10 Magical Things to Do in Tepoztlán for 2024 (+Odd Food Tips!)
ON THE HUNT FOR THE BEST THINGS TO DO IN TEPOZTLAN?
As someone who’s always looking for a new adventure, I decided to take a day trip from Mexico City to the charming Pueblo Magico, Tepoztlan. And let me tell you, it was two days well spent. This place’s spiritual vibe and stunning mountain views make it a unique destination worth exploring.
If you were to ask me for my top three recommendations in Tepoztlan, here’s what they’d be:
- Trek up to the ancient Tepozteco pyramid.
- Stuff your stomach with prehispanic delicacies: boar, viper, tarantula.
- Make time for the markets (weekend or not).
My visit to Tepoztlan was more of a spontaneous decision to escape the bustling Mexico City, being only 90 minutes away. But as soon as I opened my windows to the magnificent mountains in the morning, I knew I had made the right choice.
Now, after several days walking up the cobblestone roads, I’m excited to share with you some of the best things to do in Tepoztlan, beyond what you’ll find in regular travel guides.
Magical Tepoztlan Tour from Mexico City
Best for a Mexico City Day Trip
What to do in Tepoztlán, Mexico
For a small village with a population of about 14,000 people, the town of Tepoztlán feels a lot livelier. A true jewel just outside of Mexico City, primarily local Mexican tourists descend onto the cobble-stone walkways for long weekend holidays and weekend getaways.
Every weekend also brings live music to the city center near the main church, with people dancing and lighting fireworks at night. Find the best foods to try and the top things to do for your Tepoztlán trip.
Note: Tepoztlán is in the rainy season between April to November, so it is best to come the other half of the year.
1. Hike to Tepozteco Pyramid
Aside from exploring the town, the main attraction you have to do in Tepoztlán is to hike the Tepozteco hill to the archaeological site of El Tepozteco. The site was built to honor the Aztec god of Pulque, a Mexican alcoholic drink made by fermenting sap from the maguey plant.
From the end of Avenida del Tepozteco, it takes about 45 minutes of steep stair climbing to get to the top of the mountain. Enjoy the natural beauty of the surrounding mountains as you ascend.
Note: Tepozteco is a heavily trafficked climb. It’s open Wednesday to Sunday 9am to 4pm.
The pyramid was closed when the days we went. Luckily, there is a second lookout option. A rock stairway forks to the left before arriving at the pyramid’s main entrance. Just another 2-3 minutes and a small rock climb away, there is a good viewpoint of the mountains and the town. Some local “guides” asked us for money, but we just ignored them, and it worked.
2. Former Convent of the Nativity
While exploring the town’s main streets, wander into the UNESCO World Heritage Site, the former Convent of Nativity. Built in the mid-1500s by Dominican priests, the former convent features a large atrium, an open chapel, a courtyard, and the convent with an attached church.
Today, we just saw vendors and locals spill in from the busy main square to leisure in one of the town’s only green spaces.
3. Go to the Lively Weekend Market
If you want to see Tepoztlán at its finest, the best time to visit is the weekend. While the market is open daily, it really kicks into high gear over the weekend and holidays.
The central market in the main square spills into the side streets of Tepoztlán, vastly expanding the usual marketplace. More vendors, more crafts, and more food.
4. Get in Touch with your Spirituality
Or just relax and sip on your mojito. The area of Tepoztlán is both a sacred place to the locals for being the birthplace of Quetzalcóatl and a relaxation zone for tourists. You can find the full spectrum of crystal jewelry and elephant pants alongside alternative therapies.
Shiatsu your muscles at the plenty of massage parlors available, or bake in a traditional Temazcal, the Mexican version of a sauna but more spiritual.
5. Get Hit by Herbal Plants in a Traditional Temezcal
Definitely one of the weirder things I’ve tried: step into a human-sized pizza oven of sweat, steam, and ancient tradition. When here, you should have a temazcal experience!
A temazcal is an indigenous sweat lodge traditionally used for physical and spiritual purification. After driving out to the countryside, we were ushered by a shaman inside a small, dome-shaped structure as while chanting, drumming, and swatting us with herbal leaves.
