Tepozteco
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Anthony B
New York City, NY30 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2024 • Couples
It is best to visit this city for the climb up to the temple on the mountain Tepozteco. This is an excercise and more importantly a spiritual journey to the pyramid temple on top. It’s the real thing up there. And active. Locals visit everyday to perform a mass, ritual to honor the temple.

If you don’t feel you can make it, pray or chant or sing a bit. Take breaks, don’t rush. You’ll get there.

The city is spiritual for the climb. El Tepozteco is the archaeological site at the top of the mountain.
It consists of a small temple to Tepoztēcatl, the Aztec god of the alcoholic beverage pulque. The pulque was for them to be in a state of relaxation to meditate.

Some blogs & reviews said the city has cheap prices. We did not find that. The artisanal and the food were the same prices as Mexico City.
Written 24 May 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Yuna P
Miami, FL3 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
July 2016 • Couples
We went to Tepozteco on a Sunday, arriving around 1:30 in the afternoon. On Sundays, they do not charge an entrance fee. Hence, the climb was extremely crowded - as in there were hundreds of people ahead of us and behind us the entire time. I would strongly suggest that to enjoy the most out of this hike, which climbs up a beautiful, wooded area and ends in ruins overlooking the town of Tepotzlan, to go on a different day of the week, preferably earlier in the morning.

GETTING THERE:
Getting to Tepozteco is very easy from Mexico City. You can take an uber to the bus terminal in Taxqueno and take a Pullman bus straight to Tepotzlan. The bus ride takes about an hour and a half. You can buy the tickets online or buy them in person at the bus stop. You could also try to take a cab or Uber from the city; while we did not end up using this option, when I requested a fare estimate it was projected to be about ~700 pesos. You can also take a bus to the town of Cuernavaca if you want; it's a popular place to visit along with Tepotzlan/Tezpoteco. However, to get from Cuernavaca to Tepotzlan, you will have to ride another bus or take a cab (about ~45-50 min drive).

Once you arrive in Tepotzlan, it is a very small town with a long main road called 5th Avenue that leads up right to the base of the Tepozteco.

CLIMBING TEPOZTECO:
Leading up to Tepozteco there are dozens of food stands and other carts selling trinkets. Once you pass these many tents, you get to the base of the climb. The climb is very steep and often slippery. Wear comfortable shoes such as sneakers or hiking boots. The climb is up some carved stairs and mostly rocks. The climb up takes about an hour to an hour and a half. The end of the climb is some ancient ruins which you can also climb up and take in the views of the surrounding mountains and town. The climb down is tough on your knees and ankles - be careful and make sure you have steady footing as you make your way down.

Make sure to bring enough water to drink. There are no bathrooms anywhere on the trail so make sure to use one of the restrooms in town before you climb. There are many stores offering use of their bathroom for ~5 pesos.

IN THE TOWN:
In Tepotzlan, there are many little restaurants and stores. We ate lunch at El Chinelo, on 5th Ave. They serve hearty Mexican fare; we had chicken mole and breaded steak. There is also a very popular ice cream place, called Teponieves, which serves hundreds of flavors of ice creams. The flavors are mostly fruity and some are quite exotic. You order your vessel first (cone, cup, etc.) then you go to the flavors counter and get your flavors.

LEAVING TEPOZTECO:
This was the most stressful part of our trip. You get a cab from Tezpotlan to the bus station, which should take 5-10 minutes and cost 30 pesos. At the bus station, buy your tickets for back to Mexico City. The buses do not always run on time; our bus was quite late and there was lots of traffic getting back into the city as well, so we did not get back until late. Keep this in mind as you are deciding when you want to get back to Mexico City.
Written 7 August 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Alberto Figueroa
Vancouver, Canada176 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2013 • Solo
Well almost every sunday day trip from my hometown CUERNAVACA with family,alone or friends.Love to catch the local bus line saying hola and talking with local people from the nearest towns on the road...Ocotepec,Santa Catharina,Amatlan,etc.
The Bus station in Tepoztlan is not far away from the main square and mercado even is a nice walk on the main street where you can do shopping,drinking or eating also you will see many small chapels(every neighborhood or barrio has one) are very old.
I recommend keep going and start hiking the mountain early so you can avoid tons of people because on sunday is free admission (big market only sunday)
Is better if you take up some snacks & water before or you can buy food on the way up(quesadillas) or spicy beer(micheladas) Mexicans love to hike with one cerveza on the hand...like me haha.
After a funny long metal ladder and more rocky way turns finally THE TOP! my own score is 45 minutes so long from the guys carrying sacks full of sodas & water THEY RUN ALL WAY UP.
Up there you will see on the right the pyramid complex(2 levels) and choose the best spot for lie down and take a long siesta or sit down,drink some water and enjoy THE BEAUTIFUL PANORAMA VIEW then walk around on the top if you want(very safe if you not step on the edge)
Way down is super easy and more if you are thinking in food!! the local mercado is located on a square near the cathedral where you can have a lot of tasty real MEXICAN FOOD.
A nice restaurant on the way back from Tepozteco: Los Colorines (you should try on the menu Huaxontles)
After being satisfied is time for Tepoznieves! the famous one artesanal ice-cream in Tepoztlan;they mix seasonal fruits and flowers too!
Local buses to Cuernavaca stop running around 830pm if you miss the last one,there are nice guesthouses where you can stay and maybe by night spot few UFO's...this town is very famous for that.
See you on my way back Tepozteco
happy travels
betour
Written 10 October 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

