Oaxaca: Hierve el Agua Petrified Waterfalls and Pools Tour
A 6-hour tour focused on Hierve el Agua, where mineral-rich springs have formed petrified waterfall formations and natural pools. Visitors have time at the site before the return to Oaxaca.
from $37.98 per guest.
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This tour runs to Hierve el Agua and back over 6 hours, and one reviewer chose it precisely because it goes straight to the falls rather than combining them with mezcal or weaving visits. It is run by EL CONVENTO DMC and lasts 6 hours, with a bilingual coordinator travelling with the group in each direction.
The drive each way takes about an hour and a half in a van, leaving roughly 3 hours at the site itself. On arrival there is an optional guided walk with a local guide, lasting about an hour, which covers the formations, geology and cultural background. Travellers who take it still get around 2 hours of free time afterwards; those who skip it get the full 3 hours on their own.
Departure and return are both at 5 de Mayo 300, Ruta Independencia, Centro, Oaxaca de Juárez, so you make your own way there. The entrance ticket to Hierve el Agua is not included, and neither is food or drink. The listing recommends having breakfast beforehand and bringing a box lunch, and swimwear is worth packing for the natural pools.
A few practical points shape the day, from the hike itself to what the listing leaves out of the price.
Common issues. The entrance ticket to Hierve el Agua is not included, and neither is food or drink, so budget and pack for both. One reviewer felt the free time on site ran a little short once the guided walk was factored in. The hike down and back up is demanding, and one reviewer states plainly that it is not for those who are physically unfit.
No. You meet the group at 5 de Mayo 300, Ruta Independencia, in the Centro, and the tour starts and ends there. The listing does note a hotel or Airbnb drop-off on the return leg. Make your own way to the meeting point.
No, the entrance ticket is not included and you pay it separately. Food and drinks are also excluded. Bring a packed lunch, since there is no breakfast stop on the drive out.
About 3 hours. If you join the optional guided walk with a local guide, which lasts about 1 hour, you still have roughly 2 hours of free time afterwards. Skipping the guided walk leaves the full 3 hours free.
Yes, the tour runs in Spanish and English with a bilingual coordinator. Several reviewers specifically praised the guide's English and the commentary given during the drive.
Expect a genuine walk down and back up, with trails around the site. One reviewer found the hike a challenge and says it is not suitable for those who are physically unfit, while others described the loop as rewarding. Good shoes and a steady pace help.
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.
Live dates, times and prices are on the booking page.
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Tlacolula Valley · Half-day trip to Hierve el Agua, six hours
This half-day outing covers Hierve el Agua in six hours. Travelers visit the site and return the same day, with time set aside for the mineral formations and the views across the valley.
from $86.81 per guest Check availability →
Oaxaca City · Private car tour with master artisans, 7 hours
Ride in a private car with a driver on a seven-hour tour to visit master artisans around Oaxaca. Meet the artisans at their workshops and see their crafts up close.
from $300 per group Check availability →
Tlacolula Valley · Private 7 to 9 hour valley day trip to Mitla, a weavers town, mezcal and Hierve el Agua
Travel by private transport through the Oaxaca valley on a 7 to 9 hour day trip. Visit Mitla, stop in a weavers town, taste mezcal and finish at Hierve el Agua. The tour is priced per group.
from $277.72 per group Check availability →