Best Things to Do in Atlixco de Las Flores
“The City of Flowers”: Due to its climate and the fertile volcano soil which allows to grow flowers and plants all through the year, this city has earned its name. And it made plants its main income source: You can find one plant nursery (“vivero”) next to another in the street Calle 20 Poniente. So if you love plants, beware! It’s easy to spend all your money and time just strolling through the nurseries. But the Magical Town (Pueblo Mágico) of Atlixco has more to offer. Only 50 km from the volcano Popocatépetl, you can get a stunning view of the same on a clear day from the hilltop “Cerro de San Miguel”. Or are you more of an X-Files fan and would love to see a UFO? Yes, you heard right! All that and more is possible in this charming town full of flowers and colors.
At a Glance: Atlixco’s TOP 12 Highlights
- Stroll Along Calzada 16 de Septiembre
- Visit the Wide Stairs (“Escaleras Anchas”)
- Visit the Ex-Convent San Francisco
- Climb the San Miguel Hilltop with its Church
- Visit the Plant Nurseries (“Viveros de Atlixco”)
- Take Pictures of the Town Hall Paintings
- Try out Local Sweets at the Zócalo
- Eat at the Local Market Benito Juárez
- Look for Aliens in the UFO
- Visit the San Pedro Waterfalls
- Visit the Big Sculptures at the Valle de Las Catrinas in November
- Visit the Villa Iluminada at Christmas Time
1. Stroll Along Calzada 16 de Septiembre
Fall for Atlixco’s charm as “City of Flowers” by strolling along this beautiful street. From the main square, head west up the hill into the Clazada 16 de Septiembre. This street has beautifully colored houses with pot plants hanging from walls and windows. It’s a beautiful walk with many picture opportunities and takes you to your next destination.
2. Visit the Wide Stairs (“Escaleras Anchas”)
This staircase of 12 x 28 meters has been the main access to the ex-convent San Francisco for a long time. But ever since it’s been painted in 2020 it’s become one of the favourite spots to take pictures for anyone visiting Atlixco. When you walk up the beautifully painted stairs, you’ll find a small flower clock similar to the big one you can find in Zacatlán.
3. Visit the Ex-Convent San Francisco
Built in the 16th century, this former Franciscan convent has a church, upper and lower cloister, cells, and a garden.
4. Climb the San Miguel Hilltop with its Chapel
It’s quite a challenging way uphill to reach the top of the San Miguel hilltop (“Cerro de San Miguel”), but it’s definitely worth it. From here, you have a great view over the whole of Atlixco. And if you’re lucky with the weather, you can see the volcano Popocatépetl in the far distance. The chapel of archangel Saint Michael (“Capilla San Miguel Arcángel”) is often closed, but close by you find the lookout (“Mirador Cerro de San Miguel”) to the North of the chapel, and the glass, and the newer lookout “Mirador de Cristal” to the West with a glass floor for the braver ones.
5. Visit the Plant Nurseries (“Viveros de Atlixco”)
In Calle 20 Poniente street, you’ll find one plant nursery next to another where the beautiful flowers that made Atlixco famous are grown. Tulips, geraniums, petunias – you’ll find greenhouses and open fields. They also grow herbs, cactuses, and fruit trees. Whether you’re just indulging in the beautiful colors and smells or actually buying some plants, that’s up to you:-)
6. Take Pictures of the Town Hall Paintings
Once you’re back at the Zócalao (main square), why not stop shortly at the town hall and admire the beautiful wall paintings inside? They depict significant moments in the town’s history and most of them have been painted by Juan Manuel Martínez Caltenco. To your left when you enter the hall, you’ll find a mural of the ancient Aztec legend of the two volcanoes, Popocatépetl and Izztaccíhuatl. Also known under their short names, Popo and Izzta, they used to be human. After a tragic love affair, their bodies transformed into volcanoes. And when Popo’s heart beats heavily for his beautiful princess Izzta, the fire and passion lead to an eruption. Luckily, this doesn’t happen too often, and Izzta herself has been a dormant volcano for a very long time:-)
Directly straight to the entrance, on the upper floor, you’ll find a painting of the Voladores (flying people), an old custom from central Mexico where 5 people climb a large pole from which they hang themselves upside down, 4 of them rotating slowly downwards toward the floor while the 5th man is playing music to it. This custom stems from the prehispanic era and is still practiced today in many places (among them Cholula and Cuetzalan).
7. Try out Local Sweets at the Zócalo
At the main square (“Zócalo de Atlixco”), many street vendors sell regional treats. Try out Puebla classics like camotes (sweet potato candies) or Tortitas de Santa Clara (pumpkin seed and shortbread cookies) while sitting on a tiled bench. In the Zócalo’s center, there’s a gazebo that houses a cafe of the branch “The Italian Coffee”, a great place to have a hot beverage and enjoy people-watching.
8. Eat at the Local Market Benito Juárez
At the local market 2 blocks south of the main square, you can buy fresh vegetables, fruits, spices and much more. Here, you can also try out local flavors for a small price. Try the “Cecina” (jerked beef), the chicken-chipotle consomé atlixquense, barbacoa, or mixiotes de carnero.
