How to get to Hierve el Agua, Oaxaca

Hierve el Agua is one of the best things you can do while staying in Oaxaca. (Check out my blog post on what to do while in Oaxaca City for tips on where to stay, where to eat and drink, how to get around and what to do!)
That being said – if you are doing it on a budget without a tour group it can be difficult to get to, which is why I decided to write a blog post that goes into full detail about how to get there.

What is Hierve el Agua?

Hierve el Agua is a set of natural rock formations that resemble waterfalls. It is located about 70km east of Oaxaca City. The rocks are formed in the same way as stalactites and stalagmites. Fresh water springs that are overly saturated with calcium carbonate slowly drip over and deposit minerals. There are also some fresh water artificial pools at the top of the smaller cliffs.

How to Get to Hierve el Agua by Bus and Collectivo

There are two parts to your trip to Hierve el Agua, and it takes about 1 hour and 45 minutes in total. The first part is to get from Oaxaca City to Mitla, and the second part is getting to Mitla to Hierve el Agua.

GETTING TO MITLA FROM OAXACA CITY

Apart from getting a private taxi, which would work out quite expensive, there are two ways to get to Mitla from Oaxaca City: 1. By Bus and 2. By Collectivo

Getting to Mitla from Oaxaca City by Bus

The bus from Oaxaca City to Mitla goes from the Oaxaca 2nd class bus station- The address is Central de Abasto, 68090 Oaxaca. Once you get there, just wait for a bus with a big ‘Mitla’ sign on it, or else ask someone to point you in the right direction. The bus costs about 20 pesos (85 cents) and takes about an hour. It comes every 15- 20 minutes. It continues on along the highway collecting people until it is full. Make sure you tell the bus driver you are going to Hierve el Agua, and he will drop you off at the collectivo spot (otherwise he might drop you off at the bus station which is a bit of a walk away.)

Getting to Mitla from Oaxaca City by Collectivo

There are lots of collectivos, which are either red taxi cars or shared minivans, that go to Mitla from Oaxaca City. We got one from right opposite this bus station. If you’re looking for one a little closer to your hostel, just ask your hostel or hotel, and they will definitely lead the way. This should cost about 25 pesos per person (€1), but we were a bit desperate and ended up paying 40 per person. The collectivo will drop you off right at the second collectivo stand.

Getting from Mitla to Hierve el Agua

Once you arrive at the collectivo stop in Mitla, you have to wait for it to fill up before it leaves. On our way there it only took 5 minutes, but our way back took nearly an hour. The collectivo is like an open back pick up truck which fits as many people as possible in and costs 50 pesos (€2) each. It takes about 45 minutes up an extremely bumpy, windy and steep mountain road. It is definitely not great for those with a fear of heights, but if you sit on the right hand side on your way and the left hand side on your way back you should avoid some of the scary views. The entrance fee when you get to Hierve el Agua is 25 pesos (€1).

Getting to Oaxaca City from Hierve el Agua

Getting Home is the same thing in reverse! Find the collectivo at the Hierve el Agua carpark and wait for it to fill up, and then when you get to Mitla wait for either a taxi collectivo or the bus to drive by (this should only take about 5 minutes.

Other Things to Note Before Your Trip

• Try to leave early – It is a long journey and there’s a lot to do there. We left at like 11am and it was dark by the time we got to Mitla on the way back, so try to leave earlier if that worries you.
• Wear good shoes – there’s a lot of walking and hiking to be done.
• Bring a towel and swimming costume – the water at the top is cold but amazing after a big day hiking.
• Bring snacks and water- you can also get great food in the restaurants near the car park, but we really appreciated the sandwiches we brought from Boulenc at the top.
• Wear suncream – there’s a good breeze up there but it’s still very high up so you can burn easily!