Hidalgo: Basalt, Water Engineering and Cultural Heritage

Basalt sculptures more than four metres high, standing atop a pyramid, make a striking impression at the archaeological zone of Tula: the Atlantean figures depict Toltec warriors. But Hidalgo can also be explored through its historic waterworks, mining history, natural sites and local cuisine.

Archaeological Heritage in Tula

The archaeological zone of Tula is an important site of Mexican cultural heritage. Visitors can see the famous Atlantean figures: monumental basalt sculptures more than four metres high, standing on the main pyramid. Their material, scale and depiction make them an impressive focal point of the site.

Visitors can also see the Burnt Palace and the Coatepantli, also called the Wall of Snakes. Its reliefs show snakes devouring skeletons, a scene connected with Mesoamerican ritual thought. Tula thus combines monumental sculptures with imagery that visitors can examine more closely in the reliefs.

Protected Areas and Time for Activities

The Reserva de la Biosfera Barranca de Metztitlán is a biosphere reserve in Hidalgo. Nineteen activities are associated with it, compared with six at Parque Nacional El Chico. These figures may change. Parque Nacional El Chico is also designated as a national park in Hidalgo.

Parque Nacional Tula has twelve numbered and marked interpretive trails with a total length of ten kilometres. The trails are interpretive in nature; check their layout locally before your trip. This lets you plan around the signposted trails without inferring a specific walking time from their total length.

Another guided experience is the El Contadero tour in Mineral del Chico. It leads through a natural rock labyrinth and lasts approximately four hours. The approximate duration gives you a guide for planning your day. Acaxochitlán is also home to Cascada de Salto de San Francisco, a waterfall with a drop of about 30 metres.

Water Engineering and Mining History

The Padre Tembleque Aqueduct, named after the Franciscan Francisco de Tembleque, was built between 1555 and 1572. It is a hydraulic system on the Mexican Plateau that extends across the states of México and Hidalgo. Its construction period and reach across two states give this waterworks a distinctive historical significance.

The Acueducto Los Arcos, built in 1702, is also a colonial waterworks. Its irrigation canal still functions and continues to supply active irrigation ditches. The UNESCO Global Geopark Comarca Minera is in south-central Hidalgo and preserves a long mining history. The Prismas Basálticos are located in the Ejido Santa María Regla in Huasca de Ocampo and have been part of the geopark since 2017.

Museums, Monuments and Regional Cuisine

In Tecozautla stands the colonial complex Templo y Exconvento de Santiago Apóstol, built by Franciscans around the middle of the 16th century. In Zempoala, the Picota de Zempoala stands in front of the town hall: an unusual 16th-century monument. The column bears Spanish coats of arms in relief.

The Museo Arqueológico de Acaxochitlán is located in the town hall. It displays approximately 629 artefacts, including six items that form part of the cultural heritage of the Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia (INAH). The approximate number of artefacts and the six INAH items give a concrete sense of the collection.

The Museo del Paste in Mineral del Monte explains how paste arrived in the municipality and shows how it is made. The Festival del Paste celebrates Real del Monte’s traditional filled pastry, with fillings such as potatoes with meat, Mole Rojo, rajas and beans. If you would like to plan your trip around the festival, check the dates and programme separately.

The Tianguis in Acaxochitlán takes place every Sunday and offers food and handicrafts. Plan your market visit accordingly and check the date locally. Alongside the paste tradition, the market offers a distinctive glimpse of regional specialities and local trade.

More Activities in Huasca de Ocampo

Zip-lining, rowing-boat rides and guided visits to a rainbow trout farm are offered in the municipality of Huasca de Ocampo. Check the availability of these activities before your trip. They differ considerably from archaeological visits and marked interpretive trails, so you can choose the experiences that matter to you.

Discover More Destinations

Xochicoatlán, Nicolás Flores, Zimapán, Tula De Allende, Pachuca De Soto, Atengo, Tulancingo, Huasca De Ocampo, Atotonilco El Grande, El Bedito, Huautla, Ixmiquilpan, Actopan, San Miguel Vindho, Mineral Del Monte, Huichapan, Fray Bernardino De Sahagún, Mineral De La Reforma, Nequetejé, Tepeji De Ocampo, Tecozautla, El Ojite, Acatlán, Manuel, La Misión, Huejutla, Zapotlán De Juárez, Tlahuelilpan, Progreso, Acaxochitlán, Tantoyuca, Tasquillo.

For the main travel overview: Mexico.