Hiking Tepoztlan
This hike through Tepoztlan to the Tepozteco archaeological site is not the most challenging, but it is certainly well worth doing.
The route is very close to Mexico City and combines a very fun trail, containing over one thousand steps up to an Aztec temple, with a visit to the bustling streets of Tepoztlan.
Route Description
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| Start | Distance | Elevation Gain | Difficulty | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tepoztlan | 8km | 400m | Medium | *** |
This hike begins from the bus station on the edge of Tepoztlan. Begin by following the road gently downhill into the center of Tepoztlan.
View walking down into Tepoztlan center
After 1km you will join the main cobbled street through the town, which is an excellent opportunity to stop for refreshments.
The colorful main church in Tepoztlan
Continue past the picturesque church on your right hand side and keep going straight until you reach several market stalls and the road narrows.
This is the start of the steps up to Tepozteco Archaeological Site.
Steps Climbing to Tepozteco
The steps are only about 1km in distance, but includes over 300m of elevation gain, so takes a considerable effort. They are quite uneven in places and can be a little tricky at times (especially if you have brought inappropriate footwear like many people here!).
The toughest part of the climb is the last 200 or so steps, as you ascend through a narrow gorge, before arriving at the entrance to the temple complex.
Steep steps just before the top
You have to pay an entrance fee to get inside the temple, but it is well worth doing so, both to enjoy the views of Tepoztlan from the top of the climb, and to visit the Temple to the god of pulque - Tepoztecatl.
View from Tepozteco site
There is often a guide at the temple who will give a talk explain the history of the temple and showing images of how the temple would have looked, as well as highlighting some of the paintings
that would have adorned the surface of the temple.
Local guide explaining the history of the temple
After admiring the temple complex, you have to descend the same way back down to Tepoztlan. On this route we have included a short extra loop around the main square, where you can sample local delicacies including pulque. The classic dish chiles en nogada is also highly recommended here.
In the markets you will see stands selling what appears to be exotic meat, with names such as 'vibora' (viper) and 'leon' (lion) - but these are mostly just pork mixed with vegetables and food coloring!
Paintings on the Pulque Temple
After stopping in the town, the route continues back up to the bus station, where you can catch one of the regular departures back to Mexico City. Tepoztlan also has a lot of good quality accommodation if you prefer to stay the night and enjoy the evening atmosphere here.
Chiles en Nogada - lacking the traditional pommegranate due to the season!
How to Get To Nevado de Toluca
Tepoztlan is very easy to get to from Mexico City. By car, you follow the toll road to Cuernavaca, and take the turn to Tepoztlan. You can either park at the start of the hike, or find another parking in the center of the town.By Public Transport
There are very regular busses to Tepoztlan from Taxqueña bus station, in the south of Mexico City. Tasqueña is also the final metro stop on line 2 (the blue line).At Tasqueña, look out for the OCC bus company (part of the ADO group). They have departures roughly every 45 minutes throughout the day, and the route takes about 1h 20m. This hike begins from the bus stop on the edge of Tepoztlan.
Tepoztlan & Tepozteco Temple
Tepoztlan, one of Mexico's 'pueblo magicos' is an extremely popular day trip from Mexico City. It is a very pretty town with lots of cobbled streets, charming restaurants and bustling street markets. The center is full of vibrant colors, both in the buildings and the beautiful flowers that seem to adorn every corner.
The temple to the god of pulque at Tepozteco
Tepozteco archaeological area is the star attraction of Tepoztlan, and is the main feature of this hike. It is a small but very charming temple complex that can only be reached by climbing nearly 400m in elevation.
The site was the legendary birth place of Quetzalcóatl, one of the most important gods of the Aztec pantheon. Quetzalcóatl is depicted as a feathered serpent and was related to various attributes including knowledge, arts and commerce. He is one of the oldest known gods of central Mexico, with references to him dating back over 2,000 years at Teotihuacan.
At Tepozteco today, the main feature is a small, but charming temple dedicated to Tepoztēcatl - the Aztec god of the drink pulque. The temple is largely reconstructed, giving you a real feel for its role in Aztec religion and life.
After visiting the temple it seems obligatory to stop for a cup of pulque on your return to Tepoztlan. This traditional drink is often flavoured with fresh fruits such as guava or strawberry, or with traditional ingredients like chocolate, coffee and oats.
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