Like so many other beautiful places on the planet, Tolantongo has been a great secret hidden and enjoyed only by locals for many years, but since the 1970s the beauty of its river and its caves attracted the gaze of adventurers, who gave it their World Fame.
If you have heard of them and are thinking of visiting them, or if the name does not even ring a bell, do not stop reading this article. Here you will find a complete guide on how to get there and enjoy every corner of this magnificent natural paradise.
Where are the Grutas de Tonaltongo located?
Tolantongo is hidden in the depths of the Mezquital Valley, in the State of Hidalgo and about 200 kilometers northeast of Mexico City,
Some of its neighboring cities are Veracruz and Puebla.
How to get to the Grutas de Tolantongo?
The caves are just an hour and a half drive from the state capital and 198 kilometers from the Federal District.
You can get there by public transport from the Federal District of Mexico, or from the Mexico airport.
Once in Ixmiquilpan, the closest city, you can take a direct minibus to the caves that are on the north side of the city.
You can also rent a car and get there from these same places. The only recommendation is to be careful with the Tolantongo curves, they are quite dangerous.
How to get to Las Grutas de Tolantongo by Bus?
To get to the Grutas de Tolantongo by bus from Mexico City, you must go to the Central de Autobuses del Norte.
The easy option is to take a taxi but you can also get there by subway through line 5 to the Autobuses del Norte station.
After arriving at the Central de Autobuses del Norte, look for platform 7 or 8 of the buses of the Ovnibus or Flecha Roja lines that leave for Ixmiquilpan, Hidalgo.
Ixmiquilpan, the closest city
After arriving in Ixmiquilpan, take a local bus route that goes to Mercado Morelos.
From there you will have to go down and walk north along Cecilio Ramírez Street until you find the parking lot of the San Antonio Church.
There is the bus line that goes directly to the Tolantongo Caves. The duration of the entire trip is approximately 4 hours.
How to get to the Tolantongo Caves by plane?
If you arrive at the Benito Juárez International Airport in Mexico City, you can go to the Central de Autobuses del Norte by taxi or through the “Terminal Aérea” metro station.
All you have to do is travel on the train that goes towards Politécnico to the Autobuses del Norte station and follow the same procedure that was described in the previous section.
Another option is that at the same airport you get on a bus that goes to Pachuca and then take another from Pachuca to Ixmiquilpan.
How to get to the Grutas de Tonaltongo from Mexico City?
If you are traveling from Mexico City then you should go to the north of the city, along the Mexico-Pachuca highway, it is one of the easiest roads to travel through.
Once on the highway you will find the deviation towards Ixmiquilpan take that exit.
While in Ixmiquilpan, head towards the church of San Antonio. There you will find the exit to the Cardonal municipality, if you take that route you will reach the Tolantongo Caves.
How far is the Tolantongo Grutas from Mexico City?
The car ride from Mexico City is approximately 3 hours. It is best to travel in broad daylight because there are hairpin bends and fog at night on the road.
How to get to the Grutas de Tonaltongo from Toluca?
If you travel by car:
From Toluca to the Tolantongo Grottoes there is a distance of 244 km, and the shortest route takes approximately 4 hours.
On Highway 11 Arco Norte towards Avenida Morelos in El Tepe you should drive about 180 kilometers, once you get to Av. Morelos you should take the direction to Lib. Cardonal and drive about 28 km.
Once you arrive at the exit of the Cardonal municipality, drive about 8 kilometers towards the Tolantongo Caves.
By bus:
From Toluca you must board the Red Arrow bus that goes to Central del Norte to Mexico City.
In the North Central of the Federal District, locate the last box office (room 8) that corresponds to the Valle del Mezquital line and the Ovnibus company; from there the buses leave to Ixmiquilpan.
Another line that you can take is in room 7, it is also called Flecha Roja, but it runs the Mexico - Pachuca - Valles route; this bus will also take you to Ixmiquilpan.
