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.
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.
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.
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.
| 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. |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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/ |
| 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/ |
| 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/ |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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/ |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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/ |
| 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 |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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/ |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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/ |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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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