# Tequixquiac

Tequixquiac is a municipality in the north of the State of Mexico. It is a municipality that has been known mainly for the sanctuary of the Lord of the Chapel, patron saint of this place and the main reason for visiting the municipality within the so-called religious tourism, this occurs between January and February.

## Understand

Since the end of the 20th century, Tequixquiac has served as a natural space for extreme sports such as mountain biking, motocross, cross-country athletics and judo with visits from international competitors. Also the UFO phenomenon or ufology has attracted national and international curious about the sighting of supposed spaceships, extraterrestrial beings, crop circles (like those of Tlapanaloya) and falls of ships, which is said that since pre-Hispanic times, the Toltecs and Teotihuacans had contact with extraplanetary beings, whom they called the ancients or the gods and who descended from the sky on the tops of the hills.
The municipality is comprised of two towns, the municipal seat or municipal capital is Santiago Tequixquiac and the second most important town is Tlapanaloya.

### History

This region has a surprising history: it is known as the Cradle of Prehistoric Art of America or Puerta del Valle del Mezquital. There are paleontological sites of prehistoric megafauna, pre-Hispanic archaeological sites such as Los Mogotes, and important colonial monuments.
Most of the tourists come from Mexico City, the Metropolitan Area and the State of Hidalgo, attracted by fairs, social events (weddings, funerals, political events or children's parties), charreadas, rodeos, restaurants and bars, but on some occasions national and international tourists come for sporting events or cultural festivities.
Tequixquiac is considered the Cradle of Prehistoric Art in America, due to the finding of a bone piece carved with the face of a prehistoric mammal, it is an evidence of primitive American man. In addition, in Taxdho and El Tajo other finds of mega fauna have been found, such as mammoths, glyptodonts, horses, llamas and prehistoric bears. The piece has been transferred to the National Museum of Anthropology in Mexico City.
As a pre-Hispanic vestige there are some mounds built on the top of Cerro Mesa Ahumada, these are known as Los Mogotes, it was a surveillance space and a ceremonial center of a funerary nature, archaeological studies are still being carried out on the activities of this place, in addition to the place has endemic flora and fauna and a breathtaking panoramic views of the valleys.
With the arrival of the Spaniards, religious architectural monuments, mansions and farmhouses were built, some of these were companions of Hernán Cortés, who for his loyalty gave them the encomiendas of this region that the natives called Teotlalpan, in the coming years they arrived Portuguese and Spanish who were established thanks to the encomenderos, the colonial roads that still persist with their old bridges, paddocks and ditches were built. A very important site for the population is the parish of Santiago Apóstol, where the venerated image of El Señor de la Capilla is kept, which is considered miraculous because it brought the end of diseases, disputes and meteorological damage to the population.

### Climate

The climate of Tequixquiac is temperate sub-humid, characterized by high temperatures in summer and temperate climate in winter. Rains are frequent during the months of May to September, some areas are arid and sunscreen is required because the heat is usually quite dry, but also some areas are temperate and a sweater or jacket is recommended at night.
Tequixquiac is one of the municipalities with a rich history and multiple traditions in the north of the state, and it has become a site of cultural interest. Among its own traditions is La Contradanza de las Varas, a Spanish dance that has been danced since colonial times.

## Get in

Tequixquiac is 86 km from Mexico City.
Drive along the Zumpango-Apaxco state highway towards the State of Hidalgo or exit the Arco Norte (toll road), at the Santa María Ajoloapan booth, via Tlapanaloya. If you are not Mexican or Mexican, it is necessary to carry a valid passport, since the passage of undocumented immigrants through this region to the United States has made the immigration authorities ask for official documentation both on toll roads and on state highways.

### By bus

Exit from the Indios Verdes Metro station, Mexico City, Platform 5 Elite Buses from 06:00 to 22:00.
Metro station Cuatro Caminos exit, Mexico City, Melchor Ocampo Buses from 06:00 to 23:00.
Departure from Termnial de Autobuses Tlahuelilpan, State of Hidalgo, LUSA buses from 04:00 to 18:00.

## Get around

The town is small enough to be easily walkable, but there are also taxis, as well as lots of ciclotaxis on the streets.

