Cuetzalan del Progreso Travel Guide: Discover the Magic of Cuetzalan, Puebla

I’ve visited all ten pueblos magicos in the state of Puebla.

Cholula is the easiest to get to and by far the most visited, at least by foreign tourists. On the opposite end is Pahuatlan del Valle, a tiny mountain town with a population of a little over 20,000. As far as I know, hardly any foreigners go there.

And then there’s Cuetzalan del Progreso. It’s a small town in the Sierra Norte region of Puebla.

In my opinion, Cuetzalan is the state’s most interesting magical town. Home to a fascinating weekend market, waterfalls, and the ruins of Yohualichan, it should receive as many tourists as Cholula. But like Pahuatlan, its remoteness makes it more difficult to get to, which only adds to its charm.

If you’d like to visit a truly magical town in the state of Puebla, then this detailed travel guide will tell you all you need to know to plan your trip to Cuetzalan del Progreso.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

MEXICO TOURIST CARD (FMM)

I didn’t need a tourist visa to enter Mexico but you may depending on what type of passport you carry. You can check iVisa.com for more information on Mexico tourist visas.

Whether or not you need a tourist visa to visit Mexico, all visitors will still need an FMM (Forma Migratoria Múltiple) to enter the country. Commonly referred to as a “tourist card”, it’s something you can get when you travel to Mexico by land or by air.

Tourists traveling by land can get one at the border (with a fee) while people flying into Mexico are usually provided one by their airline (cost included in the airline ticket).

You can also process the FMM ahead of time online through the INM website or iVisa.com. Click on the link to learn more about the FMM.

CUETZALAN DEL PROGRESO AT A GLANCE

Cuetzalan del Progreso is a pueblo magico (magical town) nestled high up in the Sierra Norte region of Puebla. It has a population of just under 50,000, consisting mainly of indigenous Totonac and Nahua people. It was declared a pueblo magico by Mexico’s Secretariat of Tourism in 2002, one of the very first towns to receive that distinction.

The name Cuetzalan is said to come from the word cuezali and the preposition tlán. Cuezali means “colorful bird” while tlán translates to “place”. Put together, the name Cuetzalan can be interpreted as the “place where colorful birds abound”.

Like Xicotepec de Juarez and Tlatlauquitepec, Cuetzalan is known for its coffee production. Coffee plantations abound as do hiking trails that take you to its many waterfalls and cave systems. This mountain town is home to a humid climate year-round, making it one of the greenest pueblos magicos you can visit in Puebla.

Culturally, Cuetzalan is also one of the most interesting. Like Pahuatlan, it claims to be the origin of the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage ceremony known as Danza de los Voladores. The archaeological site of Yohualichan is just a short colectivo ride away and you can experience the ancestral practice of bartering at its Sunday tianguis.

IS CUETZALAN SAFE?

Personally, I felt completely safe in Cuetzalan. Many of these pueblos magicos don’t get a lot of foreign visitors so I sometimes got surprised stares from the locals, but I felt none of that in Cuetzalan. I felt completely welcome and at ease here.

Some parts of Mexico have a reputation for being unsafe but Puebla is considered one of the safest states in Mexico. Aside from its delicious Poblano food, it’s one of the biggest reasons why we decided to make it our base in Mexico.

With that said, it doesn’t mean bad things can’t happen in Cuetzalan or Puebla. That’s true anywhere. As long as you prioritize safety and follow the usual precautions – don’t walk alone at night, don’t wear flashy clothing or jewelry, stay in populated areas, etc – then you should have nothing to worry about in Cuetzalan del Progreso.

The US, Canada, and UK governments give general Mexico travel advisories but I highly recommend bookmarking the Puebla and Cuetzalan Tripadvisor forums too. If there are any recent incidents that could affect your trip, then you’ll probably read about them there first. Those forums are frequented by locals and expats so it’s a great place to ask questions too.

BEST TIME TO VISIT CUETZALAN

Cuetzalan del Progreso experiences a humid climate year-round. June till October are generally the wettest months though compared to other pueblos magicos in the state, the region is relatively rainy throughout the year.

