[2025 Roaguia Attraction] Travel Guide for Hierve el Agua (Updated Jun)

Hierve el Agua is located in the city of San Lorenzo Albaradas, about 70 kilometers east of Oaxaca, Mexico. Along the way, you will pass Mitla and drive on an unpaved private road. You need to pay for the entrance fee yourself. 25 Peso/person The most special thing here is that the natural pool shows a dreamy green color. When you soak in the pool, you can see the mountainous landscape, which makes people feel like they are in the sky. When the water flows downward, it is washed out with rich minerals. The unique petrified landscape looks like a vast canyon from a distance. #Mexico #Travel cool experience #AttractionsPhotographyGuide#romantic journey

Many people who visit Oaxaca choose to drive or take a bus to the Alban Mountains and the Rolling Water Falls, but for safety reasons, I would rather spend a little more money to join a one-day tour group and learn about the local traditional handicrafts. For example, the unique and colorful puppets of spirit animals on the Day of the Dead - Alebrije, a Mexican folk handicraft. The staff held a book and asked everyone about their birth date. Each number corresponds to an animal, and they are combined into a spirit animal exclusive to you. My spirit animal is a combination of an ant, a snake, and a monkey. I can't imagine what it looks like... From design sketches, carving, coloring, and polishing, it is all handmade, so you can imagine how expensive it is. We also went to a family-style fabric workshop. The craftsmanship passed down from generations by the mountain people uses traditional and simple tools, and it takes several months to weave a piece of cloth. The weaving workshop we went to on the second day was a little larger, mainly explaining how to process wool and how to combine natural materials to dye wool. There are also black pottery workshops and the famous Mezcal workshops here for free tasting. Unfortunately, I, who can't drink, blushed after taking a sip. Mezcal is too strong, a bit like white wine, but easier to drink. Before arriving at the main attraction, we also saw a towering tree, which has a quiet aura that is unforgettable. Hierve el Agua (Spanish for boiling water), known as the Boiling Water Falls, is a group of natural travertine rock formations in San Lorenzo Alvaradas, Oaxaca, Mexico, which resemble waterfalls. The site is located about 70 kilometers east of Oaxaca City and consists of two rock shelves or cliffs that rise 50 to 90 meters from the valley below, from which extend nearly white rock formations that look like waterfalls. These formations were formed by freshwater springs, whose water is supersaturated with calcium carbonate and other minerals. When water flows over the cliffs, the excess minerals are deposited, which is very similar to the way stalactites are formed in caves. Of course, the pool on the cliff with the unbeatable scenery has now become a swimming pool for tourists to cool off. But don't just swim and bathe, be sure to go up, there is an observation deck at the top that overlooks the entire scenic area, it's very spectacular! #Mexico #oaxaca #oaxacatrip #oaxacatravel #onedaytrip#HierveelAgua #滚水瀑布

Leaving Mexico City, I arrived in another city—Oaxaca. The moment I set foot in Oaxaca, I fell in love with this colorful little town. Tourism here seems to be well-developed. While waiting for my luggage at the airport, I tried to book a ride-share service but couldn’t find any available cars. It turns out that the local area has a convenient “shared shuttle service.” You can buy tickets directly at the airport, with fares based on your destination zone. They’ll take you to your specified location, and it’s even cheaper than ride-hailing apps. Earlier, I had seen online posts about the atmospheric Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) celebrations, such as cemetery visits and concerts, which are held in Oaxaca. Although the festival period had already passed, the vibrant ribbons were still fluttering in the air, and Día de los Muertos figurine installations stood at almost every street corner in the old town. Strolling through the town during the day, you can still feel the lingering festive spirit. Monte Albán is one of Oaxaca’s key tourist attractions. It is a massive city ruin from the classical period of the Zapotec civilization in Mesoamerica. Both the historic center of Oaxaca and the Monte Albán archaeological site are UNESCO World Heritage Sites and are considered one of the Seven Wonders of the World. The name "Monte Albán" was given by the Spanish when they first arrived in Oaxaca, and the original name of the hill where the ancient city is located has been lost to history. Located on a hill 10 kilometers southwest of Oaxaca, Monte Albán was founded in the 5th century BCE and flourished around the 1st century CE. The current site covers an area of 4 square kilometers and includes terraces, dams, canals, pyramids, and artificial mounds, all carved and constructed on the hill. The central plaza features temples. Over the years, archaeologists have unearthed many valuable artifacts, some of which are displayed in a small exhibition hall at the entrance, while many others are housed in the National Museum of Anthropology in Mexico City. Around 750 CE, after thriving for over a millennium, the Monte Albán complex was suddenly abandoned, and the reason remains a mystery. The tour guide explained that the people of that time believed in divine will and chose to establish their capital at Monte Albán, a central high point overlooking surrounding tribes. After centuries of prosperity, they gradually abandoned the city according to divine guidance. They believed that human life is cyclical, like the sun rising and setting each day. This cyclical view of life is perhaps what draws me so much to Inca culture. 🎈Monte Albán I joined a local tour group, which was decent. Most of the group members were from Europe or America. Be sure to specify an English-speaking tour; if you know Spanish, joining a Spanish-speaking group is even cheaper. 🎈For a day trip that includes Hierve el Agua, the itinerary often features a visit to a cenote where tourists can swim. Remember to bring swimwear, sunscreen, and a hat. The archaeological site has many mosquitoes, so it’s best to buy local mosquito repellents for better effectiveness. 🎈The day tour also includes a visit to traditional craft workshops. For Monte Albán, we visited a workshop for the colorful alebrijes (spirit animal figurines) often seen during Día de los Muertos, as well as a traditional textile workshop.

I had no clue what to expect when I went to Hierve el Agua, but it turned out to be amazing! The natural pools at the top are so cool—definitely one of the best Insta spots in Oaxaca. The view from up there is gorgeous, with the mountains and pools right in front of you. There is a path that takes you down to the base of the hill and even though It’s a bit of a hike, but the rock formations that look like frozen waterfalls are so worth it and look so much more impressive from the bottom. A tip: wear good shoes because the trail is rocky and slippery. It’s best to go early to avoid the crowds. I’m really glad I made the trip! #northamericatrip #mexico #oaxaca

Hierve el Agua It means "boiling water" in Spanish. As the name suggests, it is a place where hot water (= hot springs) springs up. The highlight of this spectacular view in Oaxaca is the mysterious topography created by natural hot springs. Hierve el Agua was revered as a sacred place by the people living in this area (Oaxaca Valley). It is also known as the only place in Latin America with an irrigation system, built by the Zapotec people 2,500 years ago, and is undergoing archaeological research. #Mexico #Oaxaca #HierveelAgua