Craving a little hot spring relaxation in San Miguel? This is your complete guide to visiting La Gruta San Miguel de Allende.
As one of San Miguel de Allende’s premier wellness and leisure escapes, La Gruta Hot Springs and Spa is an unmissable sanctuary of relaxation and rejuvenation.
Surrounded by the natural beauty of banana trees and dense foliage, La Gruta Spa provides a unique blend of tranquillity and natural healing, attributed to the mineral-rich waters of its hot springs.
These waters are believed to possess therapeutic properties, making a day spent in the embrace of La Gruta’s pools a truly restorative experience.
Our editors spent the day relaxing in the therapeutic waters of La Gruta San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato to bring you this guide – everything you need to know about visiting La Gruta Hot Springs.
In a hurry? Here are the essentials…
What: A therapeutic hot spring and thermal spa experience
Where: Around 7 miles north of San Miguel de Allende.
How to Get there: A taxi/Uber from San Miguel de Allende is your best bet or rental car
Cost: 300 pesos per adult. Kids under 3 go free.
Opening Hours: Wednesday-Sunday, 7 am – 5 pm
Bring: Bathing suit, towel, water shoes/waterproof sandals, sunscreen, hat
Best Time to Visit La Gruta San Miguel de Allende
Considering San Miguel de Allende‘s temperate climate, it’s possible to visit La Gruta Spa year round.
During the winter, the weather will be fresher in the mornings and in the evenings which encourages a warm soak, however, visiting and making the most of the thermal waters is doable all year long.
La Gruta San Miguel de Allende is best visited early in the morning for the least crowds. Due to this you’ll also want to avoid the weekends.
Visiting in the morning also means you have the whole day ahead of you- ideal if you spontaneously decide to extend your time there.
It’s worth noting that La Gruta Spa San Miguel de Allende is closed on Monday and Tuesday so make sure not to time your visit for then.
How to Get to La Gruta Spa
La Gruta Spa is best reached from San Miguel de Allende but it’s also possible to get there from Dolores Hidalgo.
The thermal spa is located 7 miles north of San Miguel de Allende and takes around 20 minutes to reach.
From San Miguel de Allende, you’ve got a few easy options to get there: by taxi/Uber, by bus, or driving yourself. You can also take a local tour which includes a visit to La Gruta Spa. The best way to get there is by private vehicle or taxi/Uber.
Getting to La Gruta San Miguel de Allende by Car
If you have a rental car driving yourself is probably the easiest way to get there. It’s a straight shot north from San Miguel de Allende, and there’s parking right at La Gruta.
This way, you can come and go as you please, and maybe even explore the area a bit more on your own after your soak- the mesmerizing Santuario de Jesús Nazareno de Atotonilco is just around the corner.
La Gruta by Taxi
The next best option is to take a taxi. It’ll take about 20 minutes to get there, and it usually costs around 200-300 pesos. You can ask your hotel to call you one.
Remember to ask your taxi driver to come back and pick you up at an agreed time, or you might have a hard time finding a ride back to town.
It is possible to get to La Gruta Spa in a taxi and then go back to San Miguel by bus. Your best bet when finding a cab back is to flag one down from the highway.
The same goes for Uber- it’s very easy to grab a ride from San Miguel de Allende but it’s difficult to grab a ride back to town.
By Bus
For those craving a more local experience, you can catch a bus. The bus to Atotonilco leaves once per hour from downtown San Miguel de Allende and will drop you off on the highway close to the spa. You’ll need to walk from there (make sure to tell the driver you’re going to La Gruta).
On the way back, you can catch the bus from the same highway or walk to Atotinilco and get the bus back to San Miguel de Allende from there.
Tour
It’s also possible to visit La Gruta Spa in combination with a Trail Riding Tour from San Miguel de Allende.
This fun, riding and hot springs tour takes you out of San Miguel de Allende and riding the trails in the Guanajuato countryside before a scrumptious lunch at a ranch and then a dip at the hot springs.
Taking a tour would mean that you won’t need to worry about transportation to La Gruta and you’ll also be able to fill your day with a horseback ride and seeing more of your surroundings.
Find out more and book the tour here.
Benefits of Thermal Hot Springs
Soaking in thermal hot springs is more than just a deeply relaxing experience; it’s a practice steeped in health benefits that have been recognized for centuries. The mineral-rich waters, naturally heated by the earth’s geothermal energy, offer a unique combination of hydrotherapy and mineral therapy.
Some of the Health Benefits of Soaking in Thermal Hot Springs are
- Muscle Relaxation: Eases muscle tension and soreness.
- Pain Relief: Alleviates chronic pain, including arthritis and fibromyalgia.
- Improved Circulation: Enhances blood flow and oxygen delivery to tissues.
- Detoxification: Aids in the removal of toxins from the body.
- Skin Health: The minerals in the water can help with various skin conditions, including psoriasis and eczema.
- Stress Reduction: Promotes relaxation and reduces anxiety.
While a visit to La Gruta San Miguel de Allende probably won’t solve all your health problems, we did leave feeling relaxed and completely rejuvenated.
What to Expect When Visiting La Gruta Spa
La Gruta Spa is open from 7 am until 5 pm, Wednesday to Friday. We recommend arriving as soon as it opens so you can have the thermal pools to yourself before they get busier as the day goes on.
