Grutas de Xajhá

Current status: closed for the rains

Access to the Grutas de Xajhá has been suspended since May 11, 2026. Zimapán’s municipal tourism office (Dirección de Turismo) and the community operator, Ecoturismo El Refugio Xajhá, closed the site until further notice. Their reason was simple: early and unusually heavy rain can raise the Moctezuma River without warning and wash out the dirt access roads, and the trip into the caves depends on both. The municipality stressed that the closure applies only to Xajhá.

The rainy season in this part of Hidalgo usually winds down in autumn, so a reopening for the dry months is likely but not confirmed. We found no reopening notice as of October 22, 2026. Ask the operator or Turismo Zimapán before you set off.

What to expect

Xajhá (Otomí for “wet land”, according to México Desconocido) is a small community in the municipality of Zimapán, in the Sierra Gorda of western Hidalgo. Below it, the Moctezuma River has cut a deep canyon. The thermal caves sit in the canyon wall above the river, where warm water rises inside a cavern full of stalactites and stalagmites and spills out towards the river. Bats live in the caves.

This is not a balneario. There are no built pools, changing rooms or lifeguards at the caves. You go with local guides, wade the river, climb up into the cave and sit in the warm water inside. Reported temperatures are up to about 104°F40°C according to CDMX Secreta and México Desconocido, and up to 109°F43°C according to Uno TV. No official figure is published.

The Moctezuma marks the state line between Hidalgo and Querétaro along this stretch, and OpenStreetMap places the caves on the canyon wall right at that border. Trips start from Xajhá on the Hidalgo side, and that is where the services are.

Getting there

To Xajhá: Uno TV puts Xajhá about 19 km (12 miles) from the town of Zimapán along the San Antonio-Xajhá road, which it describes as steep, with drop-offs and tight curves. It recommends arranging a meeting point with a local guide rather than trying to find the way alone. Zimapán is roughly three and a half hours from Mexico City.

México Desconocido describes a route from Mexico City along the México-Querétaro highway towards San Juan del Río and Tequisquiapan, then about 12 km (7.5 miles) past Cadereyta a turn towards Bella Vista, Mesa de León and the Zimapán dam, and soon after the dam the exit for Xajhá. Allow most of a day from the capital.

To the caves: the operator’s camp, with palapas, sits near the river. From there you have two options:

• By boat: a rowboat ride on the Moctezuma (reported at MX$50 in 2026).
• On foot: about 4.5 km (2.8 miles) each way, roughly two hours, walking along and across the river. In the dry season the water at the crossings usually stays below the knee.

At the end you climb up the canyon wall to the cave entrance. It takes some upper-body effort and steady feet.

When to go

Only in the dry season. Uno TV notes that camping is not allowed during rain for safety reasons, and the 2026 closure shows how quickly the site can shut once the rains start. The safest window is the dry months, typically about November to April in central Mexico, but always check that the site has reopened.

Most people make it a two-day trip: drive in, camp by the river, and walk to the caves early the next morning. Arrive early either way.

Prices and booking

There is no official price list online. These are the figures CDMX Secreta published in March 2026:

• General entry: MX$100, with a reservation. Without one, MX$50 extra.
• River entry: MX$150.
• Local transport: MX$200.
• Boat: MX$50.
• Camping by the river: MX$50 per night, and MX$50 for each extra night.
• Tent rental: MX$100.
• Packages: MX$250 to MX$900.

Other guides quote different figures, and some tour companies sell trips from Mexico City. Book directly with Ecoturismo El Refugio Xajhá where you can, so the money goes to the community that runs the site. CDMX Secreta lists the contact numbers 55 6623 1071 and 63 9160 7692.

Rules and etiquette

• Go with the local guides. They know the crossings and the climb, and the community runs access to the site.
• Reserve ahead, or pay the walk-in surcharge.
• Pack out everything. Carry your rubbish back to camp and beyond.
• No soap or sunscreen in the cave water. It is a small, enclosed spring.
• Leave the formations alone. Do not touch or break stalactites, and keep your light off the bats.

Where to stay nearby

The river camp run by the community is the usual base. It has toilets, a small shop and a kitchen that serves dinner and breakfast, according to México Desconocido. Bring a tent or rent one, a warm layer for the night, and a headlamp.

For a bed, Zimapán has the nearest hotels and restaurants. The large thermal park at Grutas Tolantongo in Cardonal is a few hours east by road if you want a developed soak at the end of the trip.

Safety notes

• River levels: the Moctezuma can rise fast after rain upstream. Do not cross if the water is high or murky, and follow the guides’ call.
• Footing: river stones, wet rock and the climb into the cave are the main risks. Wear shoes that grip when wet and keep your hands free.
• Who should skip it: CDMX Secreta advises against the trip for people with reduced mobility, older adults and children under 8.
• Heat and sun: the canyon is hot and exposed on the walk. Carry water and snacks; México Desconocido recommends a good breakfast before you start.
• Remoteness: help is a long way off. Tell someone your plan and expect little or no phone signal in the canyon.
• Travel advice: Canada’s travel advisory (updated October 19, 2026) asks visitors to exercise a high degree of caution in Mexico as a whole; neither Hidalgo nor Querétaro is on its list of areas to avoid. It advises against driving after dark, which matters on the road down to Xajhá.