Near Ticumán are caves that served as burial and ritual sites in pre-Hispanic times; in the town itself is the chapel of the Ex Hacienda Xochimancas. The nearby Las Estacas nature park also features a landscape shaped by springs. These themes give a trip to Ticumán a variety of highlights: archaeological traces, local history, and a natural environment shaped by water.
Caves as evidence and places of research
The nearby Cueva del Gallo and Cueva de la Chagüera were used as burial and ritual sites in pre-Hispanic times. Their shared use connects the two caves, but their archaeological findings set them apart. At Cueva del Gallo, special soil conditions have preserved various fibers that are important for research into pre-Hispanic basketry. The context of the finds thus points to a specific craft and the materials preserved in the cave. Cueva del Gallo is also geologically interesting: its formation offers an opportunity to examine the characteristics of a cave and the processes by which it formed.
Archaeobotanical remains were found in Cueva de la Chagüera; it is one of two caves with such finds. The remains from this cave are kept in the Preclassic section of the Museo Nacional de Antropología. Taken together, the caves offer two different ways of exploring the past: fibers and basketry on the one hand, plant remains and archaeobotanical research on the other. Alongside ritual use, the preserved material traces are also a focus.
Xochimancas in local history
The chapel of the Ