Best Hot Springs in Latin America

From deserts to virgin forests, from the seaside to the Andean heights, get ready to be bathed by the curative waters of Latin America’s hot springs. It’s not just steaming pools of water that soothe away the wear and tear of traveling, but also natural mud baths.

It’s not surprising the Americas are crowded with hot springs. Central and South America’s various mountain ranges that form the hemisphere’s soaring spine are full of volcanoes that erupt to life now and again. The Cocos, Nazca, and Antarctic plates slowly drift beneath the continent in the earth’s crust kilometers below them. That friction creates those volcanoes and the wonderfully delicious hot springs and mud baths we seek out.

Many Names, Many Forms Hot

Latin America hot springs have a variety of names, depending on the country you’re in: aguas termales, aguas calientes, termales, termas, manantial termal, aguas sulfurosas, balneario termal or balneario de aguas termales. A balneario can be of thermal or cool water, and also might refer to a water park or a beach. A pozo is usually a natural pool, and a piscina is a man-made pool. Barro is the term used for mud.

Hot springs can be either open-air or covered installations. Some are first-class resorts complete with spas, whereas others are more rustic, like natural rock pools or even flowing thermal rivers! A growing trend is agua parques (waterparks), mega amusement parks with a hot springs sector. If offered, on-site lodging may range from camping, cabañas, bungalows, to five-star hotels. Many sites have restaurants but pack a picnic lunch if in doubt.

Health Benefits of Hot Springs

The warmth and high mineral content of Latin America’s hot springs bring a multitude of benefits for travelers who spend days hiking through countrysides and scaling mountains or ruins. The water also brings relief after a long bus ride.

Their curative properties help improve blood circulation to sore muscles and ease the pain. The minerals aid in curing skin ailments, and overall, taking a long soak reduces stress and promotes sleep.

If you are pregnant, have heart problems, or another medical condition, consult with a doctor before submerging yourself in hot springs.

Tips for Hot Springs Visits

And on to Our Hot Springs Adventure!

We do not list cool-water cenotes and balnearios, though these can be refreshing in the more tropical climates. To reach the more natural springs, you may have to hike up to an hour.

And yes – you can get there by bus! You can reserve tickets by just clicking on the reservation links embedded next to each spring’s description below.

GUATEMALA

Fuentes Georginas
Kaldari, CC0 https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/deed.en, via Wikimedia Commons

Fuentes Georginas

Type Springs park
Location 8 kilometers (5 miles) from Zunil, 45 minutes from Quetzaltenango
Admission Q60 ($8 USD)
Facilities 7 pools; bungalows, restaurant, hiking trails.
Private shuttle from Guatemala City Reserve here. Choose Quetzaltenango as your destination from Guatemala City. Price is for the whole vehicle and will accommodate up to 6 passengers. You can modify the departure time after you reserve, but it must be a morning departure time.


Kawilal/Santa Teresita

Type Springs spa (24-41ºC / 75-106ºF)
Location San Juan Amatitlán (40 kilometers / 24 miles from Antigua)
Admission Q70-175 ($10-23 USD)
Facilities 12 pools; steam rooms, massages spa; restaurant, hotel
Private shuttle from Guatemala City As this is just at the southern end of the capital, we recommend hiring a local taxi cab from your hotel in Guatemala City.
Website https://www.santateresita.com.gt/home.html


El Brasilar

Type Springs resort
Location Aldea del Brasilar (4 kilometers / 2.5 miles from Camotán (36 kilometers / 22 miles from Chiquimula)
Admission Q10 ($1.50 USD)
Facilities 7 pools
Transport from Guatemala City Reserve here for a bus seat from Guatemala City to Chiquimula. Once in Chiquimula, go to a local hotel and request a taxi to Termales El Brasilar, which is 35 minutes further down the road past Camotán.
Website https://www.facebook.com/pg/TERMALES


HONDURAS

Aguas Termales
Marden Nolasco, CC BY-SA 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Luna Jaguar

Type Springs spa
Location Agua Caliente (22 kilometers / 13 miles north from Copán ruins)
Admission L60-L300 ($3-15 USD)
Facilities 2 pools; spa; camping
Private tour from the Copán Ruins Order through our home page.


Balneario Aguas Termales Presidente

Type Springs park (33º-36ºC / 91º-97ºF)
Location 4 kilometers / 2.5 miles from Gracias
Admission L50 ($2 USD)
Facilities 4 pools; restaurant
Private shuttle from Tegucigalpa,
on the way to Copán Ruins
Arrangements can only be made by request here.