The shaman pours aromatic herbal water onto the stones, filling the air with swirling, fragrant steam. We were also given some aloe to rub our bodies while we sweated out toxins.
6. Afternoon trip to Amatlán de Quetzalcóatl
Why not visit one of the beautiful towns near Tepoztlán too? Every 10 minutes, you can take a colectivo from Centro Tepoztlán to Amatlán de Quetzalcóatl, the birthplace of Quetzalcóatl. It costs 10 pesos and takes about 20-30 minutes one way.
The town and the surrounding area are said to be magical and especially sacred to the natives. The town itself is tranquil, and I strolled around for an hour until I found a hiking path.
Here are two GPS locations with a hiking trail into the National Park surrounding Amatlán de Quetzalcóatl.
- GPS Location 1 (18.974954, -99.029129): Puerta de Quetzalcóatl
- GPA Location 2 (18.958611, -99.031729): Poze de Quetzalcóatl
Personal Opinion! Unless you have an afternoon to spare, I’m not sure I would recommend coming here unless you were looking for more hiking in the mountains or quiet from Tepoztlán.
Eat the Weirder Local Street Foods
To be honest, eating local street food is what I spent the majority of my time in Tepoztlán doing. There are some pretty unique foods here that I was excited to try while some options, let’s just say, I’m still working up the courage for.
7. Eat Pre-Hispanic Food
Tarantulas, Armadillo, Warthog, oh my!
Yes indeed, those are some unique experience food options that you can choose from. I can say that the armadillo and the warthog (wild boar) turned out to be quite tasty. I hadn’t mustered the courage to try tarantula…yet.
Here, the locals categorize food into Mexican and Pre-hispanic foods. The food stalls usually state what they offer.
Try these unusual Pre-Hispanic Foods:
- Unique to uncommon Meats: Tarantula, Armadillo, Warthog, Deer, Rabbit, Viper
A Tad Pricy: A bit on the higher side when you can snag a taco for 15 pesos, but the armadillo meat is around 100 pesos. Most of the unique meats come on a plate with tasty sides. I was really itching to try the viper, but the place I asked at quoted me 300 pesos for just 4 inches of meat, so I’ll save it for the next trip.
- Itacate and Tlacoyos: Another variation of corn tortilla. From what I can tell, the only difference between the two is that the Tlacoyo has beans, and Itacate’s don’t.
- Tlaltequeada: These vegetarian food items contain various vegetable ingredients and shapes, mainly patties or balls. Some shops also served them with various mole sauces on top.
8. Must-try Pan de Elote
All over town, the desert shops sell this plain-looking cupcake made out of corn, but it is delicious – if you find it from the right shop. I tried 3 different places, and to be honest, the most famous one, La Guera, is overrated.
My favorite is a tiny pink shop right after the field on the town’s main street. It was crispy on top and had the perfect moistness inside. I wish I remembered the name.
Different shops also come in various fruit flavors, and pan de queso is also pretty tasty.
9. Satisfy your sweet tooth with Tepoznieve Ice cream
If you think there are too many Starbucks or McDonald’s in your city, you should see the expansion of the Tepoznieve Ice cream shop here. There can be one shop 30 seconds away from each other.
I’ve got to give credit that they have many flavors. Their website says they have over 300 flavors, and depending on the size of the store you visit, you have more options.
10. Try Indian-Mexican Fusion at Govinda Ram
I have to put this on the list since I can’t say I have tried vegetarian Indian-Mexican Fusion before. They have a daily set menu that mixes the two cultures for 175 pesos (small) and 225 pesos (large). Otherwise, you can order the typical Mexican cuisine as well. They are closed on Monday/Tuesday.
11. Endless Quest for the Best Juice
Mexico is a fantastic place for fresh fruit juices, but they can always be a hit or a miss. On the way to our hotel Posada Paraiso, going up the hill, there is a small juice stand with amazing juices, and it doesn’t even have sugar!
