Ex-Hacienda Chautla and Its Picturesque Castle Gillow: 2024 Guide for a Half-Day Trip

An English-style castle and a lake divided by a dam: The ex-hacienda Chautla in the state of Puebla shows off its glamorous past until today. Once a thriving hacienda with farmland for corn, wheat, and later maguey (an agave plant), it’s now a popular recreational area for the poblanos (people living in Puebla). Just a 45-minute drive from the city of Puebla, it invites you to spend a day in nature at the lake surrounded by forests. And you can even bring your pet along! This guide tells you what it is, what it costs, and what you can do.

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About the Ex-Hacienda Chautla and Castle Gillow

In 1777,  the Marquis of Selva Negra (Manuel Rodriguez de Pinillos y Lopez) built the manor house of the Hacienda Chautla. Until recently, the former manor house was the entrance to the ex-hacienda. About 2 months ago, the hotel’s permission expired, and since then the entrance to the lake and Castle Gillow lies opposite the car park on its southeast side.

Due to marriage, the farmland became later the property of an Englishman of the name Thomas Gillow. His son Eulogio Gillow, a later archbishop, modernized the hacienda: He built the first hydroelectric dam in Latin America, and in 1898 the famous Castle Gillow (Castillo Gillow), the English-style residence overlooking the dam.

Castle Gillow is certainly the landmark of the property. It’s red-and-white brick facade is a popular photo opportunity. You can climb the staircase to its roof terrace for a view of the lake and the dam dividing it. Read more about visiting Castle Gillow and its rooftop terrace here.

Eulogio Gillow built the castle originally as a hall for teachers for a planned agricultural college. During the Mexican Revolution (1910-1921), the hacienda feudal system was abolished and the lands of the hacienda were divided among local farmers in 1914. Several of the hacienda’s buildings were destroyed during the revolution, and it was finally abandoned. In 1984, the government of Puebla bought the hacienda to make it a public recreational area. Nowadays, Mexican families and tourists alike take a half-day trip to visit Chautla and enjoy its quiet atmosphere.

Opening Hours and Entrance Fee

The ex-hacienda Chautla is open from Mon-Fri 8 AM – 5.30 PM. You can find more information on their official facebook page.

The entrance fee is 45 pesos (2 USD) for adults, 28 pesos (1.50 USD) for students, and 12 pesos (0.60 USD) for children in 2024.

If you arrive by car, the parking fee is 21 pesos (1 USD).

See the directions for how to arrive.

When to Visit the Ex-Hacienda Chautla

The ex-hacienda Chautla is a popular destination for Mexican families, especially at the weekends. It might take longer to access the rooftop lookout of Castle Gillow.

So if you plan to take great selfies and not be in a rush, I’d suggest to come visit during the week. We went on a Wednesday, and at 10 o´clock we didn’t have to queue to climb to the rooftop, but we still had to wait 10 minutes for other visitors to climb down. On the roof, it was just us and two other visitors. We had enough time to take pictures and enjoy the view.

What to Do at the Ex-Hacienda Chautla

At the ex-hacienda Chautla, you have several options for spending the day.

Take Pictures from the Rooftop Lookout at Castle Gillow

Probably the main reason why people come visit the ex-hacienda is to take pictures of the beautiful Castle Gillow. You can climb a narrow and low staircase up to the rooftop, from where you can take beautiful selfies or pictures of the dam and the lakes. See here for a more detailed description of Castle Gillow.

There’s no extra fee for entering the castle.

Walk Along the Lake

You can just take a walk along the lake to enjoy the nature. You’ll find various nice spots for taking pictures, often with Castle Gillow in the background. If you sit down somewhere, you’ll probably soon get company from the lake’s geese hoping for a snack:-)

Fish for Trout (and Eat it at the Restaurant)

You can fish for trout and more at the lakes of the ex-hacienda Chautla. You have several options to choose from, and you pay for them at the ticket booth at the entrance or at the south side of the dam.

