Tlaxco

Plaza in Tlaxco

Tlaxco is a town in the northern part of Tlaxcala, Mexico. The town was selected as one of Mexico's Pueblos Magicos for its scenic setting, lying between mountains, forests, and plains covered with maguey. It is noted for its churches and haciendas.

Understand

Small groups of Haustec and Otomi settled in the local area from 900 AD onwards, but didn't establish a permanent city at Tlaxco. Early Spanish settlers ignored Tlaxco and it wasn't until 1614 that Franciscan monks established a permanent presence. The town grew slowly but steadily to the status of municipality by 1866, and eventually to a population of 14,806 people (2010 census).

The town prides itself for its pulque and bulls.

Get in

By bus

From Mexico City, go to the TAPO bus terminal. ATAH (Autotransportes Tlaxcala, Apizaco, Huamantla) has hourly departures to Tlaxco. The 2-hour trip will cost about M$300 on the ejecutivo-class Supra buses.

By car

From the city of Tlaxcala, take federal highway MEX 117D to MEX 119 north. The 43-km trip will take less than an hour. Expect tolls on 117D.

Get around

Walking or taking a taxi are your best options.

See

Parroquia San Agustin in Tlaxco

Capilla del Calvario

Museo de la Madera

• 1 Parroquia de San Agustín (St. Augustine Church), Máximo Rojas 7, Centro, Tlaxco. Spectacular baroque-style church, very well preserved with an impossibly ornate interior with gold leaf everything, everywhere. Statue in front of the church is Bartolomé Carrasco, Bishop of Oaxaca. 

• 2 Santuario de Nuestra Señora de Lourdes (Chapel of Lourdes), Blvd. 5 de Mayo, Iturbide, Tlaxco. Beautiful colonial era church with a pink granite facade, a fairly stark interior but with some excellent stained glass. 

• 3 Capilla del Calvario (Calvary Chapel), Blvd. 5 de Mayo 115, Centro, Tlaxco. Small mission-style church featuring a stucco facade with a triple belfry. Houses a painting of El Señor del Calvario, who is affectionately referred to as "Santo Entierrito". 

• 4 Plaza Principal (Parque de Tlaxco, Plaza Municipal) (Across the street from Parroquia de San Agustin). Small but bustling town square with topiary, fountains, towering shade trees and plentiful benches to sit and feed the pigeons. There are a couple interesting sculptures, the most iconic is of Victoria Dornelas, whose figure is known to generations of Mexican schoolchildren since she is depicted in the painting La Patria by Jorge González Camarena, which was featured on the cover of school textbooks throughout the country. 

• 5 Museo de la Madera (Wood Museum), Gabriel M. Hernández 12. 10:00-17:00 (closed Tu). Small museum presenting a traditional workworking workshop with many hand tools and machine tools, demonstrations of woodworking techniques and examples of artistic and utilitarian products made of wood. 

Do

Laberintos de Tlaxco

• 1 Laberintos de Tlaxco (Labyrinths, slot canyon). Natural area with fascinating slot canyons featuring narrow passages you can explore at your leisure. Easy walk, near Capilla del Calvario. Free. 

• 2 Laguna Atlangatepec (Lake Atlangatepec). Large lake about 20 km from the center of Tlaxco. Good spot for nature watching and popular for fishing and boating and fishing. 

• Fiesta de San Agustín - August 28. Festival for the town's patron saint, includes lots of food and traditional music and dance including sones and the traditional Danza de los Negritos.

• Feria de Queso, la Madera, y el Pulque - 10 days in August. Celebrates traditional crafts of the region with traditional and inventive cheeses, wood products, and a variety of natural and flavored pulques. The fair features rodeos, charreadas, mariachis and a lineup of popular entertainers.

Buy

Visit the silversmith workshop of Doña Eva Martínez. It's a house-museum where you can learn a little about the fine craft of silver smithing and there's an on-site gift shop where you can buy earrings, necklaces and other items. Doña Eva uses historic designs from the colonial era.

• 1 Mercado de Artesanias Tlaxco, Domingo Arenas 14, Centro. 08:00 - 18:00 (closed Tu). Woodwork, metalwork, paintings, leather and textiles. Lots of craftsmen displaying their wares. (updated May 2023)

Eat

Tlaxco artisanal cheeses are widely available in town. There are traditional varieties with unique flavor profiles and also some innovative cheeses in flavors like enchilada, epazote, or smoked.

• 1 La Casona de Don Agustín, Maximo Rojas 7, ☏ +52 2411072118. 09:00 - 20:00 (closed Tu). Traditional Mexican menu in an upscale dining room with attentive service and reasonable prices. M$120. (updated May 2023)
• 2 Portal Jardin, B. Juárez 6, Ejidal, ☏ +52 2411212622. 08:30-19:00. Upscale traditional restaurant founded over 50 years ago, interesting regional specialties. Try the chamorro en pulque -- a house specialty. M$130. (updated May 2023)

Drink

Pulque is widely available in a variety of flavors.

Sleep

Stay in a hacienda like La Hacienda San Pedro de la Cueva, where you can spend unforgettable nights, have a barbecue breakfast and take a bike ride around the property, or try a traditional hotel in el centro.

• 1 Finca Belen, Belén No. 1, Sexta Secc, Tlaxco, ☏ +52 2462084136. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 11:00. Clean, comfortable, spacious accommodations. No on-site restaurant. Long walk to centro. M$1000 (May 2023). (updated May 2023)
• 2 Alquería Central, 16 de Septiembre y Zapata, Centro (1 block from Plaza Principal on MEX 119), ☏ +52 2411686405. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 12:00. Clean, comfortable rooms in convenient location 2-minute walk from Plaza Principal. On-site restaurant with very good breakfast. Secure parking. (updated May 2023)

Go next

• Tlaxcala is the state's beautiful capital city
• Huamantla for a taste of bullfighting culture