You may have seen these famous pools all over Instagram or you might be looking for a nature getaway from Mexico City- either way Grutas de Tolantongo is the place to go! In this post I will highlight all the travel tips you will need to see this place in the best and affordable way possible (prices and sample itinerary included).
The best way to visit Grutas de Tolantongo in Hidalgo, Mexico? Not by tour, and not by renting a car yourself… you can actually visit this place completely on your own in an affordable way and you don’t need to be fluent in Spanish to make this journey either.
If you are short on time you can definitely just book a tour online for a day trip, but if you want to truly experience this place, save yourself $100, and do not mind spending more time outdoors: keep reading.
Table of Contents
WHAT IS GRUTAS TOLANTONGO?
A natural thermal theme park located 4-6 hours away from Mexico City. There are hot springs, caves, tunnels, ziplines, waterfalls, a river, and beautiful surrounding mountains to enjoy- so this place is definitely worth the visit.
HOW TO GET TO GRUTAS DE TOLANTONGO FROM MEXICO CITY:
To get to Grutas Tolantongo from Mexico City, it will take you 6 hours and 3 buses. To start the journey to Grutas Tolantongo you will need to take a bus from the ADO bus terminal in Centro Mexico City (TAPO) to Pachuca (1.5hrs), then from Pachuca to Ixmiquilpan (2hrs), and take one last bus to Grutas de Tolantongo (1hr).
GRUTAS DE TOLANTONGO TRAVEL TIPS AND THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO:
- go during the week to avoid the crowds
- entry to the park is 150 pesos daily from 7am-8pm, open year round (even holidays)
- bring cash, there are no ATMS here
- bring your own tent if you can
- make sure to bring a swimsuit, towel, snacks, and waterproof camera
- bring toilet paper for bathrooms
- not much vegan food but you can ask for beans, rice and vegetables and the restaurant’s accommodated nicely (not many meals were over 100 pesos)
You can find more information on the Grutas de Tolantongo website here!
Sample Itinerary: [keep in mind you can definitely start this journey earlier- but below was our exact journey]
DAY 1:
- arrive at the ADO bus station at 10am to take the 10:30AM bus to Pachuca- this will cost 124 pesos
- take a bus from Pachuca to Ixmiquilpan at 12:40AM- 77 pesos
- arrive at Ixmiquilpan around 3pm and you can either take a short bus to the center of the town or just walk! our bus driver just told us to get on a bus that will take us to the city center directly (10 pesos) since we didn’t know where we were going and had asked for the bus to Grutas Tolantongo
- get to the city center and start asking the locals for directions to the bus station to Grutas Tolantongo “donde esta la estacion de autobus?” you will pass a pharmacy, and a white and red church also known as San Antonio church and the parking lot should be on your left. Just ask the people at the front of the lot which bus to get on and you are golden!
- catch the 3:30PM bus to Grutas Tolantongo and arrive by 4:45PM- 60 pesos
- bus times from Ixmiquilpan to Grutas: 9:30AM, 11:30AM, 1:30PM, 3:30PM, 5:30PM
- bus times from Tolantongo back to Ixmiquilpan: 7:30AM, 11:30AM, 1:30PM, 3:30PM, 5:30PM
- swim in the hot springs + set up camp, if you want to have a fire there are shops that sell wood!
- get some dinner at one of the local restaurants! if you are vegan (like my friend and i) the restaurants can accommodate vegans, just ask for rice and beans and add guac and pico de gallo! in Spanish just say “no carne, no queso, y no leche por favor”
DAY 2:
- get an early start to the day and get the hot springs all to yourself around 8am, if you want extra solo time try to wake up for sunrise!
- after taking a swim, head over to the “pozas termales” on the other side of the park- this should take you about 20-30 minutes
- spend time enjoying the beautiful mountain views from the pools
- head back towards camp, grab a snack and head over to the waterfalls
- explore the waterfalls + if you feel like exploring more you have an option to pay 100 pesos more to explore the otherside of the park (we paid and it was well worth it)
- take a bus back at 3:30PM or 5:30PM so you can maximize the day!
I hope this helps you find your way to Grutas de Tolantongo in a better and cheaper way so you can take longer to enjoy the beauty of this place! Make sure to connect with me on socials @monicaroams so I could see your beautiful photos here!
