Tepoztlán

The Aztec temple sits at 2,500 metres, on a cliff that required a 45-minute scramble to reach. Below, the volcanic valley spreads green and misty, church bells ring from the village, and the faint smell of copal incense drifts up from somewhere you cannot see. Tepoztlán has been considered a place of spiritual power for centuries — and standing on the cliff, it is difficult to argue.

Tepoztlán is a small mountain town 80 kilometres south of Mexico City, nestled in a volcanic cleft formed by dramatic basalt cliffs. The Tepozteco pyramid at the summit was an Aztec pilgrimage site dedicated to Ometochtli, the god of pulque and fertility. The 45-minute climb rewards with panoramic views of the Morelos valley and the volcanic landscape. The town itself is a Pueblo Mágico with a thriving weekend market (tianguis), a 16th-century Dominican convent, and a reputation as a centre for traditional healing, temazcal sweat lodges, and spiritual retreats. The ice cream shops on the main street sell flavours ranging from the conventional (mamey, guanábana) to the conceptual (mezcal, chilli-chocolate, grasshopper). The combination of pre-Hispanic sacred site, colonial architecture, and new-age spirituality creates a layered atmosphere unique in central Mexico.