What to do in Huasca de Ocampo

 

Huasca de Ocampo proudly carries its title as the oldest ‘Magic Town’ in Mexico. It has a little bit of everything: natural beauties, extraordinary landscapes, well-preserved historical landmarks, delicious gastronomy and fine crafts with a legacy of hundreds of years. Definitely a must when traveling to Hidalgo.

Spend a day exploring the streets of Huasca de Ocampo with our quick guide. Enjoy!

 

Town center

It comes to life on weekends, when all the stores around it are open and a market is set up right in front of the kiosk. Here, you’ll find regional cuisine, red clay or wood ornaments and cookware, wool clothing and other Mexican souvenirs.

Don’t leave without trying out the quesadillas on the right corner of the square, where the white tables are. And make sure you order at least one of ‘mole verde’; they’re a little bit hot, but sooo… delicious!

 

 

Hacienda Santa María Regla

During the Spanish Empire, Mexico was filled with beautiful haciendas that overlooked the production of coffee, tequila, sugar, wine, etc. This was the first and most important mining hacienda in the region.

Its beauty rests in the underground tunnels and labyrinths used in the 18^th century by Pedro Romero de Terreros, the owner (wealthiest man in the Kingdom of Spain), to transport the gold and silver taken out from his multiple mines. It now operates as a hotel.

 

 

Potter’s Workshop

Our favorite place. From the moment you arrive to ‘Taller del Alfarero’, you’ll sense how much Don Fausto and Felipe (father and son) share their love for the craft of pottery.

You’ll also get the chance to hop on the wheel and experience the detailed and hardworking process that goes into every piece, whether it’s a large pot, a flower vase or a tiny cup.

 

 

Basaltic Prisms

Definitely, the natural highlight of Huasca de Ocampo. These geometric structures were formed 2.58 million years ago, when a volcano erupted and its lava cooled down as it encountered the shallow river that used to flow there. Actually, the height of the columns suggests that the lava flow was approximately 40 meters thick.

You can admire the prisms from various viewpoints, one of them being on the ground where the waterfalls splash. Keep in mind that the water smells like rotten egg (sulfur, most likely).

 

 

Peña del Aire

The rock formation that appears to be suspended in mid-air is just a pretext to visit this wonderful viewpoint, where Hidalgo and Veracruz’s Huastecas (one of the most bio-diverse regions of Mexico) converge.

It’s strange to be surrounded by a scenery that some broadcasting companies use to simulate Africa’s savannas, and watching across the canyon a whole different biome, with a strong breeze carrying water from the river below.

You can also zipline over the famous ‘Peña del Aire’ and rappel down the edge of the canyon. Costs: entrance fee ($10mxn), rappel ($100mxn), zipline ($50mxn).

 

 

 

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Useful information

How to get there: take a bus (Estrella Blanca: $210 mxn per person) from Mexico City’s Airport Terminal 2, to Pachuca. Once there, walk out into the street and grab a van that has written ‘Huasca de Ocampo’ on its windows. They’ll charge you $15-20 mxn for the 45min ride (1h if it makes many stops on the way).

In Huasca: the best way to move around Hidalgo is by renting a car, but you can also get by on taxis. From Huasca’s center: Prisms ($60-70 mxn), Peña del Aire ($150 mxn).

Map: in the town’s center, below the kiosk, you can go inside the tourism office and ask for a map and directions.

Tip: avoid holidays, because it can get pretty hectic and it looses part of its charm.