Ahuatepec

"On the hill of the oaks": that is the meaning of Ahuatepec, from the Nahuatl ahuatl (oak) and tepetl (hill). The village lies at about 2,000 m, northeast of the town of Tecali de Herrera, in the part of the Puebla valley that faces Tepeaca. The climate is mild, averaging close to 17 °C over the year, with most rain in summer.

It already existed in colonial times as Santa María Ahuatepec. The HGIS de las Indias project records it in the early 18th century as part of the jurisdiction of Tepeaca and, from 1709, of Tecali, both within the diocese of Puebla.

It has grown a great deal over the last century: the census counted 466 people in 1900, about 1,400 by mid-century, 3,567 in 2000 and 4,832 in 2020, which puts it among the largest communities in the municipality. It is one of Tecali's six juntas auxiliares, with its own auxiliary president and councillors elected by residents. Unlike many nearby communities, where farming dominates, trade is the main occupation here.

To round out a visit, head down to Tecali, about 12 km away. It has a 16th-century Franciscan convent facing the main square and workshops where onyx and marble are carved, the craft the municipality is known for.