Termas Jilamito

Type Springs spa
Location Arizona (17 kilometers / 10 miles from Tela)
Admission L170 ($7 USD)
Facilities 1 pool with waterfall; restaurant, spa; horseback riding, canopy, hiking trails, birdwatching; camping, cabañas
Private shuttle from San Pedro Sula Arrangements can only be made by request here.
   


EL SALVADOR

Termales de Santa Teresa

Type Hot Springs, Mud Baths
Location 2 kilometers (1 mile) from Ahuachapán, 1.75 hours from San Salvador.
Admission $10 USD
Facilities 30 pools; spa, restaurants hotel; hiking trails, biking, rock climbing, coffee and geyser tours
Private shuttle from San Salvador Arrangements can only be made by request here.


Termos del Río

Type Springs park (37-39ºC / 99-102ºF)
Location 40 kilometers (24 miles) from San Salvador, near Santa Lucía (Departamento La Libertad)
Admission $5 USD
Facilities several pools; restaurants, a huge waterpark, swimming pools, sporting fields, canopy, horseback riding (# of pools, restaurant, camping, bungalows, etc.)
Private shuttle from San Salvador Arrangements can only be made by request here.
Website www.termosdelrio.com.sv


Ecoparque Acuático Entre Ríos

Type Springs park
Location Caluco, Departamento Sonsonate (40 minutes from San Salvador)
Admission $3.50 USD
Facilities 2 pools; swimming pools, giant slides, restaurants, fishing aquarium
Private shuttle from San Salvador Arrangements can only be made by request here.
Website www.facebook.com/Ecoparque.Acuatico.Entre.Rios


NICARAGUA

Termales de Boaco

Type Hot Springs resort (35ºC / 95ºF)
Location Teustepe, Boaco (90 minutes from Managua)
Admission 50 córdobas ($1.50 USD)
Facilities 4 pools; hotel, restaurant
Private shuttle from Managua Arrangements can only be made by request here.


Termales de Tipitapa

Type Hot Springs spa (at source: 70ºC / 158ºF; cooled with spring water)
Location Tipitapa (20 minutes from Managua)
Admission 40 córdobas ($1.25 US)
Facilities 3 pools; sauna, massages
Transport As this is so close to the capital, we recommend just hiring a local taxi.


Termales de Cosigüina

Type Hot Springs resort
Location La Piscina, Departamento de Chinandega, at the base of Volcán Cosigüina (4 hours from Managua)
Admission $2 USD
Facilities 1 pool; camping at El Viejo, inside the Reserva Natural Cosigüina which has a viewpoint over the Golfo de Fonseca; Ramsar Lodge Cosigüina in village
Private shuttle from Managua Arrangements can only be made by request here.


COSTA RICA

Piscina de agua termal en Termales el Escondite
Termales el Escondite, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Tabacón

Type Hot Springs resort (temperatures (22º-41ºC / 72º-105ºF)
Location Parque Nacional Volcán Arenal, La Fortuna de San Carlos, Costa Rica
Admission $70-105 US (day pass includes lunch and/or dinner)
Facilities 20 pools, waterfalls; hotel, restaurant, spa (# of pools, restaurant, camping, bungalows, etc.)
Private shuttle from San Jose Order as a private transporation service here.
Website https://www.tabacon.com/


Thermomanía

Type Hot Springs park
Location Guayabo, Provincia de Guanacaste, at Volcán Miravalles
Admission $9 USD
Facilities 11 pools; spa, restaurant, museum, waterpark, canopy; cabañas, camping
Private shuttle from San Jose Reserve a shuttle ticket from San Jose to Liberia here (5 hours). Once arrived in Liberia, you can hire a local taxi to drive you approximately one hour northeast to the Thermonia resort.
Website https://thermomania.net/


Aguas Termales Gevi

Type Hot Springs park (37ºC / 98ºF)
Location San Isidro del General, San José
Admission $8 USD
Facilities 3 pools; restaurant, hiking trails, waterfall, viewpoint, coffee and avocado farm tours, restaurant; camping
Private shuttle from San Jose Arrangements can only be made by request here.
Website https://www.chirripo.org/info/aguas-termales-gevi/


Rio Celeste

Type Hot Springs
Location Guatuso de Alajuela
Admission Free
Facilities natural river hot springs (# of pools, restaurant, camping, bungalows, etc.)
Private shuttle from San Jose Arrangements can only be made by request here.