Personally, I stayed for a weekend in September which is the rainiest time of the year. I was worried about the rain ruining my trip but apart from a light drizzle, I got mostly sunny weather during my stay.

I may have just gotten lucky but if you want to go when precipitation is historically at its lowest, then you may want to shoot for December till February. Click on the link for more on Cuetzalan’s climate.

Regardless of when you go, it’s best to visit over the weekend so you can experience the indigenous market. You’ll experience Cuetzalan at its most colorful and vibrant.

HOW TO GET TO CUETZALAN

There are many ways to get to Cuetzalan del Progreso depending on where you are. This guide assumes you’ll be coming from Puebla City, Mexico City, or the other nearby pueblos magicos in Puebla.

From Puebla City

BY BUS: Via offers direct buses from Puebla CAPU (main bus station) to Cuetzalan. At the time of my visit, a one-way ticket cost me MXN 268. Here’s a bus schedule from September 2022:

Buses back to Puebla CAPU are more frequent and run everyday from 5-6AM till around 5PM. Here’s a picture of the bus schedule:

BY GUIDED TOUR: If you’d like to visit Cuetzalan on a guided day tour, then you can book one through Get Your Guide.

From Mexico City

According to Rome2Rio, you can take an ATAH bus from Mexico City’s TAPO station to Zaragoza, then catch a bus from there to Cuetzalan. I haven’t done this but the Via bus I took from Puebla did stop at the terminal in Zaragoza so yes, I believe you can do this. You may want to check with ATAH to confirm.

At the bus terminal in Cuetzalan, I saw this schedule of direct AU buses (owned by ADO) to Mexico City’s TAPO station. You’ll want to confirm this with AU but they probably run direct routes to Cuetzalan from CDMX as well.

From Other Pueblos Magicos

Some of these pueblos magicos in Puebla are clustered in the same region so you can travel from one to the other without having to go back to Puebla City. Here’s how you can get to Cuetzalan del Progreso from nearby magical towns.

FROM TLATLAUQUITEPEC: I went to Tlatlaquitepec immediately after Cuetzalan so you can do it the other way around as well. I don’t know if there are any direct routes but you can take a bus or van to Zaragoza then catch a bus to Cuetzalan. When I did it the other way around, the Via bus to Zaragoza from Cuetzalan cost me MXN 58 while the Via van from Zaragoza to Tlatlauquitepec set me back MXN 10.

By Rental Car

Driving from city to city in your own car is a popular way of exploring Mexico, especially for tourists coming from the US. If you’d like to rent a car to visit Cuetzalan del Progreso, then you can do so through rentalcars.com.

WHERE TO STAY IN CUETZALAN

Hotel choices can sometimes be few and far between in these pueblos magicos but you shouldn’t have any trouble finding a place to stay in Cuetzalan del Progreso. Here are a few highly-rated hotels in town.

If you don’t think these hotels are right for you, then you can do a search on Booking.com, Agoda, or Airbnb for alternate listings. You can also search for hotels in Cuetzalan using the handy map below.

THINGS TO DO IN CUETZALAN

1. Start at the Zocalo

The zocalo or main square is a great place to start when exploring a new city in Mexico. Every city we’ve visited has one and the zocalo in Cuetzalan is one of my favorites to date.

There are certain features common to nearly every zocalo in Mexico. There’s usually a kiosko or gazebo and the town’s biggest church is typically located just off the main square. The white clock tower and volador pole pictured below are unique to Cuetzalan.

Letras gigantes or giant letters spelling out the town’s name are a common sight in Mexico. It’s a popular photo backdrop that you can typically find at the zocalo.

On those steps are where the weekend market vendors sell their wares. This was taken bright and early – at sunrise – so you can see them just beginning to set up their stands.

Another fixture at Mexican zocalos is the palacio municipal or municipal palace.

