Tepoztlán, Morelos, Mexico
TEPOZTLAN GUIDE
Transportation
Radio Taxi: Taxi companies are one of the most reliable means of public transportation. Call one of the numbers below and request a taxi to your name and address. Depending on the day of the week, they can take between fifteen minutes and an hour to arrive. If you are concerned about the time, we recommend asking the phone operator for an estimate. The minimum fare for a taxi is $45-$50 MXN and you may also ask what you are expected to pay for the service since there are regulations according to the distance and time traveled. That said, asking ahead does not guarantee a price. Other factors can modify the price, such as: traffic, waiting times, and time of day (fares increase substantially by the hour at night). You can approach a sitio de taxis in town as well. Sitios are found throughout Tepoztlán but the most convenient are downtown and at the gas station, where you will find several taxis from the same company parked together. Just approach the taxi and ask how much they would charge to your destination. If you need to go to the city, taxis are an excellent option but make sure to let the phone operator (or driver, if you approach a sitio) know where you are going so that they can find a driver available for a long service. We advise against flagging down taxis on the street. Some taxis come to drop off tourists and might not know your destination or the local fares. Similarly, it is best practice to only get in taxis you called for in the city.
The following are radio taxi companies from Tepoztlán.
Taxis Tepozteco: (739) 395 2236
Las Huilotas: (739) 688 1640
Local Buses: Ometochtli runs several routes with vans in Tepoztlán. These are the only buses in town. There are no maps of their routes but only a couple of them are especially useful to know. From any point on Revolución de 1910, the main road and highway that goes through Tepoztlán, you can catch a bus heading towards Camino a Meztitla, the road that leads towards our main headquarters, or downtown. The bus-vans are white with green and red stripes, and you can tell where they are going by a small sign on the passenger side of the windshield that displays the final destination of the route. You can expect to find a bus heading downtown every ten to fifteen minutes on Revolución de 1910. The signs on these buses say ‘centro’ or ‘el centro.’ Heading in the opposite direction at similar time intervals, you will find buses heading to Amatlán, Santo Domingo Ocotitlán, or Santiago Tepetlapa — all of these buses pass by Camino a Meztitla. There are no bus stops in Tepoztlán and you need to flag a bus down from the road. The bus will pull over and open a sliding door in the back for you to get inside. Find a place to sit as fast as possible or, if all the seats are taken, you may stand and hold onto the bars in the ceiling. Pay the driver while they are driving. If you are sitting close enough, pass them your money directly and state the number of passengers you are paying for. If you cannot reach the driver, pass your money along via other passengers in the same way — they will return your change. You do not need to pay in exact change but avoid paying with large bills (anything above a fifty) when possible. The driver will pull over and let you out whenever you request a stop. Do not worry if you are on the highway, surrounded by traffic, or a couple lanes away. The driver will manage. Shout ‘Bajan, por favor’ or ‘Bajan en la esquina/tope, por favor’ to request a stop (Yes, you use the plural even if referring to yourself). There is a single fare price for the bus of $10 MXN.
Buses to the City: If you are looking for a bus to Mexico City or Cuernavaca, you want a Pullman de Morelos or an Ometochtli Directo.
Buses to Mexico City are run by Pullman de Morelos and leave from their base near the gas station (at the end of a building complex containing a store and coffee shop). The Pullman buses come by every forty minutes and take you to Taxqueña, the southern bus station in Mexico City, for $182 MXN. These buses are air-conditioned and comfortable. At Taxqueña, you can find more buses, the metro, the metrobus, and taxis. We recommend buying tickets ahead of time, since they tend to sell out on the same day. You can also buy tickets on their website (https://pullman.mx/). Arrive at least forty minutes before your bus is due to arrive since the route has significant time fluctuations. You are expected to stow anything larger than a backpack in a storage area beneath the bus, so plan on keeping your valuables close.
