Mexico City to Tepotzotlan: Private day trip

Discover one of Mexico's most underrated Pueblo Mágico towns, where the most ornate Churrigueresque church in the country, the highest aqueduct in Latin America, and a lively cobblestone zócalo await — all just an hour north of Mexico City.

What to see

• The Church of San Francisco Javier and the National Museum of the Viceroyalty, housed in a magnificent 16th-century Jesuit college whose facade is widely considered the finest example of Churrigueresque baroque architecture in all of Mexico — the gilded altarpieces and the dazzling Camarín de la Virgen, adorned with ivory figurines and mirrors, are extraordinary
• Los Arcos del Sitio, a spectacular unfinished 18th-century Jesuit aqueduct stretching 42 kilometers and rising 61 meters at its peak — the highest aqueduct in Latin America, set within a lush gorge where visitors can walk across the arches and take in sweeping views of the surrounding valley

What to do

• Wander the vast, tree-shaded zócalo, lined with restaurants, an artisan market, and the handsome Palacio Municipal, and take time to browse the stalls for Otomí crafts and locally made textiles
• Explore the National Museum of the Viceroyalty's extensive collection of colonial-era paintings, sculptures, and religious objects — one of the richest collections of viceregal art in Mexico

What to try

• Mushroom or squash flower quesadillas from the market stalls on the zócalo, washed down with a tequila served in a clay jar with pineapple and chili — a local combination that has become something of a Tepotzotlán tradition

Take note

• Note that Tepotzotlán (State of Mexico, north of Mexico City) is frequently confused with Tepoztlán (Morelos, south of Mexico City) — they are entirely different towns. Tepotzotlán is around one hour north of the capital