7 best Hierve El Agua tours: how to visit Oaxaca’s petrified waterfalls

Here at Mexico Insider, our Hierve El Agua tours are sustainable, customizable, and headed by locals! Browse the tours below and contact us for a special discount.

📧 Hello Trish! I joined your Oaxaca tour in 2021 and this year, I am going back to Oaxaca! I simply love it and I can understand why you are there every year. There is really nothing like it in Mexico! I know you’ve done many Oaxaca tours but do you have Hierve El Agua tours? I saw somewhere the you had a driver but I couldn’t find a link! I would appreciate if you can recommend anyone. Thanks and I hope to meet you again in Mexico!

Mason Laurie, Australia

Hi Mason,

Of course, I remember you! And I am glad you are coming back to Oaxaca! One visit is simply not enough in this state and I hope you can also visit the Oaxacan coast!

Yes, I still have those Hierve El Agua tours; this time, they are more extensive and ultra local! In this guide, you will find the best tours we offer here at Mexico Insider (and tours that I head myself).

If you have any questions about Hierve El Agua, please call the Mexico Insider office at +52 473 171 5259, and they will arrange your tour with a discount.

Good luck, and let me know if you need anything else for your trip to Oaxaca!

Xx, Trisha

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🙋 What is Hierve El Agua?

Hierve el Agua is a natural wonder located near Oaxaca City in Mexico. It is a series of mineral springs and rock formations that resemble cascading waterfalls, giving the impression of frozen waterfalls.

The site is considered sacred by the Zapotec people and is a popular tourist destination for its unique natural beauty and cultural significance.

You can swim in the natural pools, hike the surrounding area, and learn about the local culture and history.

The name “Hierve el Agua” translates to “the water boils,” referring to the bubbling effect created by the mineral content of the springs.

🗺️ Hierve El Agua Map and Location

🏆 Best Hierve El Agua tours

Full-day Hierve El Agua tour with a local (private)

🕒 6 hours
💲 from $120 USD

This full-day Hierve El Agua tour with a local is our tour at Mexico Insider. We designed this itinerary and assembled a group of Oaxacan locals to host you on this tour.

Check our Support Local project to learn about the authenticity of this tour! Here is a brief itinerary of the tour:

The tour starts with a convenient hotel pick-up in Oaxaca City, where you will meet your private driver and board a comfortable air-conditioned vehicle for the journey.

After an hour’s drive, you will be taken for breakfast at a local comal taco store on the side-road of Oaxaca. It is considered one of the best tacos in the country!

After breakfast, you will arrive at Hierve el Agua, a breathtaking geological formation of petrified waterfalls and mineral pools. Here, you will have time to explore the site, take photos, and swim in the natural pools with crystal-clear water.

Since this is a private tour, take your time; the driver will wait for you.

Exploring unique sites in Oaxaca: Hierve el Agua, Tule Tree, and Mitla

🕒 8 hours
💲 from $120 USD

This is one of the Hierve El Agua tours we spearhead at Mexico Insider. The Hierve el Agua Tour Combo is a full-day excursion exploring some of Oaxaca’s most beautiful and culturally significant sites.

The tour starts with a hotel pick-up in Oaxaca City, and transportation is provided in a comfortable air-conditioned vehicle.

The first stop is Hierve el Agua, a stunning natural wonder with beautiful rock formations resembling cascading waterfalls. Here, you will have time to explore the site, take photos, and swim in the mineral-rich pools.

After that, the tour takes you to a mezcal distillery, where you will learn about the traditional process of making this famous Mexican spirit. You will also have the opportunity to taste various mezcal flavors and learn about their history and cultural significance.

Next, you will enjoy a delicious traditional lunch in a local restaurant in the nearby town of Mitla.

The tour continues with a visit to the ancient Zapotec ruins of Mitla, an archaeological site known for its intricate stone mosaic designs.

Finally, the tour concludes with a stop at a weaving workshop in Teotitlan del Valle, a town known for its vibrant and intricate textiles made by skilled artisans.