MrDandy
Mexico City, Mexico1,595 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2011
First of all if you are planning to hike and see the pyramid take these recommendations.
1. GO EARLY, if you go after 12:00 expect really large amounts of sweaty people. If you can start at 10:00 or even before it's better.
2. Buy water but not too much. There is water at the top.
3. Be careful while going down.
4. Bring 35 pesos per person

It's a great trip but not for everyone.
Written 23 April 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Yves D
Laval, Canada1,664 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
July 2014 • Couples
We went to Tepoztlan to climb the mountain and see El Tepozteco.

1-The archeological site “El Tepozteco” is situated in the foothills of the city of Tepoztlan, Morelos; the temple was built in honor of the Aztec god TepoztecatI; god of the alcoholic beverage – pulque. The temple which resembles the top part of a pyramid is built on top of one of the peaks of the Sierra de Tepoztlan, overlooking the valley of Tepoztlan.
The pyramid is at approximately 2150 meters (7054 ft.) above sea level and at an altitude 400 meters (1,300 ft.) higher than the city of Tepoztlan; It takes approximately an hour to reach the top of the pyramid on foot; the path that leads the top of the pyramid is paved with river and quarry stones. (HubPages.com)
You need to be a cross between a mountain goat and Alain Robert to truly enjoy sweating up the steep flagstone steps to the top of the mountain in Tepotzlan, Morelos, Mexico, where is located the House of the God, Tepozteco. If you don't know who Robert is, look on Google like I did. (Diogenes Hubpages.com)

2-Actually, you truly have to be fit or insane to climb there. (Fit = 1 hour, Insane = 2 ½ hours). Coming back down took us 1 ½ hour (insane).
Is it worth it? I once read that the highest the mountain, the greatest the achievement in climbing it. This applies here as well. And, I must admit, the view is great.

3-Tepozteco consists of a small temple to the Aztec god Tepoztecatl, a god of the alcoholic pulque beverage.
The temple itself stands at the western side of the site. It consists of a 6.4-meter-high platform supporting a 3.3-meter-high temple base. Upon this stand the remains of the temple building, the remains of which now stand 2.7 meters high.[1] The temple was formed of two rooms. The first room opened onto the temple stairs, with two pillars flanking the entrance. In the centre of this room a small hollow was found, containing traces of charcoal and copal.
The entry to the small inner sanctum was also flanked by two pillars. The sculpture of Tepoztecatl was probably kept in this room. (Wikipedia)

4-There is only the temple but there are glyphs that make this site important. It was built between 1150 and 1350 before Christ. It is 600 meters up from the pueblo.
Note: There were several persons that I didnt think could possibly make it. Three of them, Mexicanos, started after us and completed before us.
Written 19 July 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Sdldeleon
Zapopan, Mexico44 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2015 • Family
The Tepozteco's 2.4 Km hike is worth every step to glimpse into the lives of our ancestors. The first time I hiked some one told me to go steady and not to stop and rest, just slow down if needed. As you slow down take a look around and listen to all the birds flying and signing about. Once you reach the temples approach them with all due respect and enjoy the peace and beauty around you.
Written 15 December 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Quiddity42
Lusaka, Zambia107 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2015 • Family
(resubmitting because Trip Advisor things I used profanity in my review - I think they didn't know what "yes you can" in Spanish means)

You can do this. It might take a while, and you'll likely be a sweaty mess and slightly wobbly in the legs by the time you get down, but you CAN do this, just plan to take a lot of breaks if you aren't in the best shape. It's not just the views at the top that are worth it, the entire hike is beautiful and awe inspiring.

Just so you get a sense of who else is doing this, I saw:
- Toddlers
- Infants being carried (no contraptions, just carried)
- Infants being carried while nursing
- Grandparents
- Nice sandals (I think the highest I saw was about a two inch wedge - I saw a review earlier saying high heels would probably be fine ... I admire her moxy, but please don't wear high heels)
- Every kind of walking/hiking/running shoe

There are no handrails. There are no fences to catch you. There are big rocks and trees to hold onto, and other people who will gladly lend you a hand if you need it.

There are no bathrooms at the top of the hike, or anywhere along the walk, so get that taken care of before you head up.

There is a small admission at the top for non-residents of Mexico.

There are coati at the top, they're adorable and will hound you for food. Don't feed them, it's not good for them and there's a big sign at the top that says ... don't feed them.

Go early, if you can - it gets crowded, which can add a little stress if you are afraid of heights/falling.

One bottle of water should be fine.

If you're zooming/teenaged/trying to prove something, you can make it up in about 30 minutes. If you're taking your time, closer to an hour and a half.

