Mineral Del Chico

One day trip you will surely not want to miss while you are in Pachuca is Mineral del Chico. You can get here easily by taking a combis. You can catch the combis at the top of Pachuca and Carranza right by Juarez Mercado. It will take about 45 minutes to reach del Chico and it will cost you around 11 pesos.

The trip to Mineral del Chico is a series of bumpy windy roads through the mountains. Mineral del Chico is situated in the Chico national park. Many people come here to hike and explore the area. Here you will be able to see awesome rock formations and be able to relax in the beauty. If you are craving a wonderful view you should head up to Pena del Cuervo. If you would like to explore in more depth it would be wise to hire a tour guide to get you past the rough parts and to tell you the history that is so abundant here. If you are craving a wonderful hike you will most enjoy Las Monjas which is a 6 hour hike and appears to look like a praying nun. On your way up to Las Honjas you will see Rio Del Milagro and it will take you past all the old mines and you will also pass the Grand House which contains the Mina del Poder de Dos and it dates back to the late 1700′s. If you stay on this trail you can walk for miles to explore. You should make sure to plan enough time to walk back in the daylight hours as this trail can give you quite a run for your money in the dark. You should also be vigilant in your stepping as mines do have the power to collapse.

Here in Mineral del Chico you will find a few stores and restaurants. You should definitely purchase a pastes filled with meat before you head back. You will not be disappointed. You can also encounter some more traditional and more expensive Mexican cuisine while you are there. If you would like more information it can be obtained from the local tourist office located on Presidencia municipal. The tourist office keeps the hours of 9am-4pm Mon-Sat and on Sundays 9am-2pm. At the tourist office you will find a few companies that offer guided tours of the area like Adven-Tours which is family owned and operated and they specialize in rappelling adventures that cost 410 pesos per person. Another adventure company goes by the name Mountain Gate and they rent ATV’s and also give their tours on them for 415 pesos. They also offer fishing and horseback riding.

Mineral del Chico

One day trip you will surely not want to miss while you are in Pachuca is Mineral del Chico. You can get here easily by taking a combis. You can catch the combis at the top of Pachuca and Carranza right by Juarez Mercado. It will take about 45 minutes to reach del Chico and it will cost you around [...]

Matehuala

The name Matehuala comes from a Nahuatl saying that means “don’t come.” With such an opposite meaning, the town is actually very inviting and has many friendly hospitable people. The population in Matehuala is just under 70,000 and was known for being a big mining town back in the day. This is a popular stop made by people on their way to backpack through Real de Catorce.

There are two bus stations in Matehuala the one called Centro de Autobuses which is in close proximity to the Welcoming Arches has a lot more destination routes than the other bus station which is called Terminal de Autobuses a Real de Catorce. If you are trying to reach the downtown area you will want to take a bus that is labeled “centro.” You can take this bus and be at the center of town in about 8 minutes. This will cost you about 5 pesos. You should exit at the intersection of Hidalgo and Madero right near the market. You can also take a taxi there for about 20 pesos.

The Central Bus Station has buses that service Estrella Blanca and also Transportes del Norte Frontersa. You can take a bus to Mexico City for about 699 pesos and the ride will last seven hours. There are also buses that go to Monterrey in 5 hours and cost 200 pesos, Nuevo Laredo in 7.5 hours and cost 400 pesos, Queretero is about a 7 hour journey and costs 260 pesos, Saltillo is less than four hours away and costs 180 pesos, San Luis Potosi is just a couple hours away and costs 150 pesos. You may also have an interest in visiting Reynosa and that is a six hour ride costing 310 pesos or Real de Catorce in just a couple hours and costs 50 pesos.

If you would like traveler information you can get a limited bit of information from Camera de Commercio. The Camera de Commercio is open Mon-Fri 9am-2pm and 4pm-7pm. If you would like a map of the area you can purchase one at several papelerias around town. In town you will find a Banamex near the church for your banking needs as well as a currency exchange, travelers’ checks, as well as a 24hr ATM. If you need to do some laundry you can do so at the Lavanderia Acuario and it is open 8am-8pm and cost 12 pesos per pound of clothing you wash there. If you need any emergency services while here you will see a Red Cross located just north of the church on Ramirez Road, a Pharmacy on Morelos, and The General Hospital is located on Hidalgo which is just north of the Centro. If you are in need of internet access you can go to the internet cafe called Libertad and it is located just south of the church and the cost is 6 pesos per hour and they are open from 8am-10pm. You can also locate the post office on Bocanegra and its hours are Mon-Fri 8am-4pm. The Postal code in Matehuala is 78700.

