The 10 Best Hierve el Agua Tours in Oaxaca Mexico
searching for the best tours of Hierve el Agua?
You’ve come to the right place because this article features the Top 10 best Hierve el Agua tours from Oaxaca City. These mystical rock formations look like something from a science fiction movie — and among the Oaxaca must see sites.
Don’t have time to read the whole article? The best Hierve el Agua tour is this Ultimate Hierve el Agua Hike + Mezcal Tasting, with a near-Five Star rating.
This article has it all, as there’s a favorite Oaxaca Mexico Hierve el Agua tour for all types of travelers — whether you have a full day to explore, or just a few hours.
Whether you want a half-day tour, going there and back mini-adventure, or a complete region of Oaxaca tour to see Zapotec rug-making, mezcal tasting, handicraft shopping and visiting the widest tree in the world.
Read on to find the perfect tour Oaxaca Hierve el Agua to fit your budget, Oaxaca itinerary and preferences.
Top 3 Picks: Best Hierve el Agua Tours
#1 TOP PICK
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Ultimate Hierve el Agua Hike + Mezcal Tasting
✔️ Traditional Mexican meals
✔️ All entrance fees
#2 PICK
Epic Hierve el Agua Hike & Teotitlán Textile Town
✔️ Traditional Oaxacan breakfast
✔️ All entrace fees
#3 PICK
Hierve el Agua Private Tour
✔️ Private transportation
✔️ Pick up and drop off
What is Hierve el Agua?
Hierve el Agua is a series of thermal pools and calcified waterfalls (or petrified waterfalls) located in the town of San Lorenzo Albarradas, Oaxaca.
Hierve el Agua is located about 1.5 hours by car from Oaxaca City by car. It is one of the most recognizable natural landmarks in Mexico; though it is partially manmade.
Since this article is all about helping you book the best Hierve el Agua day trips, we’re going to get to that — but don’t miss the Hierve el Agua Oaxaca Guide & FAQ at the end of the article with enough info so you visit like a pro.
Top 10 Hierve el Agua Tours in Oaxaca
1. Ultimate Hierve el Agua Hike + Mezcal Tasting (Best Hierve El Agua Hiking Tour)
⏰ Tour time: 12 hours | ⭐️ Rating: 4.93 out of 5 Stars | 🥾 Book now
One of the best tours to Hierve el Agua Oaxaca Mexico is this 12-hour hike and mezcal tasting tour.
The day starts bright and early with a 6am start — because early is the best time to visit Hierve el Agua. You can spend the two-hour drive to San Isidro Raoguía waking up slowly and enjoying the scenery.
This was honestly so amazing to do. The hiking, the information on so many different things, and just the whole experience itself was amazing. I would definitely book through them again for other tours!
—YESSICA (read more reviews)
Once there, you’ll eat a yummy breakfast with a local family. Next, you’ll get plenty of free time to explore the rock formations at Hierve de Agua, relax in the thermal pools, and enjoy the natural beauty.
After that, you’ll go on an approximately three-hour hike over rugged terrain to find a hidden waterfall that few tourists know about. How cool is that!?
The tour finishes off at the home of a master mezcal-maker in Matatlán, one of the best places for Oaxaca mezcal. You’ll have lunch with his family and try a dozen or so different mezcals. Are you sold yet?!
Best Hierve el Agua Tours from Oaxaca
2. Epic Hierve el Agua Hike & Teotitlán Textile Town
⏰ Tour time: 12 hours | ⭐️ Rating: 4.91 out of 5 Stars | 🥾 Book now
Another amazing way to enjoy Hierve el Agua Mexico is this incredible 12-hour Oaxaca textile town and Hierve el Agua combo tour.
The tour starts at 6am so you can beat the crowds. After a two-hour drive from Oaxaca City to Hierve el Agua, you’ll have breakfast with a local family. Next, it’s time to explore Hierve el Agua.
After some leisure time enjoying these gorgeous petrified cascadas (or, petrified waterfalls). You’ll also go on a 4.5-mile hike (7 kilometers) to a secret hidden oasis where you can drench yourself in a waterfall.
