Warm, wet and wonderful.

Mexican canyons are some of the best in the world. Full stop. The only other warm-flowing-water-canyon meccas, as far as I know, are Oman, Iran, and a few scattered tropical islands.

Fortunately, Mexican canyons tend to be relatively accessible, subject to a very dependable dry season (for lower and safer flows), and fairly well-documented.

Matacanes Canyon, near Monterrey, is unquestionably one of the best canyons in the world. The pools, the clear water, the grippy rocks, the parts where is goes underground - twice - and more are sure to astound even the most seasoned canyoneer. Indeed, while commonly run by guided groups, who likely can't even appreciate how magical it is, this canyon is a must-do for any canyoneer. Surrounding canyons in the mountains of Nuevo Leon are also incredible and highly worth doing.

There seems to be a handful of very well documented canyons in Mexico, and then vast areas with only a few poorly documented routes. As I write this, in 2026, I would say that canyon exploration in Mexico is still in its early stages. The hundreds of miles of canyons in Durango, Chihuahua, Chiapas, and more remote parts of Nuevo Leon have hardly been explored, let alone documented, and I would expect a number of additional world class routes to be found in the coming decades.

Furthermore, Mexico is country that is a joy to travel around, with some of the friendliest people anywhere (spoiler alert: I married into a Mexican family and visit frequently), and many locals will be outright enthused to show you their country and their land, making exploration often simple. If you're not yet canyoning in Mexico, you need to ask yourself: so, when am I going?

​