Hierve el Agua and Mezcal Distillery Tour from Oaxaca

Swim in mineral pools carved by millennia of water, then taste mezcal straight from the distillery

A full-day tour from Oaxaca City to Hierve el Agua, a natural park of petrified waterfalls where you swim and hike for three hours, followed by a mezcal distillery visit with free samples and an explanation of agave fermentation. An air-conditioned vehicle and a live English-speaking guide are included. Entrance to Hierve el Agua is covered in the tour price.

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit Hierve el Agua and Mezcal Distillery

• Travel to Hierve el Agua
• Hike or swim at Hierve el Agua
• Spend three hours at Hierve el Agua
• Visit mezcal distillery on return
• Enjoy free mezcal tasting

The experience

Hierve el Agua is a natural park built by mineral-rich water flowing down a mountainside for thousands of years, leaving behind terraced pools and frozen cascades of stone. The tour spends three hours there: enough time to swim in the warm mineral pools, hike the trails that wind through the landscape, or simply sit and take in the views without feeling rushed. A local guide is available if you want to explore on foot, or you can wade into the water at your own pace.

On the drive back to Oaxaca City, the tour stops at one of the region's established mezcal distilleries. There you walk through the production process (how agave is roasted, crushed and fermented), and taste several different mezcals free of charge, sampling the range of flavors that come from different agave varieties and production methods. The whole experience takes approximately eight hours from start to finish, and the vehicle is air-conditioned throughout.

What’s included

• Air-conditioned vehicle for the full eight hours.
• entrance fee to Hierve el Agua.
• free mezcal samples and an explanation of agave distillation at the distillery.
• a live English-speaking guide.

Information

Lasts 8h, runs every day at 09:00, from US$ 65 per person, with a live guide in English and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:00

AgesAdult (14 to 65 years) · Under 14: can't be booked

GroupUp to 22

Live guideEnglishOther languages ›

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearbyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Oaxaca by locals

Is this one for you?The three-hour stay at Hierve el Agua gives you time to swim, hike and rest without rushing through the landscape, and the mezcal distillery visit on the return journey fits the whole experience into one day without backtracking.

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Top questions

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What exactly is Hierve el Agua and what can I do there?

Hierve el Agua is a natural park of petrified waterfalls created over millennia by mineral-rich spring water flowing down a mountainside. The mineral pools are warm and swimmable, and hiking trails run through the landscape. You choose whether to swim, hike, or simply walk around and take in the views during your three hours there.

Is the entrance fee to Hierve el Agua included in the tour price?

Yes, entrance to Hierve el Agua is included in the tour price. The mezcal tasting and samples at the distillery are also free.

How long does the mezcal distillery visit last?

The distillery stop is part of the return journey to Oaxaca City and includes a full explanation of agave distillation plus free mezcal samples. The entire tour lasts approximately eight hours.

Will I need to hike, or can I just walk around and swim?

Hiking is optional. You can spend your three hours at Hierve el Agua swimming in the pools, walking the easier trails, or relaxing by the water. A local guide is available if you want to hike, but there is no requirement to do so.

What language does the guide speak?

The guide speaks English and leads the tour live throughout the day.