Pahuatlán
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◈ The only way to reach this Magical Town in the middle of the Sierra Poblana is by crossing valleys and ravines. Avocado trees and coffee plants grow everywhere. Within the cloud forests, there’s magic.
Many pre-Hispanic traditions persist: sorcerers conjure evil, offerings are made with the amate paper made in San Pablito, and they still continue to perform the ritual of the Voladores (flying men), which Pahuatlán inherited from the ancient Totonacapan.
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◆ Crossing the hanging bridge over the Pahuatitla River that connects Pahuatlán and Xolotla.
◆ Trying the famous fried chícales (ants) with chiltepín chili in the rainy season.
◆ Witnessing the Danza de los Voladores, the Totonac flying men ritual that Pahuatlán shares with Cuetzalan and Papantla.
Buy sheets, paintings, lamps, and embroidery on amate paper. Look for them in the town shops.
❖ Mirador de Ahíla
From this lookout, you can see Pahuatlán in the distance. In the community of Ahíla they grow flowers, the birds fly, and you can fly too—on a hang glider. Groups of cyclists are often found descending the hills.
❖ Parroquia del Señor Santiago
Be sure to visit the Parroquia del Señor Santiago. This church was founded in the 15th century and is the architectural crown jewel of this Magical Town.
The life of the town is centered on the Parroquia del Señor Santiago. The church was left to the town by the Augustinian monks in the 15th century.
A century later, it would become the parish church. It’s the oldest and largest church in the municipality and features a neoclassical, 20th-century altar. Don’t miss it!
❖ The Coffee Plantations
The soil of Pahuatlán supports many coffee plantations. These lands are the perfect place for learning how the red berries of this esteemed plant are transformed into a steaming cup of coffee.
Be sure to visit the Beneficio de Café de Don Conche Téllez coffee farm, take part in a coffee tasting, and get the chance to take home some fresh roasted beans.
❖ Cross the Puente Colgante Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla
The Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla hanging bridge is located less than 2 miles from downtown. It’s the path built in the air that connects Pahuatlán and the Nahua community of Xolotla.
The Pahuatitla River runs beneath it. The river comes from Honey and you can swim in its natural pools when the current is mild.
❖ Visit the Surrounding Communities
Acapala is a nearby town where you’ll find a church devoted to St. John. Here, you can take horseback rides along the Acapala River and practice rappel at Cerro Delgado.
You can also take a trip to Honey. The town is named after a businessman who made a fortune at Pachuca’s iron mines in the 19th century and helped to build the town. Be sure to check out the Iglesia de Santa María de Guadalupe church, and the El Salto and Velo de Novia waterfalls.
In Tlacuilotepec, north of Pahuatlán, there’s this town with its Templo de Cristo Rey, a church built by Augustinian monks in the 17th century.
