10 must-do experiences for a perfect weekend in Tepoztlán

Tepoztlán: So adjacent to the capital, yet truthful acold from the municipality bustle. With each sojourn to this charming Pueblo Mágico successful Morelos, my dependency grows. Its cleanable equilibrium of spiritual vigor and pueblo civilization makes Tepoz, arsenic it’s truthful fondly called by locals, a delightful flight from the city. 

Tucked astatine the basal of the towering Tepozteco mountain, determination are conscionable capable experiences present to capable a memorable play getaway: hiking to waterfalls, exploring past pyramids, purifying yourself successful a accepted temazcal ceremonial and wrapping it each up with a originative cocktail successful a lush greenhouse-turned-restaurant. Whether you’re a Mexico City nonmigratory seeking upland aerial oregon an planetary traveler wanting authentic culture, Tepoztlán is definite to deliver.

Tepoztlán has gained a estimation arsenic an enticing destination for those seeking quality with a broadside of spirituality and tranquility. (Expedia)

How to get to Tepoztlán from Mexico City

ADO’s OCC enactment runs up to 23 departures regular from the Taxqueña terminal, reaching Tepoztlán successful 1.5 hours connected a bully time oregon up to 2 hours with traffic. Tickets commencement astatine 140 pesos. Rideshares are besides an enactment — conscionable fto your operator cognize your destination and expect to wage tolls for some the thrust determination and the instrumentality trip.

When to visit: The champion clip for a getaway to Tepoztlán

Visit during the June-to-September rainy play for waterfall sightings — hike successful the mornings for the champion experience. The adust play offers cleanable outdoor upwind and wide upland views. Any clip works, but battalion accordingly: layers and rainfall cogwheel for bedewed season, airy apparel and hats for adust season.

1. Hike to the Tepozteco pyramid

Tepoztlán is astir celebrated for the Tepozteco temple, atop a upland connected the borderline of the city. (Wikimedia Commons)

The classical Tepoztlán experience. This mean 2-hour hike up the Tepozteco upland rewards you with a 12th-century pyramid astatine the apical and panoramic vale views. Start aboriginal to bushed the crowds and heat. For thing further disconnected the beaten path, prosecute a section usher to instrumentality you to the “portal” — your usher volition cognize precisely what you’re referring to erstwhile you inquire for this undercover site.

2. Experience a accepted temazcal ceremony

For an unforgettable and invigorating temazcal experience, Hostal de la Luz is hard to beat. (Booking.com)

This millennia-old accepted Mesoamerican sauna cleanses you successful each the ways: physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. Hostal de la Luz offers my preferred temazcal acquisition — inquire for Andrés to pb you done the ceremony. It’s aggravated but transformative, cleanable for those seeking a deeper connection.

3. Explore the New Tepoztlán Market

Tepoztlán’s marketplace is simply a feast for the sense. (Happy Sleepy)

From the agleam colors to the mouthwatering scents, this three-level marketplace completed successful 2024 is simply a feast for the senses. Start your meandering with a caller effect foodstuff oregon a steaming espresso made utilizing beans from Chiapas. Next, effort itacates, Tepoztlán’s celebrated triangular fried masa, topped with everything from nopales to grasshoppers. The marketplace perfectly captures this Pueblo Mágico’s blend of contented and modern Mexican culture.

4. Sample authentic Tepoztlán cuisine

Tepoznieves has implicit 100 flavors disposable to illustration and has go thing of a Mexican crystal pick legend. (City Foodsters / CC BY SA 2.0)

Tepoztlán’s cuisine extends beyond the charming markets. Around town, don’t skip a sojourn to Tepoznieves — a section crystal pick store with implicit 100 flavors — and a wound of cecina, the accepted crockery of Morelos. These aren’t conscionable tourer foods; they’re what locals really eat. The flavors present bespeak the town’s upland mounting and Indigenous heritage.

5. Visit the Museo de Arte Prehispánico Carlos Pellicer

The hundreds of pieces astatine this depository were erstwhile the postulation of Tabasco autochthonal and writer Carlos Pellicer. (México Desconocido)

This compact depository houses awesome past artifacts that archer the communicative of the region’s pre-Columbian cultures, erstwhile the backstage postulation of writer Carlos Pellicer. It’s a large enactment for a rainy day oregon erstwhile the prima is astatine its peak, adding immoderate taste discourse to your Tepoztlán experience.

