Looking for the best Grutas de Tolantongo Tours from Mexico? I got you covered!
When you’re planning a trip to Mexico, you’ve probably heard about Grutas de Tolantongo or seen it on a lot of Instagram posts.
Well, it’s all over social media for good reason. Grutas de Tolantongo is a spectacular destination. In fact, when we were living in Mexico, Grutas de Tolantongo was considered one of our must-dos!
If you’re coming from Mexico city and it’s your first time heading to Grutas de Tolantongo, it’s best to take a tour so you won’t have to worry about transportation.
But among the many different Grutas de Tolantongo tours available from Mexico City, which should you choose?
Read on as we share the best Grutas de Tolantongo tours to join so you can have an excellent, hassle-free time in this dreamy destination.
View Contents
- Grutas de Tolantongo Highlight Tours
- Best Grutas de Tolantongo Tours from Mexico City
- 1. Incredible Tolantongo Caves from CDMX
- 2. Tour to Grutas Tolantongo
- 3. Tolantongo Caves Small Group Tour
- 4. Exploring the Waters of Tolantongo
- 5. Unforgettable Tolantongo
- 6. Tolantongo’s Hot Springs and Thermal Baths Tour
- 7. Hot Springs and Subterranean Caves Tour
- What to Bring on a Las Grutas Tolantongo Tour
- Where is Tolantongo Grutas?
- Grutas Tolantongo Tours: Frequently Asked Questions
Grutas de Tolantongo Highlight Tours
- Skip the waiting line to enjoy the incredible hot springs and natural beauty of Tolantongo for on a trip from Mexico City.
- Tolantongo from CDMX– This highly rated tour takes you on a fun road trip until you reach the beautiful natural wonders of Las Grutas Tolantongo caves alongside a local guide.
- Grutas Tolantongo Waterfalls Explore the stunning caves and hot springs of Tolantongo in this guided tour around one of the most beautiful spots in Mexico.
- Enjoy this customizable tour to Grutas de Tolantongo from Mexico City that fits your travel plans! The entire tour lasts around 14 hours and is highly rated.
- Experience a full-day organized tour to Tolantongo After leaving Mexico City, start the day with a cup of coffee for early birds followed by a typical meal from the state of Hidalgo in the charming town of Ixmiquilpan before heading to the stunning Tolantongo Grutas.
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Best Grutas de Tolantongo Tours from Mexico City
Please note that these Grutas de Tolantongo tours come from reputable guides and locals from platforms like Airbnb and Viator.
While they might appear on the pricier side, remember these are day tours with everything included, you just need to bring yourself and some cash for souvenirs!
1. Incredible Tolantongo Caves from CDMX
Rating: 4 stars
Tour Length: 9 hours
Why We Recommend this Tour
This is a good tour if you’re looking for a slightly shorter trip, which begins at 7 AM. The tour has an excellent and sociable guide who many tourists become friends with afterward.
Moreover, the van is very comfortable, equipped with a television and USB chargers for your entertainment during the long ride! While food isn’t included, you may avail of a prepaid lunch. There will also be stopovers for breakfast and snacks.
Inclusions:
- Roundtrip transportation
- Fees and taxes
During the tour, the guide will lead you along as you discover natural caverns and underground steam tunnels, plus swim in the gorgeous turquoise-blue river, and cliffside pools.
Guests have raved about the delicious Mexican food and the attentiveness of the guides! We highly recommend this tour!
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2. Tour to Grutas Tolantongo
Rating: 4.5 / 5 stars
Tour Length: 14 hours
Why We Recommend this Tour
This tour on Viator is highly rated and takes you all the way to the stunning Las Grutas Tolantongo from Mexico City.
The tour guide will focus on just you and your group, giving you insightful tips and leading you to the best places so you can focus more on relaxing and enjoying the view.
Tour Inclusions:
- Roundtrip private transportation with private pick-ups and drop-offs
- Private guide
- Entrance fee and orientation walk
- Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
- Drinks and snacks
What makes this tour unique is that ALL meals for the day are included which makes it a real bargain.
With this tour, you will start the day with a cup of coffee before heading out to the caves. You will also be stopping en route for lunch in the town of Ixmiquilpan. Once you get to Tolantongo, you’ll get the chance to explore, swim, or even enjoy the zip line within the Tolantongo compound.
Guests have raved about this tour and have made note that the guide goes above and beyond to make sure everyone was comfortable during the entire tour.
