The sight of the petrified falls from every angle is as stunning as the layers of mountains fading in the distance for as far as your eyes can see. At 30 metres tall, the minerals-turned-stone rope-like formations resemble the long beard of a giant alien.
Within the immensity of the surrounding landscape, they stand out like a striking smaller element in a beautiful composition.
Hierve El Agua can be visited on a day trip from Oaxaca City. Here I’ll tell you what to expect and how to get there on your own.
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Table of Contents
Why are the Petrified Falls Called Hierve El Agua?
First I have to tell you what is Hierve el agua in English: it means the water boils.
When you arrive, after walking through a deluge of souvenir and food stalls, you’ll reach the limestone terraces and see the bubbling springs spurting out of the ground, as if they would be boiling.
But they’re not; the average temperature all year round is about 23 ºC (73ºF). Kind of cold.
These springs are high in calcium carbonate, magnesium, and other minerals that have calcified over thousands of years as they drip from the top of the mountain, gifting us an awesome natural wonder.
A similar formation to this is the famous Pamukkale, in Türkiye.
Hiking Hierve El Agua
After you pass the vendors, you’ll be greeted by the magnificent view of the cascada grande (big waterfall) with the gorgeous mountainous backdrop.
At this point, you’re standing on top of the cascada chica (small waterfall), but you can’t quite appreciate it.
To take care of that, walk along the trail that connects both formations to see the chica from the grande.
For a fantastic viewpoint from where you’ll see the splendour of the petrified waterfalls and their rugged beauty take the trail leading down to the valley.
This is a semidesert environment with no shade. Bring sunscreen, a hat and plenty of water.
The Natural Pools of Hierve El Agua
The mineral springs feed two natural pools with million-dollar views.
Since now you know the water isn’t boiling you may be asking, can you swim in the natural pools?
Yes, you can.
If you’re planning to do so, arrive in the morning so you beat the crowds. It may get chilly if you don’t go on a sunny day.
I skipped the swimming part. I only dipped my toes and enjoyed making my way around the calcified surface looking at interesting patterns and colours, and keeping an eye on the curious vultures.
I loved the ultra-shallow, barely-there pond at the top of the big waterfall. It’s quieter and perfect for a walk on the edge of the mountain while seeing the reflection of the sky on the water.
Travelling with children? You’ll need to keep an eye on them at all times as there are no guardrails.
If you want to swim you can use the changing rooms and the bathrooms (for MXN$ 5) on site.
General admission: MXN$ 50 (bring cash).
How to Get to Hierve El Agua from Oaxaca City
On your Own
Getting here by yourself is easy and cheaper, although the journey is long and not very comfortable.
First, you have to get to Mitla where you’ll find the pick-up trucks to Hierve El Agua.
Leg 1: Oaxaca City-Mitla
From the Sitio de Taxis near the bus station on Bustamante Street (between Burgoa and Xóchitl), in the centre, we took a colectivo (shared taxi) to Mitla and asked the driver to drop us off at the stop from where the camionetas (pick-up trucks) depart to Hierve El Agua.
This part of the trip is around 45 minutes.
You can also take a camión (bus) to Mitla from the Central Camionera (or just Central -bus station).
Leg 2: Mitla-Hierve El Agua
Once the camioneta filled up we were taken for a ride up the mountain on a windy dirt road, a trip that will go down in history as the bumpiest ride of my life.
If you get dizzy on windy roads or have vertigo this may not be a trip for you. If you still want to give it a try, make sure you rush to grab one of the 2 seats in the truck cabin. Otherwise you have to sit in the open back. I remember we were packed like sardines, holding on to the metal bars for dear life.
This is not a road you want to be on if it’s rainy.
This part of the trip takes around one hour.
To return just board one of the camionetas for another bumpy ride downhill and take a shared taxi or a bus back to Oaxaca City.
With a Tour
If you want a direct and more comfortable ride to Hierve El Agua, a tour may be your best bet.
You’ll find tours that stop here as part of an extremely long itinerary, leaving you little time to explore the site. On the other hand, you get to see as much as possible in one day. The most popular is this one, with a rating of 4.7 based on more than 830 reviews.
But if you’re looking for a more relaxed experience where you have time to do some hiking, swimming, and enjoy the scenery, check out this one:
Only Hierve El Agua and mezcal distillery tour: spend more time exploring this beautiful site and stop at a mezcalería for tasting before returning to Oaxaca City.
Book this tour, with a 4.8 rating based on more than 330 reviews.
If you’re visiting the capital of the state of Oaxaca don’t miss the opportunity to visit this unique natural wonder shaped like a waterfall.
Want to enjoy more nature in this state? Head to the beautiful beaches in Huatulco.
Enjoy the stunning views while you have a sip of tejate!
VISIT THESE NEARBY DESTINATIONS
BOOKING FLIGHTS AND ACCOMMODATIONS
Book your flight without losing your shirt
We check Momondo to find great deals to book our flights. Also, check Great Escape: it combines the listings from Expedia, Kiwi, Kayak, (and Skyscanner on the premium service) to find the best airfares.
To find a place to stay for less
Booking.com: this site combines everything under the sun. You’ll find hotels, apartments, B&B, hostels, rooms, etc., with all sort of filters to make your search a breeze.
Hotwire: the first site I check when we plan to stay at a hotel for a few nights. You can save anything from 20% to 60%. Use the search filter to find what you want and you’ll end up with three listings that match your criteria. You’ll know which one you’ll get after you book. If you can handle a little bit of uncertainty you can score big savings.
House Sitting: you take care of people’s pets and house for free while staying for free. It’s the closest thing to experiencing a place “like a local”. But it comes with responsibilities… Are you an animal lover? It may become your new way to travel.
To get travel insurance
SafetyWing: travel medical insurance that gives us peace of mind knowing that we’re covered in case of emergency. It’s convenient, affordable, and suitable for digital nomads who spend a long time outside their home country.
Check the full list of travel resources on my Resource Page for more options and savings
What beautiful pictures and lovely description on this place! Definitely made me want to add it to my list of places to visit. I was in Oaxaca right before COVID and it’s such a wonderful place to visit with lovely people. Thank you for sharing!
I also want to go back to Oaxaca. So much to see!
Such a beautiful location, this location is definitely going on my travel bucket list for sure. I love the scenery and natural pools. I probably would have never heard of this beautiful place if I hadn’t read this blog post, so thank you for sharing.
I hope you enjoy this and all the other beautiful sites in Oaxaca.
Amazing! Beautiful pictures! Oaxaca seems like wonderful destination. Thanks for bringing your impeccably curated world to my phone. It is awe inspiring.
Thank you, Christine! Oaxaca is a neverending source of inspiration.