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Aculco

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Overview

Wikivoyage guide · 11 sections

▸Introduction730 chars

Aculco (sometimes referred to as Aculco De Espinoza, or more commonly as San Jeronimo Aculco) is a small city of about 40,000 souls in rural Mexico State. It is a historic town with a lot of colonial era charm and a mountain setting with scenic waterfalls. It is one of the designated sites along the Camino Real de Tierra Adentro, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Aculco has also been designated as one of Mexico's Pueblos Magicos by the federal tourism department (SECTUR).

Aculco is a popular weekend destination for couples from Mexico City. They come for the romance of the colonial town, with its gleaming white small cobblestone streets (callejons) and its reputation as an artist colony. Aculco is also known for its cheese.

▸Understand925 chars

Aculco is the center of one of Central Mexico's pockets of Otomi indigenous people. The town was founded by the Otomi in 1110 AD. The Otomi are related to the Aztec and their language is a dialect of Nahuatl. The state of Tlaxcala is the traditional homeland of the Otomi, but population pockets are scattered among the states of Central Mexico. Aculco has a rich local history. It was conquered by the Aztecs in the early 14th century and became a vassal state, paying tribute to the Aztec empire under Moctezuma. Aculco was also a site of one of the earliest battles for independence from the Spanish crown in 1810 (spoiler alert: Father Hidalgo's independence force lost the battle at Aculco, though they went on to win the war.)

Aculco has a mild climate, with cool mountain temperatures and moderate rainfalls. The city has an average temperature of 14º C. Temperatures vary by season but are rarely too cold or too hot.

Facts

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Coordinates

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Source

WBP almanac

External sources

Wikivoyage Wikipedia

Media

From Wikipedia1,276 words

Introduction

This article is about the municipality in the State of Mexico. For San Jerónimo Aculco, the former village now part of Mexico City, see San Jerónimo Lídice. For the Mexico City Metro station, see Aculco metro station. Municipality in State of Mexico, MexicoAculcoMunicipalityLord of the Pasito Church Coat of armsAculco municipalityAculcoCoordinates: 20°05′54″N 99°49′37″W / 20.09833°N 99.82694°W / 20.09833; -99.82694CountryMexicoStateState of MexicoRegionAtlacomulco RegionMunicipal seatAculco de EspinozaMunicipal status1825Government • Municipal PresidentJorge Alfredo Osornio Victoria (2019–2021)Area • Municipality465.7 km2 (179.8 sq mi)Elevation (of seat)2,450 m (8,040 ft)Population (2010) Municipality • Municipality44,823 • Seat1,624Time zoneUTC-6 (Central)Postal code (of seat)50360UNESCO World Heritage SiteOfficial nameTown of Aculco, Camino Real de Tierra AdentroTypeCulturalCriteriaII, IVDesignated2010 (34th session)Reference no.1351RegionLatin America and the Caribbean Aculco is a municipality located in the Atlacomulco Region of the State of Mexico in Mexico. The name comes from Nahuatl.[further explanation needed] The municipal seat is the town of Aculco de Espinoza, although both the town and municipality are commonly referred to as simply "San Jerónimo Aculco". The municipality is 110 kilometers away from Mexico City, and is known for its artisans and cheeses, according to El Heraldo. Aculco currently has a population of over 44,823 inhabitants. The mayor or municipal president of Aculco is Jorge Alfredo Osnornio.

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▸See933 chars

Church of San Jeronimo Aculco - established by Franciscan padres in 1540, the colonial-era church was renovated and expanded in the early 19th century

Waterfalls: there are two waterfalls not to be missed in Aculco, the largest is Cascadas de la Concepcion, and the other is Cascadas de Tixhiñu. Cascadas de la Concepcion has a broad downspout that drops 15 meters as it sprays the impressive basalt stone columns that rise up alongside a peaceful green basin. Tixhinu is a somewhat smaller waterfall but also displays impressive basalt columns. Mountain sports (climbing and rappeling) are allowed around both waterfalls.

Bullfight arena Garrido Varela - bullfights are usually held in the fall, October-November timeframe

Plaza Constitucion is the main zocalo area in el centro, it's full of towering shade trees and sculpted topiary and is a pleasant place to sit and feed the pigeons or walk hand-in-hand on a warm summer evening

▸Buy793 chars

Several artesania shops in town specialize in locally handmade Otomi embroidery and weaving. This is something you won't find just anywhere. Bring home a colorfully decorated hand-stitched tablecloth and you've got a souvenir of genuine cultural signicance.

