Tonatico, in the State of Mexico, is one of the few places that bring together natural beauties, historical monuments and ancestral traditions under the same landscape. Visit him!
LAND OF SUN, ADVENTURE AND TRADITION
The Nahuas said that the sun was born here. Tonatico has the charm of the province surrounded by lush vegetation. It's a beautiful colonial town that will catch you from the moment you enter its streets. You can walk along the zócalo, relax in its hot springs and venture through the amazing Grutas de la Estrella and discover the whimsical forms that nature arranged just for them. If you want to admire the landscape, the The Sun Park is a great option to do it.
The center of population It is very picturesque and full of sun, its houses with red tile roofs, its main square and the traditional kiosk are a preamble to the gallarda Church of Our Lady of Tonatico, built by Franciscan friars in the XVII century. At night the townspeople live here, turning it into a traditional stamp. East admirable temple built in 1660, in which the image of the Virgin Mary, called Our Lady of Tonatico, is worshiped. People say that this virgin was brought by the Franciscans in the year 1553, and year after year thousands of pilgrims come to visit it because it is considered very miraculous. Inside, the neoclassical decoration and paintings make it one of the most beautiful churches in the Mexico state.
Municipal Spa. One kilometer away from the center, is the Municipal Spa of mineral-rich hot springs, which emerge from the depths of the earth at 37 degrees. For your fun, the spa has a slide, large pools, gardens, sports fields, wading pools and playgrounds for the little ones. Don't worry about parking and lodging, this place has these services. Without a doubt, it is designed for you to spend a pleasant weekend.
PARTIES AND CELEBRATIONS IN TONATICO
- Last week of January: Our Lady of Tonatico is celebrated with a regional fair where the customs and traditions of the community are not long in coming.
- October 8th: With a week full of culture, the anniversary of the appointment of Tonatico as a municipality is celebrated.
- October 31 to November 2: Each house makes offerings for its deceased. The children are received on the first of November; For adults, on November 2, these days families go to the pantheon with flower arrangements and candles to decorate the graves of their deceased.
- December 16 to December 23: The posadas are full of color, music, piñatas, fireworks. On the night of December 24, the Child God is born in the house of his godparents.
LEARN MORE ABOUT TONATICO
The origin of Tonatico dates back to pilgrimage of Aztlán and it was called Tenatitlan which means "behind the walls." When it was invaded by the Aztec emperor Axayácatl, he gave it the name of Tonatiuh-co, place where the sun shines. It has made a name for itself in history, thanks to its participation in battles such as that of Tecualoyán and that of May 5 during the French invasion.
ATTRACTIONS IN THE SURROUNDINGS
Grottoes of La Estrella. These caverns located inside the Hill of the StarThey are the result of what scientists call “karst erosion phenomena”, characteristics of calcareous hills like this one, and that originate impressive formations such as stalagmites and stalactites that, together with the walls of the caves, create unimaginable figures. The Grottoes of the Star are a whole experience you should not miss; Well, in addition to these formations, inside there is a 15-meter cliff, where expert guides offer you to practice rappelling and travel the underground river. If you visit it in the rainy season you can appreciate a beautiful waterfall that is lost in the waters of the Chontalcoatlán and San Jerónimo rivers that run through the grotto.
These caves are the main attraction of this Charming Town, they are 12 kilometers south. To enjoy them you have to go down 400 steps and breaks that border the Manila canyon; so you must be prepared if you want to admire its interior. Do not forget your camera or your imagination, because along the way you will be surprised by natural forms that the locals have baptized with names such as Los Novios, La Mano, and El Palacio, among others. If you visit the caves, it is necessary to respect some basic rules such as avoid making a lot of noise, do not introduce food, do not break or touch stalactites or stalagmites, since each of its centimeters took 50 years to form, breaking or damaging them means an irreparable loss.
The Sun Park and his Tzumpantitlán waterfall. For complete fun only in this park you can have it, whose facilities offer you: palapas, hanging bridges, wading pools and children's games. Its main attraction is the great Salto de Tzumpantitlán, an impressive waterfall with more than 50 meters that falls to the bottom of a ravine. If you are fond of rappelling you will find an exciting challenge going down between the rocks; But if you are not so risky, you can also enjoy a splendid show –especially if you go in the rainy season–, from a suspension bridge arranged in a strategic point, a few meters above the waterfall for contemplation.
WHAT IS AROUND
The typical dish is pork with carrots, accompanied by a delicious lime water. In addition, you can eat daily in the barbecue or chito market, chicharrones, stew or moronga, gorditas de baba, beans and cottage cheese, among other snacks that make the place a whole feast. In the desserts do not stop savoring the peanut crowbars.
ART IN MINIATURE
It is elaborated basketwork of polychrome reed and otate. On Mondays you can find a variety of objects made with these materials at the tianguis. One of the peculiarities made by artisan hands were the "miniatures in reed", baskets that did not exceed 15 centimeters in height, as their production process took the same time as a normal size basket and the price was higher, with the time was lost this craft. Currently this type of miniature objects can be found in the workshop of Mr. Anselmo Félix Albarrán Guadarrama, who is the only one in the region that still preserves this artistic legacy.