Highly recommend — everything was amazing including the hike itself, the food, the springs, the textiles and the stories and history of the Oaxacan people. I was nervous about the experience lasting all day because there is so much to do and see, but it exceeded all expectations and I’m so glad we did it!
—emma (read more reviews)
Next, you’ll head to Teotitlán del Valle, a town famous for its colorful weavings. This is one of the Oaxaca art towns on the Ruta de Artenesias, or Oaxacan artisan town route, which includes the alebrije town.
Here, you’ll visit Josephina, a local weaver. You’ll watch a textile demonstration and have lunch in her home. While the Hierve el Agua waterfalls are impressive, this could be the highlight of the whole trip!
As one reviewer put it, this tour is the best way to “experience everything that makes Oaxaca amazing.” It’s definitely a great bang for your buck per day kind of excursion.
Tour Tip: Wear sturdy hiking shoes with ankle support, take extra snacks and this reusable water bottle so you stay hydrated on the hike.
Best Hierve el Agua Tours from Oaxaca
3. Best Hierve el Agua Private Tour
⏰ Tour time: 8 hours | ⭐️ Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Stars | 🥾 Book now
Another great Hierve el Agua tour from Oaxaca is this private eight-hour tour from Oaxaca City. It includes an English speaking-driver, pick-up and drop-off at your Oaxaca hotel, and transport in an air-conditioned vehicle.
If you are wondering how to get from Oaxaca to Hierve el Agua, this could be the best possible choice because you don’t have to worry about Hierve el Agua transportation at all.
Our driver Miguel was fantastic! Excellent driver, saw what we wanted to see and connected us with nice people at the sites we visited. We booked a private tour for three — money well spent. Comfortable, air-conditioned, new van. Highly recommended.
—stacy (read more reviews)
Enjoy a full three hours to hike, swim, explore, and enjoy Hierve el Agua. Don’t miss seeing Cascada Grande, the largest waterfall that’s almost 200-feet-high (61 m) and the Cascada Chica (or, small waterfall).
Next, you’ll visit a Oaxaca mezcal distillery for a pick-me-up before going to visit the markets of Teotitlán del Valle. In this small Oaxaca pueblo, you can learn about various traditional handicrafts.
Already been to one of those attractions? Just let your driver know, and you might be able to swap it out for a different activity. It’s your tour after all, so you’ll enjoy an at-your-own-pace day trip to Hierve el Agua from Oaxaca City.
Best Hierve el Agua Tours from Oaxaca
4. Essential Oaxaca Tour: Hierve el Agua & Beyond
⏰ Tour time: 9 hours | ⭐️ Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars | 🥾 Book now
If you want to visit all the best things to see in Oaxaca Mexico and love adventures, this is one of the best Hierve el Agua Oaxaca tours you’ll find.
Tour guides and hosts, Beto and Lupita, are two Mexican travelers and creators dedicated to showing you the best sites in Oaxaca — and helping you take amazing photos of Hierve el Agua as well.
This nine-hour tour starts bright and early so you can see the sunrise and beat the masses of tourists at the Hierve el Agua waterfalls. Bathe in the pools and check out these rare, unique calcified waterfalls.
This experience was insanely good: I would have never been able to explore Oaxaca in the same way alone. We did soooo many things, but at the same time it was super chilled. 10/10
—Lara (read more reviews)
Next, you’ll head to Tlacolula Market for a delicious lunch of traditional Oaxacan foods. Mercado Tlacolula is the most famous and iconic market in the area, and among the best markets in Oaxaca.
After that, you’ll head to Teotitlan del Valle, Oaxaca to participate in an artisan wool-rug workshop. Last but not least, you’ll stop at the widest tree in the world, El Tule, the Arbol del Tule (Tree of Tule).
The Tule Tree Oaxaca is a 2,000-year-old Montezuma cypress. It holds the Guinness World Record for widest tree trunk on Earth at 137-feet in circumference (42 m).