3. Tolantongo Caves Small Group Tour
Rating: 4.6 stars/ 5
Tour Length: 14 hours
Why We Recommend this Tour
If you are a small group or a solo traveler who wants to join a slightly smaller group, then this one’s for you. You can book this tour using Get Your Guide.
Meet in the Hostal Amigo at 6 AM, with the driver ensuring your fun and protection with a safe (but slightly bumpy) ride with good conversations. Moreover, the guide will be able to answer all your questions and lead the way to avoid getting too overwhelmed with the beauty of Tolantongo!
Inclusions:
- Entrance to Tolantongo caves
- Roundtrip transportation
- Bilingual guide
4. Exploring the Waters of Tolantongo
Rating: 4.96 stars
Tour Length: 15 hours
Why We Recommend this Tour
Arturo, the host, has spent his summers in Mexico and holds a BA in Hispanic Studies. Moreover, he is a fluent Spanish speaker and is well-knowledgeable about making his way around Mexico.
He has more than enough experience to lead the way in Tolantongo, and his reviews vouch for his excellent tours.
The day begins at 5:30 AM and it’s worth waking up for, where you can get picturesque views, a memorable journey, and fun company throughout the day!
This tour is structured into 3 parts:
Thermal Pools: This part of the tour starts with the group relaxing in “pocitos” or naturally warm thermal pools. Here is where you can get the perfect shot for “the gram.” before the crowds arrive.
River Relaxation: Next is lunch by the river in Tolantongo. The river is naturally warm due to the thermal waters and is a very relaxing experience.
Cave Exploration: Finally, you will visit a waterfall as well as the Tolantongo Cave which is located in La Gruta zone for some cave exploration!
Inclusions:
- Breakfast and some snacks
- Water and Mexican carbonated drinks
- Entrance fee
- Roundtrip private transportation
- Equipment such as outdoor chairs and a table, charger packs, phone water protectors, flashlights, towels, toilet paper, sunscreen, bug spray, toiletries, and a mini first aid kit
This tour is VERY highly rated and guests rave about the guide, the comfortable transportation, and the small group experience that comes with booking this tour.
It is one of the most highly rated tours on Airbnb Experiences and is locally led, which we love!
5. Unforgettable Tolantongo
Rating: 4.80 stars
Tour Length: 14.5 hours
Why We Recommend this Tour
Leonel is a young traveler who wants to share his passion for traveling and adventure with everyone. He ensures positive energy throughout the trip, even if it begins very early.
You’ll be perked up by his energetic attitude and be impressed with his well-planned itinerary.
His passion for sharing the beautiful sites of Mexico like Las Grutas Tolantongo is apparent.
Tour Inclusions:
- Breakfast outside of Mexico City
- Water
- Entry fee with all access to the park (except zip-lining) and internal transfers
- Roundtrip private transportation
- Equipment such as towels, toilet paper, water shoes, sunscreen, soap, and a mini first aid kit
Similar to the first trip, the experience is divided into 3 parts (Las Pocitas, the Thermal River, and Las Cuevas (where you get to swim behind a large waterfall)
Guests have RAVED about Leonel’s tour and have enjoyed it so much that some of them booked the tour twice. Some guests made note that they were a bit hesitant to book a tour that requires a 3 hour drive each way, but in the end, the experience was 100% worth it.
Las Grutas Tolantongo is truly one of the most beautiful places in Mexico and this tour is a great way to see it.
6. Tolantongo’s Hot Springs and Thermal Baths Tour
Rating: 4.97 stars
Tour Length: 15 hours
Why We Recommend this Tour
Run by 3 brothers, Taz, Manuel, and Miguel, this Grutas de Tolantongo tour is one of the best ones to take from Mexico City.
What sets this tour apart is that you aren’t picked up in a big van, but instead, in a smaller sedan car.
Unlike other tours, they pick you up directly from your accommodation, which makes it a lot more convenient.
From Mexico City, the brothers will take you to all the secret places within Las Grutas Tolantongo, making it a really special experience.
Tour Inclusions:
- Round Trip Transportation
- Private Guide
- Traditional Hidalgo state breakfast
- Proper Mexican lunch inside Tolantongo’s thermal baths
- Entrance Ticket
Guests have raved about Taz and his brothers and how they really “set the tone” for the entire tour! From the music in his car to the stories he tells you, it feels like you’re on a road trip with a friend rather than a tour.