Overall, this tour is an excellent way to explore Oaxaca’s natural wonders, cultural heritage, and gastronomy in a single day, with the convenience and comfort of a guided tour.

With stunning landscapes, delicious food, and unique cultural experiences, this tour will be the highlight of your trip to Oaxaca.

Explore Prehistoric Wonders: Teotitlan del Valle and Hierve el Agua tours

🕒 8 hours
💲 from $49 USD

The Hierve el Agua, Mezcal Tasting, and Teotitlan del Valle Tour is a full-day excursion exploring some of Oaxaca’s most beautiful and culturally significant sites.

The tour starts with a convenient hotel pick-up in Oaxaca City, where you will board a comfortable air-conditioned vehicle.

The first stop is Hierve el Agua, a stunning natural wonder with petrified waterfalls and mineral pools. You will have time to explore the site, take photos, and swim in the natural pools with crystal-clear water.

After that, you will visit a mezcal distillery to learn about the traditional process of making this famous Mexican spirit and enjoy a tasting.

Next, the tour takes you to Teotitlan del Valle, a town known for its vibrant and intricate textiles made by skilled artisans. Here, you will visit a weaving workshop to learn the techniques and patterns used to create these beautiful textiles.

Finally, the tour concludes with a visit to the Tule Tree, a giant Montezuma cypress tree over 2,000 years old and considered the widest tree in the world.

Overall, this tour is a great way to explore Oaxaca’s natural wonders, cultural heritage, and gastronomy in a single day, with the convenience and comfort of a guided tour.

With stunning landscapes, delicious food, and unique cultural experiences, this tour is sure to be an unforgettable highlight of your trip to Oaxaca.

Discover the incredible treasures of Oaxaca: Mitla and Hierve el Agua tours

🕒 6-12 hours
💲 from $42 USD

The Hierve El Agua, Mezcal, Mitla, Tule Tree Tour is a full-day excursion exploring some of the Oaxaca region’s most beautiful and culturally significant sites.

The tour starts with a convenient hotel pick-up in Oaxaca City, and transportation is provided in a comfortable air-conditioned vehicle.

The first stop is Hierve el Agua, a stunning natural wonder with petrified waterfalls and mineral pools. Here, you will have time to explore the site, take photos, and swim in the natural pools with crystal-clear water.

Next, the tour takes you to a mezcal distillery to learn about the traditional process of making this famous Mexican spirit and enjoy a tasting.

After that, you will visit the ancient Zapotec ruins of Mitla, a significant archaeological site known for its intricate stone mosaic designs.

Monte Alban and Hierve El Agua tours in 2 days

🕒 6-12 hours
💲 from $42 USD

The tour itinerary offers two full-day tours in Oaxaca: Hierve El Agua and Monte Alban. The first day tour is to Hierve el Agua, a natural wonder featuring rock formations and mineral springs, and includes a visit to a local market and a mezcal factory.

The second-day tour is to Monte Alban, an ancient Zapotec archaeological site, and includes a visit to a handicraft market and a stop at a tree of El Tule, which is said to be over 2,000 years old.

The tour includes transportation, entrance fees, and a professional guide.

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Hierve El Agua tours at noon

🕒 4-6 hours
💲 from $46 USD

This half-day visit to Hierve El Agua includes round-trip transportation from the city to the site, a professional guide, and entrance fees.

At Hierve el Agua, visitors can admire the mineral springs and rock formations, take a dip in the natural pools, and learn about the local culture and history.

The tour lasts approximately four hours, leaving plenty of time for other activities in Oaxaca City.

The alluring charm of Oaxaca: Monte Alban, Hierve el Agua, and textiles

The tour offers a private full-day excursion to Hierve el Agua, including round-trip transportation from Oaxaca City, a private guide, and entrance fees.

In addition to visiting Hierve el Agua and its mineral springs and rock formations, visitors will also have the opportunity to learn about and participate in the traditional process of making mezcal.

The tour includes a visit to a local mezcal factory, where visitors can observe the process of preparing the drink, and a tasting session. The tour duration is approximately eight hours.