PANAMA

Pozos Termales del Valle

Type Hot Springs (34º-38ºC / 93º-100ºF), mud baths
Location Valle de Antón, Coclé (2 hours west of Panama City)
Admission $4 USD
Facilities The village has hotels of all classes, camping, and other services. The Valle de Antón region has several hot springs complexes, both public and private.
Private shuttle from Panama City Reserve to El Valle de Anton.


Las Aguas Termales de Caldera

Type Hot Springs (41º-50ºC / 106º-122ºF)
Location 2.5 kilometers from Boquete, Chiriquí
Admission $1 USD
Facilities 4 natural pools
Private shuttle from Panama City Reserve to Boquete.


Pozos Termales de Calobre

Type Hot Springs
Location Calobre, Veraguas (1 hour from Santiago, Panama)
Admission Free
Facilities natural river springs; lodging and other services in town
Private shuttle from Panama City Reserve to Calobre.


COLOMBIA

Termales Sta Rosa de Cabal
Photo by Cristina Valencia, CC BY 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/, via Flickr

Volcán de Lodo El Totumo

Type Mud baths (25º-28ºC / 77º-83ºF)
Location El Totumo (1 hour from Cartagena)
Admission 10.000 pesos ($3.50 USD)
Facilities 1 natural volcanic mud pool; massage, restaurant, camping, bungalows, etc.
Shared shuttle from Cartagena Reserve on shared shuttle round-trip here. The shuttle will pick you up from your hotel, take you the 75 minute trip to El Totumo, give you ample time to bathe and massage, and then return you to Cartagena no later than 2 pm.


Güicán

Type Hot springs
Location 5 kilometers / 3 miles from Güicán, Boyacá; near Parque Nacional El Cocuy
Admission 12,000 pesos ($4 USD)
Facilities 2 pools. A more rustic pool, El Chorreón (free), is located some 5 meters (20 feet) from the entrance to the above.
Private shuttle from San Gil Arrangements can only be made by request here.


Termales Paipa

Type Hot springs resort (35º-45ºC / 95º-113ºF)
Location 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) from Paipa, Boyacá
Admission  12,000-20,000 pesos ($4-6.25 US)
Facilities 3 pools; restaurant, spa, hotel.
Bus from Bogota (3 hrs) Reserve here. Once you arrive to Paipa, hail a cab to the termales on the edge of town.


Termales Santa Rosa de Cabal

Type Hot springs resort (60ºC+ / 140ºF, cooled with spring water)
Location 10 kilometers / 6 miles from Santa Rosa de Cabal, Risaralda
Admission 45,000 pesos ($14 US)
Facilities 3 pools, waterfall; spa, restaurant; hotel
Private shuttle or taxi Almost all hotels in the Manizales region have cabs ready to take people to these extremely popular hot springs/resort.
Website https://www.termales.com.co/


Aguas Hirviendo

Type Hot springs resort (to 40ºC / 104ºF)
Location 3 kilometers / 1.8 miles from Coconuco, Cauca (30 kilometers / 18 miles from Popayán)
Admission 10,000 pesos ($3.50 USD)
Facilities 8 pools; restaurant; bungalows, camping
Bus from Cali to Popayan Reserve here. After arriving in Popayan, hail a local taxi take you one further hour to reach the hot springs outside the village of Coconuco.


ECUADOR

Papallacta

Type Hot springs resort
Location 70 kilometers / 42 miles east of Quito (Km 65 via Baeza)
Admission $9 USD
Facilities 9 pools; spa, restaurant; hotel, cabañas
Private shuttle from Quito Reserve here.


Baños de Agua Santa

Type Hot springs park  (average 42ºC / 104ºF)
Location 170 kilometers / 106 miles southeast of Quito (3.5 hours)a)
Admission $2-6 USD
Facilities 6 thermal complexes; the hottest is El Salado.
Private shuttle from Quito Reserve here.
Website https://www.turismo.gob.ec/banos-un-carismatico-y-tranquilo-lugar-al-pie-de-un-volcan/


Agua Blanca

Type Hot springs, mud baths
Location inside Parque Nacional Machalilla (14 kilometers / 8.5 miles north of Puerto López)
Admission $5 USD
Facilities 1 natural pool (laguna), restaurant, archaeological museum, horseback riding; casa comunitaria, cabañas
Private shuttle from Manta to Puerto Lopez

Reserve here. Choose the day-trip option if you want to return to Manta the same day after visiting the hot springs, or to wait for you a maximum of three hours at the hot springs before transferring you to lodging in Puerto Lopez.

