I will be visiting Santa Fe, New Mexico for 3 days next month. I love to go to hot springs and swim in them and I read that New Mexico in general has a lot of natural hot springs because the state is geothermically active.
I read quite a bit about Ten Thousand Waves which according to forums is a Japanese style spa, hot tub place and is 15 minutes from the city whilst Ojo Caliente is an actual hot springs and is 1 hour from the city. I also read about Ojo Santa Fe Spa resort which is 30 minutes away from the city
In addition, I read that there is San Antonio Hot Springs which is a very natural hot spring experience but is 1 hour 40 minutes drive from Santa Fe and seems harder to get to as it appears that you have to walk a short trail to get there.
If I'm not mistaken I think that all other hot springs (which I have not mentioned above) are 2 or more hours drive from Santa Fe but I might be wrong.
I would like to ask which hot springs you recommend I should visit?
I am somewhat deciding between Ojo Caliente and Ojo Santa Fe Spa Resort.
I am somewhat leaning towards Ojo Caliente because although it is further from Santa Fe than Ojo Santa Fe Spa Resort I get the impression that it is more of a natural setting and is even more of an authentic natural hot springs than Ojo Caliente. Plus if I am not mistaken I believe that Ojo Caliente has a mud pool whilst Ojo Santa Fe Spa Resort does not and I have never bathed in a mud pool in my life so would like to do it. So for these reasons I am thinking that Ojo Caliente might worth a longer drive and journey to get to than Ojo Santa Fe Spa Resort.
I just wanted to ask everyone's opinion about this?
I have not heard so much negative about Ten Thousand Waves but it appears to have hot tubs and not hot springs which is what I am looking for.