Lake 14 km northeast of Villa del Carbón
A reservoir that swallowed the village of San Luis de las Peras in the 1930s; two church towers still rise from the water.
Taxhimay is the reservoir with a village underneath it. Before the dam was built in the 1930s to send water to neighboring Hidalgo, this valley was home to San Luis de las Peras, an Otomí community founded in the 1500s. Its people were moved out and the water rose over their houses, fields and churches.
Two towers still break the surface. The taller one belongs to the old Franciscan parish of San Luis Rey de Francia, from the 16th century; the slimmer one is the chapel of the Señor del Quejido, added later. How much of them you see depends on the season: after the rains only the tops of the towers show, while in the dry months the water drops and more of the walls, and even remains of the old Hacienda Taxhimay, come into view.
The shore has a relaxed, country feel. Boatmen take visitors out to circle the towers, and around the reservoir there are cabins, camping spots, trout fishing, kayaks, horseback rides and mountain bike trails, so the drowned church easily turns into a full day out from Villa del Carbón.
What to see and do
Take a boat ride out to the two church towers rising from the water.
Visit in the dry season, roughly March to May, when more of the drowned village shows.
Rent a kayak or try trout fishing from the shore.
Ride a horse or mountain bike along the trails around the reservoir.
Stay in a cabin by the water for a quiet night away from town.
Getting there
Taxhimay is about 24 km northeast of Villa del Carbón on the state road toward Jilotepec and Tepeji, roughly 40 minutes by car; watch for the turnoff to San Luis Taxhimay. Without a car, take a taxi or a combi from Villa del Carbón toward the dam entrance and agree on a time for the ride back.
14 km northeast of Villa del Carbón
Directions from Villa del Carbón on Google Maps
Distances are in a straight line; the road is usually longer.
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Places to stay in Presa Taxhimay
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Weather cool
Presa Taxhimay shares the climate of Villa del Carbón, 14 km away. The best months to visit are Jan, Feb, Mar, Dec.
Make Villa del Carbón your base
Presa Taxhimay is an easy trip from Villa del Carbón, a Pueblo Mágico with places to stay, food, and more to see.
Also close to
- Jilotepec · 20 km away
More around Villa del Carbón
-
Presa del Llano
· Lake · 9 km away
A forest reservoir and ecotourism park south of Villa del Carbón with cabins, rowboats, trout, zip lines and campsites. -
Centro Ceremonial Otomí
· Landmark · 23 km away
A monumental Otomí ceremonial center in the Temoaya forest, built in 1980, with a vast plaza and giant sculpted figures.
Location from OpenStreetMap. Written by Puebloteca.