Texcoco

Texcoco is a historic pre-Hispanic city in Estado de Mexico. Once part of the triple alliance of Aztec power in the central valley, the city declined quickly after the Spanish conquest and today is an unremarkable suburb of Mexico City with few remains of its former greatness.

Understand

Between about 1100 and 1200 CE, various Nahuatl-speaking peoples spread out through Central Mexico. The Acolhua people settled first at Tenayuca, and a couple of generations later, they established Texcoco. The fortunes of Texcoco rose in the 14th and 15th century, as it gained prominence (and population) together with the nearby Mexica capital of Tenochtitlan and its ally, Tlacopan (also called Tacuba). Together, Tenochtitlan, Texcoco and Tlacopan formed the Aztec Triple Alliance in 1428 to dominate Central Mexico. Less than a century later, the Spanish invasion would put an end to Aztec dominance.

Get in

Buses leave Mexico City's TAPO bus station every 30 to 60 minutes for Texcoco. Go to the ADO ticket counter and buy a ticket on the Texcoco line. The trip takes 40 minutes and costs M$50 (April 2023).

A taxi or Uber would be faster, but cost about M$200 (still cheap).

Get around

Taxi or ride-hail.

See

One of King Nezahalcoyotl's "baths"

• 1 Texcotzingo, Col. San Nicolas Tlaminca, Texcoco. It's good to be the king, and Texcoco's famed wise king, Nezahualcoyotl, established a sprawling retreat for himself that included America's first botanical gardens, and all the trappings of luxury befitting a powerfull Aztec king, including stone tubs for his hot mineral water baths (there are actually several baths, including one called the "Concubine's bath". Yeah, like any of us think the king hung out in a different hot tub than the ladies...) 

• 2 Santuario Prismos Basalticos Texcoco, Col. San Miguel Tlaixpan. Privately operate preserve with hiking trails, and a zipline. The park's main feature is its fascinating rock formations. M$50 

Nezahualcoyotl

• 3 Parque Nacional Molino de Flores Nezahualcoyotl, Calle José María Morelos Manzana 001, Col. Xocotlán. Colonial hacienda with abandoned church, grain mill, fields and gardens. 49 hectares in area with picnic areas and horseback riding available. The ruins are amazingly photogenic --- like scenes from a movie set in sterotypical revolution era Mexico. 

Eat

• 1 Capriccio, Prol. Manuel González s/n, San Juanito, ☏ +52 59 59134064. 08:00 - 22:00. Comfortably classy Italian restaurant. Occasional live music. (updated Apr 2023)
• 2 Balché Gastronomía, 56170, C. Aldama 238, La Conchita, ☏ +52 59 5149 0816. Tu-Su 13:30 - 20:00 (closed M-W). Comfortably classy place with a Spanish oriented menu. The paella is recommended. (updated Apr 2023)

Sleep

• 1 Hotel Santa Bertha, Calle de Nezahualcóyotl 213, Centro Texcoco, ☏ +52 59 5954 3400. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 12:00. Comfortable colonial-style hotel in the heart of downtown. Clean spacious rooms, good on-site restaurant with affordable buffet. M$1000 (Apr 2023). (updated Apr 2023)
• 2 Hotel First Inn, Calle Vicente Guerrero 103, Centro Texcoco, ☏ +52 59 5954 1087. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 12:00. Barebones budget hotel with clean rooms thin walls and minimal furnishings. Good restaurant. M$760 (Apr 2023). (updated Apr 2023)
• 3 Hotel Venecia, México-Veracruz Km. 23.5, Texcoco, ☏ +52 59 595 52788. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 12:00. Motor court style motel on a busy road. M$800. (updated Apr 2023)

Go next

• Mexico City
• Puebla