Tolatongo is a canyon located 17 km. from Ixmiquilpan on the road 27 in the Mezquital valley, in the state of Hidalgo Mexico. It is about and hour and a half north east of the city of Pachuca and 198 km. or 3 to 4 hours north east of Mexico city.

There are two main grottos: the large one from which a river flows and the tunnel above it on the same wall of the canyon. Just outside the main grotto are rimstone pools in which visitors can wallow in the shallow river as the water rushes past. The tunnel is narrow and about 15 meters long. Inside one part there is a depression filled by a stream of water that one can swim in. This pool is fillled with capriciously-shaped rocks. In both grottons you will listen to the echoes of the waterfalls inside the mountain. Here you can practice hiking, rappelling, and caving.

The river in the canyon is also called Tolantongo. It is pleasantly warm and colored by the mineral salts it picks up as it passes throughout the mountain. The water comes from a complex series of channels inside the mountain that heats the water to about 20 degrees celsius. Another factor that cools the water is that much of it mixes with water that has not been volcanically heated as it leaves the grottos. The result is mostly template water outside the grottos and in the river itself, but besides that this river is good for bathing and even if the air temperature is not very warm.

The entrance to the park costs $2 USD per vehicle and $10 USD per person. With this fee that you pay, you can visit the grottos, the tunnel, the river, the waterfalls, and the camping zone. You can also make use of the restrooms. You can vit this place any day of the week, and it is open from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Make sure to bring comfortable shoes and a bathing suit when you visit this place. Camping is also available even near the river or the grottos.

Tags: Camping, canyon, HIDALGO, SWIMMING, TOLANTONGO