From Ixmiquilpan there are local transportation to the Tolantongo Caves.
Another recommendation: if you decide on the Valle del Mezquital bus company, ask about the special services they offer to the caves.
¿How to get to the Grutas de Tolantongo from Puebla?
In the city of Puebla you must take a bus that takes you to Pachuca (Autobuses Verdes or Puebla Tlaxcala, Calpulalpan).
Choose a route that goes through the north arch bypass, thus saving time.
Once you arrive at the Pachuca Terminal, you must board a bus that goes to Ixmiquilpan.
In Ixmiquilpan, take a local bus route that goes to Mercado Morelos, and walk north on Calle Cecilio Ramírez.
Locate the San Antonio parking lot, from where the buses that go directly to the Tolantongo Caves leave; or take a taxi to take you there.
¿How to get to the Tolantongo Grottoes by vehicle?
If you travel by car like most visitors, you can easily access it via Route 27.
After leaving the main road, the final stage of the trip can be a bit bumpy, since much of the road to the entrance of the tourist center - about 20 kilometers from the Cardonal Municipality - is unfinished.
Since the road leads downward in a series of hairpin bends and there is generally fog, we recommend driving during the day.
Mexico-Pachuca Highway
You can go along the Mexico-Pachuca highway until you reach Ixmiquilpan in Hidalgo, 28 kilometers away from El Cardonal, where after 9 kilometers of paved roads, a 22-kilometer stretch of dirt begins until reaching Tolantongo.
This route is almost 200 kilometers and the trip can last between 3 and 4 hours.
How to get around the Tolantongo Grottoes?
The minibus reaches about eight kilometers of caves before reaching the caves, there you will have to take a van to get to the park.
The prices, depending on the area of the park you want to visit, vary between $ 40 and $ 60 Mexican pesos, and to move within the park a normal ticket costs $ 10 Mexican pesos.
What are the best months to visit the Tolantongo Grottoes?
The best months to visit the Grutas are October and November, and especially on weekdays.
As it is a very busy tourist destination and is very close to Mexico City and other states, it is likely that on holidays and some weekends you will find that there are many people.
What to do in the Tolantongo Caves?
The park is perfect to take advantage of its pools and hot springs slides, you can also swim in one of its hot springs.
If you prefer to be relaxed in the warm water of the waterfalls then take advantage of the natural hot tubs that are found around the mountain.
Hot springs paradise:
Another attraction in the Tolantongo Caves are the hot springs that run through the entire place, and the incredible color of the water in transparent turquoise blue tones.
The water of the Grutas runs through the ravines and is lost in the horizon, achieving an optical illusion where it seems that the water mixes with the sky.
A river of thermal water runs through the bottom of the canyon, where you can immerse yourself or take a walk along the riverbank, to enjoy the scenery and wildlife.
Camping:
If you like camping or tents there is an area to do this type of tourism.
You can rent a tent with mats, buy firewood, bring your grill and have a delicious barbecue in the open air.
Where and what to eat
If, on the other hand, you prefer to eat typical food of the region, you will find a couple of small restaurants that offer fish, jerky and quesadillas.
And don't forget to try the typical Hidalgo barbecue, just remember to arrive early so that you can also enjoy the chickpea soup and the barbecue tacos.
What to visit in the Tolantongo Grottoes?
Grottoes and Tunnel
Naturally, the main attraction of this place are the caves.
Inside the mountain, be amazed and explore inside the two chambers into which the grotto is divided right where the river is born.
Inside
It is from the largest cave that the river flows and over it has a fairly narrow tunnel about 15 meters long that arises from the same canyon wall.
Inside this largest cave there are stalactites and stalagmites; and the temperature inside it is higher than in the other.
From both you can hear the constant echo of the waterfalls inside the mountain. A relaxing and hypnotic sound.
