Hierve el Agua in Oaxaca: All the Essential Tips for Your Visit

What is Hierve el Agua?

Hierve el Agua is a series of waterfalls that have almost completely dried up and petrified. Water rich in minerals once flowed here, leaving behind white, mineral deposits (travertine).

As a result, Hierve el Agua features natural pools with mineral crusts. You’ll find a very similar phenomenon in Turkey, where the travertine terraces are known as Pamukkale.

In some spots, the water bubbles at Hierve el Agua. This isn’t due to heat — the water is only about 72–77°F (22–25°C) — but rather to the minerals. It’s one of the best attractions in Mexico.

How do you get from Oaxaca to Hierve el Agua?

You have three options for getting from Oaxaca to Hierve el Agua:

• On a guided tour
• Independently by public transportation
• By rental car

Note: Remember to bring sunscreen, swimwear, and cash.

Guided tours to Hierve el Agua

A guided tour is the most popular and most convenient option for visiting Hierve el Agua. You’ll be picked up at your hotel in Oaxaca in the morning and driven straight to the waterfalls.

The great thing about these tours is that you don’t just visit Hierve el Agua — you also get to see other highlights in the area. The tours take up a full day.

Most Hierve el Agua tours include these stops:

• Tree of Tule
• Rug workshop in Teotitlán
• Archaeological site at Mitla
• Hierve el Agua
• Mezcal tasting

Cost of guided tours

Prices vary depending on where you book. Admission to the individual attractions (Tule, Mitla ruins, and Hierve el Agua) is usually not included.

Tour cost: 800 to 1,300 MXN (35 – 65 euros)

Book the guided Hierve el Agua tour including additional highlights

Getting to Hierve el Agua independently

Going independently is cheaper than a guided tour, but be prepared to wait around quite a bit — the whole trip ends up taking nearly a full day.

From Oaxaca to Mitla

First, take a bus from Oaxaca to Mitla. These depart from the baseball stadium Estadio Eduardo Vascondelos.

The stadium is about 1.5 miles outside the city center. You can walk there or take a taxi. The bus stop is on the main road between the stadium and a McDonald’s. You can find it on Google Maps by searching for Colectivo a Mitla.

Buses to Mitla have no fixed schedule and come roughly every half hour. The buses are green at the front and have “Mitla” written on them — just stick out your arm to flag one down. The fare is 25 MXN (about $1.20), paid when you board. The ride takes just under an hour.

If no bus comes or you’d rather not wait, you can also take a taxi/colectivo to Mitla. At the bus stop you can usually find other travelers to share one with. You’ll pay around 40 MXN (about $2).

Transportation from Mitla to Hierve el Agua

Trucks run from Mitla to Hierve el Agua. The bus drivers on the Oaxaca buses will usually let you know when to get off to catch one.

Trucks cost 75 MXN (about $3.50) per person and only leave once they’re full (12 people). If you’re unlucky, you may wait up to 1.5 hours. If you’re lucky, they’ll head off right away. Alternatively, you can team up with other travelers and flag down a taxi — they’re usually not much more expensive than the trucks.

If you took a taxi from Oaxaca, you can ask the driver in Mitla if he’ll continue on to Hierve el Agua.

The ride from Mitla takes about 45 minutes. Along the way you’ll be stopped twice: once to pay 20 MXN (about $1) for road maintenance, and once to pay the entrance fee to Hierve el Agua (50 MXN, about $2.40).

Cost of getting there by public transportation:

• Bus Oaxaca–Mitla (round trip): 50 MXN (about $2.40)
• Truck Mitla–Hierve el Agua (round trip): 150 MXN (about $7)
• Hierve el Agua admission: 50 MXN (about $2.40)
• Road maintenance fee to Hierve el Agua: 20 MXN (about $1)

Total cost: 270 MXN (about $13)

Getting to Hierve el Agua by rental car

If you’re doing a road trip through Mexico, you can also drive to Hierve el Agua by rental car. The drive takes about 1.5 hours from Oaxaca. Keep in mind that the last stretch involves winding curves and gravel roads.

Unfortunately, we didn’t meet anyone who drove there in their own car, so we can’t tell you how much the parking fees are. You will, however, need to pay the road fee (20 MXN) and the entrance fee (50 MXN) regardless.

What can you do at Hierve el Agua?

Once you arrive, you can take great photos, swim in the travertine pools, and go on a short hike. Plan on spending just under three hours in total.

Swimming at Hierve el Agua

At the travertine terraces, you can take photos and go for a swim in the pools. The water isn’t hot, but it’s not cold either — the temperature is around 72–77°F (22–25°C).

Honestly, we didn’t find the water all that inviting. It’s murky, and with so many swimmers, it’s probably not the cleanest. Decide for yourself whether you want to jump in — but bring your swimwear just in case.

Changing rooms at Hierve el Agua are free. Showers cost 20 MXN (about $1), and restrooms cost 5 MXN (about 15 cents).

Hiking at Hierve el Agua

The loop trail at Hierve el Agua is seriously popular — and for good reason. It’s just over 1.2 miles (2 kilometers) long and winds around the base of the waterfalls. From the pools, head either left or right — both directions lead to the trail.

You can also download the Maps.me app, which has the hiking trail mapped out. The total elevation gain is just under 500 feet (150 meters). The path is manageable underfoot, though it gets quite steep in some spots.

The loop is absolutely worth it — you’ll get stunning panoramas of the landscape and see the petrified waterfalls from below.

Staying overnight at Hierve el Agua

If you have the time, it’s worth spending the night near Hierve el Agua. That way you can experience this natural phenomenon in the evening and early morning without the tourist crowds.

There are simple cabañas (cabins) in the village near the waterfalls. As far as we know, you can’t reserve them in advance — you just book on the spot. We’ve heard there’s almost always availability, so showing up spontaneously shouldn’t be a problem.

There’s also a campsite where you can pitch your tent, which is the more budget-friendly option.

Also read our travel tips for Mexico

Practical tips for visiting Hierve el Agua

To wrap things up, here are a few handy pointers for your trip to Hierve el Agua.

What should you pack?

Even if you’re not sure you’ll want to swim, pack your swimwear and a towel anyway. On a sunny day, you can lie out by the edge of the pools. Sunscreen is also essential — the sun here can be really intense.

Also read our tips on the best time to visit Mexico

You’ll also need cash, as you can’t pay the entrance fee by card.

Food and drinks

There are plenty of stands at Hierve el Agua — as there are pretty much everywhere in Mexico — where you can buy drinks and food. That said, bring enough water with you. You’ll work up a sweat on the hike.

Also read our tips on eating in Mexico