Aguascalientes
- Not to be confused with Aguas Calientes, next to Machu Picchu, Peru.
Aguascalientes is a city of 950,000 people (2020) in the Bajío region of Mexico. Aguascalientes means hot water in Spanish; the name comes from the abundance of hot springs in the area.
Understand
[edit]
Located in central Mexico, Aguascalientes borders the states of Zacatecas and Jalisco and is located about 537 km northwest of Mexico City. There are five traditional neighborhoods in Aguascalientes. Those neighborhoods are La Estacion, La Salud, El Encino, Guadalupe, and San Marcos(where the annual San Marcos Fair is held). Aguascalientes was founded in 1575. The city is very Spanish in nature and is known for its pottery, embroideries and woven goods. Aguascalientes, Mexico is the capital city of Aguascalientes state. Historically, the Spanish chose this city as an outpost to guard against the Chichimec Indians who once resided in the area. It was an outpost against the Indian tribes until 1857 when a state of republic was created under the same name as the state, Aguascalientes. From 1910 to 1920 the city was a major rail junction between Mexico City and the silver mines of Zacatecas.
Natives call Aguascalientes "the perforated city" or La Ciudad Perforada due to its intertwining passages, or catacombs beneath it that the pre-colonial Indians carved from rock. Their origin and reason is unknown and they are not open to the public.
It is ranked among the top three safest cities in Mexico, and one of the best in quality of life for its inhabitants.
Climate
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The climate in Aguascalientes is warm and dry year-round. Rainfall season is from May until November, although rain is very seldom here. When it does rain it's fierce and brief in the late afternoon leaving the evenings cooled off and dry.
Get in
[edit]By plane
[edit]- 1 Lic. Jesús Terán Peredo International Airport (AGU IATA, Aguascalientes International Airport) (16 km (10 miles) out of the city).
Nearby airports in the Bajio region include:
By bus
[edit]2 Central de Autobuses
The bus station, is on the south side of the first ring, 5 km (3 miles) from main square, at Av de la Convención de 1914 Sur 408, Las Américas. A bus ride from Mexico City will usually take about six hours. There is an overnight bus that runs from Mexico City to Aguascalientes that leaves around midnight and arrives in Aguascalientes around 06:00. This type of bus trip is perfect for those who just want to spend a full day in Aguascalientes.
There are also stops on the north side for Omnibus de Mexico (on MEX 95, near the university) and Turistar (on MEX 45).
First class services ETN and Primera Plus serve Aguas.
Local buses M$6 (pesos) run from outside the bus station into the centre. Look for "Centro" on the windshield, meaning they go downtown. Combis also operate on major thoroughfares in Aguas.
By car
[edit]To get to Aguascalientes from Mexico City by car, take the MEX 57 as far as Querétaro, then take the MEX 45 via Salamanca. Aguascalientes is located on Federal Highway 57/45 in Mexico. It is a 300 mile trip and will take at least 5 hours.
Get around
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On foot
[edit]It is safe to walk during the day and at night around the tourist areas and downtown, to get on a cab or public transportation. Most people show their hospitality when they realize you are a tourist, always willing to help, give you directions or help you with the language.
By e-hailing
[edit]Uber, Didi and Bolt serve Aguascalientes.
By bus
[edit]Moovit covers the city for taking the bus from one place to another.
By taxi
[edit]Taxis are a safe option for getting around in Aguascalientes. You can arrange for a taxi from your hotel although street cabs are usually much cheaper. All taxis have meters that indicate the fare to pay. It is not required to speak Spanish or negotiate the fare. Check that the driver turns on his meter. Most places in the city can be reached for M$40 or less.
By sightseeing tour
[edit]Tranvía - Right across the main square, you can get a ride on a streetcar around the most important tourist sights with this government-provided service. Cost is M$36 for adults, M$18 for children and senior citizens (April 2022). On board, the tour guide gives you descriptions and facts about the sights in English and Spanish. Hourly departures.
By car
[edit]Aguascalientes is very accessible by road so renting a car is a good option to see all the historic sites and architecture that Aguascalientes and its surrounding areas have to offer, however, it is recommended that you have some experience driving in Mexico, because the rules and customs can vary significantly from those from other countries.
