Las Fuentes Georginas is an excellent day trip from Xela - find out everything you need to know to visit in our guide!

If you're including the city of Quetzaltenango in your Guatemala itinerary, there's a very good chance that you'll have one or two volcano hikes in your plans.

Volcan Santa Maria is as punishing as it is rewarding, whilst the sunrise summit of Tajumulco is one of the (many) highlights of travelling through this Central American country, and both are easily accessible from here.

Thankfully, the perfect place to ease those post-hike aches and pains is also an easy day trip from the city!

Las Fuentes Georginas, discovered in 1902 and named after an ex-dictator's wife, are a network of several natural volcanic hot springs aided and developed by human hands. For locals, they're a popular weekend destination and for travellers, they offer a gorgeous secluded retreat in lush greenery to chill out for a few hours.

In this post, we've shared everything you need to visited Fuentes Georginas and travel tips to make the very most of your time there. From transport connections from Xela to entry times and prices, what to bring, and tips on the secret pools you definitely won't want to miss out on, this is our guide to Las Fuentes Georginas.

the essentials

What / Natural hot spring pools
Arrive / 20km from Quetzaltenagno
Hours / 8am - 5pm every day
Entry / 60Q for foreigners
Time / You need 2-3 hours here
Bring / Towel, swimsuit, cash, and sandals
Tip / Arrive early for clear conditions

How To Get To Fuentes Georginas From Xela

The hot springs complex is 20km from Quetzaltenango - here on Google Maps - and you have a few transport options available.

When planning, an important point to note is that Las Fuentes Georginas, and the narrow winding mountain road which leads to it, are often shrouded in clouds and mist by noon. This adds a mystical, magical aspect to the scenery (especially being in the hot water whilst the steam and the vapour coalesce, entangle, and envelop the forest), but does make visibility non-existent; we were happy to have arrived earlier in the morning so that we could appreciate the pools before and after the grey clouds rolled in.

This, coupled with the fact that the site becomes much busier as the day progresses, means we recommend setting off from Xela sometime around 7-9am.

The early start also allows you to enjoy the abundant valley of steep patchwork farmland after turn off from Zunil, plus excellent views of Volcan Santa Maria.

Uber

Whilst we try to avoid using Uber too much when we travel, it's a popular option in Xela. The ride-sharing app offers a more convenient and secure option for travellers than local taxis, certainty on pricing and payment, and you usually don't have to wait for more than five minutes for a car to meet you.

Our fare from Xela to the Fuentes Georginas entrance was 84Q, with a journey time of 40 minutes.

Alternatively, there’s a taxi rank in the main square but they will almost certainly charge more.

Buses

If you opt for pubic transport, you need to first take the regular chicken bus from Xela to Zunil, departing from Shell Petrol Station (maps). The standard fare is 7Q and journey time will be about an hour depending on stops - you want to be dropped off at the side of the main road next to the turn-off for Zunil (here on Google Maps).

Once you disembark, simply continue onto the bridge where you'll find taxis and tuk-tuks that will run you up the 8km narrow, winding road from Zunil to the Fuentes Georginas entrance. This will cost 50-60Q in total (not per person), with travel time of 10-15 minute depending on the weather conditions. Do be aware that you may need to negotiate with some drivers.

Zunil is a small, thriving, non-touristy town, and there was a photo on literally every corner; we wish we had time to stop there for an hour or two so, if you have time on your side, don't preclude having a random breakfast or lunch there.

However, due to the clearer weather conditions in the mornings, we'd suggest an early start and an Uber to Fuentes Georginas is the best option to make the most of the springs and natural surroundings.

Tours & Shuttles

Kasa Kiwi hostel offers a round-trip transportation shuttle for guests. Departing at 8.15am, it costs 150Q per person, and includes your entrances fee and three hours to enjoy the springs - we aren't certain if non-guests can also reserve a place on this though.

Alternatively, there is the option of joining a popular half-day tour which includes round-trip transport from Xela - find out more here.

