Uruapan (day 3)

Yesterday morning we walked 4.5 kms to El Centro. Fortunately, the route took us through the National Park that is located right in the city! This park is special because the Cupatitzio River has it's underground source at the beginning of the park. Throughout the park, underground springs continue to add water to the river, and by the time it reaches 10 kms south of the source it becomes the beautiful Tzararacua Waterfalls.

It costs 25 pesos ($1.90) each to enter the park. There was hardly anybody around and at times it felt like we had the place to ourselves despite the fact that the park is located in a city of 240,000 people!

Ruth, at the underground source of the Cupatitzio River.

They have built up this park using the water and many of the paths lead to both natural and man made waterfalls. It's done quite nicely and you can easily spend a couple of hours exploring.

And this was all very nice, but we wanted to see the BIG waterfall. For this, you have to go 10 kms (6 miles) south. Ruth had read that you can catch a local city bus to the Tzararacua Falls from the central plaza, but the bus only runs once every hour. So we exited the park and made our way to the plaza. We asked at a hotel, and found the bus stop. We waited, and waited, and almost gave up. Turns out that we had just missed a bus, and had to wait 50 minutes for the next one! But at the time we didn't know that, so it wasn't like we could go wander around and come back. Anyhow, got on the bus, and paid 7 pesos (53 cents!) for the 10 km bus ride. By the time we got to the falls, there was only one other couple on the bus with us.

Made it to the falls, and as soon as you get off the bus there are men with horses wanting you to pay them to take you down to the falls. Why might you need a horse, you ask? Well, because there are 565 steps to get down to the viewing area! Of course we told them we wanted to walk, and off we went. The other couple took horses.

The falls are actually better than the pictures make them out to be. In fact, I was indifferent as to even going to the falls in the first place, but Ruth wanted to see them so I tagged along. But I'm glad I did because they are quite spectacular. Again, I had to try a couple of panorama shots to try and get them all in, and the lighting was goofy with bright sun on one side and shade on the other, but here's the best I could do....

The Tzararacua Falls

La Cascade Tzararacua

On the other side of the river. Slippery because of the mist from the falls!

We sat and had our lunch at the falls. The bus driver had told us he would return in two hours, but I think he was telling us that we should allow two hours because one wouldn't be enough. He was probably right, but we still had to wait around back at the top for the bus to return.

Heading back up the 565 steps!

When the bus arrived, exactly two hours later, we got on with the other couple. As we were about to leave, a girl comes running up to get on the bus. After all, it would be at least another hour until the next bus, so she didn't want to miss it. She got on, and then we saw her boyfriend coming, trying not to spill the two large cups of beer they had just bought at one of the little restaurants by the parking area! It was too funny, and we all laughed. The driver lets him on with the beer, and he hands one to me! Try that with your local city bus in Canada and you'd probably get arrested! I love Mexico!

This morning, we are heading for the beach. Should be about 265 kms (165 miles) so we are getting an early start to get through the city. After that, it is a toll road to the coast so should be a fairly easy drive. Planning on a beach just a little north of Zihuatanejo, so we will have had the last of our chilly nights!

(Ruth updated some of your questions from yesterday's blog. If you go back to the comments section, you can view her responses.)