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    Calnali center 2009, Hidalgo

    Photo by Mexpharoah, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

    Calnali

    Village Calnali, Hidalgo

    Sierra Alta seat famous for its cuernudo carnival; the Chahuaco waterfall and Atempa hot springs are nearby.

    From Huauchinango: about 1 h 55 min by road (~125 km) How to get there ↓

    Near here

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    Plan your visit to Calnali

    Where to stay near Calnali

    Compare hotels, posadas and guest houses in Calnali.

    Hotels in Calnali Houses on Vrbo

    Tours to Calnali

    Day trips and guided outings from Metztitlán often include Calnali; with a local guide you can get there without a car.

    Tours from Xilitla Surrealist Garden of Edward James, Castle of Health and Xilitla Nativity ★ 4.3 (10) · From US$100
    Find tours on Viator GetYourGuide

    How to get to Calnali

    • From Huauchinango: about 1 h 55 min by road (~125 km)
    • Nearest airport: Mexico City (Felipe Ángeles) (NLU), 2 h 18 min by car to Metztitlán
    Rent a car at NLU Flights to NLU

    Route, map and directions ↓

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    Tours from Xilitla, near Calnali

    Surrealist Garden of Edward James, Castle of Health and Xilitla Nativity ★ 4.3 (10) 9–10 h From US$100
    Swallow Show, Tamul Waterfall by canoe and Cenote Cueva del Agua ★ 4.1 (7) 12 h From US$120
    two days valley trek in the Atlas mountains ★ 4.7 (3) 2 days From US$171
    Bridge of God and Tambaca Waterfalls ★ 5.0 (2) 13 h From US$120
    Waterfalls of El Meco and El Salto ★ 5.0 (2) 14 h From US$130

    Tours, prices and ratings from Viator, checked weekly. We may earn a commission if you book.

    About Calnali

    Calnali, 'house across the river' in Nahuatl, sits under 1,000 metres in the Sierra Alta, where the mountains start to open toward the Huasteca. In 2020 it had 4,235 residents. What sets it apart is its carnival, which lasts about six days and ends on Ash Wednesday: a flag-raising, a children's parade, the burning of bad humour, the crowning of a queen and a float parade with papier-mâché figures over four metres tall. The seven neighbourhoods field troupes of devils, witches, clowns, Death and above all cuernudos: a costume of chaps, a leather vest, a hand-painted cloth mask and deer antlers over a hat, costing 7,000 to 10,000 pesos and weighing about 10 kg. The Son del Cuernudo plays, with tambora drum and brass band.

    Other big dates are the fiesta of San Marcos, the town's patron, from 25 to 27 April, with cockfights, rodeos, horse races and the Wind Bands Festival, and Day of the Dead, with marigold arches and altars of tamales, turkey mole and chocolate.

    In the countryside there is walking to do: the Chahuaco waterfall, about 70 metres high, reached by car as far as the Tecuapa ranch and on foot beyond; the Atempa hot springs, about 20 km from town, with pools and lodging; and Cerro de la Aguja, a hike of about 8 km with 700 m of climbing whose last stretch needs rope and experience. Calnali holds the Pueblo con Sabor designation, for its cecina, sesame enchiladas, xala and zacahuil.

    How to get to Calnali

    From Pachuca take federal highway 105 (Pachuca-Huejutla, also called México-Tampico) north, passing Zacualtipán and Molango to Ixtlahuaco, in Lolotla. There the paved state road to Calnali begins, crossing the community of Chalma and running about 20 km to town; the total from Pachuca is around 160 km (México Desconocido). Wikipedia puts Calnali about 28 km from Molango. From Huejutla de Reyes, access is on the Atlapexco-Calnali road, which passes the Atempa hot-springs turn-off. Long-distance buses leave from Pachuca or from the Norte terminal in Mexico City; for the last stretch, ask in Molango or Huejutla about minibuses or taxis, as no timetable is published. If you go for carnival, México Desconocido advises booking a hotel from January: the supply is small.

    Directions to Calnali on Google Maps

    Distances are in a straight line; the road is usually longer.

    Best with a guide Tours to Calnali on Viator With transport and a guide, leaving from nearby towns and cities. See prices →

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    From the nearest cities to Calnali

    Drive times by road from OpenStreetMap, without traffic or stops. Times marked ~ are estimated from the straight-line distance.

    Before you go to Calnali: hours, prices and tips

    Best time of day
    The warm months for the Chahuaco waterfall. México Desconocido: Qué hacer en Calnali · checked Oct 2026
    Best season
    Carnival of about six days ending on Ash Wednesday; fiesta of San Marcos 25-27 April; Day of the Dead. México Desconocido: Qué hacer en Calnali; INAFED · checked Oct 2026
    Guide or tour
    Cerro de la Aguja: the final stretch needs rope and climbing gear, with an experienced companion. Tours: Viator GetYourGuide México Desconocido: Qué hacer en Calnali · checked Oct 2026

    Hours and prices change, especially around holidays. Each fact links to where we checked it.

    Visiting Calnali: what to see and do

    Calnali carnival, about six days, with cuernudos and floats
    Monumental Cuernudo statue on the main esplanade
    Fiesta of San Marcos, 25 to 27 April
    Chahuaco waterfall, about 70 m, with a final stretch on foot
    Atempa hot springs, about 20 km away
    Cerro de la Aguja, about 8 km and 700 m of climbing

    Plan your trip

    Places to stay in Calnali

    Compare hotels, posadas, and rentals in and around Calnali.

    See them all on Expedia Booking.com
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    Tours & activities

    Day trips and guided outings from Metztitlán often include Calnali; with a local guide you can get there without a car.

    Viator GetYourGuide

    Rental cars

    Pick up a car at NLU (Mexico City (Felipe Ángeles)): about 2 h 18 min by road to Metztitlán, then 40 km more to Calnali, on your own schedule.

    EconomyBookings Discover Cars

    Flights

    The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Mexico City (Felipe Ángeles) (NLU), about 2 h 18 min by road from Metztitlán, the base for Calnali.

    Kiwi.com

    Travel insurance

    Medical and trip cover for Mexico, by the week or month.

    SafetyWing

    Mobile data

    Signal can drop away from Metztitlán: download a map of the way to Calnali before you set out, or carry an eSIM with data.

    Airalo

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    When to go to Calnali mild

    Calnali shares the climate of Metztitlán, 40 km away. The best months to visit are January, February, March, and December.

    See the month-by-month climate of Metztitlán

    The closest Pueblo Mágico: Metztitlán

    Bell gable and arcaded front of the convent of the Santos Reyes, Metztitlán, Hidalgo mild
    Hidalgo Metztitlán

    Metztitlán is the Pueblo Mágico closest to Calnali, with places to stay, food, and more to see.

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    Closest to Calnali

    Near Calnali

    Drive times by road from OpenStreetMap, without traffic. Times marked ~ are estimated from the straight-line distance.

    Location from OpenStreetMap. Written by Puebloteca.