For the journey back to Xela, you have a few different options and it's a good idea (especially if planning with a group of other travellers) to agree on what you want to do before you arrive at the springs; we've shared your options + prices at the end of the post.

Plan // We’re both big fans of Xela, and it’s somewhere that still remains relatively ‘lesser-visited’ in comparison to Antigua and Lake Atitlan. As well as a great base for hiking, it’s a fantastic alternative for learning and immersing yourself in Spanish - plan ahead with our guide to the best things to do in Quetzaltenango.

Visiting Fuentes Georginas Hot Springs

You'll be dropped off at the entrance, where you need to pay the entrance fee in cash and get your paper ticket. As is common in Guatemala, prices are different for locals and foreign visitors:

Guatemalan Adults + Children / 40Q + 25Q

Foreign Tourists / 60Q

As we mention in 23 Things To Know Before You Visit Guatemala, sites like this are understandably very popular with locals on weekends and holidays; we recommend trying to visit during the week if you have flexibility in your schedule for a less crowded experience.

The Main Pools

After the car park, you'll enter the main complex, where there's a few small shops, a restaurant, paved walkways, and various other amenities.

There are around six pools in total in Fuentes Georginas, and the largest and best-known are found at the end of the main path, a couple of minute's walk from the entrance - we recommend you head to these first on arrival.

These three pools are the least 'natural' in terms of setting and scenery, but are conveniently situated next to lockers, showers, and large male-female changing room facilities, and offer a pleasant start to your hot springs experience.

Top Tip // Prefer your water to be nice and hot? Make a beeline for the smaller pool on your right hand side as you face the changing rooms - that's where we spent most time in this area!

The Secret Pools

The three 'main pools' are the most popular and crowded due to their ease of access and family-friendly set-up. And, whilst they're pleasant and warm enough, on their own merits they probably aren't worth coming all this way for if you're picking and choosing amongst the best things to do in Xela on a shorter trip.

But, if you take our advice and head down to the secret pools, you'll leave Fuentes Georginas with a much better impression.

Accessed via the right side of the car park or by passing through Restaurante Don Rodrigo to the 'annexo', this hidden away quartet of pools attract an additional cost of 25Q per person and require a walk down a hundred or so dirt and timber stairs (gradas). That, plus the fact they aren't heavily advertised, means visitor numbers are lower and, if you turn up in the morning, you may even get them all to yourself for a while.

The smaller pools are more thoughtfully hewn into the rocky landscape, and surrounded by lush vegetation and a waterfall. It really is a wonderful, peaceful setting, and when the mist began to roll in through the trees, coalescing with the steam and enveloping all before it, it really was quite special and, dare we say it, romantic.

We also found these pools to be warmer than the main ones, with largest at the perfect temperature.

There will be an attendant at the top of the stairs, or nearby, and you have to pay cash in order to access the secret pools. If he isn't there when you go down, he'll probably be there when you come back up.

Lastly, we should mention that there is another deep pool on the left hand side as you first enter the car park. This is one of the originals and also offers a more natural pool setting than the 'main ones', but it's easily missed and does require you to sort of leave the site in your swimsuit to access it.

There are no lockers or facilities down at the 'secret pools', and limited space to leave your stuff, so just bring down what you require. You can do the walk down/up barefoot but, for the sake of keeping the pools clean, it's best to put on a pair of sandals or flip-flops.

Top Tip // Although you could easily just go straight to the secret pools, it makes more sense to start at the main ones (especially if they're not too busy). Once there, you won't want to leave them too quickly and probably won't be impressed if you visit the main ones second!

What To Bring & Facilities

Las Fuentes Georginas is a well-established destination for locals and foreign travellers, and has all the amenities you'd expect to find. However, to keep costs down and to give yourself the best experience, it's good to bring a few essentials with you.

Here's the rundown:

Changing Rooms | The largest changing rooms are by the main pools, with separate facilities for men and women. Inside, you'll find a cold shower, toilets, a few cubicles, plus an open bench area.