You’ll find many tour companies in Cuetzalan del Progreso but the town’s Tourist Information Center is located on the first floor of its municipal palace. For reasons I’ll get into later, I highly recommend starting your visit there.

If I wake up early enough like I did today, then I enjoy having a traditional pre-Hispanic breakfast of tamal and atole. You can typically find several tamal and atole vendors at any city’s zocalo early in the morning.

2. Enjoy the Weekend Market

The weekends are the best time to be in Cuetzalan del Progreso. It’s when the indigenous market happens so you’ll find dozens of Totonac and Nahua vendors wearing traditional dress and selling their wares around the zocalo. It’s a fascinating cultural experience that you can’t find just anywhere.

They call these markets “Sunday tianguis” but I was in town by Saturday and there were many vendors already set up and selling their wares. The market was indeed biggest on Sunday however with vendors spilling out from the zocalo and lined up all along the town’s main road.

It’s important to note that the locals don’t do this for tourists. The indigenous communities have been setting up these markets where they barter goods and food products since pre-Hispanic times.

I’ve traveled all over Mexico and this weekend market in Cuetzalan was one of my most memorable experiences. The atmosphere is festive and it’s great to see these ancient traditions still being preserved to this day.

I didn’t witness the locals bartering goods but you can purchase anything on display. Just be sure to pay in small bills because change will be hard to come by.

You’ll find all kinds of local products on sale, like these colorful textiles with indigenous patterns.

These colorful necklaces made from beans and nuts were especially interesting.

You’ll find a variety of food and household products like these bowls made from gourds. Cuetzalan del Progreso is known for its coffee so I bought a bag of ground coffee beans.

On Sundays, you’ll find vendors lined up on either side of Miguel Alvarado, the town’s main road. Most of the stalls here will be selling fresh produce, utensils, and more modern items like printed shirts and caps.

There’s no shortage of fresh fruit and vegetables in Cuetzalan del Progreso.

Many of the people at these weekend markets are dressed in traditional clothing, like this gentleman bargaining for legumes. If you’re into photography, then you’ll have plenty of subject matter to keep you happy in Cuetzalan.

3. Make Three Wishes at Parroquia de San Francisco de Asis

As described, you’ll typically find the city’s largest church at the zocalo. In Cuetzalan del Progreso, that church is Parroquia de San Francisco de Asis.

This is what the inside of the church looks like.

In some Catholic countries, it’s a tradition to make three wishes when entering a church for the first time.

This is what the church looks like from the other side. If no one told me this was from Mexico, I would have assumed it was taken in Spain or somewhere else in Europe.

Right in front of Parroquia de San Francisco de Asis is this volador pole. The Danza de los Voladores is an ancient Mesoamerican ceremony where four participants dressed in colorful indigenous costumes dangle themselves by the feet and spin around the pole. Each spin unwinds the rope and lowers them little by little until they reach the ground.

Like Pahuatlan del Valle, Cuetzalan del Progreso claims to be the birthplace of this ancient ritual. It’s believed that the tradition was started to ask the gods to end a severe drought.

I’ve seen Danza de los Voladores performed in other parts of Mexico but unfortunately, I didn’t catch it in Cuetzalan. I read that it’s usually performed over the weekend but there were no performances when I was there.

4. Visit Iglesia de los Jarritos

On the other side of town is this church – Santuario de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe. Located inside a cemetery, it’s nicknamed Iglesia de los Jarritos or “Church of the Jugs” because its tower is decorated with small clay jugs.

Here’s what the inside of the church looks like. Again, you can make three wishes here if you like.

5. Learn about Cuetzalan at Casa de Cultura

You won’t find many museums in these small pueblos magicos but Cuetzalan is home to an interesting one – Casa de Cultura. It isn’t that big but there’s a good range of exhibits that teach you about the history and culture of Cuetzalan del Progreso.

Entrance to the museum is free and you’ll find exhibits showcasing archaeological artifacts and cultural items like textiles, pottery, and woven handicrafts.

