Quick answer
The most accessible hot springs from Puerto Escondido are the Atotonilco Hot Springs, in the village of San José Manialtepec (coastal Oaxaca), about 30 minutes west by car on Federal Highway 200. With KORU you rent your car or jeep in Puerto Escondido and go at your own pace in 2026.
Where are the Atotonilco hot springs really?
According to El Universal Oaxaca, the Atotonilco Hot Springs sit in the village of San José Manialtepec, about 30 minutes by car from Puerto Escondido, on the coast, not in the Sierra Sur or toward Oaxaca City. They are three natural pools of hot, sulphurous water rising among the rocks on a hillside, beside the Manialtepec River, in the municipality of Villa de Tututepec.
Watch out for two common mix-ups. San José del Pacífico, in the Sierra Sur about 3 hours away on Highway 175, is famous for its sea of clouds, its mushrooms and its temazcal steam baths, not for natural hot springs. And the developed Termas de Atotonilco are in Tepalcingo, Morelos, a different resort often confused with the coastal Oaxaca one.
How do you get there from Puerto Escondido?
The car only reaches the village of San José Manialtepec, west of Puerto Escondido on Federal Highway 200. From there the final stretch is on foot or on horseback: a round-trip trail of about 8 kilometers (5 miles, per AllTrails), moderate difficulty and close to 2 hours of walking, with slippery river crossings and a rocky bottom. This is the heart of the experience, not a spot you drive straight up to.
When to go and what's the road like?
The Barranca Larga–Ventanilla motorway (104 km, opened on February 4, 2024, per SICT) links Oaxaca City with Puerto Escondido in about 2.5 hours, down from 6.5; Federal Highway 175, via San José del Pacífico, is the scenic official alternate. But in October 2025 the motorway suffered landslides with single-lane traffic (Heraldo de México), and Capufe recommended Highway 175 as the detour.
Book with KORU
For Manialtepec, a car with good ground clearance helps; message us on WhatsApp with your dates and we'll quote you. Insurance and deposit are confirmed at booking [VERIFY with KORU]. Remember the rainy and hurricane season runs June to October: in 2025 Hurricane Erick made landfall on June 19 near Pinotepa Nacional. Check the road and don't drive at night.
“Renting in Puerto Escondido gives you the freedom to leave early for Manialtepec, walk to the pools without rushing and be back at the beach the same day.”
— KORU RENT
Rent your car in Puerto Escondido
Jeeps and cars ready for the coast
Discover Puerto Escondido
Destination guide
Share your car with KORU
Become a host
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions
KORU RENT operates in Puerto Escondido. Message us on WhatsApp to book your car or jeep and plan your day at the Atotonilco hot springs. Drive calmly, check the road and enjoy the coast of Oaxaca.