The Ometochtli directo to Cuernavaca employs full-sized buses with comfortable seating. They leave from the Súper Tepoz in downtown on weekdays (address in the Food section below) and el Corralón on weekends (including Friday). El Corralón, officially called Terminal de Autobuses “Ixmatlac,” is located a short walk up Cinco de Mayo towards the gas station (Address: 62520, Carretera Cuernavaca-Tepoztlán 55a, San Miguel, Tepoztlán, Morelos). You will find a ticket booth at el Corralón and a ticket vendor in front of the Súper Tepoz. Make sure you purchase tickets for the direct bus to Cuernavaca. The indirect bus is not a safe option. The Ometochtli directo leaves every half an hour and costs $35 MXN. The final stop in Cuernavaca is the market “Adolfo López Mateos,” which is a bit of a challenge to navigate. Please arrive with a plan for getting to your final destination in Cuernavaca. If you need help figuring out how to navigate Cuernavaca, please contact Sebastián Blas at (310) 962-8928 or sblas@uw.edu.
Please check the safety guidelines at the end of this document for more information about navigating public transportation from bus terminals and the airport.
Bus to the Airport: There is a bus that goes from the Pullman station in Tepoztlán to both terminals at the airport. The bus usually makes only one or two trips per day. Check the schedule online (https://pullman.mx/). The cost is $255 MXN.
Culture and Excursions
El Tepozteco: A pre-Hispanic temple built sometime between 1200 and 1500 CE on Tlahuiltepetl (Mountain of Light). The archaeological site holds immense cultural value for the town and has become one of the primary tourist attractions. The first baptisms in Tepoztlán ostensibly took place at the base of the mountain where a split ahuehuete tree marks the intersection of the path and the river Axitla. A cross set on a concrete sphere commemorates the evangelization of Tepoztlán as well. The hike up the mountain is open to the public but entrance to the temple costs $90 MXN. Occasionally, the archaeological site is closed to the public, but they never post announcements, so make sure to ask vendors and people heading down the trail whether the site is open. The mountain also appears to have become the home of Tepoztlán’s resident coati populations. These critters will not hesitate to steal any food you leave unattended.
Directions: Head north on Avenida del Tepozteco. After ascending a few hills, you will find the cross, tree, and river mentioned above. From there onwards, you will only need to follow the stairs up the mountain, which lead straight to the temple. Expect to take forty minutes to an hour to reach the summit. It is a fairly arduous ascent and there are no vendors at the summit nor on the trail, so stock up on whatever you need at the base of the mountain.
Ex Convento Nuestra Señora de la Natividad: A colonial monastery built by Dominican missionaries in the mid-sixteenth century. The former convent now houses a local museum, archive, and library. A separate museum (Museo Tepoztlán Colección Carlos Pellicer) dedicated to pre-Hispanic artifacts is located on the western side of the complex. You must enter the Ex Convento from the park in front of the Parroquia de la Natividad de María. The entrance is free.
Directions: There is an alley that cuts through the downtown market between Revolución de 1910 and Avenida Ignacio Zaragoza. It is located right below the central portion of the market where quesadillas and aguas are sold. There is a gated archway in the middle of that alley. Pass through that archway and you should see a park with trees and a church. The museum entrance is located on the left-hand side of the church.
Hours: Open Tuesday to Sunday from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Centro de Documentación Histórica Exconvento de la Natividad: A library within the Ex Convento that contains books considered relevant to the history of Tepoztlán. Some of the books in their collections represent Tepozteco efforts to record their history and you will not find them anywhere else.
Hours: Open Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Museo Tepoztlán Colección Carlos Pellicer: This museum houses a modest collection of pre-Hispanic artifacts found in Tepoztlán and the surrounding area. A Mexican poet, Carlos Pellicer Cámara, acquired and donated most of the pieces on display in the mid-twentieth century. Notably, the collection includes a representation of Ometochtli (Two-Rabbit) found on the pyramid of el Tepozteco. The entrance fee is $28 MXN.
Hours: Open Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Address: Pablo González 2, Centro, 62520 Tepoztlán, Morelos
Centro Cultural Pedro López Elías: A public library within walking distance of Casa Ximena. In fact, it is the first private library to become incorporated into the Red Nacional de Bibliotecas Públicas de la Secretaría de Cultura. They occasionally hold events as well.