On site, you find various thermal pools that vary in size and water temperature so you can choose the ideal one for you. There’s also a spa and a restaurant. It’s the perfect place to spend a morning, relaxing while in San Miguel de Allende.
Facilities at La Gruta Hot Springs
The Thermal Pools
There are several thermal pools at La Gruta Spa, each of them surrounded by gardens, lush greenery and stone walls. Here’s a summary of the main pools you’ll encounter at La Gruta Spa to help you plan your visit.
The Shallow Pool – One of the first pools you’ll get to, this one is shallow and has a moderate temperature to start with once you arrive. Surrounded by lush vegetation, it’s pretty shaded and there’s also an area with sun loungers to relax on.
Deep Pool – the Deep Pool is a sanctuary encased in tropical flora, offering the hottest waters in the spa. It’s surrounded by artisan stone walls and banana trees. From here you can also access the tunnel and the cave- the most iconic areas of La Gruta. This pool gets pretty busy.
La Gruta (Tunnel and Cave) – At the end of the Deep Pool you’ll come across a narrow, stone, water-filled tunnel which you can swim through to get to La Gruta or the Grotto. At the end of the tunnel, a steamy, dark cave awaits.
The cave’s hot spring water offers a natural steam bath experience, occasionally enhanced by a direct flow from the hot spring source for a soothing mini massage. We were informed by a local that this incredibly popular direct flow which gives a lovely massage gets turned off at around 9 am, which is reason enough to get here early.
For those looking for a hot, sauna experience this is where to spend your time.
On site, you’ll also find a large and shallow kid’s pool which generally caters to families.
The Massage Spa at La Gruta San Miguel de Allende
Apart from the thermal pools the spa at La Gruta is also a highlight of any visit here. Offering just massages, therapists are available at the onsite spa during opening hours to provide guests with a range of massage therapies.
They don’t take online reservations, instead just turn up and enquire on arrival. You’ll be given a spa menu from which you can choose which kind of massage appeals to you most.
Lounge Areas
Apart from the thermal pools, there are plenty of lovely shaded areas you can relax on the property. While the restaurant and bar has a large garden with tables, chairs and umbrellas, you’ll also find a number of other green areas with spaces to relax.
These areas are made for larger groups so you might find them to be pretty busy at the weekends.
Restaurant
Blending into the tranquil environment of the hot springs is La Gruta Restaurant. After immersing yourself in the rejuvenating waters, you can indulge in the array of dishes offered, generally Mexican classics and snacks.
The food isn’t anything to write home about and prices are slightly above average, like you might expect in these places, but it’s still a decent place to eat. Unfortunately, you aren’t allowed to bring in your own food and drinks (apart from water).
I’d personally recommend making the most of La Gruta Spa in the morning and heading back to San Miguel de Allende for lunch or visiting nearby Atotonilco, a lovely little local town with many authentic dining options.
Other facilities at La Gruta San Miguel de Allende include everything you might expect from a hot spring. Clean bathrooms and showers, a changing area, and a locker area to store your valuables are all provided. You will need to have 50 pesos in cash for the locker deposit.
Free Wifi is also available at La Gruta, which is pretty useful as cell service here can be quite weak at times.
What to Bring to La Gruta, San Miguel de Allende
To make the most of your visit to La Gruta, it’s important to come prepared. Here’s a list of essentials to bring along to ensure a comfortable, rejuvenating experience:
Swimsuit – You need one to enter the pools.
Towel – A quick-drying microfibre or Turkish towel are lightweight and practical.
Water shoes/flip flops – Essential for getting around from one pool to the other.
Cover-up: Ideal for relaxing around the pools, in the restaurant and when walking around.
Water: You can buy water at La Gruta but it’s also a good idea to bring your own.
Sunscreen: Not a good idea for the pools but very useful when lounging around after swimming
Hat & Sunglasses: Extra sun protection when in the pools.
Book/Kindle: Perfect for relaxing after a warm soak
Cash: You will need cash for a locker deposit but the restaurant takes cards.
Waterproof bag/Dry Bag – For wet swimwear after your soak.
It’s also essential to note that La Gruta does not provide towels or towel rental. You will need to bring your own, otherwise, you can purchase one for around 400 pesos.
Top Tips for Visiting La Gruta Spa
- Arrive Early: To avoid the crowds and enjoy the tranquility of the hot springs, aim to arrive early in the day or even better, as the spa opens.
- Check the website: Before your visit, check La Gruta San Miguel de Allende’s official website here for the most current information on opening hours, any special events, or maintenance closures.
- Bring Essential Items: Pack swimwear, towels, flip-flops, sunscreen etc. (Don’t forget a towel, you cannot rent one on site).
- Explore All Areas: La Gruta Spa offers various pools with different temperatures. Don’t miss the unique experience of the tunnel that leads to a hidden, dome-covered pool. Exploring all areas will enhance your experience.
- Consider Booking a Massage: If your time-frame allows, look into booking a spa treatment for an even more relaxing experience. La Gruta Spa offer massages, facials, and other wellness services.
- Plan for Relaxation Time: Don’t rush your visit. Allow plenty of time to soak in the various pools and enjoy the relaxing environment. Many visitors find that spending several hours allows them to fully unwind and enjoy the benefits of the thermal waters
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