6. Explore Zona Arqueológica Yohualichan

Located just a short colectivo (shared van) ride from town is the archaeological site of Yohualichan, one of the main attractions in Cuetzalan. Like El Tajin in Veracruz, this ancient pre-Hispanic city is believed to have been built by the Totonacs, and reached the height of its powers sometime between 250-900 CE.

At the time of my visit in September 2022, admission to Yohualichan was MXN 65 with a guide. I went for the short tour but if I remember correctly, they offer a long tour at a higher price as well. You can’t explore the site on your own.

If you’re fascinated by these ruins, then you need to visit Yohualichan. The area isn’t that big so you’ll probably spend no more than half an hour to an hour at the site. The site is open daily from 10AM till 5PM.

The colectivo ride from downtown Cuetzalan is MXN 12 each way and you can check the location map at the bottom of this article to see where you can catch it.

7. Visit Jardín Botánico Xoxoctic

If you enjoy botanical gardens, then you may want to spend a few hours at Jardin Botanico Xoxoctic. It’s located along the road between downtown Cuetzalan and Yohualichan. I saw it on the way back to town from the ruins. I tried going back but when I showed a picture of the place to a colectivo driver, he didn’t understand what I was referring to.

If you’d like to go, then I suggest showing its Google Maps pin to a colectivo driver. If he doesn’t recognize it, then keep Google Maps open and ask to be dropped off when you’re near. Going to Yohualichan, it’ll be on your right side. You can refer to our location map to see exactly where it is.

8. Hike to the Waterfalls

Aside from visiting the weekend market and exploring Yohualichan, going on a hike is one of the most enjoyable things you can do in Cuetzalan. Not too far from town is a series of hiking trails that you can take you to a number of picturesque waterfalls.

Cascadas las Brisas

You can visit several waterfalls along the Tecolulta River but one of the most popular is Las Brisas. Located around 1.2 miles (2 km) southeast of the zocalo, the lady at the Tourist Information Center told me where I could catch a colectivo to get to the waterfalls. You can refer to our location map to see where it is.

Just tell the driver you’d like to go to Las Brisas and he’ll drop you off at the nearest point so you can walk the rest of the way. The one-way fare is MXN 8. You’ll walk to a parking area where you can follow the pathway pictured below to get to the falls.

Cuetzalan del Progreso is known for its lush natural surroundings. I don’t know how true this is but the brochure I got from the Tourist Information Center claims that its forests are home to the world’s largest native flora and fauna species, many of which are unfortunately endangered.

Walking to the waterfalls, you can’t help but notice the presence of these giant ferns along the path. I went on a tour in Tlatlauquitepec and if I remember correctly, my guide told me they can only be found in this part of Mexico.

Here’s a picture of Cascadas las Brisas. You’ll need to pay MXN 25 to get to the falls.

I didn’t make it but there should be another waterfall close to Las Brisas called El Salto. You can refer to our location map to see where it is.

Cascadas las Tres Caidas

Several waterfalls are located along the Tecolutla River so you can walk on the paths by the river to get from one to the next. This one is called Las Tres Caidas. The entrance fee here is MXN 20.

Not too far from Las Tres Caidas is this zipline. I didn’t do it so I don’t know where it takes you.

Cascadas las Golondrinas

When you take the colectivo and walk to the parking area to start your hike, you’ll see two pathways – one leading to Las Brisas (pictured earlier) and this one that takes you to Las Golondrinas, another waterfall.

This hiking trail is much rougher compared to the path to Las Brisas so be very careful if you choose to go this way.

I hiked down to the river but I never did make it to Cascadas las Golondrinas. The path was impossibly muddy in parts and the pins on Google Maps can sometimes be inaccurate, so I decided to turn back.

For the safest and least worrisome experience, I suggest going with a guide. You’ll find plenty of tour companies around the zocalo that can take you on these hiking trips.

Along the path, I found a couple of these temazcal huts. A temazcal is a type of pre-Hispanic sweat lodge that’s used for curative and birthing ceremonies.

