Actopan
Discover Actopan
Actopan is a small city in Central Mexico in the Mezquital Valley in the state of Hidalgo. It is 35 km from the state capital of Pachuca and 125 km from Mexico City. It is a lively city with several festivals, known for its colonial heritage and for its tasty local cuisine, especially variations of barbacoa. Actopan has a population of about 30,000 (2020). The city lies within the Trans-Mexican Volcano Belt and occasionally experiences earthquakes and tremors.
Taste of Actopan...
Pit-barbecued pork is delicious no matter where you find it. Barbacoa is popular everywhere in Hidalgo, but in Actopan, a peculierly local style of pit-barbecued pork has been made by the indigenous Mexica peoples since long before the arrival of the Spaniards. The Actopan specialty is called Ximbo. It is flavored with chiles, oregano, and cumin and cooked with nopalitos (prickly pear cactus leaves) and onions in agave wrappings. Ximbo is seldom seen far from Actopan and a curious traveler will want to seek it out. As in most of Central Mexico, pulque is the traditional drink to try.
Festivals & Events
Experience the vibrant festivals and cultural celebrations of Actopan.
Pit-barbecued pork is delicious no matter where you find it. Barbacoa is popular everywhere in Hidalgo, but in Actopan, a peculierly local style of pit-barbecued pork has been made by the indigenous Mexica peoples since long before the arrival of the Spaniards. The Actopan specialty is called Ximbo. It is flavored with chiles, oregano, and cumin and cooked with nopalitos (prickly pear cactus leaves) and onions in agave wrappings. Ximbo is seldom seen far from Actopan and a curious traveler will want to seek it out. As in most of Central Mexico, pulque is the traditional drink to try.
Essential Information
Getting There
Multiple OptionsA taxi from Pachuca to Actopan will cost about M$200 for the 30-minute ride. This is the easiest, fastest, and most flexible way to get there. From Pachuca, Ovnibus has a direct route from Villas de Pachuca to Actopan with one bus at 6pm daily arriving one hour later in Actopan. The fare is about M$100. From Mexico City, take Metro to Indios Verdes where you can catch a Futura bus to Villas de Pachuca, then take the 18:00 Ovnibus from there to Actopan. The town is compact and easily walkable, though taxis will be useful for getting around outside the central downtown area. Pit-barbecued pork is delicious no matter where you find it. Barbacoa is popular everywhere in Hidalgo, but in Actopan, a peculierly local style of pit-barbecued pork has been made by the indigenous Mexica peoples since long before the arrival of the Spaniards. The Actopan specialty is called Ximbo....
Getting Around & Staying
Getting Around
The town is compact and easily walkable, though taxis will be useful for getting around outside the central downtown area. Pit-barbecued pork is delicious no matter where you find it. Barbacoa is popular everywhere in Hidalgo, but in Actopan, a peculierly local style of pit-barbecued pork has been made by the indigenous Mexica peoples since long before the arrival of the Spaniards. The Actopan specialty is called Ximbo. It is flavored with chiles, oregano, and cumin and cooked with nopalitos (prickly pear cactus leaves) and onions in agave wrappings. Ximbo is seldom seen far from Actopan and a curious traveler will want to seek it out. As in most of Central Mexico, pulque is the traditional drink to try.
Money & Budget
Pit-barbecued pork is delicious no matter where you find it. Barbacoa is popular everywhere in Hidalgo, but in Actopan, a peculierly local style of pit-barbecued pork has been made by the indigenous Mexica peoples since long before the arrival of the Spaniards. The Actopan specialty is called Ximbo. It is flavored with chiles, oregano, and cumin and cooked with nopalitos (prickly pear cactus leaves) and onions in agave wrappings. Ximbo is seldom seen far from Actopan and a curious traveler will want to seek it out. As in most of Central Mexico, pulque is the traditional drink to try.