9. Look for Aliens in the UFO
One thing that is unique to Atlixco is this UFO (“OVNI” in Spanish). Legend has it that someone from Atlixco saw a UFO flying over this place. Other people wanted to spot the saucer, too, and came together. As with any gathering, Mexicans soon start selling food and drinks, and in the end, someone decided to put a fake UFO here, maybe in the hope of attracting the „real“ one. Anyway, it’s a bit outside of Atlixco, but you can take a taxi to this place (ask for “OVNI” and show them this picture), and they’ll take you there. From the top of this hill, you have a stunning view over the Atlixco valley.
10. Visit the San Pedro Waterfalls (Cascada San Pedro Atlixco)
About 12 km north of Atlixco, you can find this beautiful place of a small waterfall. A popular family outing destination, you can find food stalls to eat and drink something at reasonable prices. There’s no entry fee, but if you come by car, you’ll have to pay for the parking.
Tips & Tricks
On the way to the waterfalls, there’s the “Punto Marconi”, an upward stretch where you can stop the car and it will roll forward! This is an optical illusion, of course – you have the impression of rolling uphill. But please be careful and try this out only if there’s not much traffic on the street. Safety first!
11. Visit the Big Sculptures at the Valle de Las Catrinas in October/November
At the end of November, the Day of the Dead is celebrated in Mexico. This is one of the most important celebrations in this country. From mid-October to the beginning of November, big sculptures are set up in various places of Atlixco in the typical style of the Catrinas. If you happen to be around at this time of the year, you shouldn’t miss to visit the Valley of Catrinas (“Valle de Catrinas”).
And if you’re still around on All Saints Day on October 28, take pictures of the flower tapestry on the esplanade outside the town hall (Palacio Municipal). On November 2, enjoy the big parade (Desfile de Calaveras) where thousands of costumed people walk along the streets.
12. Visit the Villa Iluminada at Christmas Time
End of November until the beginning of January, Atlixco becomes the Villa Iluminada (the illuminated town). The city center is decorated with Christmas lights, and you can try out local delicacies at food stalls or buy handicrafts. There are also cultural events, music, and other activities for the whole family taking place. Make sure to stay until it gets dark to see the lights shining bright! I guess this is the closest you can get to a German Christmas market in Mexico:-)
…What Else Can You Do in Atlixco?
Try Handmade Ice Cream in Ximitl Helados
Only 2 blocks from the main square, the ice cream shop Ximitl Helados is a favorite spot for its many daring flavors of handmade ice cream. Be it avocado, mezcal with salt, corn, and spices – you can’t complain about a lack of variety:-) Of course, they also have more traditional flavors, too.
Take a Day Trip to Puebla or Cholula
If you stay longer, you might want to visit Puebla or the Magical Town of Cholula. Each is only about 35 km away. You can take the Oro bus from the Terminal Oro Erco, only about 3 blocks from the main square. Or take a taxi or Uber.
Where to Eat in Atlixco
Las Sombrillitas
If you’re a fan of corn and would like to try it in a new combination of flavors, try out Las Sombrillitas. While you can buy esquites (grains of corn) and elotes (corn cob) at every street corner in Mexico, this small restaurant goes new ways and combines corn with crickets, marrow, or chocolate cream.
Restaurante Alqueria de Carrion
Close to the main square, this restaurant offers traditional Mexican dishes. Try the pipian verde, and as dessert a “concha con nata” (sweet bread filled with cream).
Vica restaurant
If you’re looking for a creative and innovative haute-cuisine experience, try out the Vica restaurant. The menu is constantly changing as they’re preparing seasonal dishes with products from the region. Each dish is beautifully arranged. If you don’t mind smaller portions and are happy to pay for fancy dishes, you won’t be disappointed.
Where to Stay in Atlixco
Casa de la Audiencia
This 4-star hotel lies around the corner of the main square and has a terrace and a view on the mountain. Some rooms have a porch/patio with city views. All the rooms are equipped with a coffee machine, a mini bar, and a small balcony.
Alqueria de Carrion Hotel Boutique
This boutique hotel is located directly at the main square in a colonial building from the 17th century. There’s an outdoor pool and an in-house restaurant that serves traditional Mexican dishes. A delicious breakfast is included for 2 days of your stay; they charge 20 pesos (1.20 USD) for the service, though. Free parking!
How to Get There
Atlixco is only 35 km from Puebla, and from there you can take the Oro Autobuses to get there. Buses leave from the CAPU station in Puebla every half hour and take about an hour and 15 minutes to get there. You can also take a taxi or Uber.
So…Is It for Me?
If you love flowers, UFOs, handmade ice cream with fancy flavors, or just want to have a good view of the volcano Popocatépetl, then it’s a definite yes! Atlixco is a great town to spend a day or more. Especially if you stay in Puebla, Atlixco is just a hop away. And if you’re around in November or December for the Day of the Dead or Christmas time, even better! With Atlixco, you can’t go wrong. So give it a try!
