Underground beauty
Nestled in Puebla’s Sierra Norte mountain range, Cuetzalan is surrounded by natural beauty waiting to be discovered. One of the most popular attractions here is the grotto system. Boasting over 21,000 meters (around 13 mi) of caverns, Cuetzalan’s grotto system is the third largest in Mexico.
What can I do in a grotto?
One of the most popular destinations is the
El Duende (The Elf) grotto, since it’s a family-friendly trek, feasible for both small children and older adults who are in good physical condition. It features two rappelling sites, underground semi-flooded caverns, and a labyrinth. It’s located only 11 minutes from the center of
Cuetzalan, in the
Cuichat neighborhood. A sculpture of
Nahui, the elf, will welcome you. Interestingly,
Nahui means “four” in
Náhuatl, and alludes to the natural elements.
Adventurous travelers shouldn’t miss out on the experience of exploring the
Chichicazapan grottoes, which are located only 25 minutes from the
Pueblo Mágico of
Cuetzalan. You’ll have to walk downhill for about 40 minutes before reaching the entrance to the cave. Once you do, you must wear the hard hat with a mounted light that will be provided to you. After a brief hike, you’ll start hearing the water flowing. It’s important that you’re accompanied by an expert guide at all times, since you’ll walk through about 500 meters (.3 mi) of winding passageways and aquifer systems where the water level can come up to your neck.
Be sure to visit the
Los Corales grotto while you’re in
Cuetzalan del Progreso. It was once used to distill liquor and is currently open to the public. In about an hour and a half, visitors can trek through 200 meters (656 feet) of rock formations decorated with
helictites, which are similar to
stalactites but are shaped like coral.