If you prefer just to go straight to Puerto Lopez, simply don’t select the day-trip option. From Puerto Lopez, mototaxis (hybrid of a motorcycle and rickshaw) are readily available to take you to Agua Blanca, wait for you there, then return you to Puerto Lopez.

It is about a 30-minute walk through the forest to the hot springs.

Website www.comunidadaguablanca.net


PERU

Baños Termales de Ayhuicha, Vilca, Huancavelica, Perú
Baños Termales de Ayhuicha, photo by Mi Peru, PDM 1.0 https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/, via Flickr

Complejo Turístico Ecológico Mamahuarmi (Churín)

Type Hot springs, mud baths
Location Churín, (5-6 hours from Lima)
Admission 3 soles ($1 USD)
Facilities 4 pools plus waterfall and geyser
Bus from Lima Reserve here. Bus stops directly in front of entrance to hot springs complex.


Hervideros

Type Mud baths, hot springs (31ºC / 88ºF)
Location 8 kilometers / 5 miles from Zorritos
Admission Free ($2 USD for the bucket of water to wash off)
Facilities 5 pools
Taxi from Mancora or Zorritos Hervideros is not accessible by bus, but any hotel in Mancora or Zorritos will call a taxi to bring you there and back.


Baños Termales San Mateo

Type Hot springs resort  (36º-43ºC / 97º-104ºF)
Location 5 kilometers / 3 miles from Moyobamba
Admission 3 soles ($1 US)
Facilities 5 pools; restaurant, camping, bungalows, etc.
Taxi from Moyobamba The hot springs are just 15 minutes outside of Moyobamba.


Baños Termales de Monterrey

Type Hot springs resort  (36º-49ºC / 97º-120ºF)
Location 7 kilometers / 4.5 miles from Huaraz
Admission 5-8 soles ($1.50-2.50 US)
Facilities 3 pools plus private tubs; restaurant, camping, bungalows, etc.
Taxi from Huaraz The hot springs are just 15 minutes outside of Huaraz.

BOLIVIA

Thermal Pool, Bolivia
Iain and Sarah from London, UK, CC BY 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Aguas Termales de Urmiri

Type Hot springs resort  (25ºC / 77ºF)
Location Urmiri (70 kilometers / 42 miles from La Paz)
Admission 120 bolívianos ($17.50 USD)
Facilities public and private pools; restaurant; hotel
Private shuttle from Oruro Reserve here. Make sure and choose the day-trip option on the reservation form so that the shuttle will wait for you and return you to Oruro the same day.


Aguas Termales de Capachos

Type Hot springs resort  (65ºC / 149ºF at the source, mixed with cool water)
Location 10 kilometers / 6 miles east of Oruro
Admission 120 bolívianos ($17.50 USD)
Facilities pools, restaurant, camping, bungalows, etc.
Taxi from Oruro The hot springs are just 10 minutes outside of Oruro.


Aguas Termales de Aguas Calientes

Type Hot springs
Location 35 kilometers / 21 miles from Roboré, Chiquitanía (410 kilometers 246 miles east of Santa Cruz de la Sierra)
Admission 5 bolívianos ($1 USD)
Facilities 5 kilometers (3 miles) of the thermal-water river. There are hotels and campsites in the area.
Bus from Santa Cruz

Reserve here for a seat on the bus to Quijarro, and just get off at the Aguas Calientes stop.  However, this will only arrive in the middle of the night, so make sure your local hotel knows you’re coming.

You can also reserve a private shuttle from Santa Cruz to take you at any time desired for a six-hour trip.


CHILE

Termas Los Pozones

Type Hot springs (20º-45ºC / 68º-113ºF)
Location 36 kilometers east from Pucón
Admission 8,000 pesos chilenos ($9 USD)
Facilities 6 pools; camping
Taxi from Pucon The hot springs are just 45 minutes by taxi from the center of town.
Website https://termaslospozones.cl/


Termas de Jurasi

Type Hot springs  (40º-50ºC / 104º-122ºF), mud baths
Location 10 kilometers / 6 miles west of Putre (2 hours from Arica)
Admission 2,000 pesos chilenos ($3 USD)
Facilities 5 pools, restaurant, camping, bungalows, etc.
Private shuttle from Arica Reserve here. Make sure you choose the day-trip option so that the driver will wait for you and return you to Arica the same day.


