One Day Tour To The Tolantongo Caves

Our guides were fantastic. We really appreciated their company.

This was one of the highlights of our trip to Mexico!! Even before the beauty of this place, I have to praise our guide, Javier G! He was with us from early in the morning until late in the evening on the day of our visit. He drove us safely to and from Tolantogo (it is ~3.5 hours each way but worth it!) and allowed wiggle room in the schedule for fancies along the way. Shared information about the areas that we passed through. Allowed me to practice my Spanish and was incredibly gracious. Stopped to take photos of us along the way at beautiful locations. Gave us music suggestions and pointers on where to buy gear (we didn’t have bathing suits). Was funny and endlessly kind and silent in all the right moments (aka when you need to melt your brain or nap) and exactly who you want guiding you through a long day exploring new terrain. He made the experience completely relaxing and truly special for us. Thank you, Javier! We spent a few hours lounging in the hot spring pools and exploring the suspension bridge before heading to the caves and river. The waterfalls are completely breathtaking. All of the photos are spot on - the water really is that beautiful. The area is like a cross between the Amalfi Coast and a day spa. Javier said that this area is paradise, and I completely agree! Our visit was in early January, and the water was incredibly clean and warm. Higher pools = warmer water. Be prepared to climb lots of steps AND to hoist yourself wet out of the pools/cave water/river)! You will definitely want towels and water shoes for this visit. (There are lockers for rent/showers/bath facilities.) A headlamp or a flashlight is helpful at the littler cave also. It is important to bring pesos as there is not a cash machine and no one accepts credit cards. We bought suits, towels, water shoes and a waterproof phone case onsite-all 150 pesos each. Along the way there will be many people selling phone cases and other items. The quality will be lesser, but the price will also be less (so choose as you like). We had a really wonderful lunch at a restaurant there that served Barbacoa – a specialty of Hidalgo. There are also more street food–type spots available (less expensive) and kitschy gift shops - so pesos are a must! One other suggestion: Visit during the week if possible. We were there on a Sunday and although it was incredibly beautiful, it was also packed with families! If you visit the river, I recommend walking away from the main entrance toward the other parking lot as it gets much quieter in this section. My favorite moment of the day was lounging against the boulders in the river and getting a nature-provided back massage from the fast-flowing water. If your schedule permits, or just if your soul needs some peace (and healing waters) in the midst of a busy vacation - this is a must!

The entire experience was otherworldly, from the pools perched on the edge of the rocks to the beautiful blue colour of the water…our journey there from Mexico City, though long, was filled with wonders along the way. Mountaintop backdrops, valley views, stopping along the way to try some barbacoa for breakfast etc. The caves were the highlight of our experience and if you like a sauna venturing into the caves is a must. Our guide, Javier was knowledgeable, kind, and reassuring and his enthusiasm had us waiting with abated anticipation. He allowed us time to explore independently and collectively when necessary (in the dark tunnels of the caves) and it was lovely to see that he too had a wonderful time. He is quite a responsible and cautious driver and would recommend him as a guide on your trip to Tonlantongo. I will definitely add this to my list of must try experiences to all travel enthusiasts.

Excellent! Javier got in touch with me the day before to confirm pickup details, was prompt, and explained the history to us. The views were amazing and it was a great day!

The caves were the best part. It’s a little too touristy and the pools are overcrowded, not exactly serene. But, the location and drive are beautiful. I recommend getting a personal driver and guide. Our driver was the best.

Beautiful place to visit. Our guide Guillermo was very friendly and knowledgeable about our tour. He was a safe driver and stopped for whatever we needed. Highly recommend this tour and tour guide.

Definitely recommend this tour for anyone who wants to visit this site! Our guide was fun and made everything really easy for us. We got cell phone holders for a vendor on the way, which were very useful for taking pictures and using our flashlights in the cave.

Such a great 1 day trip. We were picked up at our hotel early in the morning and the driver took us to the Tolantongo Caves. On the way, he stopped at a shopping mall as we forgot our towels. He also suggested to buy drinks/snacks there as the prices for drinks and food inside the park are higher. We were the only people he picked up, so it felt very private. The park was pretty empty so had a great time to swim around and take pictures. It’s worth the money and would definitely recommend. The only small negative was that the driver did not speak English well, but we used apps to translate and communicate.

