Tecozautla
Tecozautla is a small town in the Central Mexican state of Hidalgo. It is a colonial town with narrow streets and a colorful town square set in a valley with dramatic mountain scenery of sheer cliffs, volcanic cones, and hills covered with desert vegetation. Tecozautla is one of Mexico's Pueblos Magicos and is a popular weekend retreat. If colonial charm isn't reason enough to visit, there's a cool but seldom visited archaeological site where you can still climb the pyramids, and the town is known for its geothermal mineral springs, which feed several nearby waterparks and spas.
Get in
By bus
Autobuses Conexion (Estrella Blanca) operates hourly buses direct to Tecozautla from Mexico City's Terminal Autobuses del Norte. The 4-hour 45-minute trip costs M$350.
- 🌍 Terminal Autobuses Estrella Blanca, Morelos, Tecozautla, ☏ +52 800 507 5500. Conexion buses run from Mexico City. Direct buses also available to Tequisquipian with connections to Queretaro.
Get around
Walking will get you just about anywhere in town, but some of the spas are located a few kilometers out and will need to be reached by taxi. Taxis are always available near the zocalo (town square).
See
- Pahñú Archaeological Site. 09:00 - 16:00. One of only 5 sites known to have been used by the Xajay culture, a little known indigenous group who were evidently related to the Otomi and who paid tribute to Teotihuacan. The biggest building at Pahnu is the Pyramid of Xiuhtecuhtli. It's fairly large, but it won't impress you if you've been to big sites like Teotihuacan. However, while many Mexican archaeological sites have been closing off structures so visitors could no longer climb them, visitors can still climb the steps of Pyramid of Xihtecuhtli and admire the panoramic vistas of the arid valley. A small site museum displays relics from the site. M$75.
Do
Thermal baths and pools
- 🌍 La Cruz Balneario, Calle Camelia S/N, Morelos, Tecozautla. 08:00 - 18:00. Fun park with many pools and water slides, including small, shallow pools for small children. Palapas, picnic tables and chairs available at extra cost. Barbecue grills also at extra cost. You can bring in a cooler of drinks (including beer), but glass bottles are prohibited. Clean bathrooms and changing areas available. Close to centro. M$110.
- Manantiales Taxidhó. M$70 per car.
- Balneario El Geiser, Estatal 101 (north on Hidalgo state highway 101 about 10 km until you reach the Rio Grande (which is the state line with Queretaro)). Large waterpark resort with wave pools, waterslides, a full-service hotel, stone cabins for rent, a campground and more. This is the site of a natural geyser that's constantly spewing clouds of hot steam from the nearby Volcán Hualtepec.
- Spa Linda Agua, Estatal 101 (north on Hidalgo state highway 101 about 5 km), ☏ +52 773 151 4226. 08:00 - 18:00. Family-oriented spa area with several pools, showers, bar, picnic area, rooms for rent. Inexpensive casual fun. M$100.
Festivals
- Carnival, Friday before Ash Wednesday. Dances, parties and music.
- Rain of the Baskets, Friday of Sorrows (the Friday before Palm Sunday)
- Fruit Fair, July 19 – 28. This is a big harvest festival, features a carpet of fruit offerings from the region, along with food, music, and celebrations.
Eat
- 🌍 Italo Pizza, Calle Azucena 3 Nte. 29, Morelos, ☏ +52 761 733 5713. 13:00 - 23:00. Italian style pizzas in 2 sizes.
- 🌍 Juanita's Gril, Fray Juan de Sanabria Eje Pte. 58-B, La Salida, Centro, ☏ +52 442 139 6082. Seafood and steaks.
- 🌍 Restaurante del Valle, Pl. de la Constitución 3, Centro, ☏ +52 442 431 6424. 08:00 - 20:30. Classy traditional Mexican fare in a colonial setting next to the town square. Great people watching from the outdoor tables or quieter setting in the main dining room.
- 🌍 Restaurante Doña Esperancita, Matías Rodríguez 1. 08:00 - 19:00 (til 21:00 F-Su). Classy traditional Mexican restaurant with good food and friendly service. Enchiladas suizas are recommended. Good option for breakfast. Live music or karaoke on weekends.
Drink
- 🌍 El Mezquite, Gandho. Rustic outdoor patio bar specializing in micheladas.
- 🌍 Cantaritos El Jalisciense, La Loma, ☏ +52 773 180 0616. 10:00 - 02:00 (closed M-W). Comfortable bar with a nice selection of tequilas. Very tasty cantaritos.
Sleep
- 🌍 Hotel Catita, Camelia 2 Pte. S/N, Morelos, Tecozautla, ☏ +52 555 475 9677. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 12:00. Modest hotel with limited amenities but low rates. Easy 50-meter walk to Cruz Balneario if you're coming for the pools.
- 🌍 Villa San Agustin, Calle Xhonté no 5, ☏ +52 761 724 6173. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 12:00. Clean, comfortable hotel. Traditional temazcal spa service. Dogs allowed, but if you forget yours, the hotel has a couple friendly spares you can pet.
- 🌍 Hotel Gandhó (on Rosales, 200 meters south of Miguel Hidalgo). Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 12:00. Quiet, comfortable place.
- 🌍 Hotel Xathe, Gandho, ☏ +52 773 111 1784. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 12:00. Clean, comfortable rooms in a family style hotel. Cable TV.
- 🌍 La Mexicana, Calle Gardenia 1 Ote. 19, Hidalgo, ☏ +52 552 301 2290. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 12:00. Clean, comfortable hotel with modern rooms. Excellent value. M$500.
- 🌍 Hotel Aguaazul, Calle Bugambilia 1 Nte. 11, Morelos, ☏ +52 761 733 5151. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 12:00. Moderate hotel with some rough edges. M$700.
- 🌍 Casa Gardenia, Calle Azucena 3 Nte. 18, Morelos, ☏ +52 442 279 9147. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 12:00. Traditional courtyard hotel with comfortably rustic rooms.
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