You can find several inexpensive restaurants and hotels in the Centro of Matehuala. There are several little casas that line the Bocanegra street near Hidalgo intersection. One of the casas you will find is called El Jacalito where you will find very small rooms that have to share bathrooms and they circle around a brownish orange courtyard. You can stay at this establishment for 80 pesos per night for single and 100 pesos for a double. There is a very colorful hotel called Hotel Blanca Estela located on Morelos and has very nice wood furniture, fans, TV, strong showers, and cable. This is a very popular hotel so you will want to try to check in here earlier than usual as it’s rare for them to have occupancy. At the Hotel Blanca Estela the prices are 190 pesos or a single room, 230 pesos for a double occupancy, 310 pesos for a triple. They only accept cash here.

Most of the restaurants in Mathuala are cafeteria style and families owned and are mostly located in the Plaza de Armas. The food is inexpensive but very good. One place you should check out is Las Tortunas on Hidalgo near the gas station where you can get delicious tortas for around 20 pesos. The tortas come with cheese, avocado, and eggs. Another notable eatery is that of Gorditas Panchitas located on Morelos and around a block from the Cathedral. Gorditas Panchitas specializes in Breakfast and lunch specialties like gorditas, rajas de queso, and frijoles. The cost of a meal here is about 5 pesos and they are open daily 9am-4pm. They only accept cash as payment. There is also a market indoors also near the cathedral that is open from 9am-6pm.

Matehuala dates back to 1550 however almost all the buildings here are modern and not very historic. One of the main attractions of Matehuala are the pretty parks and famous cathedral form the 20th century. This famous Cathedral is called Cathedral de la Immaculate Concepcion which is the replica church of one found in France that is called Saint Josephs Cathedral. This church started to be built in 1905 but due to very limited funds the project took a very long time. In the front of the church there is a center called Plaza Juarez where local vendors have set up stalls selling clothing, jewelry, and several different types of food. There is another market that sells leather, pottery and cheap souvenirs and it is just down the street. if you have the desire to relax in the shade you should check out Plaza de Armas shaded tree path. There are many other parks to enjoy like Parque Alvaro Obregon where the festival of the desert takes place in the first week of September. The festival has a lot of music, foods, and crafts from the local vendors.

Catedrale del Matehuala

The name Matehuala comes from a Nahuatl saying that means "don't come." With such an opposite meaning, the town is actually very inviting and has many friendly hospitable people. The population in Matehuala is just under 70,000 and was known for being a big mining town back in the day. This is a [...]

Ixtapan de la Sal

Ixtapan  de la Sal sits in a valley and is sheltered by mountains with a population of 36,000 people. This town is most famous for the mining of salt. You will always find the weather to be pleasant and appealing in Ixtapan de la Sal. It hardly ever rains here even when neighboring cities are getting downpours. One of the hot attractions in the town is that of an elaborate water park. You will also encounter some very high end hotels and fancy boutiques as you get further in to town. With all the amenities and attractions this town does not lose its charm and quaintness. There is a central park where the locals frequent on the weekends and in the evenings that make it seem very home town. There is also a lot of partying that occurs late night at the bars and dance clubs.

The bus station is very close to the notorious water park they have become so famous for in Ixtapan de la Sal. One you get off the bus you can get to town shortly on foot or by Ixtapan combis for 4 pesos. If you need to get back to the bus station you should take a bus from one of the many resorts for around 23 pesos and you may take the Tres Estrellas de Centro bus to Mexico City in 3.5 hours for 80 pesos, Taxco in a couple hours for 42 pesos, and  Toluca in about an hour for 38 peso. The Flecha Roja has buses that go to Acapulco for 200 pesos and takes 6.5 hours to travel there, Cuernavaca in 3 hours for 65 pesos and Taxco in 1.5 hours for 39 pesos.

The main road in Ixtapan is Juarez. Juarez is the road that leads to the water park, spa, and other resorts. The Allende road is parallel with Juarez and is also in close proximity to the resort areas. The other roads that crises-cross along these two parallel roads are Aldama, Constitucion, Independencia, and 16 de Septiembre.

