Melisasa

Wednesday, September 30, 2015

Tolantongo - Soaking in the not so hot, hot springs

This weekend was spent at Tolantongo, at the hot springs. It was a 750 pesos tour with Cholula Capital who took care of the transport, entrance fee, tents, and drinks.

The road to Tolantongo was honestly realllyyyyy scenic, and took away so much of the pains of being stuck in a chair for 5+hrs

We had to go through all these windy road up and down, left and right, through the valleys. At one point in time, one of wheel of the bus was resting just centimeters from the edge of the valley. #stillalive

Nearing the springs, we had to switch to a smaller vehicle. The girls got the van and the guys got the transport vehicle for farm animals. So much for traveling in style.

This place was breathtaking. Literally. Descending down into the valley was pretty tiring with all our stuff, not to say climbing back up when we wanted food, etc.

Right at the bottom of the valley. This was the first place I went to soak, only to discover that the water is just warm, not hot-hot. And that the currents were actually quite strong.

These families camped just right beside these pools that overlooked the bridge and the valleys. They couldn't have picked a better spot.

The other side of the park was located across this bridge. Each person had to pay $12 to access the other site, but I managed to slip through with a couple of mexican boys who talked their way in. Hehe.

The pools are pretty amazing on this side of the bridge, and the currents are gentler too <3

Rows and rows of tents filled the entire site at the other side of the bridge...

...and I could totally understand why, with a view like this.

I pretty much spent the rest of the afternoon in this one pool, so much so my phone pouch steamed up

The night was spent in tents for us as well. And there no space so some of the guys had to set up above the convenience store

International students being international students, all loved to party and everyone went to swim in the pools at night. I was totally uninterested in being half naked in the cold. And thankfully, a local mexican family nearby asked me to join in their campfire and we toasted marshmallows, drank coffee and played dominos. So so thankful for the experience! <3

The next day, I explored the valleys where the water were little colder, but the view was so worth it.

This totally reminds me of the christmas tree waterfall in canyon sumidero in Chiapas!

The valley led deeper in, to a small pool that could fit about 20 people, and where the water was really deep, which allowed anyone brave enough to climb up the rocks and dive in. All around there were ropes to hold on to, and no currents, so it was safe even for people who can't swim that well.

After a while it got too cold, and I decided to head back to the other side of the bridge, but sadly this time I couldn't sneak my way through to capture this view :(

Imagine if a cactus broke and rolled into the water ._.

And then I found this other side of the valley. Totally amazing.

Mandatory selfie.

Was totally not intending to get wet, but these caves need to be explored.

And the water was surprisingly warm in the caves! The caves led into deeper caves which were so dark I could barely get around, and had to just follow the ropes and rely on the occasional shine of light from other people's torches.

This was another cave, which a must narrower entrance that went much much deeper. And inside the cave, I experienced Singapore weather once again, for the first time in 2 months - where it was really hot and humid.