See
[edit]Museums
[edit]- 1 Contemporary Art Museum (Museo de Arte Contemporáneo No. 8), José María Morelos y Pavón S/N, ☏ +52 449 918 6901. With its various inset exterior panoramas, the building looks like a work of art.
- 2 Discover Interactive Museum of Science and Technology (Descubre Museo Interactivo de Ciencia y Tecnología), Av. del Parque S/N (on northeast edge of Parque Heroes Mexicanos), ☏ +52 663 156 1435. One of those little interactive learning museums with an IMAX theater. Watch out for dinos and Day of the Dead statues and airplanes outside.
- 3 José Guadalupe Posada Museum (Museo José Guadalupe Posada) (north side of Encino Garden), ☏ +52 449 915 4556. Posada is considered by many as the founder of modern art in Mexico. Since his death nearly a century ago, José Guadalupe Posada's work has steadily gained popularity with art lovers and Día de los Muertos celebrators alike. He is especially known for his calaveras images of whimsical skeletons. While the illustration of the high society woman is one of Posada's most highly regarded pieces, it's also one the most recognizable images of the Día de los Muertos celebration. Adjacent to the museum, you'll find the Encino church (ca. 1796) and garden where food vendors await with bocadillos.
- 4 National Museum of Death (Museo Nacional de la Muerte), Rivero y Gutiérrez esq, ☏ +52 449 910 7400. The national museum of death. Celebrating the Mexican tradition of the Day of the Dead with many beautiful works ranging from pre-Hispanic period to today. Many people visit Aguas for this museum alone.
- 5 Museum of Aguascalientes (Museo de Aguascalientes), Calle Gral. Ignacio Zaragoza 505, ☏ +52 449 916 7142. Built out of pink quarry. It has a collection of 20th century arts including the works of Saturnio Herran, who was born in Aguascalientes. Herran's arts include portraits of the everyday citizen painted with a high degree of sensitivity toward his subjects. His work is very similar to art nouveau.
- 6 Regional History Museum Aguascalientes (Museo Regional de Historia de Aguascalientes), Venustiano Carranza 118, ☏ +52 449 916 5228. A comprehensive cultural and natural science museum. You'll come away knowing a lot more about the precolonial and colonial inhabitants of Ags. after you make a pit stop here.
- 7 Museo Espacio, Av. Ferrocarril Sur S/N, AntiguosTalleres del Ferrocarril, Desarrollo Especial Talleres F.F.C.C, ☏ +52 449 688 4101. 11:00 - 18:00 (closed Tu). Magnificent new contemporary art museum that is itself a work of post-modern art (if you consider architecture an art). The site was a former workshop for repairing locomotives, and there's places where glass floors let you see remnants of the original tracks. The exhibit features mostly rotating exhibits, which seem to change frequently so it's a new experience every time you visit.
Cultural centers
[edit]- Cultural Institute of Aguascalientes, Venustiano Carranza 101, Centro, ☏ +52 449 910 2010. Cultural center that offers art and music exhibits and language classes. Be prepared for some Day of the Dead fun.
- Casa Teran, Rivero y Gutiérrez 110, ☏ +52 449 916 9809. Reading library and venue for music and other performances.
- Centro Cultural los Arquitos, Alameda S/N, ☏ +52 449 916 9201. Historic building that mostly functions as a theater but also a site for some art classes.
Theatres
[edit]- 8 Teatro Morelos, Nieto 113, ☏ +52 449 915 1941. Aguascalientes is a colonial town full of history. If history is one of your main interests the Teatro Morelos should be on your list of stops. Here is where the supporters of Carranza, Villa and Zapata, gathered after defeating Victoriano Huerta upon drawing up a program for the government which led to the Revolutionary Convention and the Plan of Ayala. It was represented by men such as Alvaro Obregón, Felipe Angeles, and Francisco Villa. The Teatro Morelos is where Eulalio Gutiérrez was appointed president in 1914 also. The theater was opened in 1885, the National Poetry Prize is presented here during the San Marcos Fair.