Hours: Open Monday to Friday from 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM and Saturday from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM
Address: Camino a Tecuac 44, Santo Domingo, 62525 Tepoztlán, Morelos
Churches: There are several colonial churches throughout the Valley of Tepoztlán. Each one is the namesake of their barrio and serves as a locus for community organizing. Their hours vary considerably but they are typically open to the public during the day. All taxi drivers from Tepoztlán should know where these churches are located.
● La Santísima Trinidad: Avenida del Tepozteco 10, Santísima Trinidad, 62520 Tepoztlán, Morelos
● Santa Cruz: Corner of la Cima and Calle Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz, Santa Cruz, 62520 Tepoztlán, Morelos
● San Sebastián: Corner of Pirul and Calle 22 de Febrero, San Sebastian, 62520 Tepoztlán, Morelos
● Los Reyes: Corner of Estanislao Rojas, Los Reyes, 62520 Tepoztlán, Morelos
● San José: Calle Allende 16, San José, 62520 Tepoztlán, Morelos
● San Pedro: Across from Del Parque 28, San Pedro, 62520 Tepoztlán, Morelos
● Santo Domingo: Calle Albino Ortega (Next to the Super Sapo), Santo Domingo, 62520 Tepoztlán, Morelos
● San Miguel Arcángel: 5 de Mayo (Between Carretera Cuernavaca-Tepoztlán and Calle del Olvido), Centro, 62520 Tepoztlán, Morelos
Cuernavaca: One of the closest cities to Tepoztlán and perhaps the easiest to navigate as a visitor. There are several noteworthy locations for anyone interested in the history of the region. Public transportation from Tepoztlán is relatively straightforward (please see the transportation guide).
● Palacio de Cortés: The early sixteenth-century residence of Hernán Cortés. Cuernavaca became the seat of the Marquesado del Valle de Oaxaca, the encomienda and title awarded to Cortés for his success in the Spanish-Aztec War. Palacio de Cortés was converted into the Museo Regional de los Pueblos de Morelos in 1974. While the majority of the museum’s collections pertain to the pre-Hispanic history of the region, you shall find murals by Diego Rivera and traveling exhibits as well. The entrance fee is $60 MXN.
Hours: Open Tuesday to Sunday from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Address: Corner Boulevard Juárez and Plaza de Armas, Cuernavaca Centro, 62000, Cuernavaca, Morelos
● El Zócalo (main square or plaza) y Centro Histórico: The zócalo lies in the heart of the historic downtown in Cuernavaca. There are street vendors and parks surrounding the central plaza and kiosk (the latter was designed by Gustave Eiffel in the late nineteenth century). Most of the other locations in Cuernavaca listed here are within walking distance of the zócalo.
Address: Jardín Juárez, Cuernavaca Centro, Centro, 62000 Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
● Jardín Borda: A late colonial house that was converted into the summer residence of Emperor Maximillian of Habsburg during the Second Mexican Empire in the nineteenth century. The property and gardens were inspired by Versailles, though concessions were made to account for the local climate and flora. The park is now a museum and often hosts traveling exhibitions. The entrance fee is $30 MXN.
Hours: Open Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Address: Avenida José María Morelos 271, Cuernavaca Centro, 62000, Cuernavaca, Morelos
● Catedral de Cuernavaca: A sixteenth century monastery that was repurposed as a parish church in the eighteenth century and then formally inaugurated as the Cathedral of Cuernavaca in the nineteenth century. It is a short walk from the central plaza of Cuernavaca.
Hours: Open every day from 7:30 AM to 8:00 PM
Address: Miguel Hidalgo 17, Cuernavaca Centro, 62000, Cuernavaca, Morelos
● Zona Arqueológica Teopanzolco: A pre-Hispanic archaeological site of probable Tlahuica origin. Highlights of the complex include temples to Huitzilopochtli, Tlaloc, and Tezcatlipoca. The entrance fee is $85 MXN.
Hours: Open every day from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Address: Río Balsas S/N, Vista Hermosa, 62290 Cuernavaca, Morelos
● Hacienda de Cortés: A sixteenth century hacienda founded by Hernan Cortés. The hacienda is now a hotel and restaurant in Cuernavaca. We recognize that these kinds of sites have a fraught history, but they are popular destinations within Mexico due to their preserved architectural features and gardens.
