Santa Ana Tlacotenco brings together a historic church, agave culture and an annual festival tradition. Its architecture, an informative Maguey experience, tastings and the feast day of Saint Anne offer different points of interest for planning a trip. If you are looking for a vacation rental for a stay here, you can first consider whether you are most interested in church architecture, agave processing or the festival tradition.
Church and Local History
The Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de Santa Ana is a former monastery dating from the 17th century. It was declared a historic monument on October 15, 1933. These two dates mark different milestones: the 17th century refers to its historical classification as a former monastery, while 1933 is the date of its monument designation.
Its architectural features include a nave with a transept, a dome, a bell tower and a choir. There is also a wooden floor and a simple Renaissance main portal. These different structural and design elements come together: the layout sits alongside the dome and tower, while the floor and portal provide further details of the church. Those interested in religious architecture will find several specific features here that can be considered individually.
Maguey: Production and Tasting
An official tourism program from July 2025 lists the Magueyal en el paraje Acazoltitla experience. A traditional tlachiquero guides visitors through a Maguey field and explains how agave is planted, how long production takes, how the plant is cut and scored, and how aguamiel is extracted. The focus is therefore on the plant and the steps involved in obtaining aguamiel.
Also listed in the July 2025 tourism program is the Ruta Bebida de los Dioses in Santa Ana Tlacotenco. It includes tastings of aguamiel, pulque and pulque distillate. The two experiences have different focuses: the Magueyal is about agave and extraction, while the Ruta is about sampling three drinks. Confirm the current arrangements for the experiences listed in the program before your trip.
Festival Day, Language and Agriculture
Every year on July 26, the entire community of Santa Ana Tlacotenco gathers for the feast day of Saint Anne. Traditional dances are performed in the atrium, including the Dance of the Moors and Christians, which is considered the best known. Mole, rice and tamales are among the festival’s traditional dishes. If you want to plan your trip around this occasion, check for current information about the schedule in advance.
The Academy of Nahuatl Language and Culture is also located in Santa Ana Tlacotenco. Along with the festival tradition and historic church, it is another cultural point of interest in the community. The agricultural terrace system also has great economic, cultural and ecological importance. Agriculture and terraces therefore add to the perspective on the community provided by its buildings and festival traditions.
Getting Your Bearings
The public market is located in the Zócalo area, at the northwest corner of Cuauhtémoc Street and Avenida Casas Aleman. As the market’s location may change, check its location in person if you plan to visit it.
The church, agave experiences, festival day and market appeal to different travel interests. These specific themes offer a way to get to know Santa Ana Tlacotenco, rather than basing your stay on just one activity.
Discover more destinations: Coyacán, Xochimilco, Iztapalapa, Mexico City, Álvaro Obregón, Azcapotzalco, Cuauhtémoc.
For the overview of the wider region: Distrito Federal.
