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Voykit pocket guide · Mexico
Mineral del Chico
Go for one night, two if you hike: a Pueblo Mágico mining town 25 km from Pachuca, best Fri–Sun when shops and mine tours run.
Mineral del Chico is a small colonial mining town in Hidalgo and the north gateway to El Chico National Park. The town itself is a two-hour walk: a plaza, a church and five mine tours. The reason to come is the mountain: pine forest, rock climbing at Las Ventanas and the Presa el Cedral. Most businesses open Friday afternoon to Sunday evening and close Monday to Thursday, so a midweek trip can leave you with nothing to do.
- Country
- Mexico
- Best months
- Mar–May, Oct–Nov
- Avoid
- Jun–Sep (rain), midweek closures
- 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
- Police, fire, ambulance 911 · Tourist assistance 078 · Green Angels roadside help 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 hot drink | M$40–80 |
| Street food (tacos, huaraches) | M$60–150 |
| Grilled trout main | M$200–300 |
| Mine tour entry | M$50–90 |
| Waterfall entry | M$25 |
| Taxi in town | M$50–100 |
| Taxi Pachuca to town | About M$150 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- MEX · Mexico City Benito Juárez
- About 2 h 30 min by road to Pachuca, then 25 km to town; checkAbout 2 h 30 min by road to Pachuca, then 16 mi to town; check
- NLU · Felipe Ángeles (Santa Lucía)
- Closer to Pachuca than MEX; check current bus and taxi links
Typical fares
- Taxi Pachuca → Mineral del Chico
- about M$150, 20–30 min
- Taxi town centre → mines or park
- M$50–150 depending on distance
- Mine tour entry
- M$50–90 per person
Get around
The town is compact and walkable in 15–20 minutes end to end. Taxis wait near the plaza and are the practical way to reach the mines, the waterfall and the national park; agree the fare before you get in. A car makes the park and the surrounding villages much easier.
See and do
Known for
- Pueblo Mágico mining town
- El Chico National Park
- Guided mine tours
- Pine-forest hiking and climbing
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Pachuca | Taxi or car, 25 km on the Carratera a la EstanzuelaTaxi or car, 16 mi on the Carratera a la Estanzuela | About 30–40 min |
| El Chico National Park | Taxi or car to the park entrances, then on foot | 15–30 min to the trailheads |
| Tulancingo | Car or bus via Pachuca | 1.5–2 h |
| Tula de Allende | Car via Pachuca and the Mexico City highway | About 2 h |
Sleep
- Centro / Barrio de la Sierra
- Steps from the plaza and church; walk to everything, including two mines.
- Barrio del Calvario
- South side, 5–10 min walk to the plaza; several inns and restaurants.
- Barrio lo de Sánchez
- North side on the road to Plan Grande; closest to the mines, the waterfall and cabins.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| How much is it? | ¿Cuánto cuesta?KWAN-to KWES-ta |
| The bill, please | La cuenta, por favorla KWEN-ta por fa-VOR |
| Do you accept cards? | ¿Aceptan tarjeta?a-SEP-tan tar-HE-ta |
| Where is the mine entrance? | ¿Dónde está la entrada de la mina?DON-de es-TA la en-TRA-da de la MEE-na |
| Is it far on foot? | ¿Está lejos caminando?es-TA LE-hos ka-mee-NAN-do |
| I need help | Necesito ayudane-se-SEE-to a-YU-da |
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
- Many shops and restaurants close Monday to Thursday; plan around the weekend.
- Cash is the norm in small businesses; carry pesos and small notes.
- Mine tours involve steep, wet and confined passages: skip them if you are claustrophobic or unsteady on your feet.
- The road from Pachuca is twisty and mountain-grade; avoid driving it after dark if you are not used to it.
- Mountain weather turns cold and wet fast; bring a jacket even in the dry season.
The town is calm and the main risks are practical: mountain roads, cold wet weather, mine passages and cash-only businesses. Use 911 for emergencies and 078 for tourist help.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Mineral del Chico yet. Suggested stay: 1–2 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Pueblo Mágico mining town
- El Chico National Park
- Guided mine tours
- Pine-forest hiking and climbing
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 (official): hidalgo.travel/
- Visit Mexico — Hidalgo: www.visitmexico.com/en/hidalgo
- Wikivoyage: Mineral del Chico, revision 5133956 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5133956
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Mineral del Chico
A esta dirección, por favor
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
No embassies in town; the US, UK and Canadian embassies are in Mexico City. Consular help for Hidalgo is handled from there (check).
Cash-first town: keep small peso notes for mines, taxis and street food.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/mineral-del-chico). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.