9. Go Caving With a Guide

Aside from waterfalls and rivers, Cuetzalan del Progreso is also home to a network of cave systems, some of the most visited being La Aventura, Xalostoc, Garganta del Diablo, La Empedrada, and Las Corales.

Caving is a popular activity in Cuetzalan but for your own safety, it’s something that you need to do with a licensed guide. You can book a tour with one of the many tour companies around the zocalo.

La Gruta del Duende

After hiking along the waterfalls, I walked to La Gruta del Duende before heading back to town on foot. La Gruta del Duende means “The Elf’s Cave”.

La Gruta del Duende was closed at the time so they locked the stairway going down and into the cave system, which only makes sense. Caving is dangerous and should never be attempted on your own.

If caves make you feel claustrophobic, then you can sit and enjoy the scenery from one of these stone tables. I didn’t include any pictures here but I spotted several elf houses embedded in rocks and trees. See how many you can find!

Even if you don’t intend to go caving, you still need to watch your step. There was this metal platform built over a drop into the cave system. I don’t know what they use this for (rapelling perhaps?) but there’s no barrier so you need to be very careful.

La Gruta del Duende offers many activities so be sure to check their website if caving is something that interests you.

10. Explore More Caves and Waterfalls

I had fun going on my half-day hike but if you’re an outdoorsy person, then you may want to explore more of Cuetzalan’s forests, caves, waterfalls, and rivers. Poza Pata de Perro is a popular trekking spot, as is Cascadas las Hamacas. Neither is located near downtown Cuetzalan so it’s best to book a guided trekking tour for your convenience and safety.

I’ve listed only the most popular but there are many more natural wonders to explore in Cuetzalan. You can get more information at the Tourist Information Center or from one of the many tour companies around the zocalo.

11. Wander Around Town

There are many interesting attractions in Cuetzalan del Progreso but my favorite thing to do was to wander aimlessly around town. Cuetzalan is a lovely little town with hilly cobblestone streets and a foggy mountain sanctuary vibe. When you’re here, it feels like you’ve stepped back in time and into the real Mexico.

People who enjoy taking photographs will have a great time in Cuetzalan.

Try getting up just before sunrise one day to photograph the town while its streets are still empty.

You’ll find many shops around town. If you’re looking to do some souvenir shopping, then one place you may want to visit is the Matachiuj Handicrafts Market.

This fountain was eye-catching to say the least. It features a sculpture of a Totonac man wearing a traditional costume.

You can’t go anywhere in Mexico without finding murals or seeing these colorful hanging banners called papel picado (“punched paper”).

This is one of my favorite pictures from Cuetzalan del Progreso. For me, it captures the vibrant atmosphere and spirit of the town.

A cobblestone street at sunset with Parroquia de San Francisco de Asís in the distance.

It doesn’t matter if it’s 7AM or 7PM. Cuetzalan is breathtaking at any time of the day.

POBLANO FOOD GUIDE

Puebla is home to some of the best regional food in Mexico. Aside from being one of the country’s safest states, the local cuisine is a big reason why we chose to make Puebla our base in Mexico.

Many tourists are already familiar with mole poblano but there are many other regional dishes that you need to try in Puebla. Be sure to check out our Poblano food guide for suggestions on what dishes to look for in Cuetzalan del Progreso and Puebla.

WHERE TO EAT IN CUETZALAN

1. Comedor de Leña

This was my favorite restaurant in Cuetzalan. Comedor de Leña is one of those family-run Mexican restaurants that serves amazing home-cooked food using only the freshest ingredients. When you eat here, it feels like you’re dining in a villager’s home.

Comedor de Leña doesn’t have a menu. When you sit down, one of the nice ladies who run the place will tell you what’s available that day. I don’t remember what this was exactly but it was some type of beef stew. It was delicious.

They give you as many black beans and tortillas as you can eat at Comedor de Leña. These were easily the best tortillas I had anywhere in Mexico.

The reason why Comedor de Leña’s tortillas are so good is because they’re freshly made on the spot. While you eat, you hear this constant *slap slap slapping* sound as the ladies shape the masa with their hands and cook them on a comal. Freshly made tortillas make a world of difference!