This tour is highly recommended and is considered one of the best tours to Grutas de Tolantongo from Mexico city!
7. Hot Springs and Subterranean Caves Tour
Rating: 4.69 / 5 stars
Tour Length: 14 hours
Why We Recommend this Tour
This is another local tour to Grutas de Tolantongo from Mexico City that we recommend. The tour starts by picking you up at your hotel or Airbnb and stops for breakfast before making the drive to Hidalgo.
Tour Inclusions:
- Roundtrip transportation
- Private guide
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Equipment: Headlamp for caves, seat pillows, etc.
What to Bring on a Las Grutas Tolantongo Tour
Before heading to Grutas de Tolantongo, you must pack your bags accordingly! Here are the important things to bring when heading to the gorgeous attraction:
Cash!
Remember that these hot springs in Mexico will not accept credit cards, so you must bring cash for the entrance, accommodation (if you’ll stay long), food and drinks, rentals, incidentals, and more.
It’s best to bring anywhere between US$75-150, though this depends on your travel style.
You may want to bring more just in case, as there aren’t any ATMs in Tolantongo, with the nearest one being an hour away. So double your expected budget to avoid any issues!
The Right Footwear
Water shoes or footwear with very sturdy grip are necessary for Tolantongo. The entire area is unpaved and rocky, so if you don’t have support, you may end up in pain after walking all day or getting into an accident.
Waterproof Phone Holders
Have a waterproof holder for your phone, cash, and other vital belongings. You’ll be going around pools and caves, so there’s a high chance your stuff will get wet!
For Overnight Stays
If you want to go camping, make sure that you bring the following:
- If you’re working or have gadgets, make sure you have mobile data or a WiFi hotspot with you as the Internet is limited. Don’t forget your charters and power bank
- Food and drinks if you will eat after the eateries close at night
- Extra clothes
- Your bathing suit, cover-up, water shoes
- Sun hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, and bug spray for protection
- Sandals and sneakers
- Toiletries
- Waterproof bag
- Camping equipment (but Tolantongo rents out any type of equipment required, such as tents, blankets, inflatable mattresses, and cooking grills). Note that the tent rentals are about US$6-15 and add-ons will vary, ranging from US$7-17.
Planning a trip to Mexico? Check out our ultimate Mexico travel guide!
Where is Tolantongo Grutas?
The Tolantongo Caves are hidden within the amazing mountains of Sierra de Hidalgo, Mexico!
To be more precise, Tolantongo Grutas is situated in the municipality of Cardonal, which is in San Cristobal City. It’s located in the Hidalgo State in Central Mexico.
Grutas Tolantongo Tours: Frequently Asked Questions
Grutas Las Grutas de Tolantongo is about 200 kilometers (about 125 miles) away from Mexico City. This is a 4-hour drive from one another with normal traffic.
While you can head to Grutas de Tolantongo any time of the year, it’s best to avoid the rainy season, which is from June to August. Not only will it dampen your vacation, but it’s also dangerous to camp near the river at this time. If you’re okay with a bit of rain, skip camping and book a hotel.
Moreover, you’ll want to avoid public holidays and weekends, as it is very crowded! Otherwise, other months will offer a great experience, as the waters will always be warm enough to enjoy!
This all depends on you! If you are a remote worker, 2 nights is just right, as there isn’t any WiFi in the area other than your mobile data, if you have it. You can also go on day trips if you have time constraints.
An entire day is adequate to see everything and a bit more. However, you’ll want to extend it to another day or two so you can do more hikes and activities. Many tourists even stay here for up to a week!
Short answer: YES! This destination is one of the best of Mexico’s hidden gems. Grutas Tolantongo is a spectacular turquoise water playground and is an Instagram-worthy area where everywhere is worth taking pictures in.
Moreover, adventure seekers will love the hot springs in Mexico, where you’ll be surrounded by natural beauty and pools. Whether you’re with family, friends, a lover, or going solo, this unique destination is a must-visit for dreamy pictures and a fun experience.
Yes, this is highly recommended especially if you are a first-time visitor. This is because everything will be taken care of, from the accommodation to the itinerary, and even some freebies, depending on the inclusions.
Plus, you can learn more from an organized tour with a personal guide and do more within the day rather than get lost or confused about where to go. Don’t forget the fact you can meet new people (fellow tour participants) and make new friends!
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