the area drains towards the gulf of mexico as part of the tecolutla river basin and because of the rugged terrain is filled with small fast winding rivers. one of the main rivers here is the ajajalpan, a main tributary for the tecolutla. this rivers forms part of the municipality's border with alhuacatlán. other rivers include the tulimán, hueyapan, cedazo maquixtla, tepexco, la ferrería, tlayaqia, canautla and atlixtala, which all empty into the ajajalpan. the rugged terrain means that the rivers form waterfalls such as the tulimán. this waterfall is the tallest in the area, with an estimated height of between 250 and 300 meters. it is located in the ejido tulimán about forty minutes outside the municipal seat.