When the cold weather reaches Mexico City, few getaways are as appealing as a day in hot springs. About four hours or less from the capital there are caves with hot water, spas with pools at 36-38 °C, natural pools in canyons and cabins where you can spend the night by the water.
This guide covers the best hot springs near Mexico City in Hidalgo, the State of Mexico, Morelos and Querétaro, with entry prices published by the spas and local media, cabin and camping options, how to get there by car or bus, and tips for enjoying the visit without the crowds.
Why Fall and Winter Are Ideal for Hot Springs
The dry season, from November to April, is the best time to visit hot spring spas in central Mexico. There’s less rain, the mountain roads are in better condition, and the contrast between the cool air and the hot water is far more enjoyable.
Water temperatures vary from place to place. At the spas in Hidalgo, Ixtapan de la Sal and Tequisquiapan they are around 36-38 °C, while in Morelos some springs are milder, at 23-27 °C. That difference matters: on a cold day it’s worth looking for truly hot water, while the mild springs work better in the spring heat.
November also has a long weekend: in 2026, Revolution Day is moved to Monday, November 16. It’s a great time for a two- or three-day getaway, although the best-known spas fill up, so it’s best to book a cabin well in advance.
Tolantongo and the Mezquital Valley in Hidalgo
Hidalgo has the widest choice of hot springs near Mexico City. The Mezquital Valley, around Ixmiquilpan, has dozens of spas with natural hot water, and many offer cabins or a camping area for an overnight stay.
Grutas de Tolantongo
The Grutas de Tolantongo, in the municipality of Cardonal, are the most famous hot spring destination in the region. They include caves with hot water, a tunnel with a waterfall, terraced pools on the canyon slope and a turquoise river of thermal water.
According to the rates published for 2026, entry costs $230 MXN per person per day, with opening hours from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Children aged 5 and over pay the full price, children under 5 enter free, and payment is cash only. Seniors with an INAPAM card pay $115, half the general rate.
Daily capacity is limited, so in high season it’s best to arrive early. For an overnight stay there are basic cabins for two from $900 MXN per night, family cabins for four from $1,400 MXN and premium cabins from $2,200 MXN, with unlimited access to the caves, pools and river during your stay.
Tolantongo is about 195 km from Mexico City, around 4 hours by car, and the last 20 km are a mountain road that winds down into the canyon. From Pachuca it’s 120 km, about 2 h 30 min, and from Querétaro 180 km, around 3 h 30 min.
Ixmiquilpan, Tecozautla and Tulancingo
Also in the Mezquital Valley, Parque Ecoalberto in Ixmiquilpan combines a hot spring spa, a camping area and 17 cabins carved from stone. It’s 164 km from Mexico City, between 2 h 20 min and 3 h 30 min by car via Highway 85D and the Arco Norte. Cabins cost from $1,500 per night for two people and $2,500 for four.
In Tecozautla, the famous El Géiser spa was still closed in October 2026, so it’s best to check its status before planning a visit. An alternative in the same municipality is Parque Acuático Bosque de las Ánimas, with thermal pools at 37 °C and entry for $120.
The closest option in Hidalgo is Balneario Santa Ana, in Santa Ana Hueytlalpan, in the municipality of Tulancingo, 1 h 30 min from Mexico City via the México-Tuxpan highway. It’s open every day from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., and general admission costs $120, or $60 with an INAPAM card.
Camping at Santa Ana costs $300 per person and includes two days of entry and a night next to the 36 °C pools. The park also has a steam room and grills.
State of Mexico and Morelos
South and west of the capital there are spas two or three hours away, ideal for a day trip there and back. They’re a good option for families or for anyone who prefers a short highway drive.
Ixtapan de la Sal, a Pueblo Mágico in the State of Mexico, is 99 km from Mexico City. Parque Acuático Ixtapan charges $195 for adults and $135 for children up to 1.30 m tall, with free entry for children under 90 cm.
The Ixtapan thermal spa has water up to 38.5 °C, with separate entry for $115 or an extra $45 for those who have already entered the park. It’s open every day, so it works well even for a midweek getaway.
In Morelos, Balneario Agua Hedionda in Cuautla is famous for its sulfur water, which stays at a constant 27 °C. It’s open every day from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., and general admission costs $100 on weekdays and $130 on weekends and public holidays. On weekdays there’s usually an early-morning deal from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. for $70.
