Catarata de Urlanta

Updated June 11, 2025

## Visiting Catarata de Urlanta in Jalapa, Guatemala: Waterfall, Eco-Park & Weekend Escape

Catarata de Urlanta (often called Cascadas de Urlanta) is one of Jalapa’s signature natural attractions: a tall, cold waterfall framed by dense greenery and a small but growing ecotourism project with pools, cabins, and camping. It sits in Aldea Urlanta, about 25 minutes from the center of Jalapa in eastern Guatemala.

Below is a practical, fact-based guide built from current, verifiable sources. Where details like prices or schedules can change, I’ll flag that explicitly so your editors can update quickly.

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## What Makes Catarata de Urlanta Special

### A high, cold waterfall in a natural amphitheater

– Multiple independent sources describe the main fall as around 65–70 meters high, fed by very cold water that originates in the surrounding mountains.
– The waterfall drops into a small pool at the base and continues as a river down the valley, running roughly parallel to the access path after the plunge pool.
– The valley is covered with abundant forest and thick vegetation, with rocky walls that make the area attractive both for photography and for climbing.

### Birdlife, flora and rock walls

Local and national tourism sources agree that Urlanta is known for:

– Birdwatching – the valley hosts a variety of birds; “avistamiento de aves” is listed as one of the main activities.
– Flora & fauna – the reserve sits in a humid, green valley with trees and undergrowth that stay lush most of the year.
– Climbing & rappel – the rock walls around the falls are used for rock climbing and rappelling with appropriate gear and guides.

Because the water is genuinely cold, swimming at the base tends to attract hardy visitors rather than casual bathers—useful nuance for framing expectations.

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## The Ecotourism Center: Pools, Cabins and Camping

Directly facing the falls is Centro Ecoturístico Cascada de Urlanta, an ecotourism project that leverages the view of the waterfall.

### Facilities currently documented

Sources from 2025 describe:

– Outdoor swimming pool with open views of the waterfall
– Wooden cabins:
– Options for couples, families, and solo travelers
– Areas for camping
– Basic outdoor spaces: paths, viewpoints and spots to relax in front of the falls

A separate GuateValley listing treats Cascadas de Urlanta as a camping and lodging destination, with camping and per-person lodging options that include entry, firewood and access to pools.

> Outdated-risk note (prices & exact lodging categories):
> GuateValley’s price grid (entry, camping, per-person lodging) is based on data originally compiled several years ago, and Guatemala.com’s 2025 article lists a slightly different price set for the ecotourism center. Both should be treated as indicative only and checked against the attraction’s Facebook page or phone before publication.

### Opening days & hours (verify before you go)

There are two slightly different patterns in current sources:

– Guatemala.com (updated January 2025): the Centro Ecoturístico Cascada de Urlanta is open Friday to Sunday, 9:00–17:00.
– Evendo & other listings present daily hours (Monday–Sunday, 9:00–17:00) for “Catarata de Urlanta” as a general attraction.

Because of this discrepancy, the safest editorial stance is:

> As of early 2025, sources disagree on opening days for the ecotourism center (some list only Friday–Sunday; others list daily hours). Visitors should confirm current hours directly via the official Facebook page or phone number before traveling.

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## Practical Details: Location, Access & Transport

### Where is Catarata de Urlanta?

– Department: Jalapa, eastern Guatemala
– Approximate coordinates: 14.5989° N, –90.0436° W, in the rural area of Aldea Urlanta.
– Distance from Guatemala City: GuateValley gives a distance of around 126 km from the capital to the falls area.

### How to get there from Guatemala City (by road)

Several detailed route descriptions converge on the same pattern:

1. Guatemala City → Jalapa
– Take CA-9 toward the Atlantic.
– Turn off onto RN-19 at the signed junction for Sanarate (around km 56).
– Continue on RN-19 for roughly 40 km to reach the city of Jalapa.

2. Jalapa → Catarata de Urlanta
– From the market area in Jalapa, follow the road uphill toward the cemetery.
– Continue onto a dirt / gravel road for about 25 km until you reach a signposted entrance for Cataratas de Urlanta or the ecotourism center.
– The final stretch is unpaved; a vehicle with decent clearance is recommended, especially in the rainy season.

