Xodhé Challenge – Aguas Abiertas

Sheer ochre cliffs rise straight out of the deep waters of Presa de Zimapán, where swimmers navigate a flooded desert canyon on the boundary between Querétaro and Hidalgo. The Xodhé Challenge – Aguas Abiertas is an open water swimming race held in this vast freshwater reservoir, staging its start and finish lines at Eco Cabañas Punta Xodhé in the municipality of Cadereyta de Montes, Mexico. Swimmers can take on three separate courses, choosing between distances of 1,000 meters, 3,000 meters, and 6,000 meters. Because the courses stretch across a deep and wide mountain reservoir, every participant in all categories and distances is required to tow an individual safety buoy. Stroking across the glassy surface, swimmers follow the guide buoys while surrounded by the stark mountain walls that drop directly into the water.

The competition is officially sanctioned by the Mexican Swimming Federation, giving the event a formal competitive footing. Organized by Spinser, the race operates with direct backing from the Tourism Secretariat of the State of Querétaro, the Municipality of Cadereyta de Montes, Punta Xodhé, and the Cooperativa de la isla Tzibanza. Together, they host swimmers in a natural arena distinguished by crystal-clear waters and striking mountain scenery.

Presa de Zimapán: the canyon reservoir fed by Río San Juan

The expanse of open water beneath the swimmers is an artificial reservoir covering nearly 23 square kilometers, shared between the towns of Cadereyta de Montes and Zimapán. The lake was created in 1994 as part of a major hydroelectric project engineered behind the highest dam in Mexico. When the concrete wall impounded the canyon, the desert valley transformed into a dramatic freshwater basin nestled between rugged highland ridges. Straddling the geographical border between the states of Querétaro and Hidalgo, the reservoir is filled by the persistent flow of the Río San Juan. The river begins its journey in the State of Mexico, fed by the Huapango dam and the Ñadó stream, before winding northward across the central plateau.

It threads through the municipalities of Amealco, San Juan del Río, and Tequisquiapan on its way toward the mountain gorges. In early historical accounts, chroniclers documented the San Juan as a substantial, brisk river flanked by native sabino trees and nourished by natural freshwater springs. It marks the state line until it enters the flooded canyon of the Zimapán dam. Right inside the reservoir basin, the San Juan joins the Tula River at their confluence, merging to form the downstream course of the Río Moctezuma.

Cueva del Tesoro and the Otomí heritage of Cadereyta

In Cadereyta de Montes, archaeological excavations at the Cueva del Tesoro uncovered rare wooden tools crafted by nomadic hunter-gatherers, including an ancient atlatl dart-thrower. Researchers have dated these preserved wooden implements to between 7 and 132 CE, attesting to early communities that relied on the canyon's natural shelters and wildlife. The race itself takes its title from Xodhé, a rural community situated within Cadereyta de Montes. The locality is widely recognized for its indigenous Otomí population, whose ancestral heritage remains woven into the cultural identity of the surrounding hillsides. Traveling to the swim provides an encounter with a region where ancient roots and high-desert indigenous traditions endure alongside the modern lake.

Eco Cabañas Punta Xodhé: cliffs, night paddles, and stargazing

The operational hub for the race is set within the grounds of Eco Cabañas Punta Xodhé, a retreat encompassing more than 12 hectares along the water's edge. The property sits within a semi-desert landscape characterized by tall cacti and jagged, ochre-tinted rock cliffs that tower above the shore. Swimmers and spectators stay directly beside the launching area, surrounded by the rough textures and warm tones of the canyon terrain. Beyond open water swimming, the Zimapán reservoir is an established venue for both national and international sport fishing tournaments. Outside of race hours, visitors can head out onto the calm, warm waters after dark for night paddle boarding on illuminated boards.

Gliding across the silent reservoir with lights glowing under the board reveals the stillness of the gorge from a completely different perspective. Evenings along the water conclude with dramatic sunsets that bathe the horizon in brilliant orange and purple shades. On clear nights, the remote desert location yields pristine vistas of the starry night sky. When a full moon rises over Presa de Zimapán, its light illuminates the rocky cliffs and the outlines of the cacti, casting sharp silhouettes across the lake.