Peaceful Tlalpan is refreshingly far from the typical tourist trail. Mexico City’s largest district, much of it is made up of protected national parkland. Its urban side has the feel of a historic village, with colonial houses and boutique hotels set on cobbled streets. With all the sights and sounds of the city centre still within easy reach, this is somewhere to take things at your own pace.
NATURE
Tlalpan extends up into the mountains, and protected forests make up most of the district. Bosque de Tlalpan National Park is in the centre of the town, with pathways winding through forests of pine, cedar, oak and eucalyptus trees. Look out as you walk, and you might see eagles and hawks.
FOOD
This laid-back district has a thriving local dining scene, with many small, family-run restaurants to choose from. Take a seat at a table under one of the Plaza arcades for home-made Mexican food. You can also find plenty of international fare on offer, from Argentinian steakhouses to Italian pizzerias. Some of the neighbourhood cantinas have been serving hungry locals for decades, with one, La Jalisciense, dating back over a century.
DAY TRIPS
From the colonial grandeur of the historic centre to art nouveau La Condesa – spend a day or two experiencing the dizzying diversity of Mexico City’s neighbourhoods. Or look further back in time at Mesoamerican archaeological sites. The ancient city of Teotihuacan is a popular day trip option – or you could stay closer to home and explore Tlalpan’s Cuicuilico pyramid. Though slightly less dramatic in appearance than Teotihuacan, this ruin on the shores of lake Texcoco is over 1,000 years older.
The Plaza is the hub of local life. People-watch from a cantina, listen out for live music or drop by for the weekend markets.
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