Tolantongo was incredible! You absolutely cannot miss it. The drive is kind of long (3.5 hours) but the last part of it is beautiful and our driver David was amazing! He was so patient and chill and answered all of our questions even though our Spanish isn’t that great. Thank you David! They don’t take you to any tourist traps/gift shops like other tours in Mexico City, instead it’s just the beautiful waterfalls and caves and river and pools. My brother and I had so so so much fun.

Our driver Antonio was amazing. He shared wonderful details about the area and the people. We absolutely loved the day trip to the hot springs. Hot Tubs, waterfalls and cave, the tunnel and the river, each activity was unique. Try to get them all covered. Must bring cash along as none of the places accept credit cards. Also we went on a week day so the place was not over crowded.

The place is amazing. We are so glad we went. The tour itself was utilitarian. It was basically a ride to the place and back in a van, with a few words of instruction, and some bathroom/snack stops along the way. Could be improved by having the rest stops be at places where there is good local food. The guide was very kind, but mostly just a taxi. But it's well worth it, as driving there and back by yourself in one day would be exhausting.

First, i would have given a rating of 5 had the subcontracted company Azteca Tours (lacked technology for finding our hotel) Emmanuel kept to the agreement of sending a driver & guide whom was completely versed in English (Antonio tried very hard however, his English was limited so the expectations or direction lacked for some preparation); a vehicle that was safe (working seatbelts), did not smell like cigarettes, & that was comfortable for a windy, hilly road, 4hr trip both ways for a day totaling a 14hr day. We did relay our disappointments Emmanuel responded with no solutions.

Our guide is really nice. Even though we couldn't speak spanish, he tried to communicate with translator and some English. We went Tolantongo on Monday, there is just some people. I really recommend that you must go there. Also if you can chose the date, you have to go on Monday!!

What an awesome experience! We really enjoyed our tour to the Grutas de Tolantongo. We were picked up right on time, and our driver and guide were very nice. The van was spacious, and they made stops for us on the drive as needed (snack, bathroom). When we got there, they made sure we were all set up with lockers and knew where to go before letting us loose. Tolantongo itself was amazing and so worth the 3.5-ish hour trek each way. The pools and river are great but the caves are the real treat so do make sure you take the 15-20 minute hike up there from the river area to see and enjoy that part. We would definitely recommend using this tour to go to Tolantongo, you won't regret it!!

Great tour, 4 hour bus ride to and from Mexico city. Got picked up from a hotel and then driven back to our hotel

We had a tour last Monday and it was such a wonderful, relaxing, truly awe inspiring trip. We were a little late getting picked up and actually leaving Mexico City (thanks Monday morning rush hour), but still made it to the hot springs in ~3-3.5 hours. Our group was very small, only 4 people so we were packed into a normal car, not a van or tour bus which did lead to some tight backs at the end of the day. Once we were at the hot springs, it made the whole drive worth it! The cave, the river, the little pools, our group kept marveling at the natural beauty of the area. Our guide Davíd spoke some English, and luckily my friend spoke Spanish so she worked as interpreter for all of us. Davíd took pictures for everyone while we were in the water and even saved my phone from falling in the river! He watched our things for us and would check in if anyone wanted to stop for food or the bathroom. Absolutely recommend, go during the week if you can for way less crowds. Definitely invest in water shoes and a water proof phone case.

The waterfall and cave and river and pools are out of this world. I wish I could stay there forever. Defiantly worth the long drive.

Really enjoyed the Tolantongo caves, river and thermal pools.It was a bit busy and lots of construction work going around, but the views were breathtaking, really unique site in the mountains. It was a really long journey, about 5 hours each way from the centre of mexico city so be prepared for that, but the car was comfortable and we were only 8 people in the group. Our driver Ricardo was really nice, didn't speak much english but he stopped for us to get snacks and food whenever we needed to and looked after our things when we were in the caves.

WOW! What an experience. This trip was definitely a long one, but absolutely worth it, you will not be disappointed. We got picked up at our Airbnb and then hit the road. We stopped for breakfast, which was a wonderful buffet with made to order eggs, quesadillas, fruit, yogurt, cereal, coffee, tea, a whole spread! We got back on the road and stopped for some last minute things like sunscreen and water shoes. You DEFINITELY want to bring water shoes and a waterproof case for your phone. When we arrived at the location, our first stop included two waterfall caves. The waterfall looks like something out of avatar and the water is incredibly warm. This is where having a waterproof phone case comes in handy so you can use the flashlight. Next, we walked down to a river with sectioned off portions. The water was aqua blue and very warm again. Be careful of the rock dividers, we got a little banged up trying to cross over them. Before heading to our next stop, we got some drinks and snacks at one of the restaurants. There are lots of places to choose from and the food was fast and delicious just like the drinks! Our last water stop was the pools which were amazing. There is a suspension bridge you can walk over and another cave tunnel to explore. We relaxed here for a bit and then headed to a barbacoa spot for dinner. The wait staff were very friendly and the food was excellent. We did run into some traffic on the way home, but luckily I brought a neck pillow so I slept for most of it. This tour was one of my favorites I have ever done and I can't recommend it enough!