If you would like to get more information on the area you can do so at the tourist office located on Allende and in the Municipal Baineario. The tourist office is open every day from 10am-5pm. If you need to exchange currency, cash travelers checks or use the 24 hour ATM you can do so at the Banamex located on Zaragoza and Allende. If you run out of money the Banamex also does Western union money wires. The bank is open Mon-Fri 9am-5pm. If you would like to explore the town and store your luggage while doing so you can store it at the bus station for 6 pesos per day. If you need emergency services you will find that the Police, Red Cross, and General Hospital are all in close proximity to Martires Plaza. There is also a very reliable pharmacy located on Allende called Madrid Farmacia. If you need to make a phone call or send a facsimile you can do so at the Telecomm. They are open Mon-Fri 9am-3pm and Sat 9pm-1pm. If you need internet signal you can go to the Cyberplanet internet cafe where you will pay 11 pesos per hour of internet service. They are open every day 9am-10pm. If you need the post office while you are here you will also find it on 16 de Septiembre and the postal code is 51900 and they are open Mon-Fri9am-4pm.

Ixtapan de la Sal

Ixtapan  de la Sal sits in a valley and is sheltered by mountains with a population of 36,000 people. This town is most famous for the mining of salt. You will always find the weather to be pleasant and appealing in Ixtapan de la Sal. It hardly ever rains here even when neighboring cities are [...]

Ciudad Victoria

Ciudad Victoria

You will find Ciudad Victoria to be a very sleepy state. Ciudad Victoria is also the State  capital in Mexico. It has a population of just over 300,000 people and you will find it situated at the base of the Sierras Madre Mountains. You will really enjoy a trip here due to the much laid back and relaxed atmosphere here. You can enjoy ecotours that of which include tours of caverns, diving, mountain biking, kayaking, and lots of birds to watch. You will also be able to go and discover the wonders in Las ALtas Cumbras which is a protected forest that houses jaguars, endangered birds, as well as many archaeological sites and you will also find a McCaw sanctuary. If you enjoy camping you will really enjoy the Canon de Novillo where you can camp, and hike among natures finest beauty. Here you will be able to see many beautiful waterfalls after the rainy season. If you venture about 60 miles from the city you will fine Reserva de la Biosphere el Cielo which is considered the gem of Ciudad Victoria.

You can get to the center of town by taking a short bus ride from the bus station that will cost you only four pesos. You will need to tell the driver that you wish to get off at Plaza Hidalgo. If you walk up to Calle 8 or 9 you will find some of the wonderful attractions that Ciudad Victoria has to offer. You can also take a taxi for 30 pesos. You may also want to take a bus to Ciudad Valles which is fewer than 150 pesos and the trip takes four hours, or Matamoros is located about five hour away and will cost you about 200 pesos, Reynosa is about five hours away and costs 200 pesos, Tampico is about three hours away and costs  150 pesos and San Luis Potosi is six hour away and costs just over 200 pesos.

The streets in Ciudad Victoria run to the North and to the south and they have names and numbers. If you would like more detailed information about the surrounding area you can find it at the tourist office which is located in the yellow building named “El Penon” and is located on Calle 9 and san Marcos. The staff here speaks English and Spanish. They are very friendly and will tell you everything you desire to know about Victoria. If you need to change currency into pesos you can do so at Slotiabank Inverlat and it is located on the corner of Calle 9 and Hidalgo in the plaza where they also have a 24 hour ATM. If you need to wash your clothes while you are in Victoria you will find Lavanderia Vic Deme on Calle 8 and it will cost you about 50 cents to wash your clothes there. You will find the police, red cross, and emergency services provided within Col. Lopez Mateos . You will find a general hospital on Libramiento Fidel Velazquez. You will find a pharmacy located on the corner of Hidalgo and Calle 9. If you need internet you will find an internet café called Ultranet and it is located on Calle 16 and Morelos just down the road on Morelos and Calle 8 you will find the post office and the postal code is 87000.

Hidalgo Plaza

Ciudad Victoria You will find Ciudad Victoria to be a very sleepy state. Ciudad Victoria is also the State  capital in Mexico. It has a population of just over 300,000 people and you will find it situated at the base of the Sierras Madre Mountains. You will really enjoy a trip here due to the [...]

Ciudad Valles

Ciudad Valles is a bigger city between central Mexico and Northeast Mexico. The population here is over 120,000 people. There are not a lot of attractions in the city except for the beautiful scenery provide by nature. There are very tall mountains, a lot of green lush landscape, coffee farms, fruit trees, and many caves. Valles makes a great stopover on the way to Xilitla. It is very wet and rainy from July through September so if you are traveling here you should expect to be wet most of your stay.

If you are not in too big of a hurry you should stop by the Museum of Joaquin Meade where you can learn about the Huasteco Hispanic Civilization. This museum has only one room but contains several artifacts and pictures of the whole area. Some of the photos are new and some of them are very old. Everything here is in Spanish so you will need an interpreter if you do not speak Spanish. You will find Joaquin Meade by traveling on the Mercado bus on Laredo just past a rotary and you should exit when you see the museum sign.  The museum is open Tuesday thru Sunday from 10am-5pm and the price of admission is free.