6. Relax astatine Amomoxtli

Amomoxtli boasts sweeping views of the Sierra del Ajusco-Chichinautzin. (Amomoxtli)

Book a time walk astatine what I telephone the Soho House of Tepoztlán. This hidden gem is tucked distant among lush conifer and tropical plants, offering spa treatments that incorporated ancestral techniques and section herbs harvested from the property’s onsite gardens. The work is top-notch and you won’t find a amended spa acquisition successful town.

7. Have cocktails astatine Margarita Concept Garden

Unwind successful comfortableness astatine Margarita Concept Garden. (Margarita Concept Garden/Instagram)

This unsocial greenhouse-turned-restaurant has go the societal hub for trendy visitors from Mexico City. The mounting is Instagram-worthy, but the drinks, nutrient and ambiance are the existent draw. Try the Ambar, a spiced martini of mezcal, Lillet and Ancho Reyes with a broadside of homemade gnocchi.

8. Wander the Historic Ex-Convent of the Nativity

The convent is simply a fantastic illustration of aboriginal Spanish assemblage architecture, and good worthy checking retired adjacent for those not historically inclined. (Meer)

This Unesco World Heritage tract showcases 16th-century frescoes of fantastical creatures and elaborate assemblage architecture. It’s a peaceful opposition to the town’s bustling vigor and offers penetration into Tepoztlán’s layered history, and its artsy entranceway made wholly of seeds gives it that unsocial flair you’ll soon travel to expect successful this portion of the world.

9. Discover section thoroughfare creation and artisan culture

Amate paper, made of histrion bark, is crafted successful Tepoztlán and utilized for accepted Mexican illustrations. (Etsy)

Tepoztlán’s murals and artisan shops bespeak the town’s originative spirit. Wander the cobblestone streets to find handcrafted jewelry textiles and artwork that seizure the region’s mystical energy. Paintings and lamps made from accepted amate paper, crafted from histrion bark, are an perfect souvenir to instrumentality home.

10. Take a quality locomotion to Amatlán

Amatlán astatine sunset. (Drejtinm / CC BY 3.0)

This adjacent colony offers fantabulous hiking opportunities and a accidental to research beyond cardinal Tepoztlán. Local guides tin amusement you hidden waterfalls and stock stories astir the area’s spiritual significance. Amatlán is the alleged hometown of Quetzacoatl, the Mesoamerican feathered serpent deity of wind, contented and creation.

Where to enactment successful Tepoztlán

Casa Fernanda: A 5-star boutique hotel for its breezy design, fantabulous edifice and unpretentious pool. It’s similar staying astatine your affluent friend’s state villa with casual municipality halfway access.

Amomoxtli: Another luxury enactment with fantabulous work and the champion spa successful town, tucked among lush conifer and tropical plants. Within its luxe plot property is the lone Casa Dragones tasting location extracurricular of San Miguel de Allende.

Hostal de la Luz: Perfect for spiritual seekers, this sprawling Amatlán property offers some accepted treatments, similar temazcals, distinctive ones, similar labyrinths and gamma chambers. The views are breathtaking.

La Buena Vibra Wellness Resort & Spa: A peaceful mid-range retreat with beauteous gardens, full-service spa and renowned Sunday meal buffet. Great wellness ambiance astatine a much accessible terms point.

Hotel Teocalli: Excellent budget choice adjacent the halfway with relaxed vibes, pool, gardens and on-site massages. Clean, comfy rooms successful an perfect determination for exploring connected foot.

Tepoztlán has this mode of sticking with you agelong aft you’ve returned to the city. Maybe it’s the upland air, the vigor that locals curse by, oregon simply the information that everything feels much manageable astatine a slower pace. Whatever it is, I support uncovering excuses to spell back. Pack your hiking boots, a swimsuit and an unfastened mind: Tepoz is waiting to enactment its magic connected you too.

Bethany Platanella is simply a question planner and manner writer based successful Mexico City. She lives for the dopamine deed that comes straight aft booking a level ticket, exploring section markets, practicing yoga and munching connected caller tortillas. Sign up to person her Sunday Love Letters to your inbox, peruse her blog oregon travel her connected Instagram.