This tour was so much fun I am so glad we did it. I would definitely recommend it the hot springs are incredibly beautiful. The drive is a little long but I’d definitely recommend bringing a neck pillow and taking a nap on the way there. Our tour guide Guillermo was very friendly and knowledgeable.

My husband and i wanted to visit Tolangongo and after doing some research decided to book this tour. We were only hesitant about the long hour to get there (read a lot of reviews about this) and the time spent in the car. Our guide Migel called 30 minutes before picking us up to ensure we are awake and asked where we want him to come pick us up. I immeditely felt better about the ride. We were truly amazed by his politeness and him going above and beyond For us to have an amazing experience. He truly made this experience unique and we would warmly reccomend this tour to anyone! And of course, always a plus if Migel is your guide!!!

The drive to the cave was long but, we had the ‘tour’ to ourselves and just a driver. Hesitant at first, but was the best tour. Because it was just my husband and I, we had plenty of time to enjoy what the caves and its compound has to offer. Patsy, our driver and guide was wonderful. Tolantongo Caves was a great tour to see. Amazing hot springs!!

What a fabulous experience of geothermal springs/ river. You will not get this in Iceland, as the scenery is that of a desert canyon but you’re sat in warm flowing water. It’s insane. The tour bus is a van which if you’re in a small group is great - depending on your travelling companions obviously?!- but BEAWARE, this is a long road trip, as after Pachuca, the road has speeds bumps every 50-100m which slows the journey down and makes it very tough. Unless, you’re with Jerry who has a wonderful 8 hour playlist of music across the 80s. Not one tune was missed!

Absolutely PHENOMENAL! This is such an amazing area of hidalgo. It was about a 3 hours drive from Mexico city but 100% worth it. First off, we were picked up in an agreed location in a nice air conditioned van. My partner and I were excited to see just one other couple in our van so we had an opportunity to spread out. It was an early pick up, but again- worth it! Our drive was pretty nice and we ended up stopping at a gas station for gas, snacks, drinks, and a bathroom about halfway through our trip. As we got closer we stopped at a stall that sold water shoes, towels, and dry bags for cell phones. There were some epic views as we approached the canyon above the river. The river/pools were a color blue i had never seen! There were very very few US tourists- it looked like a lot of families camping in that area. There is this huuuuge river filled with pristine pools that i LOVED. In that same area of the park you can take a little hike to this stunning waterfall and go in the cave behind it. The water is warm and cold and majestic and it was so so beautiful. After our time there we drove to these magical hot tubs built into the side of a mountain. There was also a tension skybridge and amazing views. We had such an amazing day of being able to relax and explore on our own. On the ride home we stopped for a tequila and then napped our way back to Mexico City! Love, love loved every moment. Thank you Guillermo!

Well- executed tour to Grutas de Tolantongo. We were picked up early in the morning via a sprinter van (which I found nice since it wasn't a big tour bus) and headed over to the caves/lagoon. Driver was efficient with driving as he could be, although it did take a few hours to get there given the distance and traffic. I also liked the scheduling as we had a few hours in each "spot" of the tour to really enjoy - it was neither too short or too long. The only suggestion I'd make is bring a mask and require people in the van to wear masks (or at least reach a consensus beforehand). We had people in the van sneezing/coughing the whole day and the windows in the van weren't open. I wore my mask the whole time to make sure I didn't catch anything. But, being in this situation didn't make things as comfortable as they could have been.