Thermal Fozas
In El Paraíso Escondido there are 40 hot springs which are fed by the warm mineral waters of 12 adjacent springs.
Immersing yourself in them is a revitalizing experience of the body and the spirit that will make you feel transported to another world.
Pools
In each of the Grotto sections, pools have been strategically located.
A few meters from the river in the section of ¨La Gruta¨ there is a pool with an area for diving and another section that due to its depth is ideal for children and adults who just want to get into them to cool off and play.
In the Paraíso Escondido section you will find another pool with a slide to maximize fun.
River
The beauty of the turquoise blue color of the river is the result of the wear caused by the water on the calcic living rock, which dissolves little by little into small particles of lime.
These tiny particles contain magnesium salts and some other chlorides, which give it that blue hue that characterizes it.
Waterfall
This magical landscape framed by the impressive 30-meter high waterfall, which begins at the top of the mountain, hides the entrance to the thermal tunnel, which culminates in the riverbed.
An exotic contrast between the warmth and steam inside the cave and the icy water that falls from the mountain.
Where to stay at the Tolantongo Grottoes?
If you are thinking of staying a couple of days, you can do it in one of the four hotels in the park.
In general they are quite simple, just a room with a bathroom and shower -three of them without hot water- and nothing else. You should bear in mind that they do not offer WiFi, food and television services.
In addition, they only accept cash payments and the price does not include the entrance to the caves that make up the Grutas Tolantongo Spa.
Check in and check out
Check in is from 8 am and check out at 12 noon the next, and the spa ticket is valid from 7 am to 8 pm.
If you ask for a room, you must also cover the entrance ticket to the spa on the second day of your stay, since the ticket is not 24 hours.
Example: If you arrive on Saturday morning and want to stay until Sunday, you must pay the total of 2 tickets to the spa per person, and cover the night of Saturday's accommodation.
Best Hotels in the Tolantongo Grottoes
There are only four hotels and they all make up the complex:
Hidden Paradise Hotel, with 87 rooms.
Hotel La Gruta, which has 100 rooms.
La Huerta, a hotel with only 34 rooms.
And the Hotel Molanguito. This is the best hotel in terms of the services it offers, since it has a television and hot water.
Restaurants:
You can also visit the Las Palomas restaurant inside the park, next to the reception of Hotel La Gruta; or the Huamúchil, which is located next to the river, on the ground floor of the hotel.
The Paraíso Escondido restaurant is rather modern and is very close to the hot springs.
For something cheaper, you can choose between the El Paraje, El Paraíso, La Huerta, and El malecón dining rooms.
What clothes to bring to the Tolantongo Grottoes?
Bring comfortable clothes and a bathing suit, towels, suntan lotion or sunscreen, water cameras as they get wet, non-slip water shoes and an extra change of clothes - even if you only go for a day.
Remember that it is an adventure trip so you must be very comfortable and with what you need to make the journey safe.
Coats
No matter what season of the year you visit the Tolantongo Grottoes, you should bring at least a warm sweater or coat, and mosquito repellent.
If you decide to camp, you should wear warm clothes, because even if you visit the Grottoes in spring, temperatures tend to drop a lot towards dawn, and drop a little closer to dawn.
How much does it cost to travel to the Tolantongo Grottoes?
The cost of transportation - from the Central de Autobuses del Norte (Mexico City) varies between $ 120 and $ 150 according to the company you choose.
The bus cost from Ixmiquilpan to the caves is $ 45 per person; and the price to enter the Tolantongo Grottoes is $ 140 pesos per person from 5 years of age.
Validity of the tickets
All tickets are valid only for that day and until 8 at night, not for 24 hours, as we tell you above.
The cost of parking is $ 20 pesos for each day.
Which is better, the Tolantongo Grottoes or the Geyser?
Both options are good, depending on what type of experience you are looking for.
The caves have a wild nature environment where you will rest from telephone, wifi and television signals.
If you go by car, either option will be excellent, but Tolantongo is an incredible experience.