GPS Location: (18.986365, -99.102214)
Where to Stay in Tepoztlán
ONLY HOSTEL IN TOWN – Ekko Hostel
From my research, there is only one hostel called Ekko Hostel, where a dorm bed is supposed to be 250 pesos a night. However, it wasn’t available for our dates, and it’s about 20 minute walk to town up a hill.
HOTEL WITH THE BEST VIEW – Posada Paraiso
We opted instead for a Tepoztlán hotel called Posada Paraiso. Open your windows to some of the best views of the surrounding mountains. The hotel is almost in the center of town, only two minutes from the centro mercado. View and location-wise, I don’t think you can beat this place.
Address: De Buenavista 10, Santisima Trinidad, 62520 Tepoztlán, Mor., Mexico
More: Find Other Top Accommodation Deals in Tepoztlán on Booking.com
How do you get to Tepoztlán
Tepoztlán is in central Mexico, in the state of Morelos. It is a popular day trip getaway for Mexico City residents, as it takes only 1 hr -1.5 hrs to get to Tepoztlán.
👉 If you’d rather have the freedom of driving yourself, compare and book the best priced rental car here
Check out Busbud to see if there are any busses or BlablaCar’s (aka super cheap ridesharing for your dates)
How do you get to Tepoztlán from Mexico City?
From Mexico City’s zocalo, take the Blue Metro line 2 to the final stop, Taxqueña (Terminal del Sur). Next, you will take a bus. The Terminal del Sur is Mexico City’s southern terminal that houses most buses going south of the city.
Once you’re at the station, look for the signs pointing to the Terminal del Sur. Otherwise, you’ll end up on the wrong side and have to walk all the way around the building.
Once you’re in the Terminal, the OCC bus departs approximately every 30 minutes, so you can just show up and grab your ticket. There are a few counters where you can get one, and it’s 150 pesos per ticket. The journey will take around 80 minutes.
👉 Check out Busbud to see if there are any busses or BlablaCar’s (aka super cheap ridesharing on your dates)
How do I get from Cuernavaca to Tepoztlán?
You can take a bus from Mexico City to Cuernavaca, the closest large city to Tepoztlán. It is another 30 minutes and 30 pesos from Cuernavaca to Tepoztlán. Due to traffic, it took us over an hour.
Getting around Tepoztlán
Tepoztlán is a very walkable small town once you are in the town center. Most of the hotels are within a 15 minute walk from the main square and central market.
If you’re thinking of exploring nearby towns, local colectivo’s are gonna be your best and most cost-effective bet. Wherever you wanna go, a good idea is to head to the town square and ask the locals where the local collective bus stops are.
Are there taxis in Tepoztlán?
Just like in many Mexican towns and cities, taxis are everywhere and pretty affordable. Just remember to haggle the price beforehand, or you could be in for an unexpectedly hefty bill at the end of your ride.
If you come by intercity bus, it’ll drop you off at the central bus station, not the town center. The walk to the center is just a 10-15 minute walk. But, after hitting one dead-end after another, we decided to grab a taxi to the center for 40 pesos.
Final Thoughts: Is Tepoztlán Worth Visiting?
Tepoztlán regularly tops the list of the best magical towns to visit in Mexico. Whether it be soaking in the spiritual mountain energy or crossing off your food bucket list, you can find some awesome things to do in Tepoztlán, Mexico.
And if you’re looking for another super cool pueblo magico nearby, you should also check out Taxco.
Going Elsewhere? Discover Other Mexico Adventures and Resources
- Fun Things to Do in Acapulco, Mexico
- Best Things to Do in Taxco, Mexico
- Best Things to Do in Zihuatanejo – Ixtapa, Mexico
- Ixtapa Island: A Perfect Beach Day at La Isla Ixtapa, Zihuatenejo
- How to Visit Chacahua, Oaxaca – A Secret Mexican Beach Paradise
- Adventurous Things to Do in Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca
- Day Trip to the Magical Waterfalls of Copalitilla and Llano Grande
- Things to Do in Huatulco, Mexico and Why I Won’t Be Back
- Never Lost in Mexico: Transporation Guide to Getting Around Mexico
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