• Permission for Sport fishing: 320 pesos (17 USD)
• Permission for Trout fishing: 60 pesos (3 USD)
• Renting equipment and permission for trout fishing: 200 pesos (10 USD)

If you catch a trout, you can take it to the Restaurant El Castillo to have it prepared for you at an extra cost of 120 pesos (6 USD) per trout. The dish will come with rice and veggies, and you can choose in which style the kitchen staff prepares the fish:

• A la diabla (in spicy red chili sauce)
• Enchipotlada (in chipotle sauce made of less spicy smoked and dried jalapeños)
• Epazote (with the strong, pungent epazote herb)
• Ajillo (with garlic and slightly spicy guajillo chilies)
• Mojo de Ajo (in garlic oil)
• Natural

You can also buy trout per kilo to take home or have it fried at the restaurant (46 pesos (2 USD) per trout or 250 pesos (13 USD) per kilo). Having it fried at the restaurant comes with an extra cost of 120 pesos (6 USD).

Go Ziplining (Tirolesa)

Over a length of 256 meters ( feet), you can take a ride along a zipline and enjoy the view from above. If you don’t get too excited and watch out, you might catch a glimpse of Castle Gillow as you slide along.

A ride at the northwest side of the lake costs 120 pesos (6 USD).

Take a Guided Tour to the Springs

Every hour, there’s a free tour of the springs that feed the lakes. You can access this part of the ex-hacienda only by joining the tour. The tour lasts around an hour, and the guides appreciate a tip at the end of the tour. You’ll also learn more about the history of the ex-hacienda. The tour is in Spanish, however.

Ride a Boat on the Lake

You can rent a boat (lancha) and paddle along the western lake.

The fee is 80 pesos (4 USD) per half hour, or 135 pesos (7 USD) per hour.

Visit the Gardens and Fountains of the Hotel Misión Grand Ex-Hacienda de Chautla (currently closed)

Unfortunately, the hotel lying on the south side of the lake is currently closed. Before, you could visit the garden and fountains, and have a coffee at its cafeteria “La Terraza” with a view of the lakes. Hopefully, the hotel will be reopened in the future.

Overview and Map of the Ex-Hacienda Chautla

On the map below, you can see the outline of the area and where you can find which activities:

You enter the area from the car parking in the southeast. Then you make your way along the waterfront, which is divided by the dam divides the waterfront into two unconnected lakes.

At the dam, you can find the following:

• Ticket booth for activities and fishing (south of the dam)
• Castle Gillow (north of the dam)
• Restaurant El Castillo (north of the dam, behind Castle Gillow)

At the western lake, you can find the following:

• Trout fishing
• Hotel Misión Grand Ex-Hacienda de Chautla (currently closed)
• Fisher’s Island
• Rappel
• Zipline (only accessible if you bought a ticket for it)
• Springs (only accessible by taking the guided tour)
• Camping area*
• Pier for boat rides*

* For the latter two, you have to cross the dam and move west for access.

At the eastern lake, you can find the following:

• Sport fishing
• Entrance and ticket booth
• Pavilion island
• Cabins

Visiting Castle Gillow and Its Rooftop Lookout

To enter the castle, you have to line up to the right side until you get to the back of the castle. You might have to wait for 10-20 minutes for other visitors to climb down before you can climb up. The staircase is pretty narrow and you have to watch your head while climbing up. When you get to the rooftop, there’s a small metal staircase that leads a bit further up.

The view from the rooftop is definitely worth waiting a bit! You can see the dam and the two lakes on each side of it. In the background to your right, you might catch a glimpse of the volcanoes Popocatépetl and Izztaccihuátl on a cloudless day. Due to the restricted space, however, and you get only 5 minutes to stay on the rooftop.

When climbing down, I suggest taking a quick detour to the exhibition hall on the top floor. Here you can find before/after pictures of the mansion of the ex-hacienda, which nowadays houses the (currently closed) Hotel Misión Grand Ex-Hacienda de Chautla. It gives you a good impression of how much work went into renovating the mansion. Don’t forget to look up, the roof light is pretty.

Here’s an example of the renovation process of the mansion, which gives an impression of the inside of the hotel.

After climbing down, you leave the castle through the front door.

Where to Eat at the Ex-Hacienda Chautla

You have several options to eat at the ex-hacienda, depending on how much money you want to spend.

