Ixtapan de la Sal

Ixtapan de la Sal is a city of 11,000 (2010) in Mexico. Visitors come for the romantic colonial town center and for the thermal spas and mineral baths. It is recognized as one of Mexico's Pueblos Mágicos.

Understand
Ixtapan de la Sal was a salt flat harvested by the Nahual in pre-Hidpanic times. It was conquered by the Aztecs in 1472 and was forced to pay tribute to the empire in the form of sacks of salt.

Ixtapan de la Sal is famous for its waters. Two rivers run through the town: the Rio Salado flows year round and the Rio Salitre flows only during the rainy season. There is also a historic aquaduct that once carried water to the town. Mineral waters flow from La Laguna Verde spring.

By bus
Flecha Roja operates three direct buses to Ixtapan de la Sal. Buses depart Mexico City from the Observatorio bus terminal. The trip is just under 2 hours and costs M$140 (June 2024). Several buses go from Toluca to Ixtapan de la Sal: the 1-hour ride costs M$80.



By car
From Mexico City, take the Mexico-Toluca toll highway, and when nearing Lerma, take the Mexico State Highway to Tenango. Passing Tenango will be a "Tenango - Ixtapan" toll highway that you should take, Mex055 for 50 km.

See
Tourism is the main economic activity in Ixtapan de la Sal. The natural hot water springs attract thousands of visitors every year.
 * Arturo San Roman Boulevard, within a few miles stretch on this road there are some large sculptures. The first one at the entrance of the town is the Iztapancihuatl (goddess from thermal water), then, there is the water fountain depicting Diana Cazadora and finally the sculpture honoring the Independence Insurgents.

Thermal springs and pools







 * Las Grutas de la Estrella are caverns 15 km from town that have been formed by the dissolving of limestone by groundwater seeping from the Chontalcuatlan and San Jeronimo rivers. These caverns are filled with stalactites and stalagmites of various colors.

Festivals

 * A dancing parade called Apaches, represented by local townspeople on September 15 and 16 in celebration of the Mexican War of Independence.


 * Fiesta de San Martín Obispo - a celebration to honor the town's patron saint, San Martin Obispo. Festivities include parades, traditional dancing and music, fireworks, carnival games, and a midway.


 * Feria de la Sal: Celebrated during the month of January, this is one of the most imporant events of the town's social calendar. It features agricultural exhibitions, artesanias and crafts, concerts, music and dancing, and food and drink galore.

Buy
The principal handcrafts are pottery, carved wood and confectionery and also the production of pipían pumpkin candy in October and November. The most prominent are the wooden copalillo and pottery.



Eat












Sleep
Some internationally-known hotel chains have locations here, most often placed on or right next to a thermal spring. The best known of these hotel-spas are the Ixtapan Spa Hotel and Golf Resort, Marriott Ixtapan de la Sal, Hotel Rancho San Diego Grand Spa Resort. These resorts offer guests baths in volcanically-heated waters, massages, beauty treatments and other services.









Go next

 * Nevado de Toluca National Park
 * Tenancingo
 * Ecatepec