Restaurant Hours: Open every day 7:00 AM - 12:30 PM, 1:30 PM - 5:00 PM, and 7:00 PM - 11:00 PM
Address: Plaza Kennedy 90, Atlacomulco, 62560 Jiutepec, Morelos
Zona Arqueológica Xochicalco y Museo: A large archaeological site atop a mountain approximately forty minutes to an hour driving from Tepoztlán. The complex includes three ball courts, an astronomical observatory, and the ‘Temple of the Feathered Serpent’ — so called because of the remarkably well-preserved reliefs along each side of the structure. The on-site museum is modest but informative. You will need to hire a driver or taxi service for the excursion. The entrance fee is $95 MXN and includes entrance to the museum.
Hours: Open every day from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Address: Carretera Federal Xochicalco, Tetlama S/N, 62609 Miacatlán, Morelos
Tlayacapan: A town located just outside the Valley of Tepoztlán. Tlayacapan is known for its artisanal market, especially for the sale of earthenware products. As in Tepoztlán, there is an abundance of colonial churches and a former monastery worth visiting. While public transportation exists between Tepoztlán to Tlayacapan, we recommend hiring a driver or taxi service. The drive takes between forty-five minutes to an hour.
Important! Hiking Rules: Due to a series of unfortunate incidents involving outsiders, Tepoztlán prohibits outsiders from hiking the surrounding mountain trails unsupervised. Forest rangers patrol the mountains in an effort to deter unaccompanied hikers. Furthermore, many of the trails are dangerous without a guide. If you are interested in visiting the mountains, please search for a local guide. Official guides are the only licit means of entering the mountains. El Tepozteco is an exception.
Note on Crafts: Most of the artisanal wares that you will find in the market are not made in Tepoztlán nor are they part of the local history. That said, you will find vendors selling little houses carved out of pochote wood on the way up el Tepozteco. These pochote houses are the only locally sold crafts that are entirely Tepozteco in origin.
Food
El Zócalo: The central plaza and kiosk of Tepoztlán fills with affordable food vendors at night. You will find tacos, elotes, esquites, atole, tamales, aguas, and pan dulce. We particularly recommend the tamales and atole, which are located on the raised section between the plaza and the Municipal Palace. Vendors start appearing around 6:30 PM.
El Mercado: The market of Tepoztlán is the most affordable place to eat. Tepoztlán is particularly known for its quesadillas, tlacoyos, and itacates. The food section of the market is just below the plaza downtown. All of the stalls are good though we recommend searching for those dedicated to making the aforementioned specialties. You will find a large assortment of salsas as well, including less common varieties such as pineapple, tamarind, peanut, and hibiscus. There are aguas you can buy and take to wherever you decide to eat. You may order juices and smoothies at the aguas stalls too.
Note on Food: Quesadillas encompass a wide variety of mostly non-meat foods cooked within a tortilla, including cheese, mushrooms, huitlacoche (corn smut), squash flowers, tzompantle (colorín flowers), and more. Itacates have similar fillings as quesadillas but placed inside a triangular ‘corn-bread’ instead. Tlacoyos are made with tortilla masa and stuffed with lima beans, black beans, cheese, or chales (the burnt, crunchy, and greasy bits of chicharrón). All of the above are eaten with cream and salsa.
Los Colorínes: One of the most popular restaurants in Tepoztlán, serving traditional foods of the region at a reasonable price. They make an excellent mole. If you want to guarantee a table in time for lunch on Sunday, make sure to arrive early.
Tepoznieves: These ice-cream and ‘nieve’ (water-based) shops are found throughout Tepoztlán. The franchise started in Tepoztlán and has grown into a national chain. They are known for having a massive variety of flavors as well as some unique combinations such as ‘Beso de Tepozteco.’ There are locations throughout downtown and they are hard to miss. Each location operates at different hours.
Tacos de Buenavista or Tacos de Toño: A hidden gem just a couple minutes uphill from the plaza. These tacos have been a staple of Tepoztlán for decades. Toño only sells steak tacos with grilled onions. They are made to order and very affordable. Any of the tortillas that get too toasted in the beef tallow during the cooking process are placed on a plate in front of the cooking area. These toasted tortillas are free and delicious.
