Let´s explore some of the following amazing places together this month and make some new local and international friends!
The weather forecast looks perfect so far for all activities :-). Prices in Mexican pesos, small groups, certified guides, English and Spanish; experience México the Mexican way!
Exploring Malinalco (Pueblo Mágico and archeological site).
Town of Malinalco:
Malinalco is set in a semi-enclosed valley, surrounded by cliffs. The houses are mostly made of adobe with red tile roofs, some of which are painted bright colors. Almost all the houses here from the finest to the most humble have fruit trees in their yards. The streets are paved in cobblestones. Breads here are often still baked in clay ovens that are heated with wood, and homemade pulque is often sold by street vendors.
Archaeological site of Malinalco:
The Aztecs conquered the area in the 1470s, and established here a sanctuary for their military elite, the Eagle and Jaguar warriors. The complex was built on the Cerro de los Idolos (Hill of the Idols), over an older ceremonial site. The main attraction of this archaeological site is the Cuauhcalli or House of Eagles, which is a building carved out of the side of the mountain. A magical place with great views over the valley and town of Malinalco :-).
Exploring Pahñu archeological site, Tecozautla town and the natural water park of El Geiser.
Pahñú is an archeological site in Tecozautla, State of Hidalgo. A settlement from Xajay Culture developed between 300 and 1100 years ago. Apparently it’s the heir to the Preclassic period of Chupícuaro culture, in El Bajío, and is related to origin of the Otomis of Mezquital Valley.
Tecozaulta is one of the 111 Pueblos Mágicos of Mexico. The Temple and ex-convent of Santiago Apóstol where built between the years 1690 and 1700. The Monumental Clock of Tecozautla is one of the most important monuments of the town. The tower was built in the government building of Porfirio Diaz, with a neoclassical style.
El Geiser: this natural attraction has an impressive landscape and a climate that maintains extraordinary temperatures all year round. The Geyser Hidalgo has hot springs at 95ºC, where it is possible to relax and forget the stress, away from the city :-). Among its services there are zip line, hanging bridges, massages, beauty treatments, and it´s restaurant.
Exploring Cantona archeological site and Huamantla (Pueblo Mágico).
Cantona is a spectacular newly excavated archaeological site, believed to be the largest urban center yet discovered in Mesoamerica. Cantona covers 12 squares kilometers that are divided into three urban areas. The ruins includes a roadway network of over 500 cobblestone causeways, over 3,000 individual patios, or residences, 24 ball courts and an elaborate acropolis with many ceremonial buildings and temples.
The city of Huamantla is in the east of the state of Tlaxcala. The main entrance to the city is marked by the Monumento al Toro (Bull Monument), a bronze sculpture by architect Diódoro Rodríguez Anaya. The city is centered on its main plaza, called Parque Juárez, which contains gardens and a kiosk from the beginning of the 20th century. The blocks around it conserve many historic buildings from the colonial period up through the Porfirio Diáz era, with simple facades and iron-railed balconies. For this reason and the celebrations related to Our Lady of Charity, the city has been named a “Pueblo Mágico.” The main colonial era constructions are the parish of San Luis Obispo and the former monastery of the same name.
Exploring 3 of the 4 archeological sites in Mexico City open to public: Cuicuilco, Tlatelolco and Cerro de la Estrella.
Tlatelolco is a pre-Columbian city centered on the Plaza de las Tres Culturas, a square surrounded on three sides by an excavated Aztec site, a seventeenth-century church called the Templo de Santiago, and the modern office complex of the foreign ministry. The main temple of Tlatelolco, one of the excavated buildings recently saw the discovery of a pyramid inside the visible temple which is more than 700 years old. This indicates that the site is older than previously thought, according to Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia (National Institute of Anthropology and History; INAH). Because it has design features similar to pyramids found in Tenayuca and Tenochtitlan, it may prove to be the first mixed Aztec and Tlatelolca construction found.
Cerro de la Estrella: after a walk in the beautiful national park we will get to the top of the small pyramid, with amazing views all over Mexico City.
Cuicuilco: the settlement goes back to 1400 BC. It consists of a circular pyramid constructed within a plaza with smaller structures associated with agricultural systems. By the year 400 CE, the Xitle volcano erupted burying and destroying Cuicuilco. The site of Cuicuilco is covered by a dense volcanic lava field known as the Pedregal de San Ángel. The lava covers an area of approximately 80 km², the uneven lava deposits, reaching a depth over 10 m in areas. Based on its date of occupation, Cuicuilco may be the oldest city in the Valley of Mexico and was roughly contemporary with, and possibly interacting with the Olmec of the Gulf Coast of lowland Veracruz and Tabasco (also known as the Olmec heartland).
Exploring Tláhuac town and it´s beautiful Chinampas (channels and artificial islands), during a boat road in a traditional canoa.
Let´s explore one of the most beautiful and most rural parts of Mexico City, visiting the neighborhood of Tláhuac (about 1.5 hours South of the historic center), taking a boat trip, using a traditional canoa to it´s nearby Chinampas, while having an excellent and relaxed local breakfast during the boat trip (vegan and vegetarian options available).
On arriving at the Chinampas, they will explain us all about this prehispanic agricultural method (invented around 1150 AC, creating channels and artificial islands), we can participate in creating our own little Chinampa, and optionally we will be able to buy fresh vegetables straight from the land. Afterwards we will visit the impressive San Pedro Tláhuac monastry and it´s colorful local market, where we optionally can buy some more local products.
Let´s travel back in time, and imagine how the Aztecs created the channels and chinampas in the southern part of Mexico City. A completely different experience then a visit to it´s more festive neighbor Xochimilco. Plus a great way to help the local economy :-).
Apart from the group trips mentioned above, we can also:
Help you with private trips departing from Mexico City and guided walking tours inside Mexico City; ask us for a quote!
Help you with all national and international packages (flight + hotel + transfers); ask us for a quote!
We are a registred travel agency in Mexico City, and we work with certified guides.
Best regards, Lidia Herrera 🇲🇽 and Peter Winckers 🇳🇱. Owners of Azteca Travel Tours Art + Aztec Explorers.
Contact information:
Website: Www.AztecaTTA.com
Landline: 5763 5527
Cell phone / WhatsApp: +5215513083732 (Lidia Herrera; bilingual)
All details of all trips (soon) on Meetup:
https://www.meetup.com/Internationals-in-Mexico-City-Mexican-Welcome/