Booking choice: Tolantongo and La Gloria with meals, from $149 per person. Check dates Compare the options below
Grutas Tolantongo is the community-run park with the famous cave, tunnel, river and cliffside pools. La Gloria Tolantongo is a neighbouring water park on the same canyon, with its own thermal pools and its own entrance.
Most tours go only to Grutas Tolantongo. One small-group tour visits both in a single day.
The quick answer
They are different parks. The cave with the hot waterfall, the steam tunnel, the thermal river and the famous terraced cliff pools are all at Grutas Tolantongo. La Gloria is a separate park next door with its own ticket. If you want both, the Tolantongo and La Gloria tour spends about three hours in each, with meals included.
Are Grutas Tolantongo and La Gloria the same park?
No: they are two parks on the same canyon, with separate entrances and tickets.
| Grutas Tolantongo | La Gloria Tolantongo | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Community-run ecotourism park | A separate water park next door |
| Cave and tunnel | Yes | No |
| Thermal river | Yes, the length of the canyon floor | No |
| Famous terraced cliff pools | Yes, in Paraíso Escondido | Its own thermal pools |
| Ticket | 230 pesos per day (2026) | Its own ticket |
| Tours that visit | Every tour on this site | The Tolantongo and La Gloria tour |
Want both parks in one day? This tour spends about three hours in each, with meals included.
Check dates for Tolantongo and La Gloria with mealsWhich park has the famous cliff pools?
Grutas Tolantongo: the terraced pools on the canyon wall are in its upper section, Paraíso Escondido.
These are the stacked turquoise pools from every photo of Tolantongo. They are terraced basins built into the canyon wall and fed with warm water from the mountain.
Where are the cave and the tunnel?
In the lower section of Grutas Tolantongo, La Gruta, next to the thermal river.
The cave mouth is curtained by a hot waterfall, and the tunnel beside it drips and steams. Both are included in the Grutas Tolantongo ticket.
What is La Gloria Tolantongo like?
A separate water park with thermal pools of its own, on the same canyon.
It is a good add-on if you have time, and the only Viator tour that includes it rates 5.0 from 31 reviews. On its own it does not replace the cave and river at Grutas Tolantongo.
Curious about both? Breakfast, lunch, snacks and drinks are included on this two-park day.
Explore Tolantongo and La Gloria with mealsCan you visit both in one day?
Yes, on the two-park tour, which spends about three hours at each.
It is a 14-hour day from Mexico City. On your own, visiting both means paying two entrances and moving between them.
How do you avoid booking the wrong park?
Check the itinerary: it should name Grutas Tolantongo, and ideally the sections La Gruta and Paraíso Escondido.
Every tour on this site goes to Grutas Tolantongo. See Tolantongo tours from Mexico City to compare them.
Which should you choose?
Grutas Tolantongo for the cave, the river and the famous pools; add La Gloria only if you want a second park on the same long day.
- First visit: Grutas Tolantongo.
- Want meals included and two parks: the Tolantongo and La Gloria tour.
- Want the fewest people: an early tour to Grutas Tolantongo on a weekday.
First visit? The most reviewed full day covers the pools, river and cave at Grutas Tolantongo.
Check dates for the full day with breakfast and kitFrequently asked questions
Is La Gloria part of Grutas Tolantongo?
No. It is a separate park with its own entrance and ticket.
Does the Grutas Tolantongo ticket include La Gloria?
No. The 230-peso ticket covers both sections of Grutas Tolantongo only.
Which tour visits La Gloria?
The Tolantongo and La Gloria small-group tour from Mexico City, with meals included.
Ready to book
Choose your day
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before on every option. Prices are from-prices in USD and move with the season.
Tolantongo & La Gloria with Meals
Two neighbouring parks with breakfast, lunch and drinks
Tolantongo Full Day with Breakfast & Kit
- Pickup in Roma, Condesa, Polanco, Juárez, Centro and nearby, or meet at the Angel of Independence
- Breakfast in Actopan and snacks for the ride home
- Grutas Tolantongo admission: pools, thermal river, cave and tunnel
Small-Group Tolantongo Caves Day
A guided day with entry to both park sections
