Zacatlán: Mosaics, History and Mountain Scenery

Mosaic glass, historic religious buildings and views of Puebla’s mountainous region reveal different sides of Zacatlán. In town, the Reloj Floral, the Vitromural Paseo de la Barranca and several cultural sites all help shape the visitor experience. Nearby, natural attractions such as Valle de Piedras Encimadas and the Tulimán Recreation Center offer more to explore. When planning your trip, one practical question arises: should you focus on culture and city sights, or on experiences in the surrounding landscape?

Art, History and Landmark Buildings

The Vitromural Paseo de la Barranca is a mural about 100 meters long, made from mosaic pieces in different colors and recycled glass. It was inaugurated on January 10, 2015. By day, it adorns the Paseo de la Barranca de los Jilgueros; at night, the headlights of passing vehicles are reflected in it, making it glow. Anyone interested in materials and design will find an artwork here whose effect changes between daylight and nighttime reflections.

The Ex Convento Templo Franciscano in Zacatlán’s historic center represents a different period in history. Built between 1562 and 1567, it is considered the oldest monastery in the Americas still in operation. The Parroquia de San Pedro y San Pablo also tells the story of the town’s architecture: the building dates from the mid-17th century and has a gray stone façade. The Capilla de Guadalupe houses viceregal paintings with legends in Nahuatl, as well as a cedar ceiling.

More than 1,500 pre-Hispanic and historical objects from Zacatlán are displayed in two permanent exhibition halls at the Museo Regional Comunitario Luciano Márquez Becerra. There are also rooms for temporary exhibitions, where some recitals are held.

The Reloj Floral stands in the civic plaza. It is one of the city’s main tourist attractions and is considered unique of its kind. Each of its two clock faces is five meters in diameter and decorated with natural flowers. Its unusual size and floral design make it a distinctive sight among Zacatlán’s attractions.

Special Experiences and Local Drinks

The events and theater formats also offer very different experiences. Zacatlán’s 84th Gran Feria de la Manzana takes place from August 7 to 16 and includes more than 200 artistic, cultural and sporting events; visitors are welcome. Corti Teatro, by contrast, presents short plays lasting 15 to 30 minutes for audiences of 10 or 20 people. Depending on your travel interests, you can choose between an extensive festival program and an intimate theater format.

At Sidrería San Rafael, you can sample apple and peach cider, as well as quince and tejocote liqueurs. Guided tours of the cellars are also available. At La Primavera Vinos y Licores, you can visit the museum of the first wine and liqueur factory established in Zacatlán. There, visitors can learn about the original artisanal production process that was used at this site for almost 100 years.

Another option in the municipality of Zacatlán is Leyendas de Zacatlán, a guided tour with a Franciscan friar. It visits various places in the municipality and includes tastings of locally produced coffee, as well as wine and cider made by Zacatlán residents. The tour brings together stories about local places and products from the region.

Mountain Region and Natural Attractions

The Mirador de cristal is located on Paseo de La Barranca, also known as 11 Oriente, in Parque Hundido in Zacatlán. From this viewpoint, you can take in the landscape of Puebla’s mountainous region. Nearby is Valle de Piedras Encimadas, an ecotourism park covering about 2,000 hectares where visitors can take walks. The Tulimán Recreation Center, in the vicinity of Zacatlán, is defined by a 300-meter-high waterfall. These natural attractions offer a different focus from the historic buildings and cultural sites in town.

When choosing your vacation rental in Zacatlán, you could first consider whether you want to plan your trip mainly around buildings, museums and city sights, or around outings to natural attractions in the surrounding area. The 84th Gran Feria de la Manzana and the offerings centered on regional drinks add further reasons to visit. You can also discover Huauchinango as another destination.

Return to the main travel overview: Huauchinango.