Las Playitas: kayaking, a stargazing dinner and how to get there
Paddle calm spring channels by day and look up at the Milky Way at night. Every visit supports the town: 100% of profits go to the Cuatro Ciénegas 2040 Plan.
Kayaks by day, a huge sky at night
Las Playitas is a network of pools and channels where spring water forms natural lanes for kayaking. Birds found only here and turtles surfacing through aquatic plants appear without warning, and the only sound is the paddle. There is also a 2 km interpretive trail lined with endemic flora.
After dark the desert offers a second show. With zero light pollution, more than 300 stars are visible and the Milky Way is clear to the naked eye. A professional astronomer leads the stargazing dinner, which is cold cuts, cheese and wine, and it is booked directly with the operators on site.
Getting there in a van with driver
Las Playitas is close to the center of Cuatro Ciénegas, 320 km from Monterrey (3.5–4 hours by federal highway; about 345 km from Monterrey airport and 265 km from Saltillo). A private van with a driver is ideal for the stargazing dinner, because nobody has to drive the highway home in the dark after wine and a late night.
You choose the pickup point, the day and the departure time, and the van is not shared. Entrance fees, kayaks and the dinner are arranged and paid on site with the operators; we provide the ride, round trip or one way.
Where your money goes
100% of the profits from Las Playitas go to the Cuatro Ciénegas 2040 Plan, a community program that funds education, scholarships and local infrastructure for the town's next generation. It is not a donation box: it is how the place is run.
What to bring
- Comfortable clothes and a light jacket (nights are cool)
- Sport or water shoes
- Camera or tripod for astrophotography
- Insect repellent
- Sunglasses for daytime
- Biodegradable sunscreen for kayaking
Good to know
- Kayak equipment is provided on site
- The interpretive trail is guided locally
- The dinner includes cold cuts, cheese and wine
- An astronomer leads the sky viewing