Parks and public gardens
[edit]- 9 San Marcos Garden (Jardin de San Marcos). Portrayed on the city's official crest, this garden-like park is a symbol of the city and lies next to the Templo San Marcos.
- 10 Parque Tres Centurias, Alameda 301, ☏ +52 449 994 2757. Plaza with a railway museum (plus a representative steam engine), fountain, and monuments.
- 11 Parque Hidalgo, Av LIC.Adolfo López M.Ote s/n. Nothing too amazing here: just a duck pond and some rabbits/aviary on display.
- 12 Parque Heroes Mexicanos/Rodolfo Landeros Gallegos, Blvd. José María Chávez 1801. Beautiful natural scenery in which people can walk through. Zoological park with a lake and parkland.
- 13 Parque del Cedazo (El Cedazo Ecological Park). Big park surrounding a lagoon where you can do some jogging or relaxing.
Church buildings
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- 14 Catedral Basilica De Nuestra Señora De La Asunción, De La República 107, ☏ +52 449 915 1052. Circa 1738, this Baroque-style cathedral is the diocese of Aguascalientes where, as you probably guessed, the patron saint is the Virgin of the Assumption, immortalized in relief in the front edifice. Look for an interesting painting of the Spanish warship San Juan Nepomuceno in the apse of the church, or just admire this city landmark from the La Plaza Patria outside the front steps.
- 15 Temple of San Marcos, Monroy 213, ☏ +52 449 915 5287. Another Baroque monument that was built between 1604 and 1765 that used to cater largely to the indigenous people. This one has some very appealing art inside.
- 16 Temple De La Merced, Mariano Matamoros Norte 207, ☏ +52 449 915 1185. Neoclassical-style church built of rose stone that was an area of focus by Dominican friars.
- 17 Templo de la Purísima Concepción (Templo de La Virgen De La Inmaculada Concepción de San Diego), Rivero y Gutiérrez. This church's construction also began in the 1600s by the Franciscans of San Diego. There is a convent of sorts attached.
- 18 Templo de Guadalupe, General Guadalupe Victoria 213, ☏ +52 449 915 5033. Another one if you are not too churched out.
- Templo del Señor del Encino, ☏ +52 449 915 9876.
- 19 Templo de San Antonio de Padua, Calle Pedro Parga 252. Baroque-style from 1895.
Sports
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There's a huge sports complex of professional venues and public athletic facilities on the east side of Aguascalientes at the intersection of Av. Adolfo Lopez Mateos Ote. and Av. Ferrocarril. Venues include:
- 1 Estadio Victoria – Football (soccer), home of "Necaxa", colloquially called the "Hidrorayos"
- 2 Parque Alberto Romo Chavez – Baseball, home of the AAA Mexican League team, Los Rieleros
- 3 Auditorio Hermanos Carreon – Basketball, home of the Panteras
Architecture
[edit]Walk through the beautiful Parque de San Marcos, and then continue to the gorgeous Palacio de Gobierno with its central courtyard and murals. This is the most outstanding colonial building in Aguascalientes. On the west side of the main square lies the 18th-century baroque cathedral. This cathedral is filled with gorgeous paintings by colonial painter Miguel Cabrera. More interesting places to see include:
- The Government Palace - Built of tezontle stone and gorgeous with its Neoclassical facade of red
- The Municipal Palace - Built out of pink quarry
- El Jardin de los Palacios (Palace Gardens)- A lovely fountain is on display here to honor the artist Jesus F. Contreras who was the creator of two of the relief sculptures decorating the square. Interesting to know is that Contreras sculptures represent the God of hunting "Camaxtli" and the God of Abundance "Centeotl." But perhaps even more impressive is the Patio De Las Jacarandas on the opposite side of the Plaza Patria where a canopy and more fountains and, yes, jacarandas await.
- La Plaza Patria - Holds spectacular views of an iron tower built in 1808.
- Legislative Palace
- 20 Ortega Castle Douglas, Vázquez del Mercado 102. An intriguing residence (or, yeah, castle) built for a family that emigrated here from Scotland. It even has a moat, but it probably has lost a bit of luster over the years.
