Mexico City is a vibrant city full of options, but many times, those who live there or visit it look for a getaway to a small town. Fortunately, there are many options, even less than 3 hours from the capital.
In the center of the country there are beautiful towns that, in addition to offering impressive landscapes, have a cold environment to spend a weekend, ideal for lovers of low temperatures and to share with family or friends.
The three towns that I recommend are at least 2000 m above sea level, the effect of the altitude helps that during the winter the temperature at dawn can drop below the freezing point (0°C).
In addition to the cold environment, in these towns you can find beautiful landscapes, traditional food and a lot of history. They are ideal spaces for adventure, hiking, camping in the middle of nature or climbing.
Before leaving for the town you select, I recommend checking what the weather conditions will be like. Use the Meteored Mexico website or download the app on your mobile, and turn on notifications to stay informed.
Real del Monte: mining history, forests and cobblestone streets
This mining town is located 2,600 m above sea level among the pine forests in the State of Hidalgo. Traveling from Mexico City takes approximately 2 and a half hours.
The town of Real del Monte is also known as Mineral del Monte. This town is famous for its mining history, which dates back to the 16th century; its charming architectural style, with cobblestone streets and brightly colored houses.
In addition to its mining history, the place stands out for its gastronomy, being famous for its pastes, a kind of stuffed empanada that the British miners brought with them.
Mineral del Chico: one of the mining jewels in the State of Hidalgo
Mineral del Chico is characterized by its mountain climate and its cold environment throughout the year, especially in the winter. This picturesque town is located almost 3 hours from Mexico City.
Mineral del Chico is surrounded by pine, oak and fir forests, approximately 2,380 m above sea level.
Some of the must-see places are the San Antonio and La Guadalupe Mines, the Carboneras Ecological Recreational Park, the El Chico National Park, as well as the El Cedral Dam.
Zacatlán de las Manzanas: hiking, viewpoints and foggy forests
This town is located in the State of Puebla just over 3 hours from Mexico City. It is a town surrounded by abundant vegetation at an altitude of 2,000 m above sea level.
In this beautiful weekend destination you can go hiking, rappelling or cycling, and go up a 1,400-meter-long zip line. You can’t miss its viewpoint surrounded by fog.
Near these mountain towns and with a cold atmosphere you can find warm rooms thanks to the fireplaces.
Near the town you will find cabins surrounded by trees such as pines and oaks. If you like adventure, you should visit the Valle de Piedras Encimadas and enjoy its impressive rock formations.
With low temperatures, it is common to light the fireplace to keep the cabin warm; however, if the rooms are not ventilated, carbon monoxide can accumulate, a gas that can cause death.
Carbon monoxide is a gas that has no color, smell or taste. Breathing it in large quantities causes death.
I recommend not sleeping with the fireplace on. If the fireplace is in a closed bedroom, keep it open to avoid the accumulation of carbon monoxide.
Source: meteored
