Town 15 km southeast of Aquismón
A Huasteca town with a 17th-century church and annexed convent, and the popular Pozas de Rosendo swimming holes nearby.
Coxcatlán is a small municipal seat in the southern Huasteca, framed by the steep limestone ridges of the Sierra Madre Oriental, about 15 kilometers southeast of Aquismón. Its Nahuatl name is usually explained as "necklace" or "precious stone", and in Tének it was called Tansicab, "hidden place". The colonial mission here was dedicated to San Juan Bautista at the end of the 17th century.
That church is the town's main sight. The state describes the Templo de San Juan Bautista as a 17th-century building with a plateresque touch unusual for the region, with a small convent attached to it. The patron saint's feast on June 24 is the liveliest day of the year.
Most visitors, though, come for the water: the Pozas de Rosendo, in the community of Atlapa, are among the most visited swimming spots of the area during school holidays. Combine both with a slow drive through the orchard country between Coxcatlán and Huehuetlán.
What to see and do
Visit the 17th-century Templo de San Juan Bautista and its annexed convent.
Swim at the Pozas de Rosendo in Atlapa.
Come on June 24 for the feast of San Juan Bautista.
Try zacahuil and enchiladas huastecas at the local fondas.
Getting there
Coxcatlán is about 40 minutes by car from Aquismón: drive east to Highway 85 and south past Tancanhuitz, then take the turnoff to Coxcatlán. Colectivos run from the towns along the highway. Ask in town for directions to Atlapa and the pools.
15 km southeast of Aquismón
Directions from Aquismón on Google Maps
Distances are in a straight line; the road is usually longer.
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Places to stay in Coxcatlán
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Weather warm
Coxcatlán shares the climate of Aquismón, 15 km away. The best months to visit are Jan, Feb, Mar, Dec.
Make Aquismón your base
Coxcatlán is an easy trip from Aquismón, a Pueblo Mágico with places to stay, food, and more to see.
Also close to
- Xilitla · 20 km away
More around Aquismón
-
Cuevas de Mantetzulel
· Cave · 4 km away
Four linked caves sacred to the Tének, visited with a local guide on a short but steep walk; sunlight streams into the Cueva del Sol. -
Tancanhuitz
· Town · 6 km away
A hillside Tének town founded in 1522, once one of the state's four departmental capitals. -
Cascadas de Tambaque
· Waterfall · 7 km away
Small cascades and clear pools a short drive north of Aquismón, a quiet place for a swim away from the big-name sights. -
Sótano de las Golondrinas
· Cave · 9 km away
One of the world's largest open-air pits, famous for the swifts that spiral out at dawn and dive back in at dusk. -
Huehuetlán
· Town · 10 km away
A small Huasteca town with a 17th-century parish, an ancient tree in its plaza and a cave of offerings nearby. -
Sótano de las Huahuas
· Cave · 10 km away
A huge pit in the jungle near Tampaxal, run by a Tének community, where swifts and green parakeets fly out each morning. -
Cueva del Agua
· Cave · 24 km away
A deep, crystal-clear pool inside a cave on the Tampaón River, the usual swim stop on the canoe trip to Tamul. -
Cascada de Tamul
· Waterfall · 26 km away
San Luis Potosí's highest waterfall, a 105-meter drop into a turquoise canyon, reached by paddling upriver in a wooden canoe.
Location from OpenStreetMap. Written by Puebloteca.