1

Hi Alter,

Look forward to your report! First time posting since the change. I thought archives were coming back. Did I misinterpret this info or what?

Certainly a different forum is it not?

Glad to know you made it to all those places! How bout Tolantongo?

2

Hola! :))

Did not make to Tolantongo but am planning. Made it to El Alberto recommended by Wannabewriter, to Ixmi, all the way to Tamuzunchale from there in one foggy drive, to Xilitla, circle for a day and a half around Aquismon area including falls and Sotano de Golandrinos, to Landa de Matomores and Jalpan, to Pinal de Amoles, hiked around there as well, and off to Queretaro for rest :))

Will do a full report in a month, once I am back.

Archives are coming back in chunks, it seems.

Saludos!
/zlter

3

We are planning to go to Tolantongo next week. Will report back. I'm interested in the changes the ejido has made since we were there 5 years ago.

4

Never made it to see the birds, but had a short visit in Acquisimon for market day. The bus ride up to Xilitla was interesting, beautiful and the fragrance of flowers or orange blossoms was so fragrant.

Anonimo, glad you are heading off to Tolantongo. Cannot wait to hear of both of your reports. Don't forget to cross the bridge over to Las Glorias to take a look. They may want to charge you..I told them I wanted to look around only. A bit more rustic and the drive there is long with a high clearance vehicle apparently.

5

We saw the birds! It was one of the highlights. One important "practicality" item here that unlike what LP reported in 11th edition I have, the access road is totally fine, paved one, no 4WD is needed and we made in about 1.5 hrs from Xilitla to the start of the trail-head (another 20 min walk).

6

I can imagine that being a highlight. I was alone and the logistics were more than I wanted to deal with at the time. I remember (vaguely) someone in a restaurant, introducing me to a local women, who said I could pay a small fee to stay near there at her home, but it sounded a bit rustic. Then they would get a vehicle to take me, but I was uncomfortable with that idea. Maybe if I had not been alone but sometimes you have to go with your gut!

7

Well, stuff like this makes it worth the hassle of dealing with the 'new and improved' Thorntree. Can't wait to hear about these places, Igor, as I know nothing about them. Glad you are out and about. You going to Tultepec next month?

Tolantongo's great. I crossed the bridge and they were on me in a heartbeat for an entrada. Told em I was looking into lodging there, and they let me walk up the trail. Not much over there, really. But there's a great informal snack stand on the way up.

8

Pogue,

I have used TT as a resource for so many years, that I am disappointed with what we have lost. But moving forward...................

I too crossed the bridge at Tolantongo a bit later in the day and they also tried to collect a fee. I also told them I just wanted to look around so that I could write about it. They were happy with that answer. Later on, I met some of the workers of the community and one of them asked me if I had visited La Gloria. I was not sure what he meant, so he offered to take me there. As we hiked higher up we were on a trail that had water running on it. He delivered me to a sort of canyon area with a waterfall and pool area.

Here was a nude male bathing in the water underneath a fall. I assume he was European, as they seem to be much more freer when it comes to nudity. I took a few pictures, including one of the nude male (his privates were covered!) because it almost seemed so "Adam and Evish" in that setting. Actually one of my favorite photos!! Though I did feel we were invading his peacefulness and privacy- even the ejido member seemed a bit uncomfortable. It is pretty over there, worth a visit and much quieter than Tolantongo, but I prefer the amenities offered on the "other" side.

Alter, was wondering where you ended up in Ixmiquilpan (sleeping) and what you thought of the town? You can answer that in your trip report.

9

We are thinking of staying at the Posada Centenario in Ixmi. Last time, we were in the Hotel Plaza Isabel, which was all right, but the room was very small and the bed especially small for two persons.

10

Rayosx, Don Anonimo -

We arrived at Ixmi late, around 11 pm (but it was Saturday so some life was still going on). We drove to Posada Centario and we did not like it. The smell in front of it was such that we did not even want to get out off the car. It could have been just night time accident but it was extremely unpleasant. Inside it was OK but the chemical smell in the rooms was very strong. Overall, it was not an inviting place.

We did not stay there and I cannot say I recommend it. We ended up staying in Hotel Palacio Real on the main sq and it was fine; but we also visited (did not stay in, just went to look at) Isabel next morning and I liked it most. Also, I don't think rooms in Centario were larger than in Isabel.

Will certainly post more soon :))
/alter

11

so Alter, can't wait to hear your impressions about El Alberto. Hope you had a great time there.

Regards,

12

Alter. we also noticed a sewer smell outside at te Centenario, but none detectable inside. The rooms are clean, bright and fresh. The rates are very attractive. It was an easy decision for us to stay there. There are several rooms on the inside, overlooking the pool. But the water was too cold for us.

13

Hi all, some friends and I are planning to go to Xilitla by bus from Queretaro. Does anyone know the best route? I know there are buses from San Luis and Ciudad Valles to Xilitla, would one be preferable, and is there a direct route from Queretaro?

Muchas gracias!

14

We traveled to Xilitla by car. I like the flexibility own transport provides in the remote regions such as Sierra Gorda. This being said, those are bus options to get to Xilitla I researched (but, as said, did not use):

-Primer Plus (or rather its subsidiary Flecha Amarilla) will get you, with few stops, to/from D.F.or Queretaro along Hwy 120/100: the road is long, slow, easily causes car-sickness but immensely beautiful, passing almost the entire length of Sierra Gorda west to east, changing scenery from semi-desert to cloud-forest to rain-forest. Buses stop, among other places, in Pinal de Amoles and Pueblo Magico/Unesco WHS Jalpan de Serra, two beautiful towns. This is my favorite route and there is huge deal to do and see if you can break your journey in various places.
You can view bus schedules online.

-+Flecha Roja+, according to the local tourist brochure, will take you from D.F. to Xilitla via Pachuca and Tamazunchale, a large municipal center in southern Huasteca about an hour south-east from Xilitla . This is as slow and switch-back, and long as Hwy 120 route. There is a discrepancy in the brochure as its stays that buses go along Hwy 105 and pass through town of Jacala whereas Jacala is actually on Hwy 85. But both 85 and 105 connect T. and Pachuca so hopefully one way or another, this option works. We drove 85 twice and it was painful due to severe fog.

-Vencedor: I can see on their site they go from San Luis Potosi to Xilitla via Cd. Valles (Hwy 70/Hwy 85). This way is not particularly mountainous and got to be faster, if not as exciting.

I am just back from another trip to Xilitla. If you come back to this forum soon, I am planning to post a report of various Xilitla items sometimes this week.

Good travels,
/alter