Hierve El Agua: Hiking And Time To Swim + Tule Tree & Meal

A fantastic tour that is well worth the investment! Our guide, Cristian, was sensational—very attentive, laid-back, and incredibly knowledgeable about the local history and culture! Although it’s an all-day excursion, the pace is relaxed, allowing plenty of time to explore each location. We visited Hierve el Agua, which was the highlight of the entire trip—it’s an absolutely stunning, breathtaking place! We also enjoyed the best culinary experience of our entire trip: a 7-course lunch at the Santa Inés restaurant. We wrapped up the day with a tasting of various types of mezcal! On top of that, the experience gives you the chance to meet people from all over the world! I highly recommend it!

Absolutely worth it !!!! The views , the food , the guide , the mezcal !!! Spot on. Value for money. Christian is so passionate about Mexico , couldn’t have had a better tour guide.

Lis was our guide and Danny our driver, they were great, even efficiently managed a flat tire scenario so that we were only delayed by 10 minutes! Lis was knowledgeable and gave great background info on the culture and area throughout the experience.

A wonderful experience. The guide, Christian, was knowledgeable, friendly, and fully bilingual. The day was meticulously planned and well organized. We hiked to the beautiful petrified falls, we ate an eight course meal, we swam in mineral baths, and we learned about the history of the area from a guide who beamed with pride about his state and his culture. It was truly a memorable experience.

Th guide texted us the night before that we’d have to go earlier than expected, they didn’t respect our time. We booked the half day tour but was put on a full day tour and when we told the guide that we only want to do the half day tour they were giving us attitude on why we wanted to leave early aka the time that we thought we were going to end. Overall the experience felt unprofessional start to finish.

Christian and Eric were absolutely amazing! Christian is very knowledgable and is extremely passionate about what he does. Eric ensured we felt safe during our journey and never rushed. Highly recommend them and their team!

We had such an amazing experience and time with Christian and Eric!! Christian was so knowledgeable during our tour especially with Mezcal (which was our favourite part)

It was good - and I enjoyed the experience. The hike was a bit difficult for an old woman but I made it with encouragement from the female guide. I forget her name but she was great.

We had the best time with our guide (Christian), indigenous & mezcal teachers, and our co-tourees! It was so fun and carefree while also educational and meaningful. This tour felt extremely respectful of indigenous people and culture, nature, and our role in that as guests. Would absolutely recommend!

Excellent and informative. Had a great time with Pavel our guide and Miguel our driver. The hike was scenic and included stops along the way to photograph Hierve de Agua. This is was a good half day tour and allowed time to swim or dip in the pools. Not for people that have difficulty walking stairs or running physical health issues. The buffet afterwards at Dona Li as delicious and worth it, the staff there was friendly. Love the history from a local, and small group. The road to and from the site is windy 30 mins from the town near it, if you get car sick or dizzy bring some Dramamine with you.

Pavel, our guide was wonderful. Big thanks to the driver, Miguel. My friend and I had a wonderful experience! Highly recommend Zapoteca Tours.

Had such a great day at Tule tree and hierve el agua ( half day trip). Guide Liz was excellent with great information, but also made the day fun for everyone. Thanks to Oscar driving too. Highly recommend

The tour guide was excellent. He was very knowledgeable and was able to answer any questions we asked. We were joined by a local guide at the mountain who was also great.

We had an amazing time! Our tour guide was Luis and he was very friendly and fun! All entry fees were covered with what we paid. We hiked at Hierve el Agua and Luis gave us time to relax in the pools. After, we stopped at a buffet and it was very affordable and delicious. Our last stop was at El Arbol del Tule and, although brief, it was a nice place to see the tree, stretch our legs, and get ice cream! I would absolutely recommend this tour for anyone. Bring cash for tips!

We did the full day hierve el agua tour with my family. The tour was great, we had an amazing time a great tour guide who was not only knowledgeable but kind and fun. We learned so much about hierve el agua and Oaxaca in general. Eric was a great driver, he got us everywhere we needed to be safe and on time. Thank you Christian for being such a wonderful tour guide and helping up the stairs and for taking pictures of our family. It was a pleasure meeting you and I would totally recommend this tour again.

Christian was a great guide!!

Zapoteco tours gran atención.

Lots of fun. Got to experience a range of things!

Great tour guide. I really learned a lot about the area. I will note that it took about an hour longer than expected. Not a big deal, because it was so fun, but if you have time restraints, just keep that in mind.

