Atlatlahucan: Monastery, Festivals and Nature

A good starting point for exploring Atlatlahucan is the Templo y Exconvento de San Mateo in the town center. Its atrium borders the main plaza. Community festivals and the town’s connection to the Corredor Biológico Chichinautzin offer additional themes to explore during your stay.

Monastery, Art and Local History

The Convento de San Mateo Apóstol is one of the monasteries in the UNESCO World Heritage ensemble of the earliest 16th-century monasteries on the slopes of Popocatépetl. Its buttresses give it the appearance of a fortress. An open chapel in the San Mateo complex displays a family tree of the Augustinians. Popocatépetl can be seen from the atrium; check locally whether access to this viewpoint is possible.

The Museo Histórico y Natural Calmécac also explores the history of the monastery: its tour includes an explanation of the founding of the Convento de San Mateo Apóstol. If you plan to visit the museum, check its current opening hours in advance.

A 2001 municipal inventory lists the Los Reyes Chapel and the Templo de San Juan Evangelista in Texcalpan as architectural monuments in the municipality. Before visiting, find out about their current state of preservation and access.

Festivals Around the San Mateo Complex

The Feria del Cuarto Viernes de Cuaresma takes place every year. In 2026, it was celebrated from March 4 to 16 and attracted families and other visitors. The 2026 program included processions, Chinelo competitions, music, traditional dances, Jaripeos and the traditional Toro de Once; individual program events may vary from year to year. Activities take place around the Ex-Convento de San Mateo Apóstol, built by Augustinians in the 16th century and considered one of Atlatlahucan’s most important historic landmarks. If you want to plan your trip around the festival, check the dates for the relevant edition.

The Carnaval de Atlatlahucan is a community festival associated with cultural identity and tourism in eastern Morelos. During the 2026 celebration, the Comparsas Las Negras and los Tatais paraded through the streets of the municipality. Families and organizations keep this tradition alive; the participating comparsas may vary from one edition to the next. The festival attracted visitors in 2026 and boosted local gastronomy, commerce and tourism services.

Nature in the Corredor Biológico Chichinautzin

Atlatlahucan is part of the Área de Protección de Flora y Fauna Corredor Biológico Chichinautzin. The section of the protected area located in Atlatlahucan belongs to its eastern sector. Nature tourism activities listed for the protected area include hiking, camping, mountain biking, rappelling, and observing flora and fauna. Before planning specific activities in the Atlatlahucan section, check local conditions and providers.

Getting There and Regional Context

From Mexico City, Atlatlahucan is reached near Federal Highway 115 México-Cuautla: at kilometer 88, turn toward Totolapan; the town is about 1.5 kilometers farther on. Check current road conditions before setting out.

Atlatlahucan is one of the eleven towns on the Ruta de los Conventos in Morelos; the route is part of the state’s tourism offering. The Ex-Convento de San Mateo Apóstol is also part of the UNESCO World Heritage ensemble of the earliest 16th-century monasteries on the slopes of Popocatépetl. Other monasteries in Morelos included in the ensemble include those in Cuernavaca, Tepoztlán and Yecapixtla.

Discover more destinations: Atlatlahucan, Jojutla, Emiliano Zapata, Tlaltizapán.

Back to the regional travel overview: Morelos.