Mexico // Day trip to Hierve El Agua, Oaxaca

Oaxaca City (Oaxaca de Juarez) is a great place to spend a few days, but some of the region’s biggest highlights can be found outside of the city. Take Hierve el Agua for example. This peculiar rock formation set on a mountain ridge is a sight you do not want to miss!

“Hierve el Agua” literally means “the water that boils”, and you’ll immediately understand why they chose this peculiar name once you’re facing this extraordinary mineral spring.

The Hierve el Agua rock formation was (and still is) created by bubbling underground mineral springs bringing calcium carbonate rich water to the surface. As the water runs down the cliffs layer after layer of calcium carbonate is being sedimented.

The result is a couple of petrified white waterfalls with a superb infinity pool overlooking the beautiful valley below. The smallest is called la cascada chica and the largest, you guessed it, la cascada grande.

When the water reaches the surface it spurts out from between the rocks, hence the name of the site. In fact, the water in the infinity pool is somewhere between 22 – 27°C so perfect for a swim!

Getting to Hierve el Agua

Rent a car and drive there yourself, but bear in mind that the final part of the road that leads to Hierve el Agua is very rocky!
A better option might be to hire a driver in Oaxaca City and let him do all the hard work :)
Trying to save money? Jump in a colectivo (shared taxi) and head to Mitla, where (if you’re lucky) another colectivo bound for Hierve el Agua might already be waiting!
Alternatively, book a day tour with one of the tour agencies in Oaxaca City. They’ll be happy to take you through the rough mountain roads leading there!

Hierve el Agua is located in one of Mexico’s major mezcal producing regions so make sure you stop at one of the many mezcal factories on the way back to Oaxaca.