Village Totolac, Tlaxcala Municipality of Totolac
Totolac village next to Tlaxcala, heir to the lordship of Ocotelulco, with the church of San Francisco de Asís and the ruins close by.
From Chiautempan: 10 min by car (10 km by road) How to get there ↓
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Tours to San Francisco Ocotelulco
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How to get to San Francisco Ocotelulco
- From Chiautempan: about 10 min by road (~10 km)
- Nearest airport: Puebla (PBC), 7 min by car to Huejotzingo
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Tours from Puebla City, near San Francisco Ocotelulco
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About San Francisco Ocotelulco
San Francisco Ocotelulco lies in the municipality of Totolac, at 2,304 metres and almost on the edge of Tlaxcala city. The 2020 census counted 2,316 residents; in 1900 there were only 124. The name comes from Nahuatl ocotl (ocote, a pine), teotl (temple) and the place ending -co: 'at the pine temple'. Its patron is Francis of Assisi.
The village inherits the name of one of the lordships of Tlaxcallan. According to Torquemada and Muñoz Camargo, it was founded by Teyohualminqui Chichimecatechtli, younger brother of Culhuacatecuhtli Tepanecatl Quanez, near the Zahuapan River. García Cook describes it as the lordship's administrative centre, with a very large market. Its lord, Maxixcatzin, backed peace with the Spaniards, and some sources say Cortés lodged in his house.
Today the centre is the church of San Francisco de Asís, with its atrium and cemetery, and the patron's fiesta falls around the saint's day in October. A few steps away, along Benito Juárez street, is the Ocotelulco archaeological zone, with the altar of the fire serpents and the Tezcatlipoca painting, which has its own page in this guide.
How to get to San Francisco Ocotelulco
Drive from Chiautempan: 10 min, 10 km
San Francisco Ocotelulco is about 10 minutes by car or taxi from central Tlaxcala. From the main square, follow Guridi and Alcocer streets, then Ignacio Allende to Julián Carrillo avenue heading west; after the Puente Rojo take the turn-off to the village, and the archaeological zone's gate is about 500 m farther along Benito Juárez street. Suprabus and ATAH reach the Tlaxcala bus station (Tepehitec boulevard) from Mexico City's TAPO (about 1 h 50 min, hourly) and Verdes from Puebla's CAPU (about 50 min); from there, take a taxi. No combi route with published schedules is listed. Huejotzingo, the nearest Pueblo Mágico, is about 26 km (about 30 min) and Puebla about 32 km (about 35 min).
Directions to San Francisco Ocotelulco on Google Maps
Distances are in a straight line; the road is usually longer.
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From the nearest cities to San Francisco Ocotelulco
- Chiautempan · 10 km by road, 10 min
- San Martín Texmelucan · 24 km by road, 20 min
- Huamantla · 44 km by road, 35 min
Drive times by road from OpenStreetMap, without traffic or stops. Times marked ~ are estimated from the straight-line distance.
Visiting San Francisco Ocotelulco: what to see and do
The church of San Francisco de Asís, with its atrium and cemetery
The Ocotelulco archaeological zone, about 500 m along Benito Juárez street
The teocalli altar with fire serpents and the Tezcatlipoca painting
The patron's fiesta for San Francisco de Asís, in October
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Places to stay in San Francisco Ocotelulco
Compare hotels, posadas, and rentals in and around San Francisco Ocotelulco.
Tours & activities
Day trips and guided outings from Huejotzingo often include San Francisco Ocotelulco; with a local guide you can get there without a car.
Rental cars
Pick up a car at PBC (Puebla): about 7 min by road to Huejotzingo, then 26 km more to San Francisco Ocotelulco, on your own schedule.
Flights
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Puebla (PBC), about 7 min by road from Huejotzingo, the base for San Francisco Ocotelulco.
Mobile data
Signal can drop away from Huejotzingo: download a map of the way to San Francisco Ocotelulco before you set out, or carry an eSIM with data.
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When to go to San Francisco Ocotelulco mild
San Francisco Ocotelulco shares the climate of Huejotzingo, 26 km away. The best months to visit are January, February, March, and November.
See the month-by-month climate of Huejotzingo
Weather in San Francisco Ocotelulco now and the next 7 days
Live forecast from Open-Meteo. Chance of rain is the day's highest.
The closest Pueblo Mágico: Huejotzingo
Huejotzingo is the Pueblo Mágico closest to San Francisco Ocotelulco, with places to stay, food, and more to see.
Also close to
Closest to San Francisco Ocotelulco
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Ocotelulco · Archaeological site · 0 km away
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Los Reyes Quiahuixtlán · Town · 1 km away
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Palacio de Gobierno de Tlaxcala · Landmark · 1 km away
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San Hipólito Chimalpa · Town · 1 km away
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San Miguel Tlamahuco · Village · 1 km away
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Santiago Tepeticpac · Village · 1 km away
Near San Francisco Ocotelulco
Drive times by road from OpenStreetMap, without traffic. Times marked ~ are estimated from the straight-line distance.
Location from OpenStreetMap. Written by Puebloteca.