Temoaya Voyage Tips and guide

Temoaya is a charming small town in the State of Mexico in the Central part of the country. It is known for its Indigenous heritage, particularly the culture of the Otomi (Hñähñú) people.

Temoaya is considered the homeland of the Otomi people, as the area has a larger Otomi population than any other municipality in Mexico. The local Otomi community has been described as the "first light at the dawn of our history." Aware of the historical importance of this social group, the government of the State of Mexico erected the Otomi Ceremonial Center in 1980 as a monument to preserve the traditions and identity of this people.

With an elevation of nearly 2,700 meters, Temoaya has a very cool climate with an average annual temperature of around 14 °C and little variation between seasons. The coldest period is from December to February, when the average temperature is around 11 °C, although at night and in the early morning it can drop to below 5 °C.

Map of Temoaya

The closest city with commercial flights is Toluca (TLC ^IATA), though most travelers will likely come via Mexico City (MEX ^IATA). There is scheduled bus service from either city, or it is a relatively short drive from other city and can be comfortably done as a day trip.

From Mexico City, Autobuses Zina operates frequent buses to Temoaya with hourly departures from the Observatorio bus terminal (Autobuses del Poniente). Buses cost less than M100. You can also take a bus from the Cuatro Caminos Metro station.

• 19.474523-99.5917511 Autobuses Temoayenses, Manzana 011. Small town bus station. Frequent departures to Toluca.  (updated Feb 2026)

The best way to get around is by walking, or taking a taxi.

Temoaya has many points of interest for travelers, including surrounding natural parks, as well as sites with a rich legacy of indigenous Otomi culture.

The parish church of Temoaya has an attractive facade and two towers of different heights, where the town's patron saint, Saint James the Apostle, is venerated.

The church is located across from the main plaza, which is dotted with slender palm trees and features a large gazebo where visitors can find shade during the few warm moments in the town.

• Otomi Ceremonial Center (Centro Ceremonial Otomi), Carretera al Centro Ceremonial Otomí Km 12. Su - Sa 09ː00 - 17ː00. The Otomí people find their voice in a monumental architectural space that, despite being built during the 20th century, powerfully conveys the strength and grandeur of pre-Hispanic architecture. Majestically situated amidst the forests of a mountain range north of Toluca, the Otomí Ceremonial Center is a fascinating setting where the cultural traditions of one of the original nations of Mesoamerica persist. The builders of the Otomí Ceremonial Center were inspired by the characteristic elements of pre-Hispanic architecture from central Mexico, such as grand staircases, sloping walls, and plazas, to which they added contemporary artistic expression with various large-scale sculptures, creating a site of great character and evocative mysticism. It also features spacious grassy areas that are ideal for family activities. For several years now, the Otomí Ceremonial Center has also been an important landmark in the world of sports, as national and international athletes frequently come here for high-altitude training M35. (updated Feb 2026)

• Temazcales are traditional sweat lodges. Visitors can try them out and let stress and worries melt away in a cloud of steam scented with traditional herbs.

• Ceremony of the Fifth Sun - celebrated each year on March 18, the ceremony marks the beginning of a new life cycle, both in philosophical terms and in relation to planting, a highly important activity in the community, which takes place within the grounds of the Otomí Ceremonial Center.

Carpet weaving is the main craft activity in the municipality. Observing and buying carpets from the weavers of Temoaya (80% of whom are women), who work with multicolored wool threads, is like watching the musicians of an orchestra follow the instructions of a powerful, invisible conductor with impeccable precision.

Up to four weavers working in perfect synchronicity are needed to create a large-format carpet, while smaller, single-color pieces can be woven by the skilled artisans while they chat, without losing precision or compromising the beauty of their work. They fuse the Persian knotting technique with designs representative of Mexican culture. Taking home an Otomi carpet could be a memorable souvenir of your visit.

• 19.434981-99.6116491 La Cabañita, Manzana 027, ☏ +52 722 802 1931. Daily 08ː00 - 19ː00. Spacious rustic restaurant serving traditional Mexican food. Large off-street parking lot. M$200.  (updated Feb 2026)
• 19.472371-99.5944832 La Terraza, Plaza Reforma, ☏ +52 729 279 7789. Daily 09ː00 - 20ː00. Cheery dining room with brightly colored decor. Food is traditional Mexican cuisine. M$200.  (updated Feb 2026)

• 19.470905-99.5908781 Hotel Real de Temoaya, Calle Aquiles Serda, Barrio de Molino Arriba, ☏ +52 719 265 1564. Check-in: 15ː00, check-out: 12ː00. Basic motel-style place with garage parking on lower level and rooms above. Clean rooms but lack amenities like air conditioning.  (updated Feb 2026)
• 19.468478-99.5929382 Hotel Casa Grande, Barrio de Molino Arriba, ☏ +52 712 371 3674. Check-in: 15ː00, check-out: 12ː00. Moderate hotel with clean, comfortable rooms that include cable TV and internet. Hotel is not disability friendlyː no elevator and the "first floor" rooms are actually up 2 flights of stairs.  (updated Feb 2026)