At 1 hour and 23 minutes from acolmanyou can find Chalcothe city that shelters what is believed to be the first Ceremony center of Mexico. Escape to Chalco for a weekend! This fascinating destination has a very rich history that you can discover in a weekend.
Escape to Chalco and learn about its importance in the history of Mexico.
The name, of Nahuatl origin, comes from Challi: “lake edge”, and co: “place”, and means “on the edge of the lake”.
To understand the geographical importance of Chalco, an important fact must be mentioned. And it is that in his time, Lake Chalco was part of the Great Lake who communicated with him Lake Texcoco, Lake Xochimilco, Lake Xaltocan and Zumpango. Today, it is dried up and only the Xico lagoons survive.
According to historian Domingo Francisco de San Antón Muñón Chimalpain Cuauhtlehuanitzin, the first group to arrive in the region were the “acxotecas” come from Tulawho were called Chalcas and were one of the first governments of nobles.
Something that greatly distinguished the chalcas is that they were warriors, who did not let themselves be defeated by the empire Mexican, and formed the first ceremonial centers. However, the proud chalcas were subjected in 1,465becoming tributary of the mexica empire. The tributes were produced in the chinampas that were located on the shores of the lake.
The work of chimalpain cuauhtlehuanitzin was adequately translated until very recently. For this reason, the work has not yet been fully analyzed. What marvelous mysteries hides Chalco?
If you want to enter this archaeological zone, the access hours are from Tuesday to Sunday from 10 am to 5 pm and have a cost of $45 pesos.
About the Tlapacoya archaeological zone
The archaeologists Beatriz Barba and Roman Piña Chan they carried out investigations in the area in 1954 and 1955. Among their discoveries, there is a pyramidal basement, which is made up of several platforms and built in three stages. Within this basement were found three graves with remains human bones and Offerings which included ceramic vessels, shells, and jade, serpentine, and obsidian instruments.
It is believed that at the height of this culture, its leaders established relations with groups from the west of Mexico and the current states of Morelos, Warrior, oaxaca and Chiapas; to obtain products and exchange techniques that were reflected in the already mentioned offerings.
The Tlapacoya archaeological zone is located at the foot of elephant hillon the shores of what was the Chalco Lake. Its name is made up of Nahuatl terms that mean “place where it is washed”, and it is one of the first three ceremonial centers built in the basin in mexico.
Meet her!
Escape to Chalco and enjoy these 5 things you can do!
- Enjoy a dip in the Las Piedras Ecological Parkwhich has incredible views and offers services such as: green areas, environmental education workshops, children’s games, swimming pools, outdoor events. The entrance has a cost of 10 for children and 20 Mexican pesos for adults.
- have fun in the Chimalpahin House of Culture. This is the main cultural point of the area. Here cultural events, craft workshops, dance classes, courses regulated by the INEA and much more. you will also find a small museum with pre-Hispanic elements that were found in the town.
- Be amazed by the wonderful Chalco Lake. This body of water covered the entire town in its entirety, and although it is much smaller today, its great historical value remains. It is one of the lakes that is part of the old Basin of Mexicosite of establishment of many cultures of Mesoamerica
- He Aculco Recreational Park It is located in the town of Temamatla, about 12 kilometers from Chalco. It is a park surrounded by wonderful nature. You can visit it every day from 06:00 to 19:00 for a cost of 20 Mexican pesos.