Town 15 km west of Atlixco
A village at the foot of Popocatépetl with a fortress-like 16th-century convent on the UNESCO list and an old aqueduct and fountain.
Tochimilco sits on the lower slopes of Popocatépetl, about 15 kilometers west of Atlixco, close enough to the crater that it has been evacuated several times since the volcano reawakened in 1994. Its name comes from the Nahuatl for "in the rabbits' field", and the town grew up around four old barrios to which the Spanish added four more.
Its Franciscan convent of the Asunción de Nuestra Señora, built around 1560, is one of the three in Puebla on the UNESCO World Heritage list of early monasteries on the slopes of Popocatépetl. The walled atrium, topped with merlons, gives it the look of a fortress. Inside are a single nave with Gothic ribbed vaults, a cloister with a central fountain and traces of red mural painting, and an open chapel set above the entrance.
The convent's colonial aqueduct still brings water down from the volcano to an octagonal fountain in the main plaza, whose central column carries the town's 16th-century coat of arms. The countryside around is known for avocados.
What to see and do
Walk the crenellated atrium and the church of the Franciscan convent.
Look for the traces of red mural painting in the cloister.
See the octagonal fountain in the main plaza, fed by the colonial aqueduct.
On clear mornings, look up at Popocatépetl looming over the town.
Getting there
Tochimilco is about 30 minutes west of Atlixco by car on the road toward the volcano, and colectivos run from Atlixco. Because the town is close to Popocatépetl, check the volcano's alert level before you go.
15 km west of Atlixco
Directions from Atlixco on Google Maps
Distances are in a straight line; the road is usually longer.
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Places to stay in Tochimilco
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Weather mild
Tochimilco shares the climate of Atlixco, 15 km away. The best months to visit are Jan, Feb, Mar, Dec.
Make Atlixco your base
Tochimilco is an easy trip from Atlixco, a Pueblo Mágico with places to stay, food, and more to see.
More around Atlixco
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Balneario Axocopan
· Hot springs · 4 km away
A spring-fed balneario just west of Atlixco with big pools, some warm, and a stream running through the grounds. -
Huaquechula
· Town · 20 km away
Famous for towering white Day of the Dead altars that families open to visitors on November 1, plus a 16th-century convent.
Location from OpenStreetMap. Written by Puebloteca.