The Hot Springs of Atotonilco

The trip to the hot springs starts in the village of San José Manialtepec, just off the Coastal Highway heading towards Pinotepa Nacional, around 30 minutes from Puerto Escondido. Our guide, Javier Santos, makes arrangements for the horses and the two guides who will take us there.

My two older sons, Jhoset, 7 and Abiel, 6, are each given their own horses, even though they have never ridden before. Four-year-old Natanael rides with me. The kids are in heaven. Jhoset yells in pure joy, “This is the maximum!”

And so we began the journey in which we would cross the Manialtepec River seven times and lose our hearts to the spectacular beauty of the scenery. My wife, Ruth Belén, overwhelmed by the splendor, could not stop taking photos.

Then we arrived at the true paradise of Puerto Escondido. In the true paradise there are three pools of hot water fed by an underground spring, and a stream of cool water coming down from the mountain.

I was a little hesitant, because the water was very hot, but the children were brave. They put their feet in and then little by little their whole bodies, crying, “This is the maximum!” When I joined them, I understood that this really was the maximum.

We wanted to stay there forever and not have to return to our life in the city. But we did have to go home. We got dressed and got back on our horses. Little, 4-year-old Natanael, took the reins from me, guiding the horse wherever he wanted it to go. I had taught him how to ride and he was very happy.

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