Starting from — per person
$2,000.00
✓ Free cancellation up to 24h before
There are two things most visitors to Puerto Escondido never know exist within an hour of their hotel. The first is a river trail through the Sierra Madre foothills that crosses six different waterways on horseback. The second is a set of natural thermal hot springs fed by geothermal activity in the mountains above — mineral-rich, isolated, and nothing like the kind of “hot springs experience” that gets sold at resorts.
This tour combines both. Five hours that move from mountain trail to river to thermal pool and back — with local cowboys who have been riding this route their entire lives, tamed horses matched to your experience level, and no part of the experience that requires you to have done anything like this before.
The river crossings are the part people talk about. The hot springs are the part they come back for.
The hot springs at San José Manialtepec are not a spa. There is no changing room, no towel service, no piped music. There are thermal pools fed by geothermal springs in the Sierra Madre, surrounded by mountain vegetation, accessible by horseback trail through terrain that has no road.
The water is naturally heated by volcanic activity deep in the mountains and carries a mineral profile — magnesium, calcium, sulfur — that has been associated with reduced inflammation, improved circulation, and the particular physical ease that comes from sitting in hot mineral water after an hour of riding through mountain terrain. Whether you attribute that to the minerals or simply to having spent a morning completely offline in extraordinary scenery, the effect is the same.
These springs are known to local communities in the Manialtepec area and virtually unknown to visitors. The horseback trail is the only practical way to reach them.
We pick you up from your accommodation in Puerto Escondido for the drive to the starting point near San José Manialtepec. Your guide introduces you to the horses during the drive — which animals are in the group, their temperaments, and how to read their behavior. By the time you arrive, you already have a sense of which horse is yours before you’ve met it in person.
No riding experience is required. Before departure, your cowboy guide spends time with every rider — how to sit, how to steer, how to stop, and how to communicate with the horse through body weight and pressure rather than force. The horses are trained, calm, and used to riders of all experience levels. Children from age 5 ride with a guide walking alongside. First-time adults are paired with the most relaxed animals in the group.
The trail begins in the foothills of the Sierra Madre, moving through terrain that shifts between open mountain pasture and dense tropical vegetation. The altitude is noticeably cooler than the coast — a welcome change that makes the riding comfortable even on warm mornings. Your guide identifies the flora and fauna as you move through it: the trees, the birds, the plants that grow at this altitude and nowhere else on the Oaxacan coast.
The trail crosses six rivers and streams between the starting point and the hot springs. Each crossing is different — some shallow enough to walk, others deep enough that the horses wade chest-high through moving water while you lift your feet and feel the current pushing against the animal beneath you. The crossings are the most exhilarating part of the ride for most guests, and the part that generates the most conversation afterward.
Wear jeans or bring a towel if you’re wearing shorts — your legs will get wet at the deeper crossings regardless. This is not a problem. It is part of the experience.
The trail ends at the thermal pools. You dismount, your guide ties the horses in the shade, and the next portion of the tour belongs entirely to you. The hot springs are yours for as long as the schedule allows — soak, float, move between pools of different temperatures, and experience the particular physical reset that comes from mineral water and mountain air after an active morning.
Courtesy drinks are served at the springs — mezcal, beer, or water. Because the best place to drink a mezcal is sitting in a natural thermal pool in the Sierra Madre.
The return ride follows a different route — same terrain, different perspective, different light depending on your session. You arrive back at the starting point, return to Puerto Escondido by vehicle, and spend the rest of the day with the particular looseness in your muscles that comes from both the riding and the thermal water.
Morning (6:00 AM departure): Cooler temperatures on the trail, softer light through the jungle vegetation, birds most active in the early hours, and the hot springs to yourselves before any afternoon visitors arrive. The morning session ends around 11:00 AM, leaving the rest of the day free.
Afternoon (3:00 PM departure): Golden afternoon light on the river crossings, the thermal pools heated to their maximum by the day’s sun, and the ride back in the early evening with the mountains cooling around you. The afternoon session ends around 8:00 PM.
Both sessions are genuinely excellent. If you’re a photographer or early riser, choose morning. If you prefer a slower start and a sunset return, choose afternoon.
San José Manialtepec is a small mountain community in the foothills of the Sierra Madre, approximately one hour from Puerto Escondido. The community has maintained traditional ranching and agricultural practices for generations — the cowboys who guide this tour are local residents who have ridden these trails since childhood, and the route passes through working land that their families farm.
Tourism here is entirely community-managed and small-scale. The experience you have on this trail is not a constructed attraction — it is a genuine glimpse into how people in this part of Oaxaca actually live and work in their landscape.