Restaurant El Castillo

Behind the Castle Gillow lies the restaurant „El Castillo“ where you can sit on the veranda with a view of the lake and the backside of the castle. It’s known for its trout dishes but also offers other dishes, mainly Mexican cuisine. If you’ve been lucky catching a trout in the lake of the ex-hacienda, you can also bring it to the restaurant and have them prepare it for you for an extra cost of 46 pesos (2 USD) per trout or 190 pesos (10 USD) per kilo. You can choose from a variety of preparation styles (grilled, with garlic, and so on), and it’ll come with side dishes.

Market Stalls outside the Ex-Hacienda

At the entrance of the ex-hacienda, you can find various market stalls that offer a range of food: Be it Tacos or Cemitas, you can easily eat here for under 100 pesos (5 USD) per person.

Bring your Food and Drinks for a Picnic

A very economical way of recharging your batteries is bringing your food and beverages. Please keep alcoholic drinks in moderation, so you don’t get into trouble with the park rangers;-)

Where to Stay at the Ex-Hacienda Chautla

In June 2024, the popular Hotel Misión Grand Ex-Hacienda de Chautla closed as its permission expired. But no worries, there are other options to stay at the ex-hacienda itself. And as it’s only 45 minutes from Puebla, you can also choose to stay there and just make a half-day trip to the ex-hacienda.

Cabins (Cabañas)

You can book a cabin for 4 people at the ex-hacienda Chautla with a view of the lake. Each cabin has one matrimonial and two individual beds, as well as a bathroom. You have to make your reservation at least 15 days in advance under haciendachautla@gmail.com, or by telephone at +52 221 272 0600, or by WhatsApp using this link: https://wa.me/message/Y4SHMVHK6JOUB1.

Pricing is 1855 pesos (96 USD) per cabin.

Camping

On the other side of the lake where Castle Gillow lies, you can find a camping area. You’d need to bring your tent, though. Pricing is 95 pesos (5 USD) per person.

At a Hotel in Puebla

In my post about Puebla, you can find some recommendations for hotels. You can make the 45-minute drive by renting a car, or by booking a tour that brings you there.

How to Get to the Ex-Hacienda Chautla

You can get to your destination by renting a car or booking a guided tour. The address is: Ex-Hacienda Chautla, Carr. Federal México-Puebla Km. 4-5, 74135 San Lucas el Grande, Pue., Mexico.

Tel.: +52-2212720600. See also the official facebook page.

Getting There By Car

• From Puebla, you take the Autopista México – Puebla/México 150D highway towards Mexico City. Then take the exit to San Antonio Chautla. Follow the road “Camino a San Antonio / A la Ex-Hacienda”. Note: Until recently, the entrance to the ex-hacienda was close to the Hotel Misión Grand Ex-Hacienda de Chautla. Since this closed recently, follow the road about 400 m (1300 ft) further to where the food stalls and the parking lot are to your left. You’ll notice a big blue sign over the road saying “Ex-Hacienda Chautla”. It’s about a 45-minute drive in total.
• From Mexico City, you take the Autopista México – Puebla/México 150D highway towards Puebla. Then take the exit to San Antonio Chautla. Follow the road “Camino a San Antonio / A la Ex-Hacienda”. Note: Until recently, the entrance to the ex-hacienda was close to the Hotel Misión Grand Ex-Hacienda de Chautla. Since this closed recently, follow the road about 400 m (1300 ft) further to where the food stalls and the parking lot are to your left. You’ll notice a big blue sign over the road saying “Ex-Hacienda Chautla”. It’s about a 2.5-hour drive in total.

Getting There By Joining a Guided Tour

By joining a guided tour, you can relax and enjoy the benefit of English-speaking guides. The tours usually combine several attractions.

From Puebla: This tour combines visiting the ex-hacienda Chautla with a soap-making workshop at a lavender farm and finishes with visiting the Tuscany-style village of Val’Quirico with medieval vibes.

From Mexico City: This tour visits the Tuscany-style village of Val’Quirico and then heads on to the ex-hacienda Chautla.

Conclusion

The ex-hacienda Chautla is a great opportunity for a relaxing half-day trip. Take pictures of the iconic Castle Gillow, enjoy the view from its rooftop, and wander around the lake. It’s also a great chance to combine your trip with visiting other attractions in the area, like offered by guided tours. If you’re looking for a change from the vibrant city life in Puebla or Mexico City, a trip to Chautla might just be what you need!

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