## See

* Los Mogotes Archaeological Zone is the oldest historical site in the municipality, it is located in Cerro Mesa Ahumada, it is within the municipality of Tequixquiac but belongs to the ejido of Santa María Apaxco. It is believed that the mounds are structures of a military and religious type, bone remains of people of the time and a series of utensils were found here.
* The Parish of Santiago Apóstol was and continues to be the central axis of the town of Santiago Tequixquiac, here all the important events of the settlers have taken place, it was a political tribune of the mayor and a space for Christian worship of great relevance. It is being restored activity, due to the environmental deterioration it has suffered.
* Parish of La Asunción in Tlapanaloya Centro.
* Chapel of El Calvario, Colonia Centro.
* El Mesias Methodist Temple, Colonia Centro.
* Municipal Palace, Colonia Centro.
* Cal Hornos, Colonia El Tajo, Barrio del Refugio.
* Drainage Tunnel of the Grand Canal, Colonia El Tajo, Barrio del Refugio.
* Temoatzin Community Museum, Colonia Taxdho, Barrio de San José.

### Natural sites

* Cerro Mesa Ahumada.
* Cerro Mesa Ahumada, Colonia Adolfo López Mateos.
* Palo Grande, Colonia Palo Grande, El Refugio neighborhood.
* Río Salado, Colonia Centro, Tlapanaloya.

## Do

One can climb a wooded hill west of the town to the Santuario del Señor de Sacromonte, with an excellent view of the town, countryside, and two nearby volcanoes. Mexican families living in Mexico City come here to escape the summer heat, and there is a petting zoo and amusement park outside of town.
Lord of the Chapel Fair (mobile festival, between January and February). Easter (mobile festival, between March and April). Holy Jubilee and Jacobean Festivities (July 25) National Holidays (September 15 and 16) San Mateo Fair (September 21). Fair of the Virgin of Guadalupe (December 12) Posadas and Christmas (December 16 to December 25) Festivals Folk Dance Festival. Parks La Peña Water Park, Tlapanaloya. Ecological hiking through Cerro Mesa Ahumada. EL Vije Urban Park, Barrio de San Mateo. Tlapanaloya Urban Park, La Rinconada neighborhood.

## Buy

The town of Santiago Tequixquiac has handicraft stores, shoe stores, gift shops, wineries, greengrocers, flower shops, small boutiques, ice cream parlors, ice cream parlors, postal service, ATMs and a bank.

## Eat

Although Tequixquiac has good restaurants with international and marine flavors, the best way to get to know the municipality is through its local gastronomy. The traditional tianguis of Plaza Cuautemoc, a traveling market of pre-Hispanic origin, takes place on Thursdays and Sundays. There you can taste local dishes.
There are other traditional foods, inherited from an indigenous and Spanish cuisine, but these can be tasted on holidays or important festivities such as the patronal fair, baptisms, weddings, fifteen years and birthdays.
* Roast Rabbit, the raising of rabbits in this place dates back to pre-Hispanic times, the animal is roasted on the fires with fragrant herbs, its meat is highly appreciated and nutritious for being low in fat. It is served at the table with nopales and potatoes, chili sauce is added and it is accompanied with corn tortillas.
* Roasted turkey, the turkey is a native bird of this place, its meat and eggs have been consumed since pre-Hispanic times, the roast turkey is a quite succulent delight on the fathoms, its meat is low in calories and fat and is accompanied with rice, mole and corn tortillas.
* Dulce de Tejocote is a mestizo dessert and dish made with tejocotes, a strawberry or manzanita native to this place, it is sewn over low heat with sugar and cinnamon to give it flavor.
* Tamales de Fríjol is a cake made with corn and bean dough, its pre-Hispanic name is etamalli, they were made for important ceremonies, upon the arrival of the Spanish they continued to be made for baptisms and weddings. They are served with red mole or green mole.
* Pambazos de Tequixquiac are a treat of this place, the bread is special because it is not made with telera, but with olive oil or wheat flour, it is a culinary heritage of the first Spaniards who populated this place. They are prepared mainly with sausage and potatoes, but there are also turkey or turkey meat pambazos and barbecued lamb meat pambazos.
* Borrego barbecue, this animal was introduced by the Spaniards, it is cooked in a double boiler in a well under the ground, covered with maguey leaves and fragrant herbs, it is a very elaborate dish and is consumed in special events.
* Gualumbos are the flowers of the stem of the maguey or pita, it is a dish of Otomí origin, it is boiled to soften them and it is cooked with eggs, they are accompanied with corn tortillas.
* Ximbó is a typical dish of this town and the Mezquital Valley, its origin is Otomí. It is chicken meat wrapped with maguey leaves, and contains pork skins and nopales. It is a dish for special occasions, it is cooked in the heat from the embers.

## Respect

If you visit the towns of the municipality, it is recommended to use courtesy greetings, ask for things please and give thanks, these are rural habits that have not yet been lost among the inhabitants, especially with people of legal age. Most of the people know each other by families, it is not common to ask for references by addresses and official numbers, it is preferable to give the name of the place where you want to go.

## Go next

* Tula
* Tepotzotlán
* Mexico City