A Short Guide to Visiting Fuentes Georginas from Xela (Quetzaltenango)

A visit to the Fuentes Georginas hot springs is one the best day trips you can do from Xela (Quetzaltenango). We actually ended up visiting it as part of an overnight hike up to Zunil Volcano, which was one of our favourite experiences during our time in Xela. In this guide, we’ll share everything you need to know before visiting Fuentes Georginas hot springs including all the ways to get there from Xela, the best time to visit and why you should pay a little extra for the Secret Pools.

If you’d also like to see what we got up to in and around Xela, then make sure to watch our dedicated Xela video on our YouTube channel. For more Guatemala videos, you can also check out our Guatemala series.

About the Fuentes Georginas Hot Springs

The Fuentes Georginas hot springs are located to the south-east of Xela (Quetzaltenango), just outside of the small town of Zunil. The hot springs are heated by the thermal water that comes from Volcan Zunil. They were discovered back in 1902 and have been nearly destroyed by hurricanes and tropical storms over the years. Fuentes Georginas were actually named after an ex-Guatemalan dictator’s wife.

The site has 7 different pools split between the Main Pools and a few ‘Secret Pools’. The main pools are the most crowded ones and also the least natural looking. If you’re visiting on a day trip we recommend relaxing in these ones first before they get too crowded.

However, for an even better experience, we highly recommend paying the extra fee to access the Secret Pools. These pools are surrounded by lush vegetation, so they look way more natural than the main ones. Since they cost a bit extra, they’re also less crowded.

If you want to stretch your legs you can always go on a little hike as there’s a path that heads into the forest just behind the hot springs. This is actually the same trail you would descend if you’re doing the 2-day Zunil Volcano hike (see more on that later).

Fuentes Georginas Hot Springs Opening Times and Entry Fees

The hot springs are open every day between 8 AM and 5 PM.

The entry fee is Q60 for foreigners plus an additional Q25 if you want access to the private pools. Based on our experience, we highly recommend paying the extra fee for these private pools.

There is a parking fee of Q25 if you’re arriving by hire car.

Best Time to Visit Fuentes Georginas Hot Springs

Xela isn’t as popular a tourist destination in Guatemala compared to places like Lake Atitlan and Antigua. Therefore, it’s unlikely that you’ll have bus loads of tourists visiting with you. However, the the hot springs are still popular with local families, so expect the weekends to be busy.

If you can, we recommend visiting during the week. If you arrive on foot (more on that later), then you’ll likely visit in the middle of the week.

We also suggest getting there earlier rather than later as the fog can settle in by late morning / early afternoon. If you’re visiting Fuentes Georginas by public transport, bear in mind that the last chicken bus normally departs around 4 PM from Zunil back to Xela, which is another reason for getting there early.

Amenities at Fuentes Georginas Hot Springs

There are toilet facilities available for visitors around the pools and car park area. Of course there are also showers and changing rooms you can use.

If you’d like to store some of your valuables, there are lockers available for a small fee.

We recommend bringing your own towel, however you can also rent a towel for an additional cost.

Lastly, Fuentes Georginas has a restaurant and snack bar in case you get hungry. We had our lunch here after finishing the Zunil hike and the food was pretty good.

What to Pack and Bring with you to Fuentes Georginas Hot Springs

Below we’ve listed all the things that you should bring to the hot springs with you:

• Bathing suit
• Quick dry towel
• Slides or flip-flops
• A spare plastic or waterproof bag to put all your wet items in
• A waterproof bag to keep your important stuff in, such as your wallet, ID cards etc.
• Sun protection (sunglasses, hat, suncream)
• Small toiletries for showering with before and after going in the pools
• Electronics such as your phone, camera, and portable charger
• Enough cash to cover your expenses for the day (transport, food, entry fees etc.)

How to Get to the Fuentes Georginas Hot Springs

Below we’ll detail all the different ways you can get to Fuentes Georginas from Xela.

Hire Car / Uber or Taxi

The easiest way to get to the hot springs from Xela is via a private vehicle. You can either hire a car for the day or take an Uber or taxi there.

Obviously, hiring a car will allow you to set off whenever you want to and you also won’t have to worry too much about your return journey back to Xela. There’s a car park available for visitors at an additional cost of Q25. It’s worth noting that the road leading up to the site is very windy and by lunchtime it can be covered in thick fog, so be careful when driving.

If you don’t want to drive, you can also take an Uber or taxi straight from Xela. It can cost anywhere between Q85-100. Just bear in mind that it could be slightly difficult to find a taxi or call an Uber on the way back. You should ask the driver to come and pick you up at a certain time, but there’s always the chance that they won’t be there. In that case, you can always ask the ticket attendant in the car park to call a taxi for you, or try to hitch a ride back to Zunil with a local who’s leaving. Once in Zunil you can just take a local bus back to Xela.

Public Transport

The most affordable, but also the most time consuming, way to get to Fuentes Georginas is by public transport. First, you would need to catch a chicken bus from Xela to the small town of Zunil. From Zunil you’ll need to take a local taxi up to the hot springs. Whilst the bus ride will cost you around Q7, the taxi ride could cost around Q50-60.

It’s also worth noting that the last bus from Zunil back to Xela normally leaves around 4 PM, so you’d definitely want to get back to town before that.

Organised Tour

If getting to the hot springs on your own sounds a bit complicated, you could also join an organised tour from Xela.

Kasa Kiwi Hostel has a Travel Agency that offers daily shuttles to Fuentes Georginas for Q150 per person. This includes the Q60 entry fee and transportation, however it doesn’t include the additional private pool entry. It’s still a pretty good deal in our opinion, considering how much an Uber or Taxi ride alone could cost you.

Alternatively, this one on Viator includes transportation and entry fees, although you’d still need to get your own food and drinks.

2-Day Zunil Volcano Hike

If you’re up for a challenge, then you should join Quetzaltrekkers’ 2-day Zunil hike which finishes at Fuentes Geroginas hot springs. Zunil is a dormant volcano that actually looks more like a mountain because its cone is eroded and it doesn’t have a clearly visible crater.

We actually ended up completing this trek and had an absolute blast. Soaking our tired muscles in the hot springs after hiking for 2 days was the best reward we could’ve asked for.

We had similar experiences during our 3-day Colca Canyon hike and 5-Day Salkantay Trek in Peru, and it really helped our muscles to recover a lot faster..

Final Thoughts on Visiting Fuentes Georginas from Xela

We initially wanted to visit Fuentes Georginas as a day trip from Xela. However, after our Tajumulco hike was cancelled, Quetzaltrekkers offered us the 2-day Zunil hike which included a visit to the hot springs. We couldn’t have been happier with this arrangement. Who wouldn’t enjoy soaking their tired muscles in natural hot springs after summitting a volcano. Even if you don’t have the time, or just don’t fancy trekking for multiple days, we still highly recommend visiting Fuentes Georginas from Xela.

Have you ever visited Fuentes Georginas from Xela before? If so, how did you get there and what was your experience? If not, would you add a visit to these hot springs to your Xela itinerary in the future? Let us know in the comments below.