When should I go to Grutas Tolantongo?

The creator suggests arriving at 5 am to beat the crowds for the tour van. Grutas Tolantongo is a canyon park in Hidalgo with thermal pools, a warm cave, a river and a waterfall. Bring cash, since payments are cash only.

How do I visit the Xochimilco canals?

Hire a trajinera at a launch like the Embarcadero de Cuemanco, where boats come with music and food on board. The Xochimilco record recommends weekday mornings to avoid the weekend crowds. Nearby, the Ecological Park and the 16th-century Parish of San Bernardino de Siena are worth adding.

Beaches and Water in Mexico From TikTok: Oaxaca, CDMX and Hidalgo

Water ties this set together, even where there is no beach. Three entries are around Puerto Escondido on the Oaxaca coast: a cliff-backed cove, a surf break at La Punta and a quiet beach where turtles are released. Two are in Mexico City, the Xochimilco canals and the boat launch at Cuemanco. The sixth is Grutas Tolantongo, thermal pools in a Hidalgo canyon.

Playa Carrizalillo, Xochimilco and Tolantongo share the top spot with two posts each. The beaches are free, while Xochimilco, Cuemanco and Tolantongo are moderate, the last one cash only. Both Tolantongo posts come from Mexico City trips, so it works as an excursion from the capital. Puerto Escondido is the base for the beach half of the list.

Written from public posts on TikTok, Instagram and YouTube. Updated Nov 2026.

Where creators go

Playa CarrizalilloBeach · Puerto Escondido
A crescent cove in Puerto Escondido with calm turquoise water, reached by a steep staircase of roughly 150 to 170 steps. It suits swimming, snorkeling and beginner surfing, with small palapas and beach bars on the sand. One creator says it has the bluest water and the best view in town, and another calls it a must for any visit.
Grutas TolantongoHot Spring · Ixmiquilpan
An ecotourism park in a Hidalgo box canyon with tiered thermal pools on the cliffs, a warm cave and tunnel system, a river and a large waterfall. Payment is cash only, and there is an internal shuttle. The creator's tip: arrive at 5 am to beat the crowds for the tour van.
XochimilcoLagoon · Mexico City
The Mexico City borough of ancient canals and chinampa floating gardens, where you ride the colorful trajineras. The 16th-century Parish of San Bernardino de Siena and the Ecological Park are nearby. The record advises weekday mornings to avoid weekend crowds. Two posts, both Mexico City guides.
Brisas de ZicatelaBeach · Brisas de Zicatela
La Punta, the southern end of Playa Zicatela in Puerto Escondido, with a point break that suits beginner and intermediate surfers. It is a known sunset spot, and the neighborhood has cafés and surf shops. Reach it by taxi or colectivo, and carry cash for local businesses.
Playa Agua DulceBeach · Bajos de Chila
A quiet, undeveloped beach near Bajos de Chila, outside Puerto Escondido, with afternoon sea turtle releases and sunset views. The creator mentions it for releasing baby turtles. Take the warning seriously: currents are strong, so be very careful in the water.
Embarcadero de CuemancoMarina · Mexico City
A public boat launch in Xochimilco where you hire flat-bottomed trajineras for the canals, with music and food available on board. It is one practical answer to where to start a Xochimilco trip, and it appears in a post about Mexico City neighborhoods.

Three beaches in Puerto Escondido

The Puerto Escondido entries cover different moods, all free. Carrizalillo is for calm water and snorkeling, if you can handle the stairs. La Punta at Brisas de Zicatela is for surf lessons and sunset with a café nearby. Playa Agua Dulce is for the turtle releases in the afternoon, not for swimming, given the strong currents.

Good to know

Playa Carrizalillo has calm turquoise water suited to swimming and snorkeling, and creators praise its color and view. Getting there means a steep staircase of about 150 to 170 steps. Playa Agua Dulce has strong currents, so the record advises extreme caution.