Life's a Beach | Expat Life in Playa del Carmen

One of the sticky things we deal with every year around this time is Cole's birthday. Every year, it falls during our road trip forcing us to host the expected birthday party with all of his friends often weeks in advance of the actual birthday AND find something fun to do (kid fun, not grown-up fun) on the actual day. This year we decided to check out one of Oaxaca's most famous natural landmarks, Hierve el Agua. We still had the rental car so we fired up Google maps and plotted a course south-west through the valley.

The site is located in a very isolated region about 70 km away from Oaxaca City, past Mitla. The road out takes you through very rough terrain on roads that are at times unpaved. The terrain is predominantly covered with cactus and other semi desert vegetation. Upon arriving, we parked in a spacious car park which led to a series of buildings with restroom and changing facilities. There was also a small chapel, an area set up with semi-permanent food vendors and a sad-looking man-made swimming pool.

A short hike down the mountainside reveals a series of shallow, turquoise pools perched on the edge of the mountainside and in the distance, the massive, seemingly frozen waterfalls. The "falls" are actually natural mineral formations, similar to stalactites, that have built up over thousands of years as a result of the mineral-laden water spilling over the edge of the cliff and trickling down the rocky mountain side. Calcium carbonate in the spring water gives the formations a white or near white appearance.

The name Hierve el Agua translates literally to "the water boils", and the natural mineral springs that are found here take their name from the bubbling warm water that flows up through the springs and into the shallow cliff-top pools. The minerals in the water are said to have healing powers and to be beneficial for the skin. I didn't test it out but the kids soon stripped down to their swim suits for a plunge in the pools. They both reported that the "boiling water" was actually quite chilly especially with the breezes coming up from the valley but they did enjoy swimming over to the very edge of the cliffs to check out the spectacular views!

Thoroughly chilled, the kids dried off and dressed and we wandered back up to the concession area. We settled in under one of the rustic lean-tos and enjoyed some more crispy, cheesy tlayudas and ice-cold Coca-Colas before making the drive back into the city. It may not have been the traditional birthday celebration but it certainly will be one that sticks out in our memories.

Time for a bit of a break and a chance to relax and take in the cuisine in Oaxaca City.