Termas del Ventisquero

Type Hot springs  (35º-44ºC / 95º-111ºF)
Location on the shores of Fiordo Puyuhuapi, Región de Aysén, Carretera Austral (3 hours south of Chaiten)
Admission 18,000 pesos chilenos ($27 USD)
Facilities 4 pools; restaurant
Private shuttle from Chaiten or Coyhaique Arrangements can only be made by request here.


Termas de Puritama

Type Hot springs  (25º-30ºC / 77º-86ºF) / mud baths
Location 35 kilometers / 21 miles from San Pedro de Atacama
Admission 5,000-11,000 pesos chilenos ($7.50-16.50 USD)
Facilities 8 pools, restaurant, massages (weekends)
Private shuttle from San Pedro de Atacama Arrangements can only be made by request here.
   


Termas Valle de Colina

Type Hot springs  (25º-55ºC / 77º-131ºF), mud baths
Location Los Valdés, Cajón del Maipo (about 96 kilometers / 58 miles from Santiago de Chile)
Admission 8,000 pesos chilenos ($12 USD)
Facilities 9 pools
Private shuttle from Santiago Arrangements can only be made by request here.


ARGENTINA

Cacheuta hot spring
Sebastian Werner, CC BY 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Termas Cacheuta

Type Hot springs park  (25º-50ºC / 77º-122ºF)
Location Cacheuta, Provincia de Mendoza (40 kilometers / 24 miles from Mendoza)
Admission 70-2,200 pesos argentines ($16.50-52 USD)
Facilities 3 pools; waterpark, spa, restaurant; lodging
Bus from Mendoza Reserve here. Bus stops directly in front of entrance to hot springs.


Termas de Sáenz Peña

Type Hot springs spa  (37ºC / 99ºF)
Location Roque Sáenz Peña, Provincia del Chaco
Admission 220 pesos argentines per 1 hour ($6.25 USD)
Facilities 20 private pools; spa, restaurant
Bus from Corrientes Reserve here. Bus stops directly in front of entrance to hot springs.


Termas Concepción

Type Hot springs spa (37º-41ºC / 99º-106ºF)
Location 10 kilometers / 6 miles north of Concepción del Uruguay, Provincia de Entre Ríos
Admission 400 pesos argentines ($9.50 USD)
Facilities 5 pools; restaurant, spa; bungalows
Bus from Buenos Aires Reserve here. Bus stops directly in front of entrance to hot springs.


Termas Marinas

Type Hot springs park  (30º-41ºC / 86º-106ºF)
Location San Clemente del Tuyú, Provincia de Buenos Aires (320 kilometers / 192 miles south of Buenos Aires, 220 kilometers / 132 miles north of Mar de Plata)
Admission 595 pesos argentines ($14 USD)
Facilities 5 pools; water park, spa, restaurant
Bus from Buenos Aires Reserve here. Hot springs are at the edge of town.


URUGUAY

Termas del Arapey. Salto. Uruguay.
Alejgon, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Termas del Dayman

Type Hot springs park  (41ºC / 106ºF)
Location 10 kilometers / 6 miles from Salto
Admission 80 pesos uruguayos ($2.50 USD)
Facilities 11 pools
Taxi from Salto All hotels in Salto can hail a taxi for the short ride 10 minute ride out to the hot springs complex.
Website https://www.termasdayman.com/


Termas del Arapey

Type Hot springs spa  (38ºC / 100ºF)
Location 80 kilometers / 48 miles north of Salto
Admission from 150 pesos uruguayos ($4.50 USD)
Facilities Various resorts; also Termas Municipales Arapey (150 pesos uruguayos)
Bus from Salto Reserve online here.


Termas de Guaviyu

Type Hot springs spa  (38ºC / 100ºF)
Location 60 kilometers / 36 miles from Paysandú
Admission Termas Municipales (85 pesos uruguayos / $2.50 USD), plus various resorts
Facilities 8 pools
Bus from Paysandu Reserve online here.


PARAGUAY

Pozo Hondo

Type Hot springs, mud baths
Location 8 kilometers / 5 miles from Melgarejo, Departamento de Guairá
Admission Free
Facilities 1 natural pool
Private shuttle from Asuncion Arrangements can only be made by request here.


Reserva Natural Maharishi II

Type Hot springs  (33º-34ºC / 91º-93ºF)
Location 23 kilometers / 14 miles from Minga Guazú
Admission Free
Facilities 2 natural pools
Private shuttle from Ciudad del Este Arrangements can only be made by request here.


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