Directions: From the plaza, head towards the intersection of Revolución de 1910, Cinco de Mayo, and De Buenavista. Walk up Buenavista. It is a short uphill walk. After you pass a place called El Catrin, you will find an open door and (possibly) a sign saying ‘Tacos.’ If there are wooden tables with plastic tablecloths and a man chopping meat on a nearly concave cutting board, you have arrived at the right place! They are open most evenings.
El Retoño del Mango: An Italian-German restaurant with excellent beer, sausages, and wood-fired pizza. Years ago, the original ‘El Mango’ used to be the only place you could find draft beer in Tepoztlán.
Hours: Open every day from 2:00 PM - 9:00 PM except Tuesday
Address: La Presa 7, La Presa, 62520 Tepoztlán, Morelos
Ombú: A moderately priced Mediterranean-Argentinian restaurant-bar about ten minutes walking from Casa Ximena. The meats are exceptional, especially the mollejas (or sweet breads), and it is a great establishment for evening drinks. The surrounding businesses change often but are usually worth visiting. (Listed in the entertainment section as well)
Hours: Open Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from 2:00 PM –10:00 PM and Sunday from 1:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Address: Camino a Meztitla 4, Valle de Atongo, 62520 Tepoztlán, Morelos, Mexico
La Luna Mextli: A restaurant, gallery, and bar in the heart of downtown. It is moderately priced and a reliable place for grabbing dinner and a drink in town. They primarily serve traditional Mexican cuisine. (Listed in the entertainment section as well)
Hours: Open Monday to Friday from 12:00 PM to 9:00 PM, Saturday from 9:00 AM to 10:00 PM, and Sunday from 11:30 AM to 10:00 PM
Address: Avenida Revolución de 1910 #16, Centro, 62520 Tepoztlán, Morelos
La Sombra del Sabino: A small coffee shop and bookstore with books in both English and Spanish. They often host events, and the gardens have excellent views of the mountains. It is a great place for families. (Listed in the kids and families section as well)
Hours: Wednesday to Sunday from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Address: Prolongación Zaragoza 450, Santo Domingo, 62520 Tepoztlán, Morelos
Las Marionas: An expensive yet exquisite Basque and French restaurant.
Hours: Thursday to Sunday from 1:30 PM to 7:00 PM
Address: Guadalupe Rojas 25, San Miguel, 62520 Tepoztlán, Morelos
Tacos de Don Armando: This location offers excellent tacos de cecina (salt-cured and thin-cut beef). They are open for breakfast and lunch Friday to Sunday every week. We recommend going in a group and buying the meat by the kilo, the tortillas by the dozen, and asking for a wheel of queso fresco.
Directions: The business has no formal address. It is located on Revolución de 1910 (often called the Cuernavaca-Yautepec highway on Google Maps) in Ixcatepec. Directly across the street, you will see La Casa Azul (a cheese and gourmet food store) in Ixcatepec. Most taxis will know where to take you.
La Posada del Tepozteco: A higher-priced hotel, restaurant, and spa close to downtown. The restaurant, Restaurante Cordelia, is popular if a bit experimental with creations such as ‘Fettuccine Alfredo with Huitlacoche.’ The hotel boasts some of the best views of the valley. The spa is available to outsiders and there is a speakeasy, Margarita Concept Garden, concealed in the lower gardens of the hotel. (Listed in the entertainment section as well)
Address: Paraíso 3, San Miguel, 62520 Tepoztlán, Morelos
TePeztlán: Moderately expensive seafood with a modern twist.
Hours: Open Monday to Thursday from 12:30 PM to 9:00 PM, Friday and Saturday from 12:30 PM to 10:00 PM, and Sunday from 12:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Address: Revolución de 1910 #49, San José, 62520 Tepoztlán, Morelos
Panaticos: An excellent European-style bakery. Their specialties are croissants and palmiers.
Hours: Open Tuesday to Sunday from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM
Address: Avenida Revolución 1910 #131 Bodega 6 y 7, Plaza del Valle, Tepoztlán, Morelos
El Ciruelo: An expensive but reliable restaurant that serves typical Mexican dishes.