At the bottom of the hike are several stalls to purchase food, drinks, and souvenirs. They'll be there on the way back, so don't add to your load by purchasing anything on the way up. But before you go, you might want to research the town itself, it's really cute and lots of shops and restaurants and might be worth spending a little time in. We didn't do that and I wish we had.

If you are driving your own vehicle, keep in mind that this is a very, very old town. The roads are narrow, cobbled, and steep. You'll be able to find parking in several spots on the way up to the trailhead (remember, the sign for parking is a big "E"), we parked in someone's yard for thirty pesos, and they had a bathroom for five pesos as well.

Have fun ...
Written 20 October 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

VicVisitor
Victoria BC49 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2012 • Couples
Wanting some greenery, we took a twenty minute taxi ride from Cuernavaca to Tepotzlan. The climb to Tepozteco starts just a short walk from the town. We had a fairly dramatic climb on stone steps to the small pyramid that rises two kilometers above the town. Believe me, it’s worth it. Make sure you have good shoes, and that you are in good shape. If not, you can pace your climb. We were told it would take anywhere from 40 minutes to one half day to reach the summit. It took us two hours. Along the way, we experienced dramatic greenery, butterflies and birds, and (it must be said) some weird sounds in the wind that seem to confirm that Tepotztlan is a magical town.

When you come to the top, you must pay a small fee (43 pesos per person) when we did it) to climb the pyramid. What an amazing experience to stand at its summit, see the glyphs carved into the rock, or gaze into the valley far below. You will have the sensation of having stepped back in time 400 years.

One last thing; you may see coatis at the summit and they may mooch for food. It is neither permitted, nor wise to feed them.
Written 9 December 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Roque
Mexico City, Mexico552 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Tepoztlan is a great place, we arrived there around 12:00pm and started to climb at 12:45, it took us around 1:30 minutes to get to the top. All the way is climbing mostly over rocks. My party was 2 kids (7 and 3) and my wife, my 7 years old had no problem to climb actually she was the one leading us, for my 3 years old son it was a little difficult, IMHO I think he was too young but anyway he climbed till the end with little help.

At the top, the view is great, there is no more to do except for enjoying the view.

There were lots of people and actually we had to do a 40 minutes queue in order to get down, this is because the upper part of the mountain is very narrow and only one person can pass at the time so there was conflict between the people that is climbing and the people that is descending, except for that, the place was great.
Written 18 November 2008
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Sahit_the_savvy
Dallas, TX127 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
June 2019 • Solo
This is an officially sanctioned archeological area / state park (opens at 9AM). This is not the only reason to visit the cutest village of Tepoztlan which is a truly magical town (pueblo magico) but it is a must if you are here (or even if you are not here). The town seems to have excellent lodging and cafes - restaurants. A bit touristy, but nice crafts. Vey nice people.
There are buses / public transportation and Uber from Cuernavaca. I am sure there are options even if you are coming from Mexico City. My ride dropped me off before we reach the Cathedral downtown, so it is about a 10 minute walk to the entrance of the hike up the hill. Just follow the main street in front of the Cathedral towards the hill you see at the end of the street. There are also signs marking Tepozteco (or a pic with the pyramid).
Yes, this hike up the hill is something to experience by all means. However, it definitely demands physical fitness, time and preparations as I will explain below (many other posters did as well). You are hiking up the hill which has the ruins of a mini pyramid at the peak. The hike is rather steep. It is a forested area, for most of the hike you cannot see the sky or the top of the mountain. You do not have any idea how far or close to the end you are (there is a circular patio for "resting" marking the mid point). It took me 90 minutes to reach the top with (more fit) friends around me giving encouragement. Once I started, I never thought about giving up, but it helped to hear their words of support. There are small sections of the hike with neatly constructed steps, but the rest is mostly stepping on rocks. Since, it the climb up is at a slow pace, the danger of a slip is very low and there are no ravines to fall down. Just before you reach the top, you climb roughly two floors of well enclosed steel staircase (safe). However, the descent is more treacherous because the water that comes down the surface of the hill as the day heats up makes the rocks a bit slippery and you have to be very careful as you hike down in order not to slip. The hike down took me 60 mins but it was more exhausting for me (to avoid slipping) than the climb. As you reach the top, you see the incredible views of the village of Tepoztlan and places well beyond (Cuernavaca etc). That is the great payoff and the whole experience is well worth the enormous effort. Not to mention the great sense of achievement. Of course, there is the ruins of the little pyramid which is said to be constructed to honor the God of Pulque (so, do say a prayer), there is the cute little furry animal Coati. Even early in the morning there were many people and as time goes, it gets even livelier. You never feel unsafe. I would suggest to start as early as possible. You have to have good, comfy hiking shoes and comfy clothes. You have to have water (there are springs flowing which I drank from--but at your own risk).
This could be a day trip or two to experience the village of Tepotzlan considering the availability of accommodations there, or a day trip from Cuernavaca (which was my case) or Mexico City. I will definitely return, and this time I will stay at least a night, if not two, in Tepotzlan.
Caution: I had a hired car, so I do not know the Uber situation when you are coming back from Tepotzlan. It is a small village as I said. If you want to Uber back, I do not know if you will find it. Make sure that there is availability if you want that.
Written 30 June 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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