Travel Guide PACHUCA Contents DISCOVER PACHUCA 01 PACHUCA PROFILE 02 PACHUCA ATTRACTIONS 03 PACHUCA DINING 10 PACHUCA SHOPPING 13 PACHUCA NIGHTLIFE 15 THINGS TO DO IN PACHUCA 16 DISCOVER PACHUCA Pachuca is nicknamed the “Beautiful Windy City” for the strong winds that blow through its streets, forests, meadows, and fields for most of the year. It has a pleasant climate, making it an ideal place to visit just about any time of year. During colonial times it was known for its rich silver deposits, which led to the mining boom. The capital of the state of Hidalgo is a peaceful city with clean and orderly streets and several architectural gems, including impressive pre-Hispanic archeological sites, baroque style churches and convents, nineteenth century neoclassical buildings with a strong English influence, and modern office buildings with avant-garde designs. It has a new and exclusive business district, the Zona Plateada (Silver Zone), where you’ll find a modern convention center and various hotels designed for business travelers. THE BIRTHPLACE OF MEXICAN SOCCER Pachuca is proud to be known as the birthplace of Mexican soccer. The game was first introduced by a group of Cornish miners in 1901, and later adopted by the locals. Today, the city is the site of the first Soccer University in the country, and it’s also home to a professional soccer team. The city has modern attractions like the Interactive World Soccer Center, a space that includes a mini stadium, interactive exhibits, and a 3D theater; the Soccer Hall of Fame, an exhibition that promotes the sport and recognizes some of the best Mexican and international players; and the Miguel Hidalgo Stadium, a modern stadium with 35,000 seats that’s the official home of the Pachuca “Tuzos.” 1 PACHUCA PROFILE Capital of the state of Hidalgo A city with a renowned mining tradition The place where the Toltec culture flourished Birthplace of Mexican Soccer and home of the Pachuca Athletic Club Business infrastructure Surrounded by hot springs and water parks Known for its nearby Magic Towns A great destination for outdoor recreational activities Delicious cuisine 2 PACHUCA ATTRACTIONS In addition to the iconic sites and the architectural beauty of its colonial buildings, Pachuca is surrounded by a variety of attractions, such as haciendas that were once engaged in the extraction and purification of silver or the production of pulque (a traditional alcoholic beverage made from the maguey plant), hot springs, and beautiful towns designated “Magic Towns” for their well-preserved history and important archeological sites. Just a few minutes outside of the city you’ll find large forested areas, ideal for spelunking and mountaineering, or simply for enjoying a fun day in the country. BIOPARK This gathering place houses a zoo where you can see birds, lions, monkeys, and pumas, as well as some endangered species. It has outdoor spaces with areas for barbecuing and it’s also a great spot for picnics. EL REHILETE MUSEUM This interactive children’s museum houses a planetarium, a botanical garden, and an interesting Dinopark with life-size replicas of dinosaurs and scenes that recreate life on earth 60 million years ago. It’s an authentic trip back to pre-historic times. 3 WATER PARKS Hidalgo boasts an enticing selection of water parks, several of which are located about an hour from Pachuca. In addition to swimming pools, waterslides, sports facilities, and playgrounds, many also feature hot springs enriched with a variety of minerals for health and relaxation, such as at the Tolantongo Caves. The closest ones are located in the areas of Ixmiquilpan-Tasquillo, Ajacuba-Tula, Tizayuca, Huasca, and Apan-Cuautepec. CHRIST THE KING Located on the old highway to Mineral del Monte, this splendid monument has a height of 108 feet (33 meters that represents the age of Christ), and offers spectacular views of the city and its surroundings. It was built in 1992 by former miners in keeping with a promise they made to erect a statue to Christ the King if they managed to escape death in the Paricutin mine, since they believed that getting out alive was an act of faith. 4 ARCHEOLOGICAL SITES Near Pachuca, you’ll find three archeological sites from the ancient Toltec culture that inhabited the region. Tula de Allende is known for its sculptures of “Atlantean figures” that are nearly 16 feet tall, which they believed guarded the Quetzalcoatl Temple, the Tlahuizcalpantecutli Temple, two ball courts, and the pyramid of the sun. Another site, Xihuingo in the municipality of Tepeapulco, is the oldest archeological site in the state and located at the base of a hill of the same name. It is known for its “Tecolote” pyramid. Finally, Huapalcalco is considered one of the first Toltec settlements and is made up of two architectural complexes. Close to this site you can see incredible cave paintings. EL CHICO NATIONAL PARK This beautiful park has mountains covered with pine, oak, and fir forests and valleys with impressive rock formations. In this area, which was designated the first natural protected area in Mexico in the late nineteenth century, you can go mountain biking, climbing, fishing, hiking, rappelling, ziplining, and rock climbing. Within its 6,800 acres, you’ll also find the El Cedral Dam where you can fish and paddle row boats. 