If you want a truly memorable meal in Cuetzalan, then you have to eat at Comedor de Leña.

2. Comedor Luna Azul

Luna Azul is another popular restaurant in Cuetzalan. They offer only around seven or eight dishes so you know that whatever you order will be made well.

I went with this delicious platter of cecina with enchiladas. Cecina refers to meat that’s been salted and dried by sun, air, or smoke.

Comedor Luna Azul is centrally located just a short walk from the zocalo.

3. Comedor Doña Gode

When you walk down narrow Morelos Street to the zocalo, you’ll pass several eateries making different types of local antojitos like tlayoyos, molotes, and tacos dorados. You have to try these antojitos at one of these restaurants.

They all have similar offerings so I went to the restaurant that had the most customers at the time – Comedor Doña Gode.

Pictured below is a trio of molotes, one of the tastiest street food dishes you can eat in Puebla. The molotes in Cuetzalan are quite different from the versions in Puebla City. They’re much smaller and football-shaped.

These are called tlayoyos. A tlayoyo is a round or oval-shaped pre-Hispanic dish consisting of fried or toasted masa stuffed with various ingredients like cheese, beans, and chicharron. It’s almost like a tlacoyo except the dough is prepared a little differently.

I love tacos, even when they’re crispy and fried. These fried rolled-up versions are called tacos dorados.

At the time of my visit, each trio of antojitos went for just MXN 10!

Comedor Doña Gode is one among a cluster of restaurants just off the zocalo offering different types of antojitos.

4. El Rincon Cuetzalteco

At Luna Azul, I saw that they offered an interesting-sounding dish called chilposonte. I looked it up and as it turns out, it’s a type of meat stew made with vegetables from the region. Interesting!

I wanted to go to another restaurant that served it, one I hadn’t been to yet, and luckily, I found this one – El Rincon Cuetzalteco. They make theirs with chicken, local vegetables, and wild mushrooms served in a red broth. ¡Ruiquisimo!

El Rincon Cuetzalteco is located just around the corner from Comedor Doña Gode.

Located on the second floor, this restaurant offers some of the best views of the zocalo.

POINTS OF INTEREST IN CUETZALAN

To help you find these restaurants, attractions, and hotels in Cuetzalan del Progreso, I’ve pinned them all on this map. Click on the link for a live version of the map.

CUETZALAN ITINERARY

I stayed for two nights in Cuetzalan to experience the weekend market. A weekend is enough to have a fulfilling Cuetzalan experience but to be honest, I wouldn’t have minded staying longer. I loved the chill atmosphere of the town and there’s plenty of hiking and caving opportunities here to keep you busy.

Assuming you’re only going for the weekend, here’s a sample 3D/2N Cuetzalan itinerary to help you plan your trip.

CUETZALAN TRAVEL TIPS

1. Stay Connected with a Mexico Sim Card or eSIM

It goes without saying that having a reliable internet connection is a must when traveling, especially when you’re visiting more off-the-beaten-path destinations like Cuetzalan del Progreso. You’ll need it to navigate, translate, and do last minute research.

In my experience, pocket wifi devices don’t work well in Mexico so you’ll need to get a SIM card for your trip. Telcel is widely regarded as the best ISP in Mexico while airalo is a trusted provider of eSIMs.

You can purchase a Telcel SIM card anywhere in Mexico but you may want to get one before your trip through Amazon (affiliate link). It’ll come with 3GB of data so you can hit the ground running as soon as you land in Mexico.

If you’d prefer to get an eSIM, then you can purchase one in advance through airalo.