1 Mercado Aculco, Avenida Hidalgo. 09:00 - 19:00. The traditional central marketplace, vendors sell an amazing variety of fresh produce, poultry, meats, household goods, etc. Food vendors sell everything from tacos to hot bowls of soup. (updated Jan 2023)

2 Quesos Aculco Don Marcelo, Av. Manuel del Mazo 20, Centro, ☏ +52 553 225 2091. Daily 08:30 - 18:00. Large selection of different locally made cheese varieties. Other artesanal foods are also available including homemade salsas, fruit preserves, and candies. (updated Mar 2024)

▸Eat1,114 chars

Cheese is the local specialty. Look for dishes that exemplify regional and Otomi dishes.

1 Restaurante la Orquidea, Av. Miguel Hidalgo (located in the Hotel Hidalgo), ☏ +5 27181240861. 09ː00 - 19ː00. Historic atmosphere, reasonable prices, good food. Traditional cooking with plenty of local cheesesː Enchiladas, arrachera, rabbit. M$100 per person. (updated Jan 2023)

2 El Capricho, Insurgetes s/n, ☏ +52 7181240829. 8ː30 - 20ː30. Comfortable modern restaurant with affordable prices. Outdoor dining area with umbrellas and occasional live music. (updated Jan 2023)

3 El Rincon del Viejo, Plaza Constitucion, ☏ +52 7181240889. 13ː00 - 21ː00. Sidewalk cafe with upstairs dining room. Excellent people watching opportunities. Full menu with soups, chicken, arracherra, and pasta. Reasonable prices. (updated Jan 2023)

4 El Pueblito, José Canal No.8, Centro, ☏ +52 718 124 0382. W-M 08:00 - 18:00. Cheery, colorful modern dining room serving traditional Mexican cuisine with a smattering of regional dishes, like conejo. Breakfast paquetes include brewed coffee and an assortment of sweet breads. (updated Mar 2024)

▸Sleep1,209 chars

There are a wide range of small, locally owned posadas in town (basically, bed and breakfasts). These cater to weekend visitors from Mexico City and are usually cozy rooms with charm and very reasonable prices.

1 Hotel Jardin, Plaza Constitucion 15 (on the town square), ☏ +52 7181241335. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 12:00. Moderately priced, clean, colonial style hotel in the heart of the city. Cold showers only (no hot water). Excellent restaurant, "Frida", on the ground floor. (updated Jan 2023)

2 Hotel Hidalgo, Calle Miguel Hidalgo s/n (50 meters from Plaza Constitucion), ☏ +5 27181240131. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 12:00. Spacious rooms in a colonial era courtyard hotel a half-block off the main plaza. Good service and comfortable rooms done in a modern-rustic style. M$600 (single). (updated Jan 2023)

3 Xani Mui Hotel, ☏ +52 7121673412. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 12:00. Charming garden hotel with upscale restaurant onsite. Limited amenities but clean, comfortable, rustic style rooms. (updated Jan 2023)

4 Hotel la Esperanza, ☏ +52 7181112124. Check-in: 15ː00, check-out: 12ː00. Modern boutique hotel on the edge of town. Gardens with walking paths. On-site restaurant. (updated Jan 2023)

[edit] Aculco was founded approximately in 1110 AD by the Otomies, despite the fact that its name comes from Nahuatl. After being a village inhabited by Otomies for long time, it became a region dominated by the Mexicas, who lived there many years before the founding of Tenochtitlan. With the arrival of the Spanish in 1540, construction on the church and the convent of San Jeronimo began. In November 1810, Miguel Hidalgo and his contingent, who began the Mexican War of Independence, arrived in the region. Aculco was also where insurgents, led by Don Miguel Hidalgo, lost a battle against the troops of Felix Ma. Calleja. During the nineteenth century, the town hall and the first primary school in the region were constructed. Public baths and a municipal pool were also built.[citation needed] On February 19, 1825, it became a municipality. In 1914 and 1915, Aculco was the scene of clashes led by the revolutionaries’ carrancistas, villistas and Zapatistas.