If you choose to stay the night in Valles you will have many options. There are some middle of the road hotels that should suit your needs just fine like the San Carlos Hotel. This hotel is located on Venegas Street and here you will have a decent bed, cable television, and air conditioning. The price of a single room is 250 pesos and 350 for a double. They only accept cash here. If you would like a pretty simple meal you r needs will be met at Don Felix restaurant where they serve comida corrida for 35 pesos and for 25 pesos you can order antojitos. This eatery is open daily from 7:00am to 11:30pm and they only accept cash as payment. You may also want to stop and pick up some snacks and drinks at the supermarket which is called Sorlano and is close to the hotel and restaurant.

There is a Central bus station on the outer parts of town on Luis Venegas Road. From here you may take a bus to the Mercado are for 5 pesos, or you may choose to go by taxi for 30 pesos. The Oriente bus line services Ciudad Victoria for 150 pesos and it will take 5 hours to get there, Guadalajara can be reached din 8 hours for 325 pesos, Matamoros will cost you 350 pesos and take 8 hours, Monterrey can also be reached in 8 hours for the same price. The Vencedor bus goes to San Luis Potosi in about 4 hours for 225 pesos; Tampico in 3 hours for 120 pesos, Xilitla takes only two hours and costs 60 pesos.

For your convenience you will have a Banorte Bank that has a 24 hour ATM. Emergency services, Red Cross, and Police are all located on Galena Street. If you need an internet cafe there is one called Cyber Boss also on Galeana and they charge 4 pesos per hour and they are open daily from 9am-9pm. The post office is located on Juarez and is open Mon-Fri 8am-3pm and the postal code there is 79000

Massive waterfall in Ciudad Valles

Ciudad Valles is a bigger city between central Mexico and Northeast Mexico. The population here is over 120,000 people. There are not a lot of attractions in the city except for the beautiful scenery provide by nature. There are very tall mountains, a lot of green lush landscape, coffee [...]

Cholula

Cholula is a town with a lot of true Mexican hospitality. The population here is about 100,000 people and it is mostly made up of students studying in the universities here. This is a lot more personable and welcoming city than that of Puebla. There is a lot of history here that dates back to the Zapotecs, Olmecs and Toltecs. This is one of the oldest cities within Mexico. There are also some very fascinating pyramids here. This city was called the most gorgeous city by Cortes in the 1500′s. After Cortes said this about the city he preceded to brutally slay over 6500 people here. This slaying is known as the Cholula Massacre. This massacre occurred because Cortez believed that  the Choluteca indigenas had formed an alliance with the Aztecs. Cortez furthered his anger by building 365 churches in the town. He vowed he would do this because there were 365 days in a year and he wanted a church for each day. He was unable to complete 365 churches but he did  finish 38 of them. Many people come from all over the world to visit these churches. You can easily get to Cholula from Puebla and also Mexico City. People come here to enjoy the nice weather, visit the churches, and stroll through the portales. This is a very vibrant town so you will not get to much rest while here. You should know on Sunday mornings you will awake to the ringing of bells from 37 different churches.

From the bus station you can get to the center of Cholula by walking down Av.12 Pte and then turning on 5 de mayo where you will walk for a few blocks until you stumble on a yellow church located on San Pedro. You can also take the Estrello Roja bus to Mexico City in three hours for 62 pesos. The Super Rapidos bus goes to Puebla in 35 minutes and costs 6 pesos.

You may also want to take a collectivo that goes to Puebla. There are a lot of stands around Cholula that provide transportation to Puebla. The ride takes 35 minutes and costs 7 pesos. You will need to know that the collectivos stop running at 10 pm so plan accordingly. If you would like to take a private taxi you can usually bargain a good rate of around 80 pesos. You will find the taxis available for hire around the zocalo.

Church Nuestra Senora de los Remedios

Cholula is a town with a lot of true Mexican hospitality. The population here is about 100,000 people and it is mostly made up of students studying in the universities here. This is a lot more personable and welcoming city than that of Puebla. There is a lot of history here that dates back to the [...]

Hotels and Food in Dolores Hidalgo

You will not find accommodations for those on a budget when you visit Dolores Hidalgo. You should also know that during Semana Santa in September prices are known to double and triple and all the rooms are reserved very far ahead of time. The Posada Dolores has quaint rooms that do not have windows but are clean and welcoming. You can also get nicer accommodations that will provide you with a TV and your own private bathroom. If you opt for the cheaper room and must share a communal bathroom you will find they have heated water but no toilet seats. The nice thing about this hotel is that it has an attached restaurant where you can by very inexpensive meals like corrida for about 30 pesos. The rooms rates are 65 pesos for a single room and 165 pesos if you would like your own bathroom, and doubles run between 200 and 265 pesos per night just depending if you would like your own bathroom or not. The La Posada hotel has little rooms and nice bathrooms decorated with tile as well as TV. The charge for a double is 260 pesos, 400 pesos for a quad, 800 pesos to sleep 8 people and they only accept cash as payment.