Do
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- San Marcos Fair (Feria Nacional de San Marcos). From around mid-April to early May annually. The oldest and largest state fair in Mexico. One of the largest fairs in Mexico, attracting millions of visitors for the Casino, the bullfighting, cockfighting and nightlife. The San Marcos Fair also has nightly fireworks, amusement rides, art, theater, dance, commercial and industrial exhibitions, concerts, rodeos, and of course a variety of cuisine. This is the most busy time of year for Aguascalientes. Local schools close for a period of time during the fair as well as local offices.
- Golf - Aguascalientes has two golf clubs. The Country Club Pulgas Pandas has a 6,420-yard-long course, while the Club Campestre de Aguascalientes has an 18-hole course with a 7,535-yard-long course.
Thermal pools
[edit]- 4 Baños Termales de Ojocaliente, Av Tecnológico 102, ☏ +52 449 970 0721. Daily 08:00-18:30. It's good to have some hot springs when the name of your city literally means 'hot water'. Enjoy some swimming pools and private baths.
- 5 Centro Deportivo Ejidal Ojocaliente. On the east side of town featuring thermal pools, saunas, steam baths, squash, and tennis courts.
Out of town trips
[edit]- 6 El Tunel Porterillo – 60 km. A walking and hiking trail runs through the Huejucar Canyon.
- 7 Cortina De La Presa Calles Dam (45 km) and the 8 Jocoqui Presa (40 km) which are ideal for water skiing and fishing.
- 9 Ejido Ecoturistco El Ocote – 40 km. A perfect place for adventure sports, including rock climbing and rappelling.
- The best sites to hike and climb are at:
- 10 Cerro del Picacho – 15 km. There should be regional buses running through the area. From the federal road it's a 35 min hike to the mountain top. Google Maps shows the trail. Nearby is the Mirador Los Arqueros.
- 11 Cerro Los Gallos – 30 km
- 12 Cerro La Antorcha – 80 km
- 13 Cerro del Laurel – 80 km and
- 14 Cerro de La Ardilla – 80 km.
- Fishing: A few kilometers outside of Aguascalientes is where the best fishing occurs. The Jocoqui, El Llanero, and Abelardo Rodríguez Reservoirs are the best places for sport fishing.
Spectator sports
[edit]- 15 Estadio Victoria, Manuel Zavala Madrigal 101, Héroes, ☏ +52 449 971 8394. Home field for the top-tier professional soccer team Impulsora del Deportivo Necaxa (always known simply as Necaxa, except among local fans who have a variety of nicknames, like Los Rayos). The team plays year-round (two seasons annually) in the Liga MX. The stadium has a unique design with an odd upper deck that partially wraps at one end of the field. It was built in 2002 and seats 23,000
Buy
[edit]You can check out little curios along the main plaza (Plaza Patria).
Markets
[edit]- Mercado Teran
Malls
[edit]- Centro Comercial El Parian
- Centro Comercial El Dorado
- Centro Comercial Villasunción
- Centro Comercial Galerias
- The Centro Comercial Plaza de Vestir - This shopping center carries blouses and tablecloths produced by local craftsmen, puppets, wooden toys, and ornaments.
- Centro Comercial Altaria. The mall is in the northern part of the city and is modeled after the typical shopping center in the U.S., main stores include Sears, Liverpool, Radio Shack, Levi´s store, Nike, GNC, and Aéropostale among others. Banks, ATMs, restaurants including Chili's, Burger King and Carl's Jr., and a Cinema complex with VIP theaters. The Marriott hotel is a few yards away from the mall and Centro Comericial Galerías shopping center is also walking distance from here.
- Centro Comericial Espacio opened in 2015, is a mall in the eastern part of the city, includes a cinema complex, food court and stores like Office Depot and Soriana supermarket. It sits right beside the Ojo Caliente spa.
Flea markets
[edit]- Tianguis de la Purisima
- Linea de Fuego (on Sundays) mainly for used items, tools.
Eat
[edit]The best food to try while in Aguascalientes include the
• barbacoa de olla
• biznaga tamales
• candied guava
• caramel sweets and
• ladrillos; which is a delicious flaky pastry.
