Zimapán

Presa Zimapan

Zimapán is a small city of about 15,000 people (2020) in the Central Mexican state of Hidalgo. The city has a charming colonial downtown area with historic churches and cobblestone streets. The natural areas outside town include rugged mountains, the Marmoles National Park, and recreational areas with caves, a lake, and a scenic canyon. The town is one of Mexico's designated Pueblos Magicos.

Get in

By bus

From Mexico City (Autobuses del Norte), there is a direct bus to Zimapan on Ovnibus (Flecha Roja), departing hourly. The 4½ hour ride will cost about M$400.

• 1 Autobuses Terminal Zimapan (Autobuses Flecha Roja), Gral. Jesús González Ortega 9, U.H. INFONAVIT, ☏ +52 759 728 2108. Small bus station with waiting room. Buses to Mexico City - Autobuses del Norte. (updated May 2023)

By car

From Ixmiquilpan, take federal highway MEX 85 north for 40 km, then take the turn-off for the Carr. a Zimapan.

See

• 1 Parroquia de San Juan Bautista (Church of St John the Baptist), Constitucion 1, Centro. Completed in 1822, this church is the most outstanding baroque-style in the Sierra Gorda region. Its façade contains extraordinary carved reliefs with the images of San Sebastián and San Jerónimo. The interior was crafted by indigenous stone masons who engineered the building to brilliantly light up the church with three beams of light at the moment of the summer solstice. 
• Jardin Principal, Constitucion, Centro. Peaceful town square with manicured topiary gardens, a large bandstand, fountains, park benches, and monuments. Busy with families and vendors on Sundays. 

Do

• Presa Zimapan (Lake Zimapan). The lake was formed in 1996 when a new hydroelectric dam was built on the San Juan and Tula Rivers. The power plant generates 292 megawatts per hour, not to mention creating a wealth of opportunities for outdoorsmen who enjoy boating and fishing on the peaceful waters. Weekend cabins can be rented on an island in the middle of the lake. 
• Grutas de Xajha (Xajha Caves), ☏ +52 772 119 5584. Off the beaten path natural site for people in good physical shape with a sense of adventure. After you park your car and pay the fee to go in, it will be about 3 hours before you get to the caves or the thermal baths. (That's 3 hours each way... bring water). Along the way you'll be passing through a rocky canyon and wading through burbling streams. The baths are geothermically heated to 40°C. There's also a boat trip to a waterfall. Guides are available for hire in Zimapan and are the best option. 

Eat

• 1 El Rinconcito Minero, Heroico Colegio Militar 301, El Sabino, ☏ +52 759 728 3185. 08:00 - 23:30. (updated May 2023)
• 2 Los Arcos, Lerdo de Tejada 16, Centro, ☏ +52 759 728 3490. 10:30 - 19:00. Bright, cheery restaurant with traditional Mexican food. M$200. (updated May 2023)
• 3 La Brasa del Chef, Heroico Colegio Militar 72, Plutarco Elías Calles, ☏ +52 771 321 9299. 10:00 - 23:00. Comfortably upscale dining room with an extensive international menu. (updated May 2023)

Drink

• 1 Micheladas "La Wera", Raúl Fernández 52, Centro. 09:00 - 00:00. Cheap, basic dive bar with cold beer and zesty micheladas. (updated May 2023)

Sleep

• 1 Hotel Regis, Avenida Miguel Hidalgo 1, Centro, ☏ +52 772 112 3297. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 11:00. Clean, comfortable rooms at affordable prices. Off-street parking behind the hotel. M$400. (updated May 2023)
• 2 Hotel Boutique Anyelo, José María Morelos 15-Interior 17, Centro, ☏ +52 759 728 2088. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 12:00. Clean, comfortable, quiet hotel with friendly service and secure parking. Cable TV and WiFi. (updated May 2023)
• Hotel Royal Spa, Carretera Federal Mexico Laredo km. 205, San Pedro, ☏ +52 759 728 2061. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 11:00. This is your splurge boutique hotel for pampering. Hacienda style hotel with large traditional rooms. Garden courtyard. Gourmet restaurant and cocktail lounge. Full-service spa. Several swimming pools. (updated May 2023)

Go next

• Ixmiquilpan
• Mineral del Monte
• Los Marmoles National Park