Geography

[edit] Concepción waterfall. The municipality of Aculco has a geographical extent of 484.7 square kilometres (187.1 sq mi). That represents 2.18% of Mexico State, of which it is a part of. Aculco borders Polotitlán in the north, Querétaro in the south, and Acambay and Timilpan in the south. It is approximately 100 kilometers away from or over 1 hour from Toluca, Toluca. Climate[edit] Aculco has a relatively cool, humid climate, with rain in the summer. The annual average temperature is of 13.2 °C (55.8 °F), with the lowest temperature occurring in the winter. The rain season starts at the end of March or beginning of April and lasts until October or November. Climate data for Aculco (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1961–present) Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year Record high °C (°F) 28(82) 28(82) 30(86) 31(88) 35(95) 31(88) 29(84) 28(82) 28(82) 27.5(81.5) 25.5(77.9) 30(86) 35(95) Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 19.3(66.7) 21.2(70.2) 23.3(73.9) 25.0(77.0) 25.0(77.0) 23.0(73.4) 21.4(70.5) 21.4(70.5) 20.6(69.1) 20.5(68.9) 19.9(67.8) 19.9(67.8) 21.7(71.1) Daily mean °C (°F) 11.1(52.0) 12.7(54.9) 14.5(58.1) 16.5(61.7) 17.1(62.8) 16.4(61.5) 15.5(59.9) 15.4(59.7) 14.9(58.8) 13.8(56.8) 12.4(54.3) 11.6(52.9) 14.3(57.7) Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 3.0(37.4) 4.2(39.6) 5.8(42.4) 8.0(46.4) 9.2(48.6) 9.8(49.6) 9.5(49.1) 9.4(48.9) 9.2(48.6) 7.1(44.8) 4.8(40.6) 3.4(38.1) 7.0(44.6) Record low °C (°F) −5.5(22.1) −7(19) −6(21) 0.8(33.4) 2(36) 2(36) 1(34) 0.5(32.9) −1(30) −3(27) −5(23) −7(19) −7(19) Average precipitation mm (inches) 10.6(0.42) 9.1(0.36) 13.1(0.52) 18.8(0.74) 56.5(2.22) 122.4(4.82) 143.9(5.67) 110.0(4.33) 126.6(4.98) 55.5(2.19) 24.1(0.95) 4.4(0.17) 695.0(27.36) Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 mm) 3.0 2.4 3.2 5.0 9.9 13.2 16.3 14.4 13.9 8.9 4.6 1.5 96.3 Source: Servicio Meteorológico Nacional Flora and fauna[edit] Black phoebe, a native bird. There is a diversity in plants and animals of temperate climate and semi-arid climate (Mezquital Valley). Native animals include: cacomistle, skunk, gopher, Virginia opossum, rabbit, Mexican gray squirrel, turkey, colibri, turkey vulture, northern mockingbird, rattlesnake, pine snake, black phoebe, rufous-crowned sparrow, great horned owl, axolotl, frog, toad, red ant, bee, and others.

Economy

[edit] The main economic activity of Aculco is the ranching of animals like pigs and sheep. The municipality's principal products include milk, fur, wool and egg. Aculco's inner commerce principally occurs at the municipal market, while its outer commerce is with Toluca, Mexico City and Querétaro. Another major economic activity of Aculco is the exploitation of natural resources like sand, with quarries present in the region. The municipality is also home to a metal structure manufacturing company. Aculco is famous for the dairy products it produces. In 2019, Aculco has about 60 artisan workshops for cheese and dairy production. Tourism[edit] Aculco contains a number of notable geographic features. Two cascades are located in the area: "Tixhiñu" and "la Concepción". Rivers including the Río Ñadó and Río Prieto also flow through the municipality. Aculco is home to numerous historic sites, including the San Jerónimo and the "Garrido Varela" bullring, as well as the former residence of Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla. Two busts are located in Aculco in the memory of Benito Juarez and Miguel Hidalgo.

Demographics

[edit] According to INEGI, in 2005, Aculco has a population of over 40,000. The ethnic composition is mainly Otomi. Over 16,000 people in the region are illiterate. Communities belonging to the municipality[edit] Large Town 2010 Census Population Total 44 823 San Lucas Totolmaloya 3 770 San Jerónimo Barrio 2 322 Gunyo Poniente 2 138 Aculco de Espinoza 1 823 San Pedro Danxhi 1 119 Decandeje Ñadó Buenavista Cieneguilla de González Arroyo Zarco Other communities include: Arroyo Zarco Arroyo Zarco Ejido Ñado Buenavista Bañe Bimbo Decandeje Ejido de Santa María Nativitas Ejido de Totolopan Ejido Decandeje (Chapala Ejido Decandeje) Ejido las Ánimas Ejido San Joaquín Coscomatepec El Azafrán (Santa Rosa el Azafrán) El Bonxhi El Bosque El Colorado El Mogote El Rincón El Tixhiñu El Zethe (Jazmín) Encinillas Ejido Fondo Gunyo Oriente Gunyo Poniente (San José Gunyo) Higuerillas Huizachal Jurica La Cofradía Grande La Concepción Ejido La Concepción Pueblo La Cuesta La Esperanza La Estancia La Pera La Presita Segundo Cuartel La Soledad Barrio La Soledad Ejido Las Lajas Loma Alta Cabresteros Loma Alta Ejido Bañe (Bañe Barrio CONASUPO) Los Ailes Los Gavilanes Presa del Tepozán Rancho Chapala San Antonio Arroyo Zarco San Antonio el Zethe San Antonio Pueblo San Francisquito San Jerónimo Barrio San Jerónimo Ejido San Joaquín Coscomatepec San Lucas Totolmaloya San Martín Ejido San Pedro Denxhi Santa Ana Matlavat Santa Ana Oxtoc-toxhie Santa María Nativitas Santiago Oxtoc-Toxhie Taxtho