I wasn’t expecting to visit this place. I booked this private tour to Cantona ruins so all I expected to do that day was explore the Cantona archaeological site. I didn’t know that my tour would later take me to this otherworldly lagoon known as Laguna de Alchichica.
A bright turquoise blue, Laguna Alchichica is a brackish volcanic lake or lagoon with a thick buildup of coral-looking deposits along its banks. This body of water looks so unusual that it’s inspired a number of local legends.
One popular legend claims that the lagoon connects to the sea. I looked at a map and the nearest body of seawater – the Gulf of Mexico – is over 90 miles (145 km) away. Some say its immeasurable depths are home to mythological monsters and giant worms while others swear that it’s frequented by UFOs.
According to my guide, people have died in the lake so swimming is forbidden. Apparently, some mysterious force sucks them down and their bodies never resurface.
Laguna de Alchichica is as mysterious as it is beautiful so it’s no surprise that it’s inspired so many legends. But one thing is for certain – it’s one of the best-kept secrets in Puebla.
If you like going off the beaten path, then you need to make your way to Alchichica.
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WHAT IS LAGUNA DE ALCHICHICA?
Laguna de Alchichica is one of six crater lakes in the northeastern part of Puebla state, right on the border with Veracruz. It measures around 1.2 miles (2 km) in diameter and has an estimated depth of about 260-660 ft (80-200 m).
Known locally as axalapascos, these crater lakes are formed after volcanic eruptions. When the volcano collapses, filtered water from precipitation or groundwater circulation accumulates in the craters and creates these large bodies of water.
No one knows how old these crater lakes are but it’s estimated that Alchichica Lagoon was formed around 20 billion years ago. According to my guide, what makes it different from the other crater lakes in the area is its high degree of salinity and accumulation of stromatolites.
From a distance, the stromatolites resemble white craggy rocks but they’re actually layered sedimentary formations created by photosynthetic microorganisms. You can think of them as a type of microbial reef similar to coral reefs.
HOW TO GET TO LAGUNA DE ALCHICHICA
Alchichica Lagoon is located in the town of Tepeyahualco, at kilometer 140 of the Mexico-Veracruz highway. The lagoon belongs to Puebla state but if you look at a map, you’ll see that the eastern part of the lake straddles the border with Veracruz state.
As far as I know, there’s no easy way to visit Alchichica from downtown Puebla using public transportation. It’s best to go in a private car or book a guided tour.
By Guided Tour
This is what I did. I booked this Cantona ruins tour which included a stop at Alchichica. The tour guide and driver will pick you up from your hotel in downtown Puebla or Cholula and drop you off at the end of the day.
By Self-Drive
Alchichica is around 70 miles (112 km) northeast of downtown Puebla so you can drive there yourself in about an hour and a half. If you’re driving from Mexico City, then it’ll take you over 3 hours to get there. You can navigate with Waze or refer to the driving directions published on El Universal Puebla (in Spanish).
If you don’t have your own car, then you can rent one through rentalcars.com. Aside from car insurance, you may want to get travel insurance as well.
By Taxi / Uber
Some articles suggest taking a taxi to Alchichica from downtown Puebla but I don’t recommend this. I just did a dummy booking on Uber and it quoted me a one-way fare of over MXN 2,000. A taxi will probably be the same or even more. Plus, I’m wary of taxis in Mexico.
For those reasons, I suggest booking a tour or driving there yourself.
RELATED ARTICLE: Discover 20 Awesome Things to Do in Puebla, Mexico
THE LEGEND OF LAGUNA DE ALCHICHICA
Even from a distance, Alchichica Lagoon is mesmerizing. Note the accumulation of stromatolites around the perimeter of the lake.
On the day of my visit, the lake was a bright turquoise but the colors of the water can change at different times of the year. Depending on the season and water level, it can go from a turquoise blue to an emerald green to a deep blue.
Based on what I’ve read, famed oceanographer Jacques Cousteau has visited the lagoon himself. Unfortunately, there isn’t much information beyond that.
The lagoon is shrouded in mystery but it’s believed to have been an important ceremonial center for pre-Hispanic cultures in Mexico.
It was interesting to learn that Alchichica Lagoon is home to a small number of endemic fish and amphibians, most notably charales and axolotls. Charales is the Mexican term for Chirostoma fish. They’re commonly fished from Mexico’s Lerma River basin and are a delicacy in Michoacan cuisine.
I thought that axolotls occurred naturally only in the waters of Xochimilco, Patzcuaro, and Chignahuapan, so I was surprised to learn that they can be found here as well. The species of axolotl that’s endemic to this lagoon is called Ambystoma taylori, commonly known as Taylor’s Salamander.
The stromatolites look hard like rock but they’re actually brittle and can break off fairly easily. According to my guide, the locals sometimes break pieces off and use them to make home remedies.
Of the many legends swirling around the lake, one of the most colorful is about a silver-haired siren that comes out at night. She attracts men with her otherworldly beauty and lures them to the bottom of the lagoon, where they’re never seen or heard from again.
Framed by the Pico de Orizaba volcano, walking around the perimeter of Laguna de Alchichica makes you feel like you’re exploring some strange alien landscape.
Here I am trying my best to spot an axolotl. No luck.
Oh well, I guess I’ll just kick back and enjoy the view then. With hardly anyone around, this made for a truly memorable day in Puebla.
FINAL THOUGHTS ON LAGUNA DE ALCHICHICA
If you do decide to visit Laguna de Alchichica on your own, then I highly recommend visiting the nearby Cantona archaeological site as well. It’s perhaps one of the most well-preserved ruins in all of Mexico. I’ve been to a few Mexican ruins and Cantona is my favorite thus far.
Before leaving Alchichica, be sure to pick up a packet of these pig-shaped biscuits. They’re made from piloncillo or unrefined whole cane sugar. According to my guide, they’re a local specialty and can only be found here.
Vendors should approach you while you’re exploring the lagoon but if none do, then you can try finding them at one of the food stands nearby.
Disclosure
Get Your Guide sponsored my visit to Laguna de Alchichica, Puebla in exchange for an honest account of the experience. As always, all thoughts and opinions expressed in this article are mine and mine alone.
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