Pável our guide and Eric our driver From Zapoteca Tours were excellent. Pável especially gave our group (2 of us and 3 other fun travelling companions) a really great commentary on several stages of the journey. We learned about Mitla caves (although a separate tour) as Pável used iPad to show pictures and videos of things we wouldn’t see, but also in anticipation of the stops of our tour. Hierve el Agua is stunning. Make sure to take your ‘togs’ and a travel (or borrow hotel) towel. The local guide Helio had an infectious giggle but gave good detail on our walk down to the bottom of the ‘falls’. He and other locals manage visitor experience and lead sustainable approach to ensure the sacred site is respected by visitors. A gratuity (not included in tour cost) is well worth supporting the local guides and their community. After expending energy on the hike, relaxing in the pools we had an ‘eat as much as you like’ traditional buffet lunch. It was good honest selection and full of flavour (210MX per person plus drinks). Then we took in a Mezcal production tour and tasting at El Rey de Matatlan. Even though we had previously attended a lecture and tasting the way the tour is presented added great context. The tasting certainly brought our group together more with laughs and tasting note discussions. Final stop was Santa Maria del Tule. A stunning natural phenomenon of the world’s widest tree. Framed by the town’s church and immaculate gardens a peacefully majesty all of its own. Pável and Eric permeated the drive with additional information and musical matches to the New Zealand, Australian and Swiss passengers. A great day’s value and fantastic appreciation of natural wonders. 100% recommended Zapotec’s Tours.

We had a great time on this half day tour with Liz the guide and Miguel our driver. Everything was well paced, we had the perfect amount of time at each place and it was nice having the admission fees included. Liz kept the energy for up for us and was very bubbly and friendly. We learnt lots about Oaxaca, the traditions and culture and about the tree and petrified waterfalls. We appreciated her explaining the food at the buffet too and we enjoyed trying lots of different local specialities. We were a small group of four which was perfect for us, and we had lots of space on the van - we got back to the city about 4pm. Initially we were a little confused because we were expecting a snack and a little breakfast; but it was just an apple when we arrived. So just a heads up for others, there isn’t really any food included. We didn’t get to lunch until 2pm - so bring food with you or buy from street food vendors at the stops.

Had a great time! Liz and Miguel took great care of us and kept things interesting and timely. Would definitely recommend.

We had an amazing tour experience! Everything was well organized, and our guide was knowledgeable, friendly, and made the trip enjoyable from start to finish. We learned so much while still having plenty of time to take in the sights and ask questions. The pace was perfect, and the attention to detail made the experience stress-free. I highly recommend this tour to anyone looking for a memorable and enjoyable experience!

Pavel was great. Stepped in for another tour guide that wasn’t feeling well!

Great experience. A must see while in Oaxaca

We really liked that there was a half day option as we specifcallg wanted to go see the tree and Hierve de Agua. Pavel was our guide and we felt very well taken care of by him. Our driver Raul was very careful and it felt very safe. The tour was well paced and we spent a nice amount of time at Hierve de Agua. Also really enjoyed trying different foods at the buffet lunch at the end. Would recommend!

I really liked that I did a half day. After everything I was glad to head back around 3pm and be back to rest at 4pm. The stops to the tree and Hierve de Agua were great. Really liked our tour guide and time there. Tips: It’s a LOT of stairs if you do the waterfall hike. Whatever you go down you have to come back up. So keep in mind. Also wear sunscreen - the altitude will get you color fast.

We originally signed for the half day tour for Hierve el Agua but on the bus we realized that most of the other Travellers had signed up for the full day. The plan was for us to take a taxi back after lunch. We, along with other half layers, decided to do the full tour. This was a good decision as it added Mitla, local weavers and a mescal fabrica. But Hierve el Agua is the main attraction. The hike back up is not an easy one. From there you will go to the pools. These are nice. There are changing rooms at the pool. You can just leave your stuff out. It seems to be safe. Doing the full day tour was a good decision. It started at 8. You will get back after 7 so it is a long day.

Pavel was a great guide, very punctual and he spoke 3 languages which helps for the whole group to understand.

Pavel was amazing in explaining the history of the Tule Tree and Hierve el Agua. You will also get ample time at the falls if you do both the hiking and the swimming bit. This trip is perfect for someone who only wants to do the Hierve el Agua and is short for time.

We had a lovely time with our tour guide Pável. Hierve el Agua and Tule tree were beautiful, and Pável knew a lot of details about the sites and the overall environment of Oaxaca. It was also nice to have the option for a half-day tour. Would definitely recommend to go explore Hierve el Agua with this agency, with special thanks to Pável!

We had a great time with are tourguide Pável who showed us around the biggest tree in Thule and Hierve el agua. The half day was great in terms of timing as we where back at our hotel around 4:30pm.