Hours: Open every day from 8:30 AM to 10:30 PM
Address: Avenida Ignacio Zaragoza 17, Santísima Trinidad, 62520 Tepoztlán, Morelos
El Pan Nuestro: An expensive coffee shop and gourmet food store on Revolución de 1910. They have a great selection of cakes and outdoor seating areas.
Hours: Open every day from 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM
Address: Revolución de 1910 #82, San José, 62520 Tepoztlán, Morelos
La Miga: A simple and affordable Mediterranean restaurant close to downtown.
Hours: Open Wednesday from 1:00 PM to 7:00 PM, Thursday and Friday from 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM, and Saturday and Sunday from 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM
Address: Calle Allende 12, San Jose, 62520 Tepoztlán, Morelos
Coffee Shops: There are far too many coffee shops to list here and Tepoztlán is not known for its coffee, but most of the shops downtown are reliably good if somewhat busy on weekends.
La Casa Azul: A cheese and gourmet food store that started with a modest stall in the food section of the market that has expanded into a larger walk-in store in Ixcatepec.
Hours (Ixcatepec): Open Monday to Saturday from 7:00 AM to 7:30 PM
Address (Ixcatepec): Carretera Cuernavaca - Yautepec 10, Ixcatepec, 62525 Tepoztlán, Morelos
Grocery Stores: You will find small convenience stores or abarrotes throughout Tepoztlán. Abarrotes are usually not well stocked, however, and there are only a few larger grocery stores in town. We have included their names and address below.
● Súper Tepoz (Downtown): 5 de Mayo 6, Centro, 62520 Tepoztlán, Morelos
● Abarrotes el Valle: Revolución de 1910 #82, Santo Domingo, 62520 Tepoztlán, Morelos
● Súper Leo: Revolución de 1910 #94, San José, 62520 Tepoztlán, Morelos
● Súper Sapo: De La Jardinera 23-D, Santo Domingo, 62520 Tepoztlán, Morelos
Tacos in Cuernavaca: If you are looking for a greater variety of tacos, Cuernavaca has excellent tacos spots. The aforementioned taco places in Tepoztlán are superb but, for anyone interested in this aspect of Mexican food culture, the city is the only place where you can really find a proper taco culture. The following two locations are easy for a taxi to find and safe for outsiders.
● Taquería El Morelense: Avenida Diana 105, Delicias, 62330 Cuernavaca, Morelos
● La Tortuga Cucufata: Avenida Domingo Diez 1460, San Cristóbal, 62230 Cuernavaca, Morelos
Entertainment
El Telon: A live music venue, restaurant, and bar less than a ten minute walk from Casa Ximena. It is one of the best places to go dancing in Tepoztlán. The wood-fired pizzas are excellent too. There is usually a cover charge and, as with most bars in Tepoztlán, the hours are more flexible than what is posted online.
Hours: Open Friday from 1:00 PM to 10:00 PM, Saturday from 1:00 PM to 12:00 AM, and Sunday from 1:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Address: Camino a Tecuac 48, Valle de Atongo, 62525 Tepoztlán, Morelos, Mexico
Ombú: A moderately priced Mediterranean-Argentinian restaurant-bar about ten minutes walking from Casa Ximena. The meats are exceptional, especially the mollejas, and it is a great establishment for evening drinks. The surrounding businesses change often but are usually worth visiting. (Listed in the food section as well)
Hours: Open Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from 2:00 PM –10:00 PM and Sunday from 1:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Address: Camino a Meztitla 4, Valle de Atongo, 62520 Tepoztlán, Morelos, Mexico
Jacarandá: A Caribbean themed bar in downtown known for its mojitos. It has a great rooftop bar and live music on weekends.
Hours: Open Thursday 3:00 PM – 9:00 PM, Friday 3:00 PM –10:00 PM, Saturday 12:00 PM –11:00 PM, and Sunday 12:00 PM – 11:00 PM
Address: Avenida del Tepozteco 18B, Santísima Trinidad, 62520 Tepoztlán, Morelos, Mexico
La Luna Mextli: A restaurant, gallery, and bar in the heart of downtown. It is moderately priced and a reliable place for grabbing dinner and a drink in town. They primarily serve traditional Mexican cuisine. (Listed in the food section as well)
Hours: Open Monday to Friday from 12:00 PM to 9:00 PM, Saturday from 9:00 AM to 10:00 PM, and Sunday from 11:30 AM to 10:00 PM
Address: Avenida Revolución de 1910 #16, Centro, 62520 Tepoztlán, Morelos
La Buena Vibra: A hotel located about a fifteen minutes’ walk from Casona Ximena. Most importantly, it has a spa. Reservations are made online.
