The Hierve El Agua Tour is not to be missed during your visit to Oaxaca! There is no doubt that you would have seen Hierve El Agua on social media boasting an epic natural infinity pool and petrified waterfall on the edge of a mountaintop with incredible views of the Oaxaca Valley!
I have put together this complete guide of the Hierve El Agua Tour including where to book and what to expect!
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WHERE IS OAXACA HIERVE EL AGUA
Hierve El Agua is located 65km southeast from Oaxaca City Center in the municipality of Roaguia.
It’s approximately a 1 hour and 30 minute drive from Oaxaca City to reach Hierve El Agua.
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WHERE TO BOOK A HIERVE EL AGUA TOUR
There are countless tour companies in Oaxaca City to book a Hierve El Agua Tour but in my experience, it can be overwhelming trying to decide which one is best.
I recommend booking the Hierve El Agua Tour online in advance with Get Your Guide which has great reviews and hundreds of bookings. This will save you from having to haggle for a good price with the local tour companies in the city.
The Hierve El Agua Oaxaca Tour starts with a hotel pick-up from Oaxaca City at around 10:00 am and not only will you get to visit Hierve El Agua, but the tour also includes a visit to El Tule Tree, Mitla Ruins, Mezcal Factory and Zapotec Village before returning to your hotel in Oaxaca City at around 6:00 pm.
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Hierve El Agua Tour
HIERVE EL AGUA ENTRANCE FEE
Unfortunately, the cost of the Hierve El Agua Tour does not include the entrance fee upon arriving which means you will have to pay an additional 50 pesos.
Believe me, it’s worth the extra 50 pesos ($3 USD) to experience this incredible natural wonder with your own eyes!
WHAT TO EXPECT AT HIERVE EL AGUA
Hierve El Agua is formed by small amounts of water which is oversaturated with calcium carbonate and comes to the surface through cracks in the mountain. Pretty interesting stuff if you ask me!
Hierve El Agua translated to English means ‘Boil The Water’ but the springs aren’t actually that hot. In fact, I went swimming in the top pool and it was quite chilly. The average Hierve El Agua temperature is around 22 to 27 degrees Celcius.
There is not one but two petrified waterfalls at Hierve El Agua. The first one you’ll come to is called Cascada Chica which is about 60 meters wide and rises 50 meters off the valley floor.
The second petrified waterfall is called Cascada Grande which is around 90 meters wide and 80 meters above the valley floor. This one isn’t recommended for swimming in the natural springs at the top but it’s definitely photogenic!
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Infinity pool at Hierve El Agua
Cascada Chica – Hierve El Agua Tour
Petrified waterfalls at Hierve El Agua
Natural Springs at Hierve El Agua Oaxaca
On top of Cascada Grande
HIERVE EL AGUA OAXACA TOUR – CONTINUED
Once you’ve finished exploring the natural springs on top of Cascada Chica and Cascada Grande you can follow the trail down and around the mountain to the base of the petrified waterfalls.
It’s around 30-minutes to get down to the bottom Hierve El Agua and back up again. The way down is clearly marked and it’s a combination of a rocky trail and concrete steps suitable for all sorts of travelers.
My favorite viewpoint of the Cascada Grande petrified waterfall is about halfway down the trail where you can see it from a side-on perspective.
The rock formations that you can see are other-worldly and are formed by the water that runs down the rock face, creating these large stalactites which are similar to the ones that are found in caves.
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On the trail at Oaxaca Hierve El Agua
Cascada Grande – Hierve El Agua Tour
Side-on perspective
BEST PHOTO SPOTS ON THE HIERVE EL AGUA TOUR
The best Instagram worthy photo spots at Hierve El Agua, in my opinion, is at Cascada Chica which has two natural infinity pools with the most incredible mountainous backdrop!
In the top springs, there is a dead tree that makes for the perfect reflection shot which you can see in the image below. This is also the most popular spot among tourists to takes photos so you may have to queue in line for 5 to 10 minutes to get your shot.
My personal favorite photo spot at Hierve El Agua is in the lower springs where you can sit right on the edge in a shallow pool and capture the beautiful mountains in the background!
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The lower springs
The dead tree at Hierve El Agua Oaxaca
FOOD & DRINKS AT HIERVE EL AGUA
At the entrance to Hierve El Agua, you can find dozens of vendors selling all sorts of things including local cuisine, soft drinks, beers, juices, ice cream, hand made garments and souvenirs.
Toilet facilities and change rooms are also available for visitors which are located at the main entrance to Oaxaca Hierve El Agua.
FINAL THOUGHTS OF HIERVE EL AGUA TOUR
If you’re umming and ahhing about whether or not to join a Hierve El Agua Tour I can tell you now that you won’t regret it. This particular location was the highlight of my trip to Oaxaca and I guarantee you will enjoy it just as much as I did.
I highly recommend visiting Hierve El Agua with a tour as opposed to DIY because it includes a number of other must-see tourist attractions in Oaxaca.
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PIN LOCATION OF OAXACA HIERVE EL AGUA
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WHERE TO STAY IN OAXACA CITY
Oaxaca City has hundreds of accommodations to choose from so I have narrowed it down to a few of the best places to stay in Oaxaca to suit the needs of luxury travelers and budget backpackers.
See the list of accommodations below that I personally recommend:
Luxury: QUINTA REAL OAXACA
Check prices on Agoda | Check prices on Booking.com
Mid Range: Hotel Casa De La Tia Tere
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Budget: SELINA HOSTEL
Check prices on Agoda | Check prices on Booking.com
FOR ALL OTHER PLACES TO STAY IN OAXACA CITY, SEARCH ON AGODA OR SEARCH ON BOOKING.COM
LONELY PLANET – MEXICO
One of the best books to take on your trip is the Lonely Planet Mexico Travel Guide!
