First published: 31/08/20.

Frédéric M 3.0

Aqueduct Of Padre Tembleque

Aqueduct of Padre Tembleque (Inscribed)

Aqueduct of Padre Tembleque by Frédéric M

Like everyone else here, I visited this site as part of a day trip from Mexico City coupled with Teotihuacán. I solely visited the 66 (or 68 as the information board next to the arches states) arches of la Archería Monumental de Tepeyahualco. This construction is highly impressive, but it still makes a short visit. I spent about 30 minutes walking around and under the arches. There is little to do once you've reach the site other than gazing at it. As most interesting facts about its history and significance have already been mentioned by previous reviewers, I will tell you more about the journey to get there which is also part of the fun.

I reached Teotihuacán by public transport and arrived just after opening. I highly advise anyone to do the same as we were only two tourists atop the Pyramid of the Sun. With such an early start, I was done with the ruins in early afternoon. I thought it would be easy to find a taxi at such a popular site (how wrong I was!). All taxis in the parking lot were waiting for customers and could not take me in. I thus left the parking lot and then walked north from the roundabout on the road linking all entrances to the ruins. Interestingly, the sidewalk on the left side of this street is lined with interpretive panels about the World Heritage. I hailed many taxis driving by, but all refused to take me to the aqueduct. The fact that it was in another state appeared to be a problem for some of them (Teotihuacán is in the state of México, while the aqueduct is in the state of Hidalgo).

I desperately ended up in a restaurant on that road, asking the owner if he could call someone to take me there. We negotiated a price and the guy soon arrived. I was surprised to be taking part in a family excursion, as his wife and his baby were also taking place in the car. Moreover, that car was probably built way before I was born and unexpectedly survived until now. He had to ask a couple of times to passersby, but we managed to make it to the arches. I had interesting discussions with them, and he took a different road on our way back to show me other villages and the countryside. He dropped me back at Teotihuacán where I could take the bus back to Mexico City.

In sum, you might need to struggle to reach this Spanish empire masterpiece, but it is definitely worth it. One last word: don't go around asking for el Aqueducto del Padre Tembleque. From my experience, most people won't know what you are talking about. However, los Arcos are well known by locals. And, that way, you'll be sure to visit the most impressive stretch of this 48-km long linear site.

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