This was a great tour with visiting the tree and "waterfalls" / pools and hike. Our tour guide made the drive go by fast with many highlights of the area - she was local and knowledgeable about the area and culture!

Hierve el Agua was a wonderful experience! Thanks to Viator, everything was perfectly organized so I could truly enjoy the beauty of this unique place. The transportation was excellent, the historical information was very interesting, and the special lunch was a lovely touch. Our tour guide, Pavel, was very knowledgeable and made the experience even more memorable. Highly recommend!

I visited el tule, hierve el agua and a nice traditional restaurant with an experienced guide Pavel. It was a very good journey and amazed by great nature of Oaxaca. Highly recommended!

Pawel was a Great Guide! Would definitely recommend. Food was great! Vibes were great!

Wonderful experience! The hike was tough coming back up but getting rewarded by swimming in the pools was incredible! Truly feels otherworldly and the guides could not have been more knowledgable! Loved it!

Oaxaca is a beautiful place, and Hierve el agua is one of a kind experience. Liz was amazing in explaining all the details about the place . The hike to the bottom of the falls has incredible views. For The half day tour, they arranged a private taxi. Very safe.

Great organization and delivery. Guide had great knowledge but spoke too quickly—- we missed a lot of the info he shared. Would recommend this tour to friends.

Mani is very knowledgeable about the sites. He knows the history coupled with some good stories of the culture l. He has a nice personality, doesnt rush and allows plenty of questions. He is an excellent tour guide.

So much fun. Great attention and planning. Water included. English speaking guide named Luis was friendly and answered lots of questions. Very good tour.

Incredible tour with Luis! Lots of steps but refreshing spring fed pools you can swim in. Amazing place and the guide even pointed out a skull still imbedded in the ground under a rock. Water provided and van was comfortable. Luis provided wonderful commentary about the Zapotec culture along the way.

We had a fantastic Half-Day Tour to Hierve el Agua with Luis as our guide and Oscar as our driver. Luis was incredibly knowledgeable about Oaxaca’s history and culture and happily answered all our questions throughout the day. We even invited him to join us for lunch so we could keep learning more! Setting off early meant we visited the Tula Tree before the crowds, which made a big difference. The tour of Hierve el Agua was great, and the restaurant Luis chose served delicious food.

My husband and I went on the half day trip to Tule and Hierve el Agua, and then a buffet lunch. Our trip leader, Luis, was awesome. He switched between English and Spanish clearly and smoothly to accommodate everyone, and helped us all to feel comfortable and connect with each other. We really enjoyed meeting all the other people on the tour. Luis is very knowledgeable about the sites and enthusiastic about history, culture and environmental issues. He’s also very friendly and attentive to everyone’s needs. He gave very clear instructions on what to expect and how to get the most out of our experience. The tree in Tule was beautiful and interesting. Hierve el Agua was also beautiful, interesting and fun — both the optional small hike and swimming in the mineral spring were very enjoyable. We had a local indigenous guide there who was especially knowledgeable about the plants. The buffet afterwards was huge and delicious. The rest of the group went on to other places for the full day tour so a driver came out in a car to pick us up and bring us back to Oaxaca. He was also friendly and interesting to talk with on our way back. We hadn’t realized that we were going with a group that was on a full day tour - we assumed everyone would be on the half day, but it was handled very smoothly and wasn’t a problem at all. All in all, the Zapotecas tour company was very well organized and professional. Our drivers and guide were especially helpful, friendly and professional.

It wasn't easy to find a half day tour which included the Tula Tree and Hierve el agua but luckily I came across Zapotec Tours and had an incredible day! Our guide Luis was super knowledgable and kind and the structure of the day gives you plenty of time to enjoy everything as you go along. Highly recommended:)

This tour was a full day of fun and beauty. It was a great way to see the Mexican country side and learn about the history. Don't miss it

Lizzet y Miguel were great guides! Liz provided good background on the sites and on Oaxaca in general. The tour was paced well with appropriate amounts of time on our own. Miguel was a very professional and safe driver!

We loved the way Luis, our guide and Israel, our driver, organized this tour. For us, the ‘half-day’ was just right, we had plenty of time to explore the Tule tree, have breakfast, go for an invigorating walk around Hierve and swim in the pools. Luis is very knowledgeable and sensitive to the needs of the group. Would do tours with the company again!

Lis and Miguel were fantastic. They responded to all our questions and adapted the tour to our group size. The sites themselves did not disappoint - the pools are a must see although take plenty of change for showers and WC