Chignahuapan

What Makes It Magical

There are two things you’ll find plenty of in this mountain town: water and colors. There’s the lake downtown, but there are also rivers, waterfalls, and hot springs in the surrounding areas. It’s where they celebrate Day of the Dead with a ritual that recalls the pre-Hispanic journey of the soul to Mictlán. Even when there’s no holiday, the days go by colorfully. The housefronts, the gazebo in the main square, and the spheres made here are always ready to disrupt the routine with their bright colors.

Why You Should Go

Lake Chignahuapan

• It’s the culmination point for the pilgrimage that starts in the main square during the Festival de la Luz y la Vida (Light and Life Festival).
• A pre-Hispanic light ritual is enacted in the middle of the lake during the festival.
• To take a boat ride across the reflection of the cloudy sky.
• In September, the lake is the scene of a trout-fishing tournament.

At the Very Least

Make the pilgrimage to the lake, lit torch in hand, on Day of the Dead.

Don’t Miss

1. Hitting up La Condesa bakery for its pan de higo (fig bread) and pan de queso (cheese bread).
2. Checking out the murals depicting the town’s history at the entrance to Palacio Municipal.
3. Visiting Santuario del Honguito in Ixtlahuaca.