Lerma

Day Trips

Touch down in Lerma and check into your charming boutique hotel. Wander through the bustling main square to admire the municipal palace and neoclassical fountain. Sip a spicy hot chocolate from a street vendor to fuel your exploration.

Head to the historic Church of San Miguel Arcángel for a guided tour of its baroque façade and ornate interior. Meander through Portal Hidalgo’s covered arcades, stopping at artisan stalls to browse handwoven shawls and ceramics. Refuel with a hearty torta de chorizo at a local fonda.

Dine at a family-run restaurant serving mole verde and regional specialties. Enjoy live mariachi music at a plaza-side café while sipping a cold beer. Stroll back to your hotel under lantern-lit streets to soak in Lerma’s colonial ambiance.

After breakfast, drive out to the beautifully restored 18th-century hacienda. Join a guided tour through its lush gardens, stables, and historic living quarters. Learn about the hacienda’s sugarcane heritage and agricultural innovations.

Enjoy a traditional Mexican lunch in the hacienda courtyard under wooden beams and climbing bougainvillea. Wander the grounds to photograph century-old trees and rustic stone fountains. Try horseback riding along shaded trails that once served as mule tracks.

Return to Lerma for a casual dinner of quesadillas and esquites at a taquería near your hotel. Sample a mezcal flight to taste agave varieties from different regions. Relax in a hammock on the hotel patio, listening to distant church bells.

Rise early and head west to Nevado de Toluca, a towering volcano with twin crater lakes. Hike to the rim, breathing crisp mountain air as you gain elevation. Pause at the Azufre lake for panoramic views of the surrounding Valle de Toluca.

Descend into the crater to reach the emerald waters of Lago de la Luna for a picnic lunch. Photograph dramatic rock formations and wildflower meadows along the trail. Spot endemic bird species flitting amid juniper and pine trees.

Enjoy a late meal at a rustic mountain cabin serving fresh trout and quesadillas. Sip on steaming atole while swapping stories with fellow hikers. Return to Lerma and unwind with a warm shower and cup of chamomile tea.

Drive to Toluca to explore the iconic Cosmovitral, a glass mosaic greenhouse filled with tropical plants. Wander among exotic palms, orchids, and ferns under stained-glass panels depicting mythological themes. Join a guided talk on the garden’s history and architectural restoration.

Cross the street to the Museo de Bellas Artes de Toluca to admire colonial paintings and contemporary works. Dine at the museum cafe, sampling regional dishes like chorizo en nogada. Browse the gift shop for artful souvenirs by local painters.

Return to Lerma for a rooftop dinner overlooking the illuminated town center. Feast on enchiladas placeras while enjoying a live trio. End the night with a leisurely stroll past the fountain in Parque Vicente Guerrero.

Visit the hilltop Chapel of El Calvario for sweeping views of Lerma and surrounding valleys. Explore centuries-old stone walls and devotional niches painted in vibrant hues. Witness local worshippers offering flowers and candles at the shrine.

Head to Los Portales Market to immerse yourself in local commerce. Sample fresh quesadillas with local cheese, pick up handmade tamarind candies, and watch vendors prepare hot tamales. Chat with artisans weaving baskets and embroidering blouses.

Join a cooking demonstration in the market, learning to make salsas and relleno negro. Share your creations over a communal dinner with fellow travelers. Cap off the evening with a stroll under festive bunting and market lights.

Embark on a morning drive to the nearby butterfly sanctuary in Texcaltitlán. Follow a naturalist guide through oak-pine forest as streaming columns of monarchs dance overhead. Learn about the life cycle and conservation efforts of these migratory wonders.

Enjoy a packed lunch beside a bubbling creek shaded by maple trees. Hike deeper into the reserve to reach hidden groves and moss-covered boulders. Photograph monarch clusters on tree trunks before they disperse at dusk.

Return to Lerma and relax at a café with a cup of atole de avena. Sample street-style churros dipped in cajeta from a late-night stand. Reflect on the day’s wildlife encounters beneath a sky dusted with stars.

Travel to Tlalpuente for a hands-on cooking class at a local ranch. Learn to prepare regional dishes like chiles rellenos, sopa de hongos, and traditional salsas. Engage with hosts who share family recipes passed down through generations.

Enjoy the fruits of your labor with an alfresco lunch in the ranch courtyard. Follow with a guided tequila tasting featuring blanco, reposado, and añejo expressions. Learn about distillation techniques and agave cultivation from a master distiller.

Return to Lerma for a casual dinner of tacos al pastor at a street stand. Savor freshly made tortillas and grilled meats while mingling with locals. Wind down with a walk around the Barranca de San Miguel under moonlight.

Head to the Pueblo Mágico of Metepec, celebrated for its Barro Negro pottery. Visit La Anuncia pottery workshop to see artisans shape vases and decorative spheres by hand. Try your hand at spinning clay on a traditional turntable.

Wander Metepec’s main plaza to browse leather goods, blown glass ornaments, and alebrijes. Sample local sweets like jamoncillo de leche and fried buñuelos sprinkled with sugar. Rest with a café de olla in a courtyard café accented by flowering jacarandas.

Dine at a cozy bistro serving contemporary Mexican fare made with local ingredients. Toast to your pottery keepsakes with a glass of mezcal infused with orange peel. Return to Lerma for a peaceful evening walk and final churro.

Drive north to Temoaya to see colorful windmills dotting the pastureland. Visit the Centro Cultural Otomí to learn about indigenous traditions and textile weaving. Participate in a hands-on workshop creating vibrant embroidered patterns.

Enjoy a picnic featuring regional cheeses, atole, and fresh fruit amid the windmills. Explore nearby trails leading to scenic overlooks of the mountain valley. Photograph the kinetic sculptures turning gently in the breeze.

Head back to Lerma and savor a farewell feast at a local steakhouse. Indulge in grilled ribeye and seasonal vegetables accompanied by regional wine. Finish with a shared flan for dessert and reminisce about your ten-day journey.