HIERVE EL AGUA
Natural pools and unreal landscapes
Our day trip from Oaxaca City
Our Day Trip from Oaxaca
Hierve el Agua is a completely different kind of landscape from what you see around Oaxaca City. The main attraction is its huge petrified waterfalls, formed over thousands of years as mineral rich water flowed over the rocks and gradually created the layers that make them look like frozen waterfalls. From the top, you can also see the natural pools and the mountains stretching out around the site.
We arrived later than we would recommend, partly because Nicklas wasn’t feeling well, so we didn’t have as much time as we would have liked. Even so, we were really impressed by the landscape. Standing on the edge of the formations and looking across the dry mountains felt quite surreal. The area also has an ancient Zapotec irrigation system, created using the mineral rich springs, which adds another interesting layer to the visit.
Quick facts
Location
Oaxaca, Mexico
Total cost
MXN 390 · 2 people (approx. 30 AUD)
Time needed
Half a day
Best for
Nature, landscapes and a different side of Oaxaca
How We Got There
Take the green bus from the baseball pitch in Oaxaca City. 25 MXN pp.
Get off in Mitla and change to the red public taxis. 100 MXN pp.
Pay the local town fee in cash before continuing. 20 MXN pp.
Arrive at Hierve el Agua and pay the entrance fee. 50 MXN pp.
To go back, simply follow the same route in reverse.
Hierve el Agua treck
Once you arrive, you can walk around the main area and follow the trail down towards the bottom of the petrified waterfalls. The walk gives you a completely different view of the formations and the surrounding mountains, rather than only seeing them from the main pools. We really enjoyed seeing the waterfalls from below and taking our time along the trail.
The trail is around 2.7 km and takes roughly one hour, although you can take longer if you stop to enjoy the views and take photos. There is little shade along the way and many steps, so bring plenty of water, sun protection and comfortable shoes.
GOOD TO KNOW
Go very early in the morning! If you are travelling independently, the shared buses and vans may not run if there aren’t enough people going. Otherwise, you may have to pay the full cost of the transport yourself. We started quite late and this made the journey more complicated, so we definitely recommend going early to make sure you can find shared transport at a reasonable price.
The route & possible stops
If you start early, you can combine Hierve el Agua with other stops along the way, such as Árbol del Tule and a mezcal distillery. We didn’t visit these ourselves, so we can’t say whether they are worth it, but they are options to consider if you have more time.
Would we recommend it?
Yes! Hierve el Agua is a unique place and one of the highlights of our time in Oaxaca. It’s an easy and affordable day trip to do independently, and the landscapes are incredible. Just make sure to start early so you have enough time to enjoy it.
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