Private tours are available for groups of up to 20 people. A private session means the trail, the hot springs, and the guides are exclusively yours — ideal for families, couples celebrating special occasions, friend groups, bachelorette parties, and corporate experiences. Contact us via WhatsApp for pricing and availability.
The tour runs year-round with two daily sessions. The dry season delivers the clearest mountain views and the most comfortable trail conditions. The rainy season fills the rivers to their most dramatic depth — the crossings are deeper and more exhilarating, and the vegetation is extraordinary. The hot springs are active and hot year-round regardless of season.
Yes. The hot springs near San José Manialtepec in the Sierra Madre foothills are natural geothermal thermal pools fed by volcanic activity in the mountains above Puerto Escondido. The water is mineral-rich — containing magnesium, calcium, and sulfur — and naturally heated to therapeutic temperatures. The springs are located in terrain accessible only by horseback trail, which is why they remain largely unknown to visitors and are experienced exclusively through this guided tour.
The tour includes round-trip hotel pickup within Puerto Escondido, a professional local cowboy guide, a tamed horse matched to your experience level, the full 5-hour guided mountain trail ride including 6 river crossings, access to the natural thermal hot springs with free soaking time, courtesy drinks at the springs (mezcal, beer, or water), and all riding equipment. Lunch and gratuities are not included.
No prior riding experience is required. The horses are carefully trained for rider comfort and are accustomed to beginners of all ages. Before the ride begins, your cowboy guide gives a complete briefing — how to sit, steer, stop, and communicate with the horse through body weight. First-time riders are paired with the calmest horses in the group, and guides remain alongside inexperienced participants throughout the trail. The minimum age is 5 years. If you've never been on a horse, this trail is one of the best introductions available on the Oaxacan coast.
The trail crosses six rivers and streams between the starting point and the hot springs, each one different in depth, width, and character. Some are shallow enough to walk with dry feet. Others are deep enough that the horses wade chest-high through moving water while you feel the current pushing against the animal beneath you. The crossings are the most exhilarating part of the ride for most guests — be prepared to get wet, and wear jeans or bring a towel if you're wearing shorts. The deeper crossings are particularly dramatic during the rainy season when river levels are higher.
The thermal waters at San José Manialtepec are naturally mineral-rich, containing magnesium, calcium, and sulfur compounds associated with reduced muscle inflammation, improved circulation, and relaxation of the nervous system. Many guests report significant muscle ease after soaking — particularly relevant after an active horseback ride. Beyond the specific mineral effects, the combination of hot mineral water, mountain air, and physical exertion produces a state of relaxation that is difficult to replicate in any urban spa environment.
The morning session (6:00 AM departure) offers cooler trail temperatures, the best birdlife activity in the early hours, softer mountain light for photography, and the hot springs to yourselves before any afternoon visitors. The tour ends around 11:00 AM, leaving the rest of the day free. The afternoon session (3:00 PM departure) features golden afternoon light on the river crossings, the thermal pools at their warmest after a full day of sun, and a return ride through the mountains as evening falls. Both sessions are 5 hours and cover the same route.
Wear jeans or bring a towel if you are wearing shorts — your legs will get wet at the deeper river crossings. Bring a swimsuit for the hot springs, a towel for after soaking, sunscreen, insect repellent, and closed-toe shoes for the ride. A change of dry clothes for the return journey is a good idea. Bring a camera or fully charged phone for the river crossings and mountain scenery. Water and courtesy drinks are provided — you do not need to bring your own beverages.
Yes. The minimum age is 5 years and the tour is excellent for families. Children ride with a cowboy guide walking alongside and are closely supervised throughout. The hot springs soaking portion is completely safe and particularly enjoyed by younger guests. The 5-hour duration is manageable for most children aged 5 and above. The river crossings are thrilling for children and are consistently their favorite part of the ride. Contact us before booking if your child has specific concerns about horses — we will advise on the best approach.
Yes. Private tours are available for groups of up to 20 people and are ideal for families, couples celebrating anniversaries or honeymoons, friend groups, bachelorette parties, and corporate experiences. A private tour means the trail, the hot springs, and the guides are exclusively yours — your own pace, your own dynamic, and the thermal pools without other groups. Contact us via WhatsApp for availability and pricing for private bookings.
The starting point for the horseback riding trail is approximately 30 to 40 minutes by road from Puerto Escondido, near San José Manialtepec in the Sierra Madre foothills. The hot springs themselves are accessible only by the horseback trail — there is no road to the thermal pools, which is part of what keeps them in the condition they're in. Round-trip transportation from your accommodation in Puerto Escondido is included in the tour price.
$2,000.00
$2,000.00