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AIRBNB OAXACA
Another great option when searching for accommodation in Oaxaca is to stay in an Airbnb which generally has some great deals!
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MORE CENTRAL & SOUTH AMERICA TRAVEL GUIDES
- Guatemala: 2 Week Guatemala Itinerary
- Cuba: 10 Day Cuba Itinerary
- Peru: Backpacking Peru – 3 Week Itinerary
- Bolivia: Things To Do In Bolivia
- Brazil: 2 Day Rio De Janeiro Itinerary
- Argentina: Things To Do In Argentina
- Chile: Things To Do In Chile
WHAT TO PACK FOR MEXICO
Everyday Backpack: One of the best backpacks on the market! The Nomatic 20L Backpack is perfect for on the go adventures. Featuring multiple storage spaces for valuables, drink bottles, chargers, notebooks and more. This sleek backpack was designed for you.
Universal Power Adapter: Don’t leave home without one! I highly recommend getting this Universal Power Adapter so that you are able to charge all of your electronics when you’re on the road. Compatible in Asia, UK, Europe, Africa, USA, SA and Australia.
Hidden Money Belt: I never go on a trip without one! The best thing is they are always out of sight, hidden beneath your clothing. With RFID blocking, they are perfectly designed to keep your credit cards, cash and other valuables safe when you’re out adventuring!
Waterproof Phone Case: A waterproof phone case is a must-have item! This universal case will keep your phone safe from water damage, sand and scratches during your adventures. Suitable for all smartphone models.
Portable Charger: One of the best portable chargers on the market! The Anker Power Bank keeps your phone and accessories charged on those longer adventures. Featuring 2 USB charging ports, rechargeable battery, works with iPhone, iPad, Samsung, Oppo and Android.
Microfibre Travel Towel: To pack a towel or not to pack a towel? A standard bathroom towel can take up a lot of space in your travel bag. Get your hands on a quick-dry Microfibre Travel Towel which is perfect for the beach, backpacking, camping and general traveling.
Rain Jacket: A light-weight rain jacket is an absolute must when traveling! North Face waterproof rain jackets come in both men and women sizes, featuring a breathable mesh lining and adjustable hood that can be tucked away inside the collar.
Kindle: The best alternative for books! Kindle e-readers are perfect for long haul flights, reading on the beach or a quiet evening away from the bars. Kindle’s are waterproof with rechargeable batteries and adjustable light settings to suit indoor/outdoor conditions.
Packing Cubes: My favorite item in my backpack! Perfect for organizing your shirts, pants, jackets, socks, underwear and more. This 5 Set Packing Cubes makes packing easier and more efficient, adding extra space in your bag for your next trip.
Activated Charcoal Tablets: Want to avoid food poisoning? Most of us have been a victim of travelers diarrhea from eating street food. Organic Activated Charcoal Tablets are fast-acting and will rid your system of the bad bacteria that causes stomach upset.
MY CAMERA GEAR
Everyday Camera: The most affordable mirrorless camera on the market! I personally use the Sony A7ii Mirrorless Camera on all of my adventures. It’s compact, lightweight and super easy to use for all levels of photography. A 28-70mm Sony lens is also included.
Drone Camera: Take your photography to new heights! The DJI Mavic Pro 2 Drone is at the top of the game when it comes to high-quality images and video, easy to control functions and traveler-friendly capabilities. I guarantee you won’t regret purchasing one.
GoPro Hero 8: One of the most popular cameras on the planet! I love using the GoPro Hero 8 for all of my underwater shots and fast-paced adventures. The GoPro Hero 8 captures the best moments with its wide range of functions that are very simple to use!
Camera Bag: My favorite camera bag I have ever owned! The Lowepro Protactic 450 AW II Camera Bag features a waterproof rain cover, drink bottle holder, padded compartments for cameras, drones, lenses, accessories and it also has a laptop pocket.
Selfie Stick: Everyone loves a good selfie, right!? The Sandmarc Metal Edition Selfie Stick is sleek, stylish and can extend to 1.2m. I find it much easier to take photos and videos with the GoPro when it is mounted to the Sandmarc Selfie Stick!
Camera Tripod: The Joby GorillaPod is suitable for all cameras. This tripod is easy to use and perfect for setting up a time-lapse video or even using it as a selfie stick. The legs are flexible so you can wrap it around a tree or a pole to get creative with your shot.
GoPro Dome: Have you ever wanted to capture those under/over water shots with the GoPro? This epic underwater GoPro dome housing is the best camera accessory to have to create the perfect 50/50 shot. I use mine every time I am in the ocean!
Memory Card: The best thing about SanDisk Extreme Pro is that it delivers maximum speed for images and videos. Having 64GB of storage means that you can store hundreds of files on this SD card for 2-3 days and not have to worry about running out of space.
External Hard Drive: As a photographer, my images and video files take up a lot of space on my MacBook so I use the WD Elements External Hard Drive to store everything. With 4TB worth of storage space, this is more than enough for 1 years worth of content.
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JOIN MY FACEBOOK TRAVEL TRIBE
Do you have any questions about Hierve El Agua?
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MY SHOP
Before you go, don’t forget to check out My Online Shop!
I’ve got a wide range of digital products for sale and I’m sure you’ll find something that will come in handy during your travels!
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FINAL THOUGHTS
I hope you enjoyed reading this article and if you have any questions at all about the Hierve El Agua Oaxaca Tour, please leave me a comment below and I will get back to you as soon as I can.
Happy Travels!