Different sources quote slightly different exact distances, but they consistently mention a dirt road of around 20–25 km from the Jalapa urban area to the waterfall access.

### By public transport

– Long-distance bus:
– Transportes Unidos Jalapanecos run buses between Guatemala City (Zone 1, 22 calle 1-20) and Jalapa, roughly every 30 minutes from early morning (~4:30) until early evening (~18:00). The journey takes around 3 hours according to GuateValley.
– Local transport from Jalapa:
– Local buses departing from the south side of Parque Central in Jalapa continue toward the Urlanta area.
– Some guides mention tuk-tuks or taxis from Jalapa to the falls with a ride time of roughly 15 minutes; exact prices vary and should be checked locally.

> Outdated-risk note (bus schedules & fares):
> Timetables, fares and routes for Transportes Unidos Jalapanecos and local buses are subject to change and should be re-checked close to travel dates, especially after public-transport reforms, extreme weather or fuel-price shifts.

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## Activities at Catarata de Urlanta

### 1. Hiking & viewpoints

– Access involves walking on dirt paths that can become slippery in drizzle or after rain, particularly near the spray zone at the base of the falls.
– A nearby hill / mound (described in local guides) gives panoramic views down into the valley and of the falls framed by forest.

### 2. Swimming in cold water

– The plunge pool and sections of the river downstream are used by visitors for cold-water dips.
– Because the water is mountain-fed, multiple sources emphasize that it is “muy fría”—very cold—even in warmer months.

### 3. Camping & overnight stays

– Both GuateValley and Guatemala.com list camping and cabin lodging as official options, with packages that typically include entry, use of pools and firewood.
– Camping is usually concentrated near the facilities of the ecotourism center rather than beside the plunge pool itself, which helps reduce erosion and keeps the base of the falls relatively wild.

Again, exact prices and inclusions fluctuate and should be confirmed via the attraction’s current channels (phone or Facebook).

### 4. Rock climbing & rappel

– Urlanta is explicitly mentioned as a site for rock climbing and rappel, with the rock walls around the falls used for sport routes.
– Specialist climbing blogs and local adventure operators treat the site as a technical destination, not a casual via ferrata, so your article can position climbing/rappelling as suitable for people with proper gear and professional guides.

### 5. Birdwatching & nature photography

– Because of the forested valley and relatively low visitor numbers (compared with Guatemala’s most famous sites), travelers can spend time spotting birds and photographing flora without much urban noise.

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## Safety, Accessibility & Sustainability

### Terrain & physical demands

– The final dirt road and the paths to the base are not fully accessible to travelers with limited mobility; they involve uneven steps, mud and exposed rock. This is consistent across route descriptions and photos.
– During drizzle or after heavy rain, the ground becomes slippery; both GuateValley and Guatemala.com explicitly recommend good footwear and caution on wet days.

### What to bring (based on current local recommendations)

Guatemalan sources suggest:

– Sturdy, closed-toe shoes with grip
– Light rain jacket or impermeable layer, especially if you plan to approach the base of the falls
– Swimsuit and water shoes if you intend to swim
– Insect repellent and sunscreen
– Cash in Guatemalan quetzales, as on-site card payment is not guaranteed

### Environmental considerations

– The falls and surrounding valley are often described as a natural reserve or “paradise” and sit within privately managed land.
– Local guides encourage visitors to pack out waste, respect birdlife and avoid damaging vegetation when looking for viewpoints or photo spots.

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## When to Visit

While there isn’t a formal “season calendar” published for Urlanta, patterns in regional climate and local commentary give some safe, factual pointers:

– Jalapa lies in Guatemala’s eastern highlands, where the rainy season usually runs from roughly May to October and the drier months from November to April, following the general pattern for much of the country.
– During the rainy season, the waterfall’s volume increases and the valley looks greener, but the trails and access road become muddier and more demanding.
– In drier months, access is easier, but water levels may be lower; imagery used in national media spans both lush, rainy-season shots and drier-season photos, so your article can highlight that the experience is different but interesting year-round.

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