12-Hour Loop, Tule To Hierve

Overview

This is the full east-valley sweep in a single day: the Tule tree, Teotitlán del Valle, the Mitla archaeological zone, Hierve el Agua and a mezcal distillery, all linked by air-conditioned van with a guide who narrates between stops. The operator, Oaxaca by locals, runs it as a loop from a fixed meeting point on Cosijoeza in the Centro, and the whole thing runs 12 hours. One reviewer put it plainly: a great option if you want to cover a lot of ground in one day.

The rhythm is stop, walk, reboard. Teotitlán del Valle and the mezcal distillery are free to enter, while admission at Tule, Mitla and Hierve el Agua is not included in the ticket; the listing puts entries at MX$300 per person. A mezcal tasting is part of the package, and lunch is not, with one reviewer noting the food stop did not come until around 3pm.

Group size is capped at 16. Reviewers describe a packed day, with some calling it well paced and full of variety, and one traveller calling it a fast-paced marathon. It is a long outing, so it rewards people with stamina more than those who like to linger.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Meet at Cosijoeza 110AThe tour starts and ends at Cosijoeza 110A on Ruta Independencia in the Centro of Oaxaca de Juárez.
2. Tule Tree, 40 minutesA 40-minute stop at the Tule tree. Admission is not included in the tour price.
3. Teotitlán del Valle, 40 minutesA 40-minute stop in the weaving village. Admission here is free.
4. Mitla, 1 hourOne hour at the Zona Arqueológica de Mitla. Admission is not included, and reviewers mention stepped paths around the ruins.
5. Hierve el Agua, 2 hoursTwo hours at the petrified springs and rock pools, the longest stop of the day. Admission is not included, and swimming is possible.
6. Mezcal tasting, 40 minutesA 40-minute distillery visit and mezcal tasting at Mezcal Valle Oaxaca, included in the price. Reviews call the tasting generous and informative.
7. Return to Cosijoeza 110AThe van brings the group back to the same meeting point in the Centro to close out the loop.

What To Expect From The Tour

Twelve hours is a real commitment, and the reviews cluster around a few practical points worth sorting before you board the van.

• Eat a big breakfast. Breakfast and lunch are both excluded, and several reviewers said the lunch stop does not arrive until around 3pm. One traveller recommended packing snacks and eating a heavier breakfast beforehand. Water, snacks and toilets are available at the stops, according to one traveller.
• Bring swim gear. One reviewer wished they had brought water shoes for Hierve el Agua, noting the pools are lovely but slippery. That same reviewer reported that sunscreen is not allowed in the pools, so apply it after this stop. Swim gear is worth considering if you plan to get in the water.
• Prepare for walking. Reviews describe steep hiking at Hierve el Agua and even steeper steps at Mitla. Sturdy footwear makes sense for a day with this much walking. One traveller took a longer loop at Hierve el Agua and found the views excellent.
• Budget for entries. Admission at Tule, Mitla and Hierve el Agua is not included, and the listing puts entries at MX$300 per person. The mezcal tasting itself is included.
• Expect a full day. One traveller said the day never felt rushed despite the volume of stops, while another called it a fast-paced marathon with little time to wander markets and vendors. Go in ready for a long outing.
• Weather matters. The operator states the experience requires good weather, with a different date or a full refund offered if it is cancelled for poor conditions. One reviewer had a cool, overcast day that suited all the walking. Another reminded travellers that good weather is not guaranteed.

Common issues. The honest trade-off is pace: to fit five stops into 12 hours, one reviewer found there was little time to wander sites or browse vendors, so this is a sampler rather than a deep dive. Admission fees of MX$300 per person and both breakfast and lunch are extra. The tour is not wheelchair accessible, is not recommended for travellers with back problems or pregnant travellers, and infants must sit on laps. The operator can cancel if a minimum number of travellers is not met, offering a different date, a different experience or a full refund.

Common Questions