Los Arcos: History of the Ex-Hacienda and Aqueduct

Los Arcos is also known as San Carlos Borromeo. The Ex-Hacienda de San Carlos Borromeo and its surviving aqueduct give the place a tangible historical connection; at the same time, the patron saint festival of San Carlos Borromeo is part of local tradition. When planning your trip, it is useful to keep the place name, hacienda, and festival in mind as distinct points of reference. This lets you first situate the destination through its history and specific place names before looking for a suitable hotel.

History of the Ex-Hacienda

The Ex-Hacienda de San Carlos Borromeo was founded in 1626. In 1850, machinery from New York was brought to the hacienda. In 1944, it was still operating as the “Los Arcos” sugar factory. The three dates mark different stages: its founding, the introduction of the machinery, and a later period of operation. This makes it possible to place the estate’s history in chronological order without conflating these events into a single occurrence. The name “Los Arcos” also has a dual reference: it names the place and appears in the sugar factory’s historical name. San Carlos Borromeo is also another name for the town; the longer name Ex-Hacienda de San Carlos Borromeo refers to the historic estate. This distinction helps you tell the settlement and the hacienda apart when reading place references.

Aqueduct and getting oriented

The aqueduct is one of the surviving structures of the ex-hacienda in Los Arcos. Its relationship to the road is also useful for getting oriented: the ex-hacienda is on the Cuernavaca–Cuautla road, and the aqueduct is also on this road. At the entrance to San Carlos, the road passes beneath the aqueduct. When getting oriented, distinguish between two relationships: the ex-hacienda’s location on the road and the passage beneath the structure at the entrance.

Chapel and religious ceremonies

The hacienda has a colonial chapel that is offered for religious ceremonies. If you are considering holding a celebration, confirm the current offering directly with the hacienda in advance, as event services may change.

Patron saint festival and Cabalgata

A report from 2018 places the origins of the patron saint festival of San Carlos Borromeo in the namesake town of Los Arcos (San Carlos). The Cabalgata de la Amistad (Friendship Horseback Ride) is associated with the festival and is considered a regional tradition. The report says that more than 5,000 riders took part in its 2018 edition. If you plan to travel for the festival, check the dates for your travel period separately.

Los Arcos as a destination for your hotel search

When looking for a hotel, the name variant is useful: Los Arcos is also known as San Carlos Borromeo. Use both place names to narrow down your destination; the full name “Ex-Hacienda de San Carlos Borromeo,” on the other hand, refers to the historic estate. This helps distinguish place references from references to the hacienda. Choose a hotel based on the specific reason for your trip, and check the details of each listing.

Discover more destinations: Limones, Tlalnepantla, Anenecuilco, Tlatenchi, Cuernavaca, Amacuzac, Mazatepec, Xoxocotla

For the overview of the wider region: Morelos.