.png){kind=small}
Watch our video on Hierve El Agua here!
What is Hierve El Agua?
Hierve el Agua translates to boiling water and you may think that this is some sort of hot spring. It is actually far from that, the water is instead, very cold refreshing, and the water bubbles are formed from underground water currents and pressure. The highlight of Hierve el Agua are the petrified waterfalls and the infinity pools. The petrified waterfalls are formed by mineral rich waters flowing over the cliffs and depositing sediment. The landscape here is other-worldly and a beautiful contrast to the greenery of the surroundings.
How to get there and back from Oaxaca city?
There are many operators providing tours from Oaxaca City but we decided to go there ourselves. Below is a breakdown of the steps and the costs to do it yourself.
Bus/taxi from Oaxaca city (baseball stadium or at Pitico Preferico) to Mitla. We waited pretty long for the bus and eventually flagged down a shared cab going to Mitla (MXN 40/USD 2). Just look out for a bus/taxi with a sign Mitla on the front.
At Mitla, there is a little shop space that is used as a waiting area for the collective to Hierve el Agua. They usually wait for around 12 people before setting off. We had to pay extra to make up for the fewer people (MXN 90/ USD 4.50).
Toll fee along the route which is paid to the locals living in that area (MXN 15/ USD 0.75)
Entrance fee to Hierve el Agua (MXN 50/ USD 2.50).
To go back down to Mitla, go to the waiting area where the collectivo will wait for enough people to make the trip back (MXN 80/ USD 4).
Bus/taxi from Mitla to Oaxaca. There is a bus terminal in Mitla with frequent trips back to Oaxaca city (MXN 20/ USD 1).
Total cost: MXN 295/ USD 14.75 per person.
It takes around 2 hours each way from Oaxaca City to Hierve El Agua. Do factor in some buffer time as we waited around 0.5 hours for each collectivo.
What to do there?
Once you walk through the entrance, you will be greeted with the magnificent view of the mineral pools.
Don’t jump straight into the water just yet! We highly suggest doing the 3km circuit hike where you will be able to see the waterfalls from different angles. The hike isn’t too long and you can follow our route on CalTopo here.
The trail ends up back near the pools and this makes the swim in the pool much more rewarding.
Amenities in the area
There are toilets, changing rooms and showers at Hierve El Agua. Outside the entrance, there are a bunch of restaurants selling meals, fruits, drinks etc. I particularly enjoyed the large fruit cups (MXN 30/ USD 1.5)!
What to bring?
None of the transfers accepted credit card so bring enough cash. Bring a swimsuit and towel if you wish to swim in the pools. We also suggest bringing water, hat, sunglasses and sunblock as it can get very sunny. Wear comfortable shoes for the hike. If you are using your phone or GoPro in the mineral pools, we suggest putting it in a waterproof case as the water deposits some sediments on them (our GoPro still has traces of the minerals even after 1 month!).
We hope you found this guide Hierve El Agua useful! It is possible to do this completely by yourself and we highly recommend it!
コメント