Nature reserve San Lorenzo Albarradas, Oaxaca Central Valleys of Oaxaca
Mineral springs that have built white rock "waterfalls" down a cliff, with pools to swim in and huge views of the sierra.
From Oaxaca: 1 h by car (68 km by road) How to get there ↓
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Plan your visit to Hierve el Agua
Where to stay near Hierve el Agua
Casa Silencio Hotel · 6.7 km from the center PricesTours to Hierve el Agua
Day trips and guided outings from Mitla often include Hierve el Agua; with a local guide you can get there without a car.
Hierve el Agua 2.5 hours, Mitla, Tule, Rugs and Mezcal for a Day
★ 4.9 (1,557) · From US$70
How to get to Hierve el Agua
- From Oaxaca: about 1 h by road (~68 km)
- 11 km southeast of Mitla
- Nearest airport: Oaxaca (OAX), 47 min by car to Mitla
Links open a partner site. We may earn a commission if you book, at no cost to you.
Popular tours to Hierve el Agua
Tours, prices and ratings from Viator, checked weekly. We may earn a commission if you book.
About Hierve el Agua
Hierve el Agua sits on a mountainside east of Mitla, in the municipality of San Lorenzo Albarradas. From a distance it looks like two waterfalls frozen in place. Up close they are rock: springs on the hillside carry water loaded with calcium carbonate, and as it trickles over the cliff edge the minerals harden into long white curtains, much like stalactites in a cave. The smaller one, the cascada chica, drops about 12 meters; the cascada grande hangs about 30 meters over the ravine.
The springs bubble up into shallow natural basins at the top of the cliff, which is where the name ("the water boils") comes from, although the water is cool, around 22 to 27 °C. Next to them are two larger pools where people swim, one of them right at the edge of the drop, with the valleys of the Sierra Mixe falling away below. Archaeologists have also found old terraces and irrigation channels cut into the slope, built by the Zapotecs more than two thousand years ago.
The site is run by the local communities, not by the government, and it has a history of land disputes between San Lorenzo Albarradas and its neighbor San Isidro Roaguía. Between the pandemic and that conflict it was closed for about a year and a half until October 2021, and road blockades still happen from time to time, so check the news or ask in Mitla before you head up.
How to get to Hierve el Agua
Drive from Oaxaca: 1 h, 68 km
Hierve el Agua is roughly 45 minutes from Mitla by car, east on Highway 190 and then up a mountain road through San Lorenzo Albarradas; the community charges a small entry fee, and you may be asked for another fee on the road. Shared pickup trucks (camionetas) leave from Mitla for the site. Many day tours from Oaxaca City combine it with Mitla, Teotitlán del Valle and a mezcal distillery.
11 km southeast of Mitla
Directions from Mitla on Google Maps
Distances are in a straight line; the road is usually longer.
Links open a partner site. We may earn a commission if you book, at no cost to you.
From the nearest cities to Hierve el Agua
- Oaxaca · 68 km by road, 1 h
- Salina Cruz · 192 km by road, 2 h 25 min
- Juchitán · 195 km by road, 2 h 35 min
Drive times by road from OpenStreetMap, without traffic or stops. Times marked ~ are estimated from the straight-line distance.
Before you go to Hierve el Agua: hours, prices and tips
- Hours
- Open every day, about 7 am to 6 pm. Hours can shift and the site has closed at times over community disputes, so check before you go. México Desconocido · checked Oct 2026
- Entry
- About 35 pesos per person: a 10-peso community toll plus 25 pesos for the site. Prices are approximate and change without notice; cash only, with no ATMs or card terminals. México Desconocido · checked Oct 2026
- Time needed
- Allow 2 to 3 hours at the site. Mexico Travel & Leisure · checked Oct 2026
- Best time of day
- Arrive early to beat the crowds and get softer light for photos. México Desconocido · checked Oct 2026
- Best season
- November to February is the most reliable stretch, with clear pools. From June to October closures, muddy roads and cloudier water are more likely; Semana Santa and Sundays are busy. Mexico Travel & Leisure · checked Oct 2026
- What to bring
- Swimsuit, towel, biodegradable sunscreen, comfortable shoes, drinking water and cash. There is no phone or internet signal. México Desconocido · checked Oct 2026
- Rules
- No alcohol and no drones. There are no lifeguards or medical service, and the walk down is not suited to people with limited mobility. México Desconocido · checked Oct 2026
Hours and prices change, especially around holidays. Each fact links to where we checked it.
Visiting Hierve el Agua: what to see and do
Swim in the mineral pools at the top of the cascada chica, with the drop and the mountains in front of you.
Walk the trail down and around to see the cascada grande from below; it is steep in parts, so wear real shoes.
Look for the old terraces and canals on the slope above the pools.
Go early in the morning, before the tour vans arrive, for empty pools and softer light.
Plan your trip
Places to stay in Hierve el Agua
Casa Silencio Hotel · 6.7 km from the center Find on ExpediaTours & activities
Day trips and guided outings from Mitla often include Hierve el Agua; with a local guide you can get there without a car.
Rental cars
Pick up a car at OAX (Oaxaca): about 47 min by road to Mitla, then 11 km more to Hierve el Agua, on your own schedule.
Flights
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Oaxaca (OAX), about 47 min by road from Mitla, the base for Hierve el Agua.
Travel insurance
If you plan on hiking at Hierve el Agua, check that your policy covers it: some plans leave adventure activities out.
Mobile data
Signal can drop away from Mitla: download a map of the way to Hierve el Agua before you set out, or carry an eSIM with data.
Links open a partner site. We may earn a commission if you book, at no cost to you. Hotel names from OpenStreetMap.
Photos
When to go to Hierve el Agua mild
Hierve el Agua shares the climate of Mitla, 11 km away. The best months to visit are January, February, March, and December.
See the month-by-month climate of Mitla
Weather in Hierve el Agua now and the next 7 days
Live forecast from Open-Meteo. Chance of rain is the day's highest.
Make Mitla your base
Hierve el Agua is an easy trip from Mitla, a Pueblo Mágico with places to stay, food, and more to see.
Also close to
- Capulálpam de Méndez · Oaxaca · 52 km away
Closest to Hierve el Agua
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San Isidro Roaguía · Village · 1 km away · Oaxaca
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San Baltazar Guelavila · Town · 8 km away · Oaxaca
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Santiago Matatlán · Town · 11 km away
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San Dionisio Ocotepec · Town · 15 km away · Oaxaca
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Yagul · Archaeological site · 21 km away
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Santa Catarina Albarradas · Town · 22 km away · Oaxaca
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Tlacolula · Town · 23 km away
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San Bartolomé Quialana · Town · 24 km away · Oaxaca
Near Hierve el Agua
Drive times by road from OpenStreetMap, without traffic. Times marked ~ are estimated from the straight-line distance.
Lists with Hierve el Agua
Nature Parks in Oaxaca · 8 Nature Parks near Oaxaca · 3Something wrong or missing on this page? Suggest a fix or addition
Location from OpenStreetMap. Written by Puebloteca.