Tolantongo hot springs tour from Mexico City: 40 thermal pools
Forty thermal pools carved into a mountain, each one a different temperature and shape.
A private tour from Mexico City to Tolantongo, a thermal springs complex in Hidalgo state, where you swim in 40 individual hot pools, explore a grotto and waterfall, and wade through a blue river fed by thermal water. Pickup at your accommodation at 5am, 4-hour drive each way, 5 hours on-site; private vehicle, entrance tickets, bottled water and snacks included; guide in English, Spanish or French.
Step-by-step itinerary
Private tour to Tolantongo hotsprings
- Pick up at accommodation in Mexico City
- Drive 4 hours to Tolantongo with stops
- Change into swimsuit and water shoes
- Visit Paradise section with 40 thermal pools
- Enjoy suspension bridge, tunnel, and waterfalls
- Visit Grotto section with waterfall and blue river
- Have lunch or buy food at restaurants
- Shower and change into dry clothes
- Drive 4 hours back to Mexico City
- Mexico City 4h
- Grutas Tolantongo Entry included 5h
- Mexico City 4h
What’s included
- Private transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle from your Mexico City address.
- entrance tickets to Tolantongo.
- bottled water.
- a small snacks bag.
- a live guide in English, Spanish or French.
- access to all facilities including showers, bathrooms, dressing rooms and restaurants on-site.
- Every day 05:00 06:00
Information
Pick up at your Mexico City address at 5am and spend 5 hours in Tolantongo's 40 thermal pools, grotto and blue river, private transport.
Compare the 4 alternatives
Traveler reviews
The experience
The pickup starts at 5am at your Mexico City address. The drive to Tolantongo takes 4 hours through the mountains to Hidalgo state, with stops for breakfast, bathrooms or anything else you need along the way. You arrive early enough to beat the crowds: the thermal pools fill up as the day goes on, so the morning light and empty water means better photos and more space to move.
Tolantongo splits into two sections. The Paradise side holds the 40 thermal pools, each one a different shape and temperature between 34 and 38 degrees Celsius. You'll spend 2.5 hours here in your swimsuit and water shoes, walking a suspension wooden bridge, soaking in individual pools, and finding small waterfalls tucked between the rocks. Your belongings stay locked in the vehicle. The Grotto section comes next: another 2.5 hours exploring a waterfall, a cave carved into the mountainside, and the blue river that runs through it, also heated by thermal water from underground. Restaurants and shops sit throughout the complex, so you can buy lunch or snacks without leaving the site.
Before heading back to Mexico City, you shower and change into dry clothes at the facilities on-site. The return drive takes 4 hours, getting you back to your accommodation by evening. The whole day runs about 13 hours door-to-door. A private guide travels with you and can speak English, Spanish or French.
Top questions
What languages is the tour guided in?
Live guide in English, Spanish and French.
Can children come?
Yes. Ticket types: Infant (under 5).
How far is Tolantongo from Mexico City and how long does the drive take?
Tolantongo sits 4 hours from Mexico City by car, located in Hidalgo state at 1,280 meters above sea level. The pickup at your address is at 5am, and the return drive takes another 4 hours, so plan for a full day.
What are the 40 thermal pools like, and can I swim in all of them?
The 40 pools are in the Paradise section of Tolantongo, each with a unique design and shape. They're fed by thermal water from underground springs and stay between 34 and 38 degrees Celsius. You can move between them freely during your 2.5 hours in that section, soaking, swimming and exploring the suspension bridge and small waterfalls nearby.
What happens in the Grotto section, and how much time do I spend there?
The Grotto section features a waterfall, a cave carved into the rock, and a blue river heated by thermal water. You spend 2.5 hours here after the Paradise pools, wading and exploring before heading back to the vehicle to change into dry clothes.
What's included in the tour, and do I need to bring anything?
The tour includes private transportation from your Mexico City address, entrance tickets to Tolantongo, bottled water, a small snacks bag, and an air-conditioned vehicle. Bring a swimsuit, water shoes (or sandals), a towel, sunscreen and a change of clothes. The complex has showers and dressing rooms on-site.
Can I add extra hours to the 5 hours spent at Tolantongo?
Yes, you can extend your time at Tolantongo beyond the standard 5 hours if you want more time in the pools or exploring the grotto and river.
Operated by Epic Journey. Explorevia does not run this tour: we compare it with similar options, and you book it with our booking partner.
Prices and times updated 2 days ago
Tolantongo hot springs tour from Mexico City: 40 thermal pools
13h · EN · ES · FR · at your hotel
from US$ 166 per person
Next, you choose your date and number of travelers and see the final price.