Cascada de la Reforma, Waterfall in San Gabriel Mixtepec, Mexico.
Cascada de la Reforma is a multi-tiered waterfall in San Gabriel Mixtepec, Oaxaca, with water flowing from the Chiquito River that originates in the Sierra Costera mountains. The river feeds natural pools formed between the rocks, collecting water before it flows further downhill.
The waterfall has long served as a gathering place for local communities, naturally connecting different parts of the Oaxaca region. Its importance to local people remained consistent over generations, as it became a central point where people came together.
The name recalls Mexico's 19th-century Reform period, and local people keep this memory alive through their connection to the land. The community has maintained its traditional way of life, visible in how the site is used and how people gather here today.
A concrete path leads to the waterfall with several crossing points over streams, so suitable footwear and careful steps are needed. It helps to take your time and move slowly along the way, especially where stones are wet.
A rural restaurant at the site serves local specialties like cuatecos, tender palm pods prepared in traditional adobe wood-fired ovens. This dish is rarely found outside this location in the region, offering an authentic taste of what people here eat.
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