Address: San Lorenzo 7, Valle de Atongo, 62520 Tepoztlán, Morelos
La Posada del Tepozteco: A higher-priced hotel, restaurant, and spa close to downtown. The restaurant, Restaurante Cordelia, is popular if a bit experimental with creations such as ‘Fettuccine Alfredo with Huitlacoche.’ The hotel boasts some of the best views of the valley and the spa is available to outsiders as well. There is a speakeasy, Margarita Concept Garden, concealed in the lower gardens of the hotel. (Listed in the food section as well)
Address: Paraíso 3, San Miguel, 62520 Tepoztlán, Morelos
The Door on Allende… There is only one place where you can buy alcohol and cigarettes 24/7 in Tepoztlán. If you go to the corner of Calle Allende and Artesanos, you will find Abarrotes Zuriel. Immediately next to the Abarrotes Zuriel (on Calle Allende), you should see a small metal door across a mural depicting a chinelo. During the day, you will likely find the door open and a small business selling burgers and beer. At night, you can come to the closed door at any time and knock loudly. Someone will come out and sell you cigarettes and beer, though at a substantially higher price than normal. There are no signs or any other indication that this place has a business at night.
Kids and Family
Centro Scout Meztitla: The regional center of the Scouts in Tepoztlán. It is a large campground at the base of the mountains in the Valley of Atongo. There are trails to waterfalls and caves in the mountains as well as a pool and less strenuous trails on the campgrounds. Open 24/7.
Phone: +52 739 395 0068
Address: Meztitla, Camino a Meztitla S/N, Santo Domingo, Tepoztlán, 62520 Tepoztlán
(Follow Camino a Meztitla until the very end)
Campamento Camohmila: A campground run by the YMCA. They have a campground, trails, a pool, and a playground. There are day passes available.
Phone: +52 555 203 2469
Address: Just past the intersection of Camino a Meztitla and Revolución de 1910, Ixcatepec, 62525 Tepoztlán, Morelos
La Sombra del Sabino: A small coffee shop and bookstore with books both in English and Spanish. They often host events, and the gardens have excellent views of the mountains. It is a great place for families. (Listed in the food section as well)
Hours: Wednesday to Sunday from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Address: Prolongación Zaragoza 450, Santo Domingo, 62520 Tepoztlán, Morelos
Papalote Museo del Niño (Cuernavaca): The Cuernavaca children’s museum. It is about a forty-five minute drive from Tepoztlán. Tickets are $65 MXN for adults and children.
Hours: Open Tuesday to Thursday from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM and Friday to Sunday from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Address: Avenida Vicente Guerrero 205, Lomas de la Selva, 62270 Cuernavaca, Morelos
Website: https://cuernavaca.papalote.org.mx/
Health
General Guidelines: If you need immediate medical attention, call the numbers below and request an ambulance to your location. Start with 911 and, if that fails, try the other numbers listed in ‘Ambulances in Tepoztlán’. If you have a foreign cell phone and encounter any difficulties making these calls, please ask the staff at your posada or the caretaker at your home to make the call for you on their phone. For minor emergencies, try calling the Centro de Salud Tepoztlán, which is a public clinic that can direct you to other resources as well. You may want to consider having someone drive you directly to the clinic instead. They are open 24/7. If you need a hospital, you will need to head towards Cuernavaca and Cuautla. The hospitals in Cuernavaca are easier to locate and offer better care. However, if you are facing a time-sensitive emergency on a weekend, it is faster to drive to the hospitals in Cuautla. The ‘Hospitales Generales’ listed below are public hospitals. They will receive anyone and only charge the cost of the materials used for treatment. Public hospitals are often overcrowded and experience long delays, however. The cost of private hospitals in Mexico varies across different locations. Some hospitals are affordable while others are more expensive than the United States. There is no way to accurately estimate the cost of a particular procedure across hospitals, so please keep in mind that we have chosen the private hospitals listed below for their reliability, safety, and accessibility. We recommend calling hospitals ahead of time.