You will find a ton of restaurants with very reasonable prices near the jardin. One restaurant you may want to check out is that of Torticlan which is located next to Casa de Visitas and here you can get tortas for 15 pesos, juice for 9 pesos and beer for 10 pesos. The restaurant is open every day from 9am-5:30pm. They only accept cash for payment. If you are craving traditional Mexican fare you should stop in D’Jardin where you can get big portions of food like chilaquiles for 35 pesos. They are open every day 9am-7pm and only take cash as payment. Las Tortugas sells tortas for 22 pesos, and also has pizza which costs 25 pesos per slice. This place is very popular among the school aged children. The hours are 9am-12 midnight every day. They only accept cash. After you eat you will want to check out the numerous bars and dance clubs on Calzada de los Heroes and also on Mariano Balleza which are more northeast of the town.

Dolores Hidalgo cathedral

You will not find accommodations for those on a budget when you visit Dolores Hidalgo. You should also know that during Semana Santa in September prices are known to double and triple and all the rooms are reserved very far ahead of time. The Posada Dolores has quaint rooms that do not have windows [...]

Acayucan

Acayucan, Veracruz in the evening

You will find the small town of Acayucan right off of Mex 180 in between Villahermosa and Tehuantepec. The population here is only about 50,000 people. Acayucan is more of a travel hub than that of a tourist destination. There are no notable sights or attractions here.

There are many hotels and dining establishments in the zocalo. If you would like nice accommodations for a very little price then you will find yourself quite content  at the Joalicia Hotel that is located off of Zaragoza. The rooms here are quite nice and they have filtered water machines lining the hallways. A single room goes for 140 pesos per night and if you need to have a television and air conditioning you will pay an additional12 pesos per evening. The double rooms go for 210 pesos per night. They only accept cash as payment here. If you are a health nut or prefer a vegetarian lifestyle you will be pleased to know that  the Soyamar restaurant located on Guerrero serves food for all kinds. they have an extensive menu of meat entrees as well as many vegetarian delights. They also have a juice bar with more kinds of juices than you ever knew existed. The entrees run around 10 pesos each and they are open Mon-Fri 7:30am-8pm and on Saturdays 8am-8pm. they only accept cash as payment here. In the market place you will have many street taco stands among other vendors selling all sorts of fast and easy meals. The market is situated just under the zocalo. In the zocalo you will find that the streets that border it are Monteczuma, Hidalgo, Victoria, and Enrique Luz. Many of the vendor carts and stands are open from 7am-7pm.

The station of buses within Acayucan is located on Acuna. The bus station is on the outer part of the city. It is hard to come by a bus ticket as they sell out very quickly. If you need to get somewhere you should arrive there early. If you would like to get back to the zocalo you should exit the station and then make a right to Hidalgo. Once you reach Hidalgo you should make a left and walk for about 15 minutes where you will then find yourself at the centro. You have the option of taking a bus from there that will cost you 6 pesos or you can track down a taxi that will charge around 16 pesos. The ADO buses travel to Mexico City in 8 hours and cost 150 pesos, Oaxaca in 9 hours and will cost you 300 pesos, San Andres Tuxtla can be reached in 5 hours and costs 150 pesos, Veracruz takes 4 hours and costs 170 pesos, Villahermosa is a five hour ride and costs 146 pesos, and last but not least Xalapa is 6.5 hours away and costs 240 pesos.

If you need to cash in travelers checks, change money or use a 24 hour ATM you can do so at the Santander Serfin which is located on Victoria. They are open from 9am-5pm Mon-Fri. If you need a pharmacy, police, emergency services, or Red Cross you will find them all in the Municipal Palace. if you need internet while you are here you can stop by the internet cafe called Cybernet-ICO which is also located on Victoria across from the plaza. if you need a post office while you are here you can find one located a few blocks from Moctezuma and they are open from 8am-4pm Mon-Sat. The zip code in Acayucan is 96001.

You will find the small town of Acayucan right off of Mex 180 in between Villahermosa and Tehuantepec. The population here is only about 50,000 people. Acayucan is more of a travel hub than that of a tourist destination. There are no notable sights or attractions here. There are many hotels and [...]