2. Learn Basic Spanish

You don’t need to be fluent in Spanish to have a great time in Mexico but it does help to know a few basic phrases:

Por favor: “Please”
(Muchas) gracias: “Thank you (very much)”
Buenos dias: “Good morning”
Buenas tardes: “Good afternoon”
Buenas noches: “Good evening”
Con permiso: “Excuse me” (when passing someone on the street)
Perdon/Desculpe: “Sorry” or “Excuse me” (when you didn’t hear what someone said)
¿Cuanto cuesta?: “How much does it cost?”
La cuenta por favor: “The bill please”

3. Bookmark the Puebla and Cuetzalan Tripadvisor Forums

Safety can be a concern in some parts of Mexico so it’s wise to stay informed. In my experience, one of the best ways to do that is to follow the travel forums on Tripadvsior. If there are any recent events that you need to know about, then there’s a good chance you can read about them first on these forums.

Click on the links to go to the Puebla and Cuetzalan Tripadvisor travel forums. These forums are often visited by locals and expats so it’s a great place to ask any questions as well.

4. Go Over the Weekend

I’ve said this multiple times in this guide, but visiting Cuetzalan over the weekend is the best way to experience this pueblo magico. Yohualichan and the hiking opportunities are always there but the weekend market is what makes this town truly special.

If you can visit for two nights, then I suggest arriving early on Saturday and leaving on Monday.

5. Start at the Tourist Information Center

I learned a lot by visiting the Tourist Information Center in Cuetzalan. Not only was I given a map and plenty of brochures, but I learned where to catch the colectivos to Yohualichan and the many waterfalls just outside of town. This information proved invaluable to my stay.

Many of these pueblos magicos don’t have as much information online so it’s always a good idea to start your visit at the Tourist Information Center. As advised, the office in Cuetzalan is located inside the palacio municipal.

6. Go With a Tour Guide

I went on my own but there are inherent risks with hiking. It’s easy enough to visit the various waterfalls on your own, but had I lost my internet connection or been out on a trail during a heavy downpour, then I could have been in serious trouble.

For a safer and more complete experience, then you may want to book a guided hiking tour at one of the many travel agencies in town. Not only will a licensed tour guide be responsible for your safety, but they can make sure that you don’t miss anything either.

And don’t even think about exploring any caves without a guide. That would be incredibly irresponsible.

7. Bring Cash

Some of these smaller pueblos magicos don’t have as many banks or ATM machines so it’s a good idea to bring enough cash with you.

8. Wear the Proper Footwear

If you’re going hiking or caving in Cuetzalan, then you’ll need the proper footwear. I was wearing good hiking boots but many of the local tourists who were exploring the rivers and waterfalls were wearing aqua socks. You may want to bring both with you.

9. Don’t Drink Tap Water

Drinking the tap water in Mexico is a big no-no so you should always buy bottled water or drink from a filtered water bottle. You don’t want to be stricken with a debilitating case of diarrhea so check out my article on the drinking water in Mexico for more information.

10. Leave a Tip

While there is a tipping culture in Mexico, it seems to apply more to larger cities that get a steady stream of foreign tourists. In some of these smaller towns, tipping doesn’t seem to be as expected (ie no tip jars).

Personally, I always leave a tip of around 10% of the total bill. You can read my article on tipping in Mexico for more information.

11. Get Travel Insurance

You never know what might happen on a trip so in my opinion, having travel insurance is a must. For peace of mind, we always get travel insurance from SafetyWing. Click on the link to learn more and get a free quotation.

12. Bring the Right Power Adapter

Mexico has Type A or Type B electrical outlets so be sure to bring the right power adapters for your devices. Electrical voltage is 127V and the standard frequency is 60Hz.

WHAT I LOVED ABOUT CUETZALAN

Before I let you go, I just wanted to share some of the things that I personally loved about Cuetzalan del Progreso:

OUR TRAVEL GEAR

Here’s some of the travel equipment and gear I brought with me to Cuetzalan del Progreso and Mexico. (Amazon affiliate links)

Disclosure

Some of the links in this travel guide to Cuetzalan del Progreso, Puebla are affiliate links, meaning we’ll make a small commission if you make a purchase at no extra cost to you. As always, we only recommend products and services that we use ourselves. We really appreciate your support as it helps us keep this free Puebla travel website going. Thank you!

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