Budget
[edit]in the city center:
[edit]off downtown:
[edit]Mid-range
[edit]- 3 Rincón Maya. Traditional Mexican cuisine from the state of Yucatán. In the Jardín del Encino (Encino garden), downtown area.
- 4 Mesón del Taco, Avenue Aguascalientes Pte. This restaurant sells traditional Mexican and Spanish food.
- 5 Los Mixes, Blvd Luis Donaldo Colosio. This "hole in the wall" taco restaurant serves the best tacos in town.
- 6 La Roma Brunch Centro, Nieto 434. 08:00-14:00 daily. Chic breakfast/brunch restaurant in el centro. M$100-200.
Splurge
[edit]Drink
[edit]There are many nightclubs and bars in Aguascalientes. But don't head there early. Locals usually begin to show up at the bars around 11pm. They don't leave or even start dancing until 5am through 7am. So if you want to drink and party like a local do not head home early!
If you want to party visit Aguas during la Feria de San Marcos. The city transforms into the largest open-air cantina in Mexico, with an abundance of places selling cocktails (M$50) or 2L beers (also M$50). You are also able to buy beer in cans, bottles, 16 oz and 1L varieties. Usually drinking on the street in Mexico would be problematic, However, during the Feria many enterprising people open public bathroom, all costing M$5.
Clubs and a casino also open specially for the Feria.
- 1 Hasta Atras, Mariano Matamoros Nte. 12, Zona Centro, ☏ +52 449 994 0459. 18:00 - 02:00. When this place tells you the drinks are big, they don't mess around....they're a full litre. Small, intimate space. Live music (mostly rock).
- 2 Mi Canton Bar Guadalupe, C. Guadalupe 331, Centro, ☏ +52 449 3639327. 12:00 - 01:00. Low-key casual bar with cold beer and lots of snacks.
- 3 Niagra Falls, Av. Adolfo López Mateos Ote. 416, Zona Centro, ☏ +52 449 5553907. 07:00 - 02:00 (closed Sunday). Comfortable, friendly bar serving Modelo beers, micheladas, and basic cocktails.
Sleep
[edit]Camping
[edit]Within a short distance from the city of Aguascalientes you can go camping in the mountains of El Pinal, Guajolote, Laurel, and Sierra Fria.
Budget
[edit]- 1 Hotel Monumental, Nieto 612, ☏ +52 449 281 3564. Clean, though not well soundproofed, hotel near the Parque de San Marcos. M$620 per night.
These budget hotels have decent ratings on Google Maps and cannot be reserved on booking.com:
Mid-range
[edit]- 7 Hotel Francia, Av. Francisco I. Madero #113-A, ☏ +52 449 910 3050. Historical hotel, built in 1915 in the city centre. M$1000.
- 8 Hotel Real Plaza Aguascalientes, Lic. Adolfo López Mateos # 320 Ote, ☏ +52 449 968 2727. Big atrium, nice restaurant serving breakfast, and a rooftop pool from which you can look at the Ags. cathedral downtown. M$1150.
- 9 Quality Inn Aguascalientes, Nieto 102, ☏ +52 449 994 6670. This might be a good choice if you need to stay downtown because it's almost at your doorstep. Plus free breakfast. M$1200.
Splurge
[edit]- 10 Fiesta Americana Aguascalientes, Calle, Los Laureles S/N, ☏ +52 449 910 0500. This one is really special with an oversized pool set in a tasteful terrace and a big fruit bar on the breakfast menu in the morning. M$1650.
- 11 Quinta Real Aguascalientes, Av Aguascalientes Sur 601, ☏ +52 449 978 5818. Sparkly pool and arcades and a formal dining area with large paintings to gaze upon as you enjoy your meal. M$1800.
- 12 Marriott Hotel, Boulevard Zacatecas Norte S/N, Col Trojes de Alonso, ☏ +52 449-1394060. A Marriott property that doesn't disappoint with its monolithic tower and pool area, restaurant with paid breakfast available, and caliber of service. M$2000.
Go next
[edit]in the south-east
[edit]in the east
[edit]in the north
[edit]in the south-west
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