Zacatlán de las Manzanas
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◈ With its ever present mist, Zacatlán is situated on the edge of the gorgeous Barranca de los Jilgueros. It’s a town where bread is baked fresh every day, monumental clocks are made, and they harvest the fruits of the land. Apples are what most abound.
You’ll find them dehydrated and turned into liqueurs and jams. They give thanks for the apples every year during the Feria de la Manzana (Apple Fair) with dances and parades with floats.
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◆ Stepping into any bakery to try the famous bread filled with ranchero cheese.
◆ Watching the afternoon go by from the outdoor tables of Café Dos Aromas.
◆ Visiting Rancho El Mayab to stroll among the apple trees and learn all about them.
Check out the weekend automaton show on the balconies of the clock museum.
❖ Conjunto Conventual Franciscano
Beginning in 1562 and ending in 1567, construction of this church and monastery complex make it the oldest in all of Puebla.
It shows off the characteristic simplicity that the Franciscan order imparted on all its constructions in the 16th century. The church interior consists of three naves and, in the back, after a long row of half-point arches, an image of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception welcomes visitors. Above it, in a backlit niche, is St. Francis.
As you walk over the historic bricks of the floor, you’ll see that there are still traces of lost frescoes on the walls and an organ in the chorus sits in wait of being played again.
The cloister now contains the Casa de Cultura, which in turn contains the Museo Comunitario Luciano Márquez Becerra. The community museum is the place to come to learn all about the town’s history and pre-Hispanic past.
❖ Ride a Zipline at Cascada Tulimán
This waterfall is found in the middle of a pine and oak forest of about 227 acres. The Quetzalapan River creates the falls when it reaches this point rushing at full force. It then slows down, forming pools where people swim.
There are three different falls that together have a height of 886 feet. There are cabins around the water as part of the ecotourism park that includes the falls.
There are also campgrounds, a hanging bridge, and zipline. You can swim in the mineral spring. Those wishing to may rappel down a cliff, climb trees, and peek inside the hollowed-out interior of a tree.
❖ Take a Horseback Ride Through Valle de Piedras Encimadas
The valley makes for a gorgeous landscape which every evening is touched by mist. The attraction here are the huge rocks stacked in strange shapes.
You can walk among them or hire a horseback or cart ride. Though perhaps the best way to see the valley is by renting a bike at the main entrance. There are also campgrounds and a 394-foot-long zipline.
You can also practice rappel, camp, collect loose wood and start a campfire. The peace and quiet here will make you feel relaxed and removed from the noise of the city.
❖ Treat Yourself to Pan de Queso
Burras, picadas, morelianas, gusanos, and almohadas are all names for different versions of the town’s famous bread stuffed with ranchero cheese and pink sugar.
You’ll have no trouble finding trays full of the stuff at the more traditional bakeries: La Fama de Zacatlán, Pimental, Vázquez, or La Nacional (56 Luis Cabrera Street).
❖ Feria de la Manzana
The Apple Fair has been celebrated since 1941 with the aim of promoting enthusiasm for the place’s natural produce. It’s the biggest event in Zacatlán.
On August 15th, a mass is held in honor of the patroness of the fruit farmers, Our Lady of the Assumption, during which a blessing for the apple is held.
There are concerts, dances, rides, things for the kids to do, and cultural activities. There are also mountain bike routes, charro demonstrations, handicraft displays, float parades, and the crowning of the queen. The fair is held at the city’s Centro Expositor.
When: August
