Experiences You Should Have Podcast Show Notes

Interview with Felly Day on Staying at Hierve El Agua

Felly Day has been traveling full time for the last five years and she loves traveling for waterfalls. She was starting a new journey that was to begin in Mexico then continue down to Central America, but Covid happened, and her stay was extended in Mexico. I asked her what is that one Experience You Should Have in Mexico and she replied with, "Spend the Night at Hierve El Agua". Read on to learn about experiencing Hierve El Agua, and how to spend the night at Hierve El Agua.

What is Hierve El Agua and Why Visit?

Hierve El Agua means "Boils the Water" and it is the second-largest petrified waterfall in the world in Oaxaca Mexico. You can go and swim in the pools above this petrified waterfall and have an experience like none other. This is a well-known site, but if you know the secret, you can spend the night here. At night, the stars shine bright as there is no light pollution there. If you spend the night there, you can spend sunrise at a petrified waterfall, a world-famous site, and have it mostly to yourself. With the right weather, you could enjoy a petrified waterfall, a night swim, a fire, and twinkling stars all in one evening. Now that is an experience you should have.

Hierve El Agua at Sunrise Photo by Felly Day

Where is Hierve El Agua

It's about 70 KMs from Oaxaca City. You can get there in about 2 hours with public transit, or 1.5 hours if you have the right car and guts to drive up yourself. Grab a cab to Mitla from Oaxaca (40 pesos), then hop on a truck with a bench from Mitla to Hierve El Agua (50 pesos), which will take you up switchbacks on the side of a cliff.

Hidden Gem: Spend the Night in a Cabin at Hierve El Agua

Most visit Hierve El Agua by taking a tour bus, but there is another way of experience this magical place. The locals know about the cabins at Hierve El Agua, but there isn't much information about it on the web. The cabins are basic, when Felly went there were 6 cabins. They had a single bed, double bed, bathroom, and they are cheap! You can't reserve them online, and there is no advertisement for the cabins, so they are usually empty.

When you get to Hierve El Agua, you need to ask at the gate if you can stay at the cabins, Cabina por favour? During the peak tourist season, the cabins were empty, so it's a good bet you can stay. The cabins at Hierve El Agua cost 200 pesos per person and access to Hierve El Agua is 25 pesos per person.

Food Options

There are restaurants at Hierve El Agua, but they close early, so if arriving at night to a sleepover, you will need to bring your own food. Grab some homemade tortillas, beans, rice, and cheese, and you're set.

What to Bring to Hierve El Agua?

* Swimsuit* Sunscreen* Food* Extra water* Your family

What Else to Know

There was no Wifi or cell signal there, so be prepared to be off the grid. This is a clothed experience, so make sure you bring your swimsuit, this is not Breitenbush! The tourists get there late morning and they leave by sunset, but if you stay the night, then you can have the place mostly to yourself.

Hierve el Agua, natural rock formations in the Mexican state of Oaxaca

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