From the beautiful landscape that you will enjoy on the road, to the park in all its extension and of an impressive beauty.
The Geyser is also beautiful ...
But there are always a lot of people, even on weekdays.
Owner of an extraordinary climate all year round, the geyser has one of the most impressive volcano vents in Latin America, where the thermal waters reach 95 °.
It is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year; and it is only 2 hours from Mexico City and 1 hour from the City of Querétaro.
Special discounts and best services
They have special discounts for groups of 40 or more, and prices vary between 60 and 150 Mexican pesos per person.
The hotels in the complex have hot water, television and Wi-Fi services.
It is possible to make reservations
By calling the hotel and at least three days in advance to check availability, you can reserve rooms, unlike in Las Grutas.
Regarding the means of payment, it is possible to make a deposit corresponding to the costs of the stay and confirm the reservation to the email of the hotel administration.
Approximate cost of travel per person:
$ 194 bus + $ 15 combo = $ 209
$ 194 bus + $ 50 taxi = $ 244
(Approximate travel time 3 hours)
What days are the Tolantongo Grottoes open?
Grutas Tolantongo water park is open 365 days a year (including holidays)
But the hours of the different services vary.
The Grottoes, the tunnel, the waterfalls and the pools are open from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm
The thermal wells and the river are in service from 8:00 am to 09:00 pm
Restaurants and kitchens also offer their services from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
And you will find the grocery store open from 8:00 am to 9:00 pm
The ticket office has a slightly longer schedule, from 6:00 am to 10:00 pm
Who discovered the Grutas de Tonaltongo?
One of the versions is that the beauty of this site was discovered in 1975 when it was publicized by the magazine "Mexico Unknown" and that from then on the great tourist development that it has today began.
Another interesting version maintains that in 1950, a scientific journal called "Annals of the Institute of Biology" gave the river the name of Tolantongo, citing references to scientific works dating from a decade earlier, inclusive, in which the river was named Tolantongo.
Tolantongo, comes from the Nahuatl language and means place of the reeds.
A mistake
Curiously, the name for that advertisement was also misspelled, and that was how it "officially" took its current name from Tolantongo, as a result of a spelling mistake.
The reality is that it is not known for sure which of the two magazines made the mistake that, in the end, earned it the name by which it is now known worldwide.
Are the Tolantongo Grottoes hot springs?
Yes, the Grutas de Tolantongo is a water park with thermal waters whose temperatures range from approximately 38 ° C.
These hot springs flow through the main cave of the canyon, through a series of complex channels formed within the mountain, which finally flow into the shallow river, where you can enjoy its pleasant temperature.
Do you accept dogs in the Grutas de Tonaltongo?
Pets are not allowed in the entire complex
Are there assaults on the Tonaltongo Grottoes?
The spa of the Grutas de Tolantongo is an area in which the inhabitants are governed by their uses and customs.
Thus, all incidents that occur within it are resolved by the administration of the place.
There are no official data
It is true that this place has been the scene of some conflicts -riñas- and accidents, according to the versions of some municipal authorities.
The administration of the spa is in charge of an ejidal cooperative society, and in the event of this type of event the municipal authorities are not allowed to enter, therefore it is impossible to obtain official data regarding assaults or situations of insecurity.
It is possible to find reports and complaints on social networks about isolated situations of insecurity due to bad behavior of the tourists themselves, or the bad treatment received by administrators of the complex.
But all these versions were denied by the same administration of the spa.
Recommendations
If you travel by bus it is advisable to do it early.
After 6:00 p.m., it is best to stay at a inn or hostel in Ixmiquilpan, since departures to Mexico City are less frequent after this time and departures to Pachuca at night are quite unsafe due to robberies. and other situations of insecurity outside the spa.
You already have a lot of information about the Tolantongo Caves, so you have no excuses to visit them.
Leave us your experience in the comments if you have already visited them.
