Hierve el Agua is a set of calcified mineral springs on a cliff edge above the Mitla valley, where centuries of mineral-rich water have left rock formations that look like frozen waterfalls. Two spring-fed pools sit right at the cliff edge, so swimming here means floating with the valley falling away below you. The site is run by the local community (San Lorenzo Albarradas / San Isidro Roaga), and getting there involves a stretch of unpaved mountain road, which is part of why it takes as long as it does for the distance covered.
| Distance | 70 km / 1.5-2 hr from Oaxaca city |
|---|---|
| Travel time | 1.5-2 hours one way |
| Getting there | Mode: Colectivo truck from Mitla, or rental car via Highway 190; Notes: Cash only for both the community road fee and site entrance; last colectivo back to Mitla typically leaves around 5 PM |
| Address | Hierve el Agua, San Lorenzo Albarradas, 70428 Oaxaca, Mexico |
How to get there
- Colectivo pickup truck from the Mitla town square
- Guided van tour departing from downtown Oaxaca
- Rental car via Highway 190
Location
Hierve el Agua, San Lorenzo Albarradas, 70428 Oaxaca, Mexico
16.8667, -96.2667 View on map
Highlights
- Cascada Grande - the larger of the two petrified 'waterfalls', a rock formation over 30 meters tall built up from mineral deposits, not actual falling water
- Cascada Chica - the smaller petrified formation and pool area, generally quieter than the main pool
- The cliff-edge pools - natural mineral pools where you swim with an open view down into the valley
- The base trail below the formations - a steep path that lets you see the petrified cascades from underneath rather than just from the rim