One day trips

Suggested trips you can make departing from here (Puebla, Cholula or Tonantzintla) and be back on the same day:

CACAXTLA & XOCHITECATL:

Archeological sites separated by less than a kilometre. They are at about 35 kms (20 miles) from here and the journey takes some 40 minutes.

In Cacaxtla are located the remains of a large prehispanic palace with some unusual murals. The museum of the site is recommended.

Xochitecatl is a complex of four pyramids, including an astronomical observatory.

TLAXCALA:

Capital of the state of the same name. Located some 35 kms north of Puebla. Very nice colonial city of small size (less than 100 000 people). We recommend the State Palace including its mural paintings, the Zocalo, the Xicotencatl square and the church of Ocotlan.

The trip to Tlaxcala can be combined with a previous visit to Cacaxtla in the morning. Consider a full day for the joint visit.

MOUNTAINS AND VOLCANOES:

We have three, sometimes four, mountains of more than 4500 metres on sight.

  1. La Malinche dominates the North of Puebla and indicates the border of the states of Tlaxcala and Puebla. Its approximately 4600 metres high and a very pleasant recreational centre (La Malintzin) is located mid-way to the top.
  2. Popocatepetl and Iztacihuatl: at some 35 kms West of Tonantzintla. They are respectively 5400 and 5100 metres high. Usually the "Popo" is more recommended (if you're fit and resistant to the altitude, you can walk to the top) but it has been somewhat active for the last year a a half. Both have eternal snow.
  3. Rarely visible from Puebla, the Citlaltepetl or Pico de Orizaba is perhaps a bit too far (150 kms East) for a one day trip (you can try leaving early, coming back late and having a 6 or 8 hour look). At some 5700 metres it is the highest peak in the country.

    CANTONA:

    Recently discovered large archeological site. Still little known even within Mexico (I haven't been there), this site is said to be even larger than Teotihuacan.

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