The location was very nice, and we went on a Thursday, so it wasn’t too crowded. I imagine on the weekends it’s a lot busier. However, for the travel time, I would say it’s not worth it. Once we were there, there’s only so much to do. Maybe it’s different with a group or family, but as a couple, we ran out of activities pretty quickly. The driver was nice, but the van was not fully cleaned. Found old masks and leftover drinks in the cup holders. Calling this a “tour” is quite a stretch. Our driver brought us to the locations and pointed out where everything was and then went back to the van. We figured it out, but the naming convention is a bit off. We had more fun at the river / caves than the pools, and I would suggest going there first. We did the pools first and were kinda like, eh, is this it? But I think it might be a nice way to chill out after the river portion because there’s a bit more of hiking involved for that bit. I also found a serious lack of information provided on this, in terms of what to bring and what is available to purchase. Things to bring: - bathing suit - waterproof sandals / water shoes - towel - food - water in reusable water bottles You can purchase most of these items on the river side, but good to know how to pack. We ate at the restaurant by the pools and it was pretty bad, so I would definitely recommend bringing something if you can since the drive starts at 6:00 AM and nothing is open (at least around our hotel) at that hour to get food. I can’t say anything about the food on the river side since we didn’t eat there, but there are more options. I mention the reusable water bottles because they won’t allow any plastic or glass bottles at the pools, so if you are thirsty, then that is your only option. Overall, it was a nice place but I wish we were better prepared. And I would pass on it again if coming from Mexico City because the drive is VERY long. To me, this particular option is not worth the money.

our driver was Emmanuel G. He was in communication with us the night before and provided details of our pick-up. He was professional, prompt, easy going and allowed us to make stops when we requested. Overall, great guy. My g/f and I were the only ones so we were in a private car. The drive wasn't too bad as it was comfortable for us. Emmanuel picked us up at 6:30am and we were on our way. This tour was paradise, I never experienced something like this before. This is a highly recommended place to visit if you are in Mexico City or near it. The water was gorgeous and the parks were well maintained. People were very respectable. It's a must visit.

Guillermo was a great driver with a clean transportation and made an extra stop to allow us to grab a snack and go to the bathroom. We were allowed to stay at each of the spots for three hours each which allowed us time to enjoy the place and get a drink!

This tour was good! We were pleasantly surprised to go there in a private car! We thought we would be going with a tour bus and I highly recommend doing this. If you are stuck in a tour bus, you are stuck staying until everyone gets on the bus (slower than a car!) and it is a long ride to and from Tolontongo!(About 3.5hrs) First off the bad things: Long trip, very far from Mexico City 14hour day tour Too many people, very crowded! The food was not good! Good things: Very, Very Beautiful! Surreal, something you see in the movies! Once in a lifetime trip Our driver was nice,safe, accommodating and knowledgeable Our private car was comfortable Driver had cold drinks for us Tour Tips: •BRING ENOUGH CASH! •Bring water shoes, you cannot go anywhere without them, too rocky and dirty for flip flops or any other shoes •Bring towels •Don’t bring a lot of clothes! Only dress in what you will go in the water with!! The less the better! •Eat and drink something while on your way there! Too crowded to eat at restaurant. And you waste time! •Get there as early as you can! •Buy an underwater iPhone cover!! You will definitely need this! A must!! •Stay hydrated!! It gets hot!! •Bring a hat!!

We started the day bright and early, but Thelma and Guillermo were extremely helpful, attentive, and positive. Whenever we had questions, they would answer with wonderful history to make it an educational experience as well. Their easygoing personalities make it comfortable to talk with them. I would suggest going on weeks days instead of the weekends because there is a higher chance you will encounter fewer people than if you were to go on a weekday. We went on a Thursday and it was great as it was not super packed, which gave us time and space to enjoy this trip! Overall, I would highly recommend this tour as you cannot beat the breathtaking scenery!

Excellent tour, our driver and guide were really nice and friendly, we had an amazing day at Tolantongo!

From the photos, this looks like the perfect trip and it is a truly beautiful destination. The guide was friendly and tried hard, but that is where the goodness of this trip ends. Now for the rest of the story....first, we requested pick up at a specific hotel listed in the reservation. Between our reservation and the actual tickets, two different locations were listed and the confusion endured up to 30 minutes before scheduled pick up. Next, the tour company was an hour late for pick up. The worst part of the trip was that we contracted for an English speaking guide and did not receive one. This made many aspects of the trip very difficult, to include not understanding what we were doing, learning nothing about the area, and meeting dietary restrictions when getting food. In terms of travel, the trip was supposed to be between 10-12 hours. It was a 4 to 4.5 hour drive each way, making it a 15 hour day with almost 9 hours in a car. The vehicle was even worse. The company smashed 6 passengers in a small Chinese mini-van. We were thankful we were not the group of 3 stuck in a bench seat for the 8 to 9 hour drive.

