as they’re filled with bat guano, and highly discouraged entering out of an abundance of caution due to infectious diseases.
Hot River from the Source
Spend some time soaking in the waterfall and enjoy a hot water massage as it melts the muscles, pounding them into submission. Discover the hot spring source by climbing up either side of the waterfall using the roots as leverage. On the left side of the river there’s a near perfect path to climb. The water above is all hot with no cold water in the vicinity. It is the perfect opportunity to soak in the hot river, with a little extra peace and quiet.
Visitors can find the source of the springs by following the hot river for a short walk via the path on the right side. The source water is very hot, so be careful. It’s worth the journey up, as there is high quality spa mud directly next to the source. I was told the hotter the water, the better the mud. Grab a ball and slather it all over the body, then let it dry. Local legends say that the mud has a magic quality and is extremely good for the skin. Most people pay hundreds of dollars for this kind of experience.
Get back down to the main river by taking the same way you came up, climbing down the other side, or jumping off the top of the waterfall into the pools below. Be sure to check that the area is clear to keep from accidently hurting another tourist or local. If this spot is too high, there’s another place to jump that’s about half the height. Looking at the waterfall, the rocks to the left make an excellent jumping point into the pool.
Be sure to plan your trip accordingly. The best, and coolest time of the year is during the dry season from January to April. The months of March and April are the hottest for the region and can make it difficult to spend a day in hot water. If you’re not a fan of getting stuck in the rain, then I’d recommend avoiding a visit during rainy season from October through December.
The waterfall is only 27 kilometers (17 miles) from Fronteras. It’s quite easy to visit with three great options for getting here. Take a collectivo, which is a microbus/passenger van outfitted to fit five rows of people, a rental car, or the cheapest option, hitchhike. If coming from the other side of the country, such as Guatemala City, then you’ll need at least two days to travel the 307 kilometers (190 miles) east.
How to Get Here:
Getting to the waterfall with the collectivo is cheap and relatively straight forward. The collectivos takes around 45 minutes, leaving from Rio Dulce. The microbuses collect people where the two main streets intersect, highway CA13 and 7E, in Fronteras. Neither of these streets are labelled, but the main highway moving through town is CA13 and the only other major intersection is 7E.
At the time of publishing, in April 2022, the collectivo cost 20 Quetzals ($2.61 USD) one way per person. Be sure to tell the driver the destination is Finca El Paraíso, and he’ll be sure to stop at the entrance. The fees to enter are charged by the owner of the property, Francisco. He sits by the entrance directly where the busses drop off, charging 15Q ($1.96) per person. I’ll take this moment to note, I asked the locals what time the last collectivo back to Rio Dulce is. It’s around 4 pm so plan accordingly. I chose to hitchhike back while I waited for the next bus, saving 20Q and time.
Francisco, the owner, gives everyone an entrance ticket. Make sure to take the ticket and don’t worry about paying anyone else that tries to charge you. Follow the path to the waterfall, it is roughly 500 meters (0.3 miles) from the entrance. Depending on the walking pace, it takes about 7–10 minutes to get to the stairs that connect the path with the riverside and the hot spring waterfall.
I visited with a short-day trip from Rio Dulce. I left around 10 am and got back to my hotel near 5 pm. It felt like I spent the day at a spa while meeting the locals. My entire body, especially my back, was completely relaxed. the water therapies are incredible. I spent around 5 to 6 hours melting under the hot falls. My muscles turned into puddy, as the water tumbled from above.
During my visit, I saw two other tourists throughout the entire day. It was nice to get away from the normal tourist stops and unwind in nature. Constant travel can become quite exhausting. I was incredibly grateful to finally get some time off and allow my body to heal.
I would highly recommend this stop to everyone. Cascadas El Paraíso are like no other experience that I found in Guatemala. I was very impressed with the magical spa qualities of the mud and grateful to feel my muscles melt in the water. This is the perfect place to bring an afternoon picnic, with the kids and family, or to venture through on your own and dissolve into nature.
Quick Notes:
- Collectivo from Fronteras (Rio Dulce) to Cascadas Finca El Paraíso: 20Q (one way per person)
- Entrance fee: 15Q per person
- Hours of operation: Everyday, year-round from 7 am to 5 pm
