6 lakes and lagoons · within 60 km
There are 6 lakes and lagoons within 60 km of Zacatlán in a straight line, an hour or a little more by road. The closest is Presa Nexapa, 26 km away; the farthest, Presa La Soledad, is 54 km. They are listed under the Pueblos Mágicos of Huauchinango, Acaxochitlán, Tlatlauquitepec, and Tlaxco, which make good bases.
Lakes and lagoons are at their best early in the morning, when the water is calm. Many have boat rides and lakeside fish restaurants, and get busy on weekends.
Best months, when most of these towns are dry with comfortable afternoons: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr.
The Lakes and Lagoons 6
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Presa Nexapa · Lake · 26 km from Zacatlán · Near Huauchinango
Forest-ringed reservoir east of Huauchinango with a little island holding a castle-like house; boatmen offer rides. -
Presa El Tejocotal · Lake · 29 km from Zacatlán · Near Acaxochitlán
A forest-ringed reservoir southeast of town with boat rides, kayaks, horseback rides and molote stands on the shore. -
Presa Necaxa · Lake · 32 km from Zacatlán · Near Huauchinango
Mexico's first hydroelectric dam, opened in 1905, with a reservoir set among steep, forested mountains. -
Laguna de Atlangatepec · Lake · 47 km from Zacatlán · Near Tlaxco
Tlaxcala's largest reservoir, a wide open lake on the plains with fishing villages and around a hundred bird species. -
Presa El Muerto · Lake · 52 km from Zacatlán · Tlaxcala
A 63-hectare reservoir at 2,540 m, opened in 1987 beside José María Morelos Buenavista in Tlaxco. -
Presa La Soledad · Lake · 54 km from Zacatlán · Near Tlatlauquitepec
A reservoir on the Apulco river with rowboat trips, a canyon for rappelling, and a firefly season in early summer.
On the map
Distances are in a straight line; roads add about a third.
Where to stay
The Pueblos Mágicos these places are closest to, each with hotels, food and getting-there notes.
More places like these
More around Zacatlán
Lakes and Lagoons elsewhere
Names and locations from OpenStreetMap; notes and write-ups are our own.