Centro de Salud Tepoztlán: Public clinic of Tepoztlán located downtown. Open 24/7.
Phone: +52 739 395 3804
Address: Avenida Ignacio Zaragoza 15, San Miguel, 62520 Tepoztlán, Morelos
Ambulances in Tepoztlán
● Option 1: 911
● Option 2: (739) 395 08 22
(739) 395 21 13
(739) 395 16 50
Hospital General de Cuernavaca “Dr. José G. Parres”: Public hospital in Cuernavaca. Open 24/7.
Phone: +52 777 311 2209
Address: Avenida Domingo Diez S/N, Lomas de la Selva, 62270 Cuernavaca, Morelos
Hospital San Diego: Private hospital in Cuernavaca. Open 24/7.
Phone: +52 777 330 2552
Address: Avenida San Diego 1203, Delicias, 62296 Cuernavaca, Morelos
Hospital Henri Dunant: Private hospital in Cuernavaca. Open 24/7.
Phone: +52 777 322 2442
Address: Río Pánuco 100, Los Volcanes, 62350 Cuernavaca, Morelos
Hospital Center Vista Hermosa: Private hospital in Cuernavaca. Open 24/7.
Phone: +52 777 100 1373
Address: Avenida Teopanzolco 211, Vista Hermosa, 62290 Cuernavaca, Morelos
Hospital General de Cuautla “Dr. Mauro Tapia Belaunzarán”: Public hospital in Cuautla. Open 24/7.
Phone: +52 735 353 1944
Address: Carretera Federal México-Cuautla Km 98.2-Km 98.2, Miguel Hidalgo, 62747 Cuautla, Morelos
Laboratorios Profesionales Tepoztlán: Medical laboratory in Tepoztlán where you can get basic analyses done.
Phone: +52 739 395 2025
Address: De Los Campesinos 7, Santo Domingo, 62520 Tepoztlán, Morelos
Pharmacies: There are pharmacies throughout Tepoztlán, and they are all competitively priced and stocked. Most of the pharmacies are on the streets bordering the plaza downtown. Farmacias del Ahorro and Farmacias Similares are popular national chains.
Farmacia Tepoztlán 24 H: The only 24/7 pharmacy in Tepoztlán. After a certain time of night, you have to use the intercom or knock on the window to get service. They will conduct the transaction through the window.
Phone: +52 739 395 7253
Address: 5 de Mayo 30, San Miguel, 62520 Tepoztlán, Morelos
General Safety Guidelines
Tepoztlán is safe but not immune to the contemporary issues of violence experienced throughout the country. In fact, the proximity to Mexico City and Cuernavaca has had a deep impact on the type of crime you can expect from a community like Tepoztlán. That said, please trust that these points are intended as simple precautions rather than allusions towards a pervasive danger.
● Avoid walking late at night. To be clear, the early evening is safe. However, please call for a taxi after 11:00 PM if you are not downtown — even if you are in a group. The streets of Tepoztlán are isolated at night and merit caution. If you are concerned about getting the availability of taxis late at night, please note that you can schedule a ride ahead of time.
● Call for taxis in the city or hire a driver from Tepoztlán. Public transportation gets complicated in cities like Cuernavaca. The same numbered bus can have different routes and the stops are not always clear. The GPS on your phone is not always reliable for navigating city streets either. Do not flag down a taxi on the street if you can avoid it. There are taxi companies with phone numbers that will send a unit to your location.
● Cities are usually more dangerous than towns. Be street smart and exercise common sense. If you visit cities, we recommend not wandering too much beyond your destination unless you have resources to help you navigate the city. Some neighborhoods of Cuernavaca and Cuautla, for example, are avoided even by locals.
● If you need to take a taxi from a bus terminal or airport, find the taxi kiosks inside the building. These taxi companies are trustworthy and will charge you a fixed price ahead of time. Just tell the person behind the desk where you are going, and they will give you a receipt and instruct you where to find your taxi.