5 MONUMENTAL CLOCK This clock tower is built of white quarry stone and has an eclectic style. It stands 130 feet tall and was constructed to commemorate the first 100 years of independence. Notable features include four sculptures of women that are made of Carrara marble and symbolize the important eras of Mexican history. The clock sounds similar to Big Ben, as the chime was built by the same company that made the famous English clock. It is located in Plaza Independencia, in the historic center of the city. SAN FRANCISCO CHURCH Built during the mid-to-late seventeenth century, this church and former convent building has a simple architectural style highlighted by a Churrigueresque altarpiece and eighteenth-century oil paintings housed in the sacristy. For centuries, it was the home of Franciscan friars and it currently houses the Regional Museum and the Museum of Photography and Photographic Library of INAH (National Institute of Anthropology and History). BEN GURION CULTURAL PARK Located in the Silver Zone of Pachuca, this park spans more than 64 acres and houses the Tuzoforum Convention Center, the Gota de Plata Auditorium, the Ricardo Garibay Library, and a shopping mall. In the center of the park you’ll find a large mosaic made up of over 2,000 pieces and covering an area of more than 34,400 sq. ft.. 6 HUASCA DE OCAMPO This extraordinary town located just over 20 miles from the “Beautiful Windy City” was the first designated Magic Town in Mexico. It is surrounded by fir forests and is ideal for outdoor activities, such as climbing and hiking. In addition to having picturesque streets and colonial architecture, it is also home to two beautiful haciendas, Santa Maria Regla and San Miguel Regla; the San Antonio Regla Dam; the Pena al Aire Canyon; and the Basaltic Prisms with its majestic columns of basalt rock that line a ravine through the impressive Santa Maria Regla Canyon, which is fed by four waterfalls. 7 CONDE RULE HOUSE This two-story English style building was built in 1896 by a wealthy Cornish miner named Francis Rule. It is located next to Plaza Pedro Maria Anaya and distinguished by the beautiful decoration of the columns on the lower level, the reliefs made of shells and the tin rooftop, typical of mining con- structions. It also houses the Municipal Palace. HACIENDAS Between the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, the state of Hidalgo had more than 170 haciendas (plantations) dedicated to working with silver, distilling maguey to make pulque, and raising livestock. Today, you can explore these properties and admire their towers and chapels, as many operate as luxury hotels and are open to the public. REAL DEL MONTE OR MINERAL DEL MONTE This town is situated just 7.5 miles outside the city of Pachuca. This small and picturesque village nestled between the mountains will make you feel as if you’ve traveled back in time. It has a strong English (mostly Cornish) influence and a hazy cloud cover. The colorful buildings, narrow winding cobblestone streets, historic buildings, two museums, as well as the silver workshops, and small eateries serving delicious Cornish-style pasties, are all worth visiting. In Mineral del Monte you can take advantage of the opportunity to explore the Penas Cargadas nature park, located nearby, for rappelling, ziplining, ATV tours, and horseback riding. MINERAL DEL CHICO The quaint charm of this centuries-old town is made up of a combination of picturesque scenery, colonial architecture, mining history, friendly residents, spectacular natural surroundings, especially El Chico National Park, and of course, delicious cuisine. Must-see attractions include the Church of the Immaculate Conception, built between the seventeenth and nineteenth centuries, the Pena el Cuervo lookout point on the outskirts of town, the Las Monjas rock formations, the San Antonio Mine, and the trout farm. 8 MOUNTAIN TRAIL One of the top attractions in the area surrounding Pachuca is the Mountain Trail (Corredor de la Montana). This is an area full of natural beauty, picturesque traditional towns with impressive architecture, magnificent haciendas, dams, rivers, parks, and incredible places to enjoy adventure tourism, hunting, and ecotourism, making it an ideal destination for rock climbing, mountain biking, and hiking enthusiasts. It’s also a great opportunity to try some of the delicious regional cuisine. During your trip, remember to visit the town of Omitlan, which is surrounded by one of the greenest areas in the state, as well as Navajas Hill and the San Andres Church in Epazoyucan.