In the print dialog pick “Save as PDF” to keep it on your phone. A5 makes a pocket booklet; A4 suits a desk printer.
Voykit pocket guide · Mexico
Ixmiquilpan
Go for one night if you want hot springs and the monastery murals; skip the long trip if you only have a spare day from Mexico City.
Ixmiquilpan sits in Hidalgo's Mezquital valley, about 2 hours by bus from Pachuca and 164 km from Mexico City. Its 16th-century Augustinian monastery holds murals painted by Otomi artists, and the surrounding valley has hot mineral springs feeding spas and water parks. Most travellers come for a weekend of pools, or stop on the Pachuca–Tula corridor. Two nights covers the town and one water park; one night is enough for the monastery and plaza alone.
- Country
- Mexico
- Best months
- Mar–May, Oct–Nov
- Avoid
- Jun–Sep (rainy season), late Jan festival weekend if you dislike crowds
- Stay
- 1–2 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- MXN
- Money
- Currency is the Mexican peso (MXN, $). Cards work in hotels, chains and many restaurants; markets, street food, small shops and colectivos are cash.
- Daily spend
- Budget M$500–900 excl. bed · Mid M$900–1,600 excl. bed · High M$1,600+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Telcel has the widest coverage; AT&T and Movistar are cheaper in cities. SIMs sell at OXXO shops and phone stores; registration with an ID may be requested — check.
- Emergency
- All emergencies 911 · Tourist assistance 078
- Plugs
- Types A, B · 127 V · 60 Hz · US plugs fit; many older sockets have no earth pin.
- Tipping
- Restaurants: 10–15%; check the bill for an included 'servicio'.; Bars: MXN 10–20 per drink or 10%.; Petrol station attendants: MXN 10–20; more for windscreen and tyres.; Guides and drivers: 10% or MXN 200–400 a day.; Supermarket baggers (often older volunteers): MXN 5–10.
- Water
- Not drinkable from the tap; garrafón (20-litre jugs) and filtered water in hotels.
- Toilets
- Put paper in the bin, not the toilet, in most places; public toilets charge MXN 5–10.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee or agua fresca at the plaza | M$25–60 |
| Plate of tacos or a comida corrida | M$80–180 |
| Beer at a bar | M$40–70 |
| Taxi within town | M$50–100 |
| Bus Ixmiquilpan → Pachuca | M$80–200 (check) |
| eSIM or data SIM, about a week | M$200–400 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- MEX · Mexico City Benito Juárez
- About 2.5–3 h by road to Ixmiquilpan; no direct rail link.
- NLU · Felipe Ángeles (Santa Lucía)
- Closer to the northbound highway; check current bus connections.
Typical fares
- Bus Pachuca → Ixmiquilpan
- M$80–200, about 2 h (check)
- Taxi in town
- M$50–100
- Water park entry
- from about M$170–650 depending on park (check)
Get around
The centre is small enough to walk: plaza, monastery, chapel and market are within about 15 minutes on foot. Taxis from the Plaza Juárez sitio are the practical way to reach water parks and caves outside town; agree the fare before you get in. Buses from the terminal on Av. Insurgentes cover Pachuca, Actopan and Tula.
See and do
Known for
- Ex-Convento de San Miguel Arcángel murals
- Hot mineral springs and water parks
- Hñähñú (Otomi) culture
- Plaza Juárez and its Diana sculpture
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Grutas de Tolantongo | Taxi or tour from Ixmiquilpan, about 1 h 30 min | About 2 h |
| Xoxafi adventure park | Taxi or own car toward Santiago de Anaya | About 1 h |
| Actopan | Bus or car on the Pachuca highway, about 40 min | About 1 h |
| Pachuca | Ovnibus or similar from the terminal, about 2 h | About 2 h 15 min |
Sleep
- Centro Histórico
- Around Plaza Juárez and the monastery; walkable to the market and most restaurants.
- Barrio El Carmen
- Quieter streets near the Capilla del Carmen; several small hotels and a short walk to the centre.
- Highway corridor (Carr. México–Laredo)
- Water parks and larger hotels with parking; you will need a taxi for the centre.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | Disculpedees-KOOL-peh |
| Thank you | GraciasGRAH-syahs |
| How much is it? | ¿Cuánto cuesta?KWAN-toh KWES-tah |
| Can I pay by card? | ¿Puedo pagar con tarjeta?PWEH-doh pah-GAR kon tar-HEH-tah |
| Where is the toilet? | ¿Dónde está el baño?DON-deh es-TAH el BAH-nyoh |
| The bill, please | La cuenta, por favorlah KWEN-tah por fah-VOR |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake; a kiss on the right cheek among friends; avoid: Skipping 'buenos días' when entering a shop
- Punctuality: Be on time for tours and buses; avoid: Expecting social events to start on time
- Talking: Warm small talk, family, food, football; avoid: Jokes about cartels, the wall or migration
- Churches: Covered shoulders, quiet; avoid: Photos during mass
- Dining: Say 'provecho' to other diners when leaving; avoid: Rushing the waiter
Scams and watch-outs
- Some water parks close pools or whole sections on weekdays; call ahead or check the park's own page.
- Cave and adventure activities at Xoxafi and Tolantongo require booking and are not suitable for young children or anyone with mobility limits.
- Summer afternoons bring heavy rain and slick roads on the highway; drive the cuota where possible.
- Not all small hotels take cards; carry pesos for deposits and extras.
Ixmiquilpan is a small town and the centre is calm by day and early evening. Hidalgo's highway corridors have had security incidents; travel between towns in daylight, use the cuota, and keep to the centre after dark.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Ixmiquilpan yet. Suggested stay: 1–2 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Ex-Convento de San Miguel Arcángel murals
- Hot mineral springs and water parks
- Hñähñú (Otomi) culture
- Plaza Juárez and its Diana sculpture
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Hidalgo state tourism: hidalgo.travel/
- Wikivoyage: Ixmiquilpan, revision 5340269 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5340269
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/ixmiquilpan). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.