Los Manantiales, in Coaxitlán, Morelos, is on the Autopista del Sol, about 120 km from Mexico City and around 2 h 40 min by car. According to its official website, entry costs $170 for adults and $140 for children aged 3 to 11, with opening hours from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Camping costs $280 per adult and $210 per child for the first night, with entry included.
Las Estacas isn’t a hot spring, as its crystal-clear spring water stays at around 23 °C, but it’s one of the most popular natural parks in the state. Its day pass costs $585 per person and $370 for children under 125 cm.
Querétaro and Other Options
Querétaro adds several more options with hot water. In Tequisquiapan, Parque Acuático El Oasis keeps its thermal pools at 36 °C and charged a general rate of $120 per person in October 2026.
Termas del Rey, in the same municipality, is open only on Saturdays and Sundays. Entry costs $199 for adults and $125 for children, children under 90 cm enter free, and there’s a camping area.
Tequisquiapan, a Pueblo Mágico about 40 minutes from the city of Querétaro, lets you combine the thermal pools with a stroll through its center, its craft markets and the Cheese and Wine Route. It’s a good idea for a full weekend, with a night in town.
In the Querétaro semi-desert, in Cadereyta de Montes, Manantiales Xidhi has more than 16 thermal pools at 30-34 °C at the bottom of a canyon, an hour and a half from the city of Querétaro. You reach them on foot by walking down, they’re open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and entry costs $50 on weekdays and $70 on weekends.
| Place | Location | From Mexico City | Entry | Water Temperature | Accommodation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grutas de Tolantongo | Cardonal, Hidalgo | 195 km, about 4 h | $230 | Thermal in caves, pools and river | Cabins from $900 |
| Parque Ecoalberto | Ixmiquilpan, Hidalgo | 164 km, 2 h 20 min-3 h 30 min | Ask the park | Thermal | Cabins from $1,500 |
| Balneario Santa Ana | Tulancingo, Hidalgo | 1 h 30 min | $120 | 36 °C | Camping $300 |
| Ixtapan de la Sal | State of Mexico | 99 km | $195 park, $115 thermal spa | Up to 38.5 °C | Hotels in town |
| Agua Hedionda | Cuautla, Morelos | Via the highway to Cuautla | $100-130 | 27 °C | No on-site accommodation |
| Los Manantiales | Coaxitlán, Morelos | 120 km, about 2 h 40 min | $170 | Mild | Camping |
| El Oasis | Tequisquiapan, Querétaro | Via Querétaro | $120 | 36 °C | Hotels in town |
Prices are the rates published by the spas and local media in 2026 and may change during high season, long weekends and holidays.
How to Get There From Mexico City and Plan the Trip
A car gives you more freedom, especially for places like Tolantongo or Ecoalberto, where the last stretch is a mountain road. For Tolantongo, the most common route is the México-Pachuca highway to Actopan and Ixmiquilpan, about 4 hours in total.
Without a car, most destinations in Hidalgo can be reached by bus from the Northern Bus Station. Buses to Ixmiquilpan take about 3 hours and cost $200-280, and from there you continue by local transport to the canyon.
For Cuautla and other spas in Morelos there are departures from the TAPO terminal, and Cuernavaca works as a base for exploring the state. For Ixtapan de la Sal, the reference point is Toluca: if you fly into Toluca Airport, the town is just over an hour away.
Many travelers arrive in the capital at Mexico City Airport and head to the spa the same day or the next. Carrying a suitcase onto an intercity bus and then onto local transport along a mountain road is uncomfortable. The Qeepl luggage storage service helps you find a verified location near bus terminals, airports and tourist areas from MX$73.90 per day per bag, so you can make the trip with just a backpack, a swimsuit and a towel.
Tips for Enjoying the Hot Springs
A day at the hot springs is easy to plan, but a few details make a difference, especially on weekends and long weekends:
- arrive at opening time, because on weekends many spas fill up before noon and some have limited capacity;
- bring cash, since places like Tolantongo only accept cash payments;
- pack a swimsuit, a towel, dry clothes and a jacket, because the afternoon air feels cold when you get out of the water;
- in rivers and natural pools, stay within the marked areas and wear a life jacket if the spa provides one;
- avoid long weekends, Holy Week and the December holidays if you’re looking for peace and quiet, or book a cabin in advance;
- bring water shoes or non-slip footwear, because wet rocks and stairs are slippery;
- stay well hydrated and alternate long soaks in hot water with breaks in the shade;
- see a doctor before bathing in very hot water if you’re pregnant or have high blood pressure or heart problems;
- check opening hours and prices on the spa’s official channels the day before your trip.
