Town Ixtacuixtla de Mariano Matamoros, Tlaxcala Municipality of Ixtacuixtla de Mariano Matamoros Volcano Route Monasteries on the slopes of Popocatépetl Puebla Valley
Seat of Ixtacuixtla, with the Franciscan ex-convent of San Felipe (1554-1585) and the tile-covered Calvario church and staircase.
From San Martín Texmelucan: 10 min by car (9 km by road) How to get there ↓
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Where to stay near Villa Mariano Matamoros
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Tours to Villa Mariano Matamoros
Day trips around Huejotzingo sometimes stop in Villa Mariano Matamoros; a tour is the easy way to see it without a car.
Tours from Puebla City
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How to get to Villa Mariano Matamoros
- From San Martín Texmelucan: about 10 min by road (~9 km)
- Nearest airport: Puebla (PBC), 7 min by car to Huejotzingo
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Tours from Puebla City, near Villa Mariano Matamoros
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About Villa Mariano Matamoros
Villa Mariano Matamoros is the seat of the municipality of Ixtacuixtla de Mariano Matamoros, in western Tlaxcala, at about 2,220 metres and inside the Puebla-Tlaxcala metropolitan area. It is also the municipality's most populous locality, with 6,946 inhabitants at the 2020 census. The original name, Ixtacuixtla, comes from the Nahuatl iztacuixtlan and has been translated both as place of white hawks and as place where salt is taken.
Before the Spanish arrived it depended on the lordship of Quiahuixtlán. In 1554 the town council asked for a convent, and by about 1585 San Felipe was finished, although the church was still under construction. It is a stone-and-adobe building with walls about 70 cm thick, twin towers topped with iron crosses, altarpieces inside and a back garden that fills with butterflies in spring and summer. The historic monuments zone was declared on 1 April 1986 and covers 33 blocks. Close by stands the 18th-century Calvario church, with a yellow tiled facade and a multicoloured staircase, and the parish of San Felipe Apóstol with its Carmen and Guadalupe chapels.
The town took its present name from Mariano Matamoros: his parents came from here and his family home is now the town hall, which holds the mural Identidad prehispánica by Arnulfo Sánchez. The main fiesta is San Felipe Apóstol on 1 May, and the carnival lasts three days in February. Local crafts include alebrijes, paper flowers, baskets, piñatas and parade floats, and the table brings escamoles in mixiote, goat barbacoa in mixiote and pork rind in green mole.
How to get to Villa Mariano Matamoros
Drive from San Martín Texmelucan: 10 min, 9 km
Villa Mariano Matamoros is about 17 km from Tlaxcala city, in the west of the state next to Puebla. The ex-convent is at Calle del Calvario no. 28, in the Calvario neighbourhood, a short way from the plaza. From Puebla city it is about 37 km and 45 minutes by car, and Huejotzingo is about 19 km (roughly 20 minutes). From Mexico City it is easiest to go to Puebla (CAPU terminal) or to the Tlaxcala bus terminal and continue by taxi or local transport. There are no published schedules for colectivos, so the practical step is to ask at the Tlaxcala terminal for units to Ixtacuixtla. The ex-convent is open daily from 9:00 to 17:00, though hours can change during religious festivals.
Directions to Villa Mariano Matamoros on Google Maps
Distances are in a straight line; the road is usually longer.
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From the nearest cities to Villa Mariano Matamoros
- San Martín Texmelucan · 9 km by road, 10 min
- Chiautempan · 26 km by road, 20 min
- Puebla · 47 km by road, 45 min
Drive times by road from OpenStreetMap, without traffic or stops. Times marked ~ are estimated from the straight-line distance.
Map of Villa Mariano Matamoros
Neighbourhoods and villages of Villa Mariano Matamoros
Part of Villa Mariano Matamoros or just outside it, closest first.
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San Gabriel Popocatla · Village · 2 km from the centre
Ixtacuixtla village in western Tlaxcala, known for papier-mâché workshops that build catrinas up to 4 m tall, alebrijes and piñatas. -
Santa Justina Ecatepec · Town · 3 km from the centre
Second-largest locality in Ixtacuixtla (5,122 people in 2020), on highway 117 between Tlaxcala and San Martín Texmelucan. -
San Miguel la Presa · Village · 4 km from the centre
A locality in Ixtacuixtla at 2,329 m, 3.5 km northwest of Villa Mariano Matamoros; 399 residents in 2020.
Day trips and tours from Villa Mariano Matamoros
The closest Pueblos Mágicos and places to visit, with the drive from Villa Mariano Matamoros and tours that leave from it.
Times marked ~ are estimated from the distance. Links open a partner site. We may earn a commission if you book, at no cost to you.
Before you go: getting to and around Villa Mariano Matamoros
- The nearest airport is Puebla (PBC).
- The best months to go are January, February, March, and November.
- 1 of the places on this page is more than 3 km from the centre: take a taxi, a ride-hailing app or a local bus.
- For day trips a rental car gives the most freedom; the tours above leave from Villa Mariano Matamoros.
Before you go to Villa Mariano Matamoros: hours, prices and tips
- Hours
- The San Felipe ex-convent is open daily 9:00 to 17:00; hours may change during religious festivals. Programa Destinos México · checked Oct 2026
- Entry
- Entry to the ex-convent is free; a voluntary donation for upkeep is suggested. Programa Destinos México · checked Oct 2026
- Best time of day
- November to April, the dry season, is more comfortable for walking around; the ex-convent garden gets butterflies in spring and summer. Programa Destinos México · checked Oct 2026
- Best season
- San Felipe Apóstol on 1 May; three-day carnival in February. INAH, Lugares · checked Oct 2026
Hours and prices change, especially around holidays. Each fact links to where we checked it.
Visiting Villa Mariano Matamoros: what to see and do
Franciscan ex-convent of San Felipe, 1554 to 1585, with its altarpieces and butterfly garden
Calvario church and its multicoloured tiled staircase
Parish of San Felipe Apóstol with the Carmen and Guadalupe chapels
Town hall, the Matamoros family home, with Arnulfo Sánchez's mural
San Felipe fiesta on 1 May and a three-day carnival in February
Plan your trip
Places to stay in Villa Mariano Matamoros
Compare hotels, posadas, and rentals in and around Villa Mariano Matamoros.
Tours & activities
Day trips around Huejotzingo sometimes stop in Villa Mariano Matamoros; a tour is the easy way to see it without a car.
Rental cars
Pick up a car at PBC (Puebla): about 7 min by road to Huejotzingo, then 19 km more to Villa Mariano Matamoros, on your own schedule.
Flights
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Puebla (PBC), about 7 min by road from Huejotzingo, the base for Villa Mariano Matamoros.
Mobile data
Signal can drop away from Huejotzingo: download a map of the way to Villa Mariano Matamoros before you set out, or carry an eSIM with data.
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When to go to Villa Mariano Matamoros mild
Villa Mariano Matamoros shares the climate of Huejotzingo, 19 km away. The best months to visit are January, February, March, and November.
See the month-by-month climate of Huejotzingo
Weather in Villa Mariano Matamoros 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 Villa Mariano Matamoros, with places to stay, food, and more to see.
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Near Villa Mariano Matamoros
Drive times by road from OpenStreetMap, without traffic. Times marked ~ are estimated from the straight-line distance.
Location from OpenStreetMap. Written by Puebloteca.