Zacatlán: Mosaic Art, History and Local Flavours

Zacatlán brings together distinctive architecture and public art with regional food and drink experiences and excursions into the surrounding area. If you are looking for a hotel in Zacatlán, you can choose your destination based on whether historic buildings, cultural events, tastings or the mountain scenery are your priority. These different themes offer a range of starting points for planning your trip.

Culture Among Churches, Mosaics and Clocks

The Ex Convento Templo Franciscano is in Zacatlán’s historic center and was built between 1562 and 1567. It is considered the oldest monastery in the Americas still in operation. The Parroquia de San Pedro y San Pablo offers a different architectural accent: the building dates from the mid-17th century and has a gray-stone façade. The Capilla de Guadalupe houses viceregal paintings featuring legends in Nahuatl, as well as a cedar-wood ceiling. Together, the monastery and parish church offer different historical and design perspectives.

If you want to combine art and cityscape, the Vitromural Paseo de la Barranca is a large-scale work: the mural, about 100 meters long, is made of multicolored mosaic pieces and recycled glass and was inaugurated on January 10, 2015. During the day, it adorns the Paseo de la Barranca de los Jilgueros; at night, the headlights of passing vehicles are reflected in it. The Reloj Floral on the civic plaza offers a different kind of public design. Its two clock faces are each five meters in diameter and decorated with natural flowers. The clock face and the mosaic surface create different visual accents: flowers and a clock define one motif, while materials and a mural define the other.

For a look at exhibition objects, visit the Museo Regional Comunitario Luciano Márquez Becerra. It has two permanent exhibition halls with more than 1,500 pre-Hispanic and historical objects from Zacatlán. There are also spaces for temporary exhibitions, where some recitals are held as well. The permanent collection offers a different focus for visitors from the changing presentations and events. Check the current program separately for recitals and temporary exhibitions.

Events and Different Ways to Visit

The municipal announcement for the 84th Gran Feria de la Manzana gave the 2026 dates as August 7 to 16 and listed more than 200 artistic, cultural and sporting events; visitors were invited to attend. If you are planning a trip around the festival, check the dates for the edition you want to attend. The announcement for this specific edition is not a schedule for future festivals.

Corti Teatro offers a smaller-scale performance format, with short plays lasting 15 to 30 minutes for audiences of 10 or 20 people. The program is refreshed every 45 days. If you are planning a visit, check which plays are currently showing. Recitals may also take place at the regional museum; these events differ from the short plays in both venue and program.

The Leyendas de Zacatlán tour is a guided trip with a Franciscan friar to various places in the municipality of Zacatlán. The tour includes tastings of locally produced coffee, as well as wine and cider made by Zacatlán residents. It combines visits to different places in the municipality with an introduction to local drinks; the description does not limit the tour to a single venue.

Tastings and Scenery in the Surrounding Area

At Sidrería San Rafael, you can taste apple and peach cider, as well as quince and tejocote liqueurs. Guided tours of the cellars are also offered. Check current operating and visitor arrangements before your visit. At La Primavera Vinos y Licores, you can visit the museum of the first wine and liqueur factory established in Zacatlán. There, you can learn about the original artisanal production process that was used for almost 100 years. The museum complements the tastings with a look at the history of production.

For scenic views, it is also worth considering destinations in the surrounding area that are distinct from the cultural sites within the city. The Tulimán recreation center is defined by a 300-meter-high waterfall. Valle de Piedras Encimadas is an ecotourism park covering about 2,000 hectares, where visitors can take walks. The two destinations offer different experiences: at one, the waterfall shapes the landscape; at the other, the vast park and its walking routes take center stage.

The Mirador de cristal is located on Paseo de La Barranca, also known as 11 Oriente, in Parque Hundido in Zacatlán. From this viewpoint, you can take in the landscape of the mountain region of Puebla. Check local access conditions before your visit.

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