Cuetzalan

Cuetzalan is a scenic colonial town in the highlands of northern Puebla state in Central Mexico. The town has lots of white colonial buildings with dark red bands painted across the bottoms, set among steep cobblestone streets. It has a 1500-year-old archaeological site nearby, coffee plantations, and copious natural attractions that include waterfalls, caves, and hiking trails through the jungle.

Understand
The climate is subtropical and humid with frequent rains. The forests of the surrounding mountains are foggy and fog frequently descends into the town. The average temperature of 23 °C means most of the year will have pleasant conditions, but hot days are a possibility in the summer.

Like most of Mexico, the population is mostly mestizo, but there are quite a few indigenous people in the area who identify as either Nahua or Totonac. Don't be surprised if you hear languages other than Spanish being spoken. Cuetzalan preserves a number of indigenous traditions, including dances, costumes, and regional foods. The Dance of the Quetzals is a popular folk dance in Cuetzalan because the town takes its name from the majestic Quetzal birds.

Get in
From Puebla's CAPU bus terminal, Autobuses Ahorro operates Via buses to the town of Tlatlauquitepec every 30 minutes throughout the day. The 2½-hour bus ride to Tlatlauquitepec costs M$300. Tlatlauquitepec is about 45 km from Cuetzalan and a taxi would take about 30 minutes and cost about M$400. Combis may be available for less.

From Mexico City's TAPO bus station ADO operates 1 AU bus per day to Cuetzalan. The 6-hour trip costs M$500.



Get around
Cuetzalan is fairly compact and easy to navigate by foot. Taxis are useful for getting out to the caves or other nearby destinations.

See






Waterfalls
There are several waterfalls on the Tecolutla River. A hiking trail connects the falls. You could likely visit all of these in a single day, but inquire locally for current conditions:
 * Cascada de las Brisas
 * Cascada las Golondrinas
 * El Salto
 * La Escondida
 * Tres Caidas

Festivals

 * Feria del Huipil y Café, first week of October

Buy

 * Tianguis - Sunday is market day in Cuetzalan and the local vendors set up as early as 6am. In Cuetzalan, locals like to dress up to go to the tianguis, with men wearing white and women wearing colors that correspond to local villages where they live.

Drink
Yolixpa is the local liquor you've never tried but need to. It is said to date back to the time of the Totonacs, long before the Aztecs would dominate the region. It is an aromatic liqueur based on aguardiente (basically a less refined rum), infused with a blend of aromatic botanicals (aka, herbs). The drink is popular in the town of Cuetzalan, where it is made using from 20 to 30 different herbs, including mint, basil, oregano, thyme, lemon balm, sage, and wormwood. Modern versions are often sweetened with piloncillo, an unrefined brown sugar though the traditional elixir has a bitter flavor. An adventurous epicure would seek out several different examples to compare, contrast, and understand its many faces.

Go next

 * Poza Rica
 * Tulancingo
 * Huamantla