Culture and discoveries in the Municipality of San Martín de las Pirámides

In the Municipality of San Martín de las Pirámides, traces of pre-Hispanic culture meet sacred visual art, cycling routes, and a fair centred on prickly pears. The cultural character of the place is already apparent in the Centro Histórico of San Martín de las Pirámides: there, the monoliths Chalchihuitlicue and Huehueteotl reveal the town’s pre-Hispanic culture. This offers several distinct ways to plan your trip—from exploring history and religious art to taking a cycling tour or visiting in August for the Feria Nacional de la Tuna.

Monoliths, church architecture, and religious imagery

The Parroquia of San Martín de las Pirámides combines a specific construction history with a distinctive detail: its construction was completed in 1920 in the Plateresque style adopted from Italy. The Parroquia also has a musical clock that plays a different song every six hours. Travellers who enjoy paying attention to architecture and individual features will find two points of interest here: the church’s architectural style and the clock’s recurring musical interlude.

The stained-glass windows and murals at Santuario Ecce-Homo depict important biblical settings associated with the Catholic faith. The window above the main altar shows Calvary and the Crucifixion of Christ. The history of the image venerated there is also tied to a specific place: it was found at the Ex Hacienda de Cerro Gordo. These motifs make the Santuario interesting to travellers who would like to explore religious art and its visual language.

The “Memoria y Territorio” project is also part of the cultural and experience-oriented tourism offering. As a cultural gathering, it explores the identity and resistance of the valley’s communities. Alongside the monoliths and sacred artworks, it offers another way to engage with the area’s cultural identity, although these subjects do not all share the same historical perspective.

Protected area and cycling routes

Parque Estatal Cerro Gordo also shapes the Municipality’s relationship with its landscape. It has been designated a protected natural area since 1976 and covers 3,027 hectares spread across the Municipalities of Axapusco, San Martín de las Pirámides, and Temascalapa. The designated area therefore extends beyond a single Municipality. Culture and landscape are separate interests that you can consider when choosing your itinerary.

A cycling tour along the outer edge of the archaeological zone is listed as approximately ten kilometres long and taking three hours; it passes through San Martín de las Pirámides. You can use this distance and duration when planning your day. In addition, cycling routes in the Valle de Teotihuacán outside the archaeological zone pass through the streets of San Martín de las Pirámides and lead to access points to caves and obsidian workshops. The Taller de Obsidiana is located at Casa Obsidiana, Av. 16 de Septiembre Sur 43-A. These offer different cycling experiences: a described tour with a stated distance and duration, and routes that pass through the town and lead to access points.

Prickly pears, the fair, and local specialities

In August, San Martín de las Pirámides celebrates the Feria Nacional de la Tuna. Its food exhibition includes jams, liqueurs, soft drinks, fruit pastes, sweets, and snacks made from prickly pears and xoconostle—the fruits of the varieties grown in the Municipality. Visitors interested in local products will find a distinct focus for their trip here, separate from the cultural and cycling themes. August is the stated time of year for the fair.

Local specialities are also part of the townscape beyond the food exhibition: vendors in the Centro Histórico sell handmade ice cream and fruit. When planning a trip together, you can weigh up different interests: sacred art and history, a cycling tour with a specified duration, or a trip centred on the fair in August. These themes can help you decide what you want your stay to focus on before looking for a holiday rental.

More destinations

If you would like to explore more destinations: San Felipe del Progreso, Chiconcuac, Cuautitlán Izcalli, Papalotla, Tenancingo, El Oro, and Zacualpan.

For the broader travel overview: México.