Teziutlán
Teziutlán is a small city of about 62,000 people (2020) in the highlands of western Puebla. It is a quiet city that was once the boyhood home of Mexican President Manuel Avila Camacho. The town is one of Mexico's designated Pueblos Mágicos.
Understand
[edit]Teziutlan was already a very old city by the time Spanish settlers attived in the 16th century. The city's name means "place where it hails" in the Nahuatl language but it had the Spaniards scratching their heads because they saw lots of fog due to the high altitude and the proximity to the coast, but not so much hail. The mountainous forests surrounding Teziutlan are the foggiest areas of Mexico with an average of 280 foggy days per year. The fog is mostly a morning phenomenon so do as the locals and get out early to hike the foggy trails through the cloud forest.
Get in
[edit]
Map of Teziutlán
By bus
[edit]From the CAPU bus terminal in Puebla, it is a 2-1/2 hour bus ride on Autobuses Via with buses leaving Puebla every 15 minutes. A ticket will cost about M$200. ADO also operates first-class buses from Puebla to Teziutlan, but with far fewer departures (but about the same price).
From Mexico City, ATAH operates buses to Teziutlan departing from the TAPO bus terminal. The 5-hour bus trip will cost about M$400.
- 1 Bus Terminal ADO Teziutlan, Zaragoza 51, Centro, ☏ +52 231 312 1034. Largest bus terminal in Teziutlan, but be aware that there are other company specific bus terminals (but most are within a couple blocks of the ADO bus station).
Get around
[edit]See
[edit]
- 1 Catedral de Santa María de la Asunción (Teziutlan Cathedral), Miguel Hidalgo 700. Built in 1952 the cathedral features neoclassical architecture and baroque detailing, it is constructed of pink limestone, a typical regional material.
- 2 Casa de la Cultura, Miguel Hidalgo 1003. M-Sa 09:00 - 20:00, closed Su. A mid-19th-century mansion that's now a cultural center with some historical and arts displays. It's a cool building with a clay tile roof, wood floors, and pine beams.
- 3 Antigua Estación de Ferrocarril (Railway Station Museum), El Pinal. A former train station with a museum that showcases the history of the area.
- 4 Teatro Victoria (Victoria Theatre, Teatro Variedades), MEX-129. Beautiful theatre built in 1882 with French influences. The building has had a checkered past with periods when it operated as a ballroom, circus, box arena, and cinema.
- 5 Iglesia Virgen del Carmen (Church of Carmen), Calle Nacozan. The church was built in the 18th century with four identical bell towers (the only such church in Latin America). On July 6th each year, the church is the cite of a celebration that features a procession through town led by men holding a statue of the Virgin high above their heads.
- 6 Plaza de Toros "El Pinal" (El Pinal Bullring), Miguel Hidalgo 1818, El Pinal. This is the second bullring on the site. The first was built of wood and was established around 1850, but was demolished in the early 1950s, when construction began on the current bullring built of masonry and with a roof (very few covered bullrings exist). The first bullfights in the new bullring took place in 1954. Today, the bullring hosts bullfights only during town festivals and it is used primarily as a venue for concerts, lucha libre, and similar events.
Do
[edit]- 1 Manantiales de Chignautla (Chignautla Springs), Blvr. Juarez Quinta, Chignautla. dawn to dusk. Small park area with 9 natural springs feeding clear pools of cold water. Swimming allowed and one of the larger pools has paddle boats for rent. Vendors sell food and drink. M$20 (coins only for turnstile).
Festivals
[edit]
- Feria de Teziutlan - the town's largest celebration of the year takes place the first couple weeks of August. It includes livestock shows and bullfights as well as traditional regional music and dance, fireworks, midway carnival rides, and plenty of food and drink.
Buy
[edit]- 1 Mercado Victoria, Av. Cuahtemoc. Daily 07:00 - 18:00. The town's traditional main marketplace dates from the 1940s and is a fun place to shop and eat. It is an endless smorgasbord of fresh fruits, vegetables, meats, and dairy products, along with household goods and many vendors selling prepared regional dishes, particularly tlacoyos (the ones made with chickpeas are a local favorite).
Eat
[edit]- 1 Los Senorios, Av. Benito Juárez 610, Centro, ☏ +52 231 312 3375. Daily 07:30 - 17:00. Traditional Mexican cuisine with a Sunday brunch buffet from 9am - 1pm. M$200.
- 2 Leonila, C. Nacozari 210, El Carmen, ☏ +52 228 212 4888. W-M 09:00 - 17:00, closed Tu. Cozy, friendly restaurant serving regional cuisine of Puebla and Tabasco. Their fog flowers soup is a favorite of mushroom lovers. Locals recommend the chayotextle al pastor tacos. M$200.
- 3 El Regio Teziuteco, Nogal 1, Zona de Magdalena, ☏ +52 231 313 2795. Daily 09:30 - 22:00. Casual, family friendly restaurant specializing in carne asada (northern style grilled meats) including steaks, sausages, and ribs. Several kinds of spaghetti. Outdoor play area for the kids. M$300.
- 4 Leon Rojo, Av Cuauhtémoc 708, Centro. Tu-Su 10:30 - 19:00, closed M. Traditional seafood restaurant with a Spanish-influenced menu. Full bar with innovative cocktails. M$300.
Drink
[edit]Sleep
[edit]- 1 Hotel Central Teziutlán, Av Miguel Hidalgo 801, Centro, ☏ +52 231 312 0019. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 12:00. Colonial style traditional hotel with rooms around a central courtyard. Some rooms have balconies with functional doors. Rooms lack heating and nights sometimes get cool. On-site coffee shop. 1-block walk to Zocalo. Limited off-street parking available. M$600.
- 2 Hotel Colonial, Av Cuauhtémoc 605, Centro, ☏ +52 231 312 1660. Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 13:00. Moderate hotel with renovated rooms that are clean and spacious. On-site restaurant serves breakfast and dinner. The hotel is well-maintained and attractive with rooms that have hardwood floors and modern furnishings and a courtyard area with potted plants. M$800.
- 3 Virreynal Hotel & Suites, Miguel Hidalgo 802, Centro, ☏ +52 231 312 0174. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 12:00. Traditional colonial-style hotel with spacious, clean rooms in two areas, one newer and more up-to-date than the other. On-site restaurant serves breakfast and dinner. M$650.
- 4 Posada Serrana, Zaragoza 504, Centro, ☏ +52 231 312 2341. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 12:00. Basic budget hotel with spacious but minimally equipped rooms that loudly cry out for a serious makeover. Next door to the ADO bus station. M$600.