You'll also find a bathroom at the car park, and smaller changing rooms by Restaurante Don Rodrigo.

Lockers | There are approximately 50 large wooden lockers by the main changing rooms, and they'll fit a daypack or two plus clothes. We paid 15Q to rent a padlock (we forgot ours), with the key conveniently on a wristband so you can have it with your whilst in the water. You pay the guy on the desk next to the lockers, who seems to stick around that area too.

We're not 100% certain if you can use your own padlock on the lockers, so do let us know if you find out!

There are also free cubby holes in front of the changing rooms for storing non-valuables.

Towels | We brought our own travel towels, but you could take one from your accommodation in Xela. Alternatively, the locker guy also rents out big fluffy towels out here for 15Q each - however they appeared to ask everyone to leave their passport / ID as a deposit (which understandably surprised everyone who asked!). We would never leave our passport somewhere in exchange for a towel, so highly recommend bringing your own, or trying to agree a cash deposit of 50-100Q instead.

Food | The cash-only Restaurante Don Rodrigo at the entrance serves up typical Guatemalan fare plus a handful of other international breakfast and lunch dishes, as well as drinks. Service is pretty slow and prices a bit higher than elsewhere. You can rent towels and lockers here, as well as 'churrasqueras' costing 50Q for the day (these are covered table areas with a barbecue pit for groups, popular with locals on the weekend). On our Fuentes Georginas visit, there was a large restaurant being built overlooking the main pools too.

By the entrance, you'll also find a small shop selling snacks and drinks, and another selling souvenirs. Of course, you could also bring your own stuff, but this can't be eaten in and around the pools, (head to one of several picnic tables instead).

To save on single-use plastic, we used our trusty Water-To-Go filter bottles throughout our time in Guatemala (we’ve used them all over the world for the last 7 years). Find out more about how filter bottles work in our explainer guide, and you can get a 15% discount with ‘ADR15’ when purchasing on the Water-To-Go website.

Accommodation | Whislt most travellers will visit Fuentes Georgianas on a day trip from Xela, we saw a few simple cabins for guests. We couldn't find any information whilst there or online though, so do let us know if you opt for them...

So, in summary, you should bring a towel, swimsuit, flip-flops or sandals (more convenient than trainers), your swimsuit, and enough cash for entries (85Q), round-trip transport, and any food or drink at the restaurant or snacks from the shop. It also gets quite chilly when you're out the water and going between pools, so bear that in mind and have a towel or a layer to put on when you're out.

One final important point to note - it is not recommended people with epilepsy and those who suffer from high or low blood pressure enter the pools.

Transport Back To Xela (TO FINISH)

To get back to Xela, you have a couple of choices: either arrange for your Uber driver to pick you up (agree a price in advance, and don’t hand over any cash until your return), hire a taxi back to Zunil or try and hitch a lift.

Given that we didn’t know how long we’d want to stay at the Springs, we opted for the second option, and it’s the one that most people take.

To arrange your taxi back, head out to the entrance, and find the man who sold you your ticket. If you can’t immediately see him, check the small blackened cave. He will phone you a local taxi; expect to pay around 60Q in total.

The pick-up truck drivers will also often give you a number to call them when you're done.

We had to wait 15 minutes for the taxi to arrive, but were very happy warming ourselves by his little fire and having a chat. However, alternatively, you could arrange the taxi before you get changed or grab a coffee whilst you wait.

Of course, you could always just order an Uber to pick you up when you're done but you may have to wait around a while for a driver to accept the fare and, unless there's one in the area, to come out from the city - some may be reluctant to do this when the afternoon mists roll in.

Budget travellers could try their luck with other departing visitors for a lift back to Zunil or even Xela if you’re lucky!

From Zunil, just hop on any of the buses heading back to Xela. These depart from the main road, just across the bridge. There was one just leaving as we arrived, and you’ll unlikely have to wait long (our driver said they leave every 10 minutes. The fare is 7Q per person.