3 Best Hierve el Agua Tours from Oaxaca City 

If you don’t feel like reading through this detailed review, here’s the TL;DR version of my top 3 Hierve el Agua tours!

→   Best GROUP Hierve el Agua Tour: Lupita & Beto (the one we picked!)

→   Best PRIVATE Hierve el Agua Tour: Oaxaca Conmigo Tours

→   Best MEZCAL + Hierve el Agua Tour: Coyote Aventuras

Lupita and Beto, an adorable young married couple, exude infectious enthusiasm for their Oaxacan heritage.

They run an incredible tour called Oaxacan Journey, which not only includes Hierve al Agua but also a foodie lunch at the famous Tlacolula Market, a weaving demonstration of the iconic Oaxacan rugs at Teotitlán del Valle, and a stop to see the widest tree in the world.

One distinguishing factor that makes this tour stand out is you arrive at Hierve el Agua BEFORE the massive crowds. If you want to take those quintessential photos at the natural and manmade pools without 10 other people behind you, this is crucial.

That means you are leaving early, like 6:50 am early, but it’s worth it I promise.

The pickup point was in the arty neighborhood of Jalatlaco.

We stayed at the adorable boutique hotel, Casa Carmen Morelos (#2 on our best boutique hotels in Oaxaca list!).

It was a 25-minute walk from the hotel to the starting point of the tour.

Hierve el Agua is formed from high concentrations of calcium carbonate in the water, which creates petrified cascades down the mountainside.

Natural and manmade pools glisten at the top of the waterfall. After a short hike, we had the opportunity to take a dip into the water.

Yes, you can swim in the pools at Hierve el Agua!

After working up an appetite, our super friendly guides took us to a local lunch of huaraches and gorditas at the famous Tlacolula Market.

We had memelas during our Oaxacan cooking class with Mimi, but this was our first huarache. Very delicious!

Our next stop was a (surprisingly) entertaining weaving demonstration of how the beautifully-colored Oaxacan rugs are made.

Hint: it has to do with a little insect.

Lastly, on the way back to Oaxaca City, a quick stop to the WIDEST tree in the world was included. Several little surprises were sprinkled throughout the day, which I won’t share so you can be surprised too.

All the stops in this itinerary were fun and engaging, but what made this Oaxaca tour stand out was the warmth and hospitality of our sweet guides, Lupita and Beto.

They treat you like friends and are genuinely interested in making a connection with their guests. Ask Lupita to see the photos of her dancing in beautiful traditional attire and heels. She loves to dance, and her photos are incredible!

This adventure (and tour!) rates as #3 on my best Oaxacan experiences not to miss!

If you want to see “all the things” including Hierve el Agua on a highly CUSTOMIZED tour from a highly rated company, then book a private tour with Oaxaca Conmigo.

They received Viator’s Badge of Excellence due to their 5-star reviews.

And when I say their tour can include “all the things” if you want, I really mean it.

Private tours offer complete flexibility, allowing you to change up a schedule on the fly. Sites they offer to take you include the following:

→     Of course, the 2 petrified waterfalls, Hierve el Agua

→     Impressive pyramid complex of Monte Albán

→     Milta, an archeological site

→     San Martin Tilcajete to see how the beautifully colored fantasy animals are created (I regret not experiencing this activity. Google “alebrijes.” I wish I had brought one home)

→     Tule Tree

→     Artisan weavers and candle makers at Teotitlan del Valle

→     San Bartolo to see incredible pottery pieces made by hand

→     Tlacolula Market (better yet, visit on a Sunday to experience the famous slow-cooked barbacoa)

→     Santa Catarina Minas or Santiago Matatlan to learn about mezcal distillation

Yes, a private tour is going to cost you more, but you can pack in a lot of high-value Oaxacan sites all in one day.

Another unique group tour offered by Coyote Aventuras is the Hierve el Agua + Mezcal Distillery Visit.

After all, you are in Oaxaca, where mezcal is kinda of a big thing.

If you are not short on time, I would recommend dedicating a whole day to visiting a few mezcal distilleries to learn how it’s made.

We joined Alvin Starkman at Mezcal Educational Tours for one incredible day.

However, if you are short on time, this tour offers a great way to combine both adventures.

Coyote Aventuras meets even earlier than Lupita & Beto’s tour (6 am!), which gives you some time to enjoy an authentic delicious breakfast and get to Hierve el Agua before the crowds.

This tour also allows you to see and swim at the secret hidden Las Salinas Waterfall via a 3-mile hike down the valley.

After working up an appetite, the local guide then takes you to a family-owned mezcal distillery at Jeronimo’s Palenque for a mezcal tasting and lunch.

Yes, Hierve el Agua is a little Instagram-y, but it truly is gorgeous and worthy of visiting.

Besides Turkey, Oaxaca is the only other place in the world where you can see a petrified waterfall! I think that’s pretty cool.

The key to enjoying Hierve el Aqua’s stunning natural beauty is to join a tour that gets you there before the crowds. I hope these 3 recommended Hierve el Agua tours get you well on your way to planning an unforgettable itinerary in Oaxaca.

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