Our guide was amazing, reliable, and knowledgeable. My husband and I went on a Thursday, and it was perfect because it wasn’t as busy as on the weekends. The first place you go to has breathtaking views, but the second part of the place it’s even better. The turquoise waters are just as seen in the pictures.

The whole experience was amazing! Definitely get your moneys worth with a whole day full of exploring water caves, looking at the waterfalls and swimming in lagoon pools. The tour guide was welcoming, helpful and friendly (we all had a good laugh) and made the day incredible. I would recommend this tour to anyone :)

Ricardo, our driver, was very accommodating and helpful. We thought it would be a group of people but when we saw it was just him and us we were nervous but thankfully everything turned out amazing. It was a 3 hour and 20 min ride there from CDMX. We stand until 4:30 about and stopped twice on the way back arriving back around 10 pm in CDMX due to traffic. Now if you’re the type that wants to sit back and really relax I recommend doing the 2 day trip. With the one day trip it allowed us to see all points in a timely manner that I prefer. Overall had a wonderful time, thank you again, Ricardo por ser muy amable!

We booked the trip from CDMX for 108 dollars per person which do not include the meal. Its is a bit costly in comparison to what other local people had paid to reach there. We were 8 people and paid 864 dollars which is quite expensive. 1 day tour Not recommended if you are going from Mexico City because almost 12-14 hrs will be spent in Van or Car. Only 3-4 hours to enjoy there. But the trip was is lil hassale free as they provide english speaking guide, will take you from home, will stay with you in Tolantango and drop you at home. You dont have to care about anything.

Everything was amazing. Started with the hot mineral waters super cute. So impressed of the cave going in is like a sauna in there an amazing feeling. The beautiful waterfalls are huge and the blue water going down river is beautiful 😍 Gods nature is the best.

The tour was absolutely amazing and efficiently executed! Was worth every peso indeed. 똘랑똥꼬에 가시려는 분들께 강추드립니다!

For me it wasn't what I was expecting. It was a long drive, the park was exceedingly crowded (because it's pretty). Be aware it's be hard work traveling along the path and steps to the Grotto are steep.

Beautiful place, especially the 2nd part of the tour near the river and the caves. We were there in October and it was nice and quiet during the week and we had a private tour guide Javier who spoke good English and was very helpful and friendly.

Fue un día maravilloso, la cascada es increíble, el agua calientita y su color indescriptible, el lugar es más lindo que en las fotos 😎✅🤗

The place alone is a very pleasant and unforgettable experience; however, I consider the guide (Lalo) although with good disposition, he did not have the best control of the group, he is young and sometimes used inappropriate language (high-pitched and perhaps vulgar words) which could be misinterpreted by visitors, mainly foreigners, who are not familiar with the use of that language. On the other hand, we requested the excursion outside in Spanish and, since there were more foreign tourists was given 90 percent in English, please, it would be prudent that when hiring domestic tourism would be made precise that because there is not enough Spanish speaking tourism, it will be done in another language in order to be able to hire or not. Finally, suggest the guide give precise directions in order to carry out the activities, while there were several confusions in schedules and itinerary. Hopefully our suggestions will be taken into account, while the only purpose of these are to make the Service provided to domestic and, mainly foreign tourism that comes to enjoy our beautiful country, better and better. On the other hand, the Service provided by Juan Carlos as a driver was excellent and sometimes, to express question clarified the doubts raised about the vagueness of the guide's indications.

Tolantongo Grottoes and the surrounding landscapes are beautiful. The ride is long, but it's worth it. The tour is a great way to use a day trip. The guide and driver were punctual, friendly and extremely professional and attentive to what we need. The place may be full, but you still enjoy it a lot.

Although an incident occurred they were very kind to apologize, resolve it, and remedy it. All right, on your side. It is a long journey from the capital, you have to go early, to avoid many people in the afternoon and traffic

Thelma and Memo de Azteca Tours, the best guides, very attentive, we felt super special. The beautiful place!! They should realize the full experience, caves, river and pools. Everything was perfect. I definitely recommend it.

We left early for Tolantongo and spent a super day. Juan Manuel arrived on time, guided us throughout the day through several cities and towns sharing information and also good data. In addition, you see that he handles the place very well, when it is better to go to each part of Tolantongo, where are the good places to eat and how to best take advantage of the whole walk.