Best Hierve el Agua Tours from Oaxaca
5. Hierve el Agua, El Tule Tree & Milta Pueblo Magico
⏰ Tour time: 11.5 hours | ⭐️ Rating: 4.89 out of 5 Stars | 🥾 Book now
If you’re looking for a jam-packed day of Oaxaca sightseeing, look no further than this Hierve el Agua, Tule Tree & Milta Oaxaca Tour. Expect to be out and about for 12 hours, but you’ll cover a lot of ground.
During the day, you’ll visit the craft market and archaeological wonders of San Pablo Villa de Mitla. Usually just called Mitla for short, this is one of the best Oaxaca pueblos magicos (or, magic towns).
Great tour! We were in a small group and every single step of the tour was easy and personalized. We stopped when hungry, spent more time where we wanted and we learned so much on the way thanks to our guide, Ariel.
—elena (read more reviews)
You’ll visit the two thousand-year-old tree called the El Tule Tree and Tlacolula de Matamoros for a visit to the temple and market. You also get to learn about how tapetes (Oaxaca wool rugs) and Oaxacan mezcal are made.
Of course, this tour would not be complete without a special visit to the actual Hierve el Agua waterfalls themselves. You’ll get to enjoy a hike, soak in the pools, photo ops and more.
Tour Tip: Snacks, drinks, food and entrance fees are not included in this tour, so go prepared to cover these costs. Bring extra money in pesos if you’d like to buy any Oaxaca handicrafts.
Best Hierve el Agua Tours from Oaxaca
6. Hierve el Agua Full Day Tour & Traditional Oaxaca Experience
⏰ Tour time: 9 hours | ⭐️ Rating: 4.81 out of 5 Stars | 🥾 Book now
If you love hearing the stories behind the places you visit, consider booking this Full Day Hierve el Agua Tour.
This incredible adventure takes you to three different villages in the Oaxaca Valley. Along the way, you’ll learn about Oaxacan rugs using natural dyes and how mezcal is made, and get to taste various local mezcals from Oaxaca.
Best of all, you’ll spend three hours enjoying the beauty of Hierve el Agua. If you choose, you have the option of doing a rock-scrambling hike at Hierve el Agua. Note: Don’t forget your hiking shoes if you want to do the hike.
A well-paced, fun day. You arrive relatively early at Hierve el Agua so you miss many of the crowds and the heat of the midday sun. The stop for lunch is delicious…
—Isobel (read more reviews)
Your guide Yeti will explain the history and traditions surrounding each activity and location, making the day all the more fun and fascinating.
This tour includes food, drinks, transportation, entrance tickets, and an expert guide. Look no further than this for the best of the best Oaxaca tours Hierve el Agua has.
Best Hierve el Agua Tours from Oaxaca
7. Hierve el Agua Half Day Tour from Oaxaca City
⏰ Tour time: 6 hours | ⭐️ Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars | 🥾 Book now
If you’d rather not spend 12 hours on a tour (because that’s pretty exhausting), this is the best half-day Hierve el Agua tour Oaxaca has to offer!
Rather than going all over, you’ll head straight from Oaxaca to Hierve el Agua, and back again. You’ll get back to town early enough that you can still enjoy a nice dinner at one of these best Oaxaca restaurants.
Fabulous half day trip! Ivan is personable, speaks English very well, and is knowledgeable not only about information related to the trip, but also is a great resource for other activities in the region.
—erik (read more reviews)
Spend several leisurely hours enjoying this fascinating natural site, including hiking to the viewpoints and relaxing in the warm mineral-rich waters. You can grab a Oaxaca food lunch from a local food vendor before the return drive.
This six-hour tour includes comfortable transportation, your Hierve el Agua entrance fees, and a knowledgeable and super-storytelling host.
It’s one of the best options for getting to Hierve el Agua from Oaxaca City. In fact, unless you’re renting a car in Oaxaca, it’s not always convenient or quick to get to Hierve el Agua on the colectivo (taxi truck).
Best Hierve el Agua Tours from Oaxaca
8. Hierve el Agua and Teotitlan del Valle Tour
⏰ Tour time: 9 hours | ⭐️ Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Stars | 🥾 Book now
This highly-rated tour includes visiting Hierve el Agua, the Zapotec rug-making experts of Teotiltlán del Valle, and the mezcal masters of Santiago Matatlán, the World Capital Of Mezcal, where you’ll get to taste Oaxaca mezcal.
You’ll have plenty of time to enjoy and learn at each stop on this nine-hour excursion. It is perfect for someone who wants to see all the best Oaxaca sites in a single day.
The company was very responsive and communicative the whole booking & pick up process. The car was new, clean and comfortable. Our driver Javier spoke perfect English, I felt safe with him driving… It was nice to get out of Oaxaca City and see small towns and the mountains.
—Karen (read more reviews)
While at Hierve el Agua, you can go on a hike with the local guide; just be sure to wear good shoes. Take a bathing suit so you can spend time floating around in the delightful thermal pools as well.
This tour includes hotel pickup and drop-off, roundtrip transportation, and entrance tickets (but not meals, food, or drinks). It is a wonderful way to enjoy the most fascinating petrified waterfall on Earth.
Best Hierve el Agua Tours from Oaxaca
9. Hierve el Agua and Oaxaca Mezcal Distillery Tour
⏰ Tour time: 8 hours | ⭐️ Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars | 🥾 Book now
If you’d like to experience Hierve el Agua and a Oaxaca mezcal tasting tour, this Hierve el Agua and Oaxaca Mezcal Distillery Excursion is the perfect choice for you.
Join Tania, a vibrant and fun guide who has been awarded the Viator Badge of Excellence for this experience. It is the highest award from Viator, a tour company owned by Tripadvisor.
This eight-hour tour will take you to Hierve el Agua for three un-rushed hours of exploration. You can enjoy the natural spas, hike with local guides, or simply wander around taking jaw-dropping photographs.
Stunning place with plenty of time to explore at [your] own pace; [the] guide obviously loves showing people the beauty of her country.
—Lee (read more reviews)
You’ll also have time to buy food from on-site vendors, many of whom live locally in San Lorenzo Albarradas, Oaxaca — the small town where Hierve el Agua is located.
The next stop will take you to one of the best mezcal distilleries in the state of Oaxaca, El Rey de Matatlán. You’ll learn all about the process of distilling agave, but best of all, taste up to 12 different mezcals or mezcals creams.
Transportation from Oaxaca to Hierve el Agua, and your Hierve el Agua entrance fees per person are included in this tour.
Best Hierve el Agua Tours from Oaxaca
10. Hierve el Agua Shuttle for Transportation Only
⏰ Tour time: 2.5 hours | ⭐️ Rating: 4.92 out of 5 Stars | 🥾 Book now
If you’re wondering how to get to Hierve el Agua from Oaxaca City without all the kerfuffle of a tour, this Hierve el Agua Shuttle is an excellent choice for you.
Skip the extra expenses of a full-blown tour and head to Hierve el Agua in Oaxaca Mexico in this comfortable air-conditioned shuttle. Note: Only people with reservations are allowed on board.
This is great if you JUST want a transfer to and from Hierve el Agua… Would recommend this tour if you’re only interested in seeing the pools! Guide was on time, and got us back in time.
—anne (read more reviews)
Unlike the local bus Oaxaca Hierve el Agua option, which will waste a lot of your precious travel time, you’re taken directly from Oaxaca City to Hierve el Agua — with no stops in between.
You’ll get three full hours to spend hiking to the petrified waterfalls, relaxing and swimming in the pools at Hierve el Agua. There are local guides available on-site as well as places to buy local Oaxaca foods.
This tour leaves Oaxaca at 12:00 noon and returns by 6:30pm, and you can opt for a three-hour timeframe within it. It’s great if you aren’t a morning person or don’t mind not getting there right when Hierve el Agua opens.
Hierve el Agua Facts & FAQ
What’s the best time to visit Hierve el Agua?
The best time of day to visit is in the morning, as close to 7am when they open as possible, and the best time of year to visit Hierve el Agua waterfalls is during the Oaxaca dry season, from about late-October to May.
Is Hierve el Agua closed?
Want to know, Is Hierve el Agua open to the public? Yes — Hierve el Agua is open as of October 2021. It was closed from about March 2020 to October 2021, but has re-opened.
If you see any article that says Hierve el Agua permanently closed or that Hierve el Agua is closed — know this is an outdated article because Hierve el Agua is currently open.
Since re-opening, Hierve el Agua tickets have gone up in price to $50 pesos per person, which is about $3 USD. You can buy your admission tickets to Hierve el Agua tickets when you arrive.
Are the waterfalls at Hierve el Agua real?
No — There’s actually no falling water at Hierve el Agua, so there are actually no Hierve el Agua waterfalls at all. They are one of the few petrified waterfalls on Earth.
The rock formations at Hierve el Agua are what’s known as cascadas de sal (salt waterfalls), cascadas petrificadas (petrified waterfalls), or cascadas pétreas (rock waterfalls).
As you might have noticed, there’s no mention of actual water (or even the word water) in any of those names.
🤔 What is a Petrified Waterfall?
The waterfalls of Hierve el Agua are the result of small streams and droplets of mineral-rich water falling over the side of a cliff.
After many years, the water and minerals petrified in a stream-like formation. Centuries later, it now looks like a waterfall cascading over the cliff face — but there’s little more than falling water droplets.
Besides Hierve el Agua, there is a similar petrified waterfall in New Zealand, but this is a rare natural phenomenon.
Can you swim at Hierve el Agua?
Yes — You can get in the hot springs pools, soak and splash around. According to the local people from this part of Mexico, the warm water at Hierve el Agua has a high mineral content and healing properties.
How hot is the water at Hierve el Agua?
It averages about 72° to 81° Fahrenheit (22° to 27° Celsius) all year-long — pleasant temperatures for most people.
Wondering how Hierve el Agua got its name? The water from a natural spring located underground “boils up” from deep within the Earth and into the pools at Hierve el Agua Mexico.
Want to know hot to say hierve el agua in English? Though hierve el agua translates to “boiling water” (or literally, “boil the water”), the water here is warm, not boiling or scalding.
Can you hike Hierve el Agua, Oaxaca?
Yes — You can hike at Hierve el Agua, but don’t forget your sunscreen and this reusable water bottle. It is a mildly strenuous hike that takes about one hour each way.
Is Hierve el Agua manmade or natural?
Both — The natural spring underground is natural, however, the pools themselves are man-made. The water underground would bubble up on its own, and the pools act as a place to catch and collect that water so we can swim or soak in it.
Does Hierve el Agua have ancient canals?
Yes — The area also has an extensive irrigation system that dates back about 2,500 years.
According to the Hierve el Agua Wikipedia page, these irrigation canals are unique because irrigation was not common in pre-Hispanic Mexico, and because they’re the only example of lined irrigation canals.
When driving to Hierve el Agua you’ll actually be right on top of some of the oldest irrigation canals on Earth — how cool?!
Final Thoughts: Best Hierve el Agua Tours in Oaxaca Mexico
Now that you know how to go to Hierve el Agua (or all the top options for doing so), all that remains is to choose the best tour to Hierve el Agua for you and go make your reservation.
Will you choose a rugged hike to a hidden waterfall near Hierve el Agua? The no-frills “just get me there and back” version? Or will you do it all: mezcal-tasting, rug-making, shopping, eating with locals, plus petrified waterfalls?!
If you need our recommendation for the best tour of Hierve el Agua, it’s this Ultimate Hierve el Agua Hike & Mezcal Tasting, which has a near-perfect Five Star rating and 300+ reviews from happy customers.
No matter what you decide, you’re sure to have an incredible time enjoying the fabulous vistas, warm pools, and rock waterfalls at this prime destination.
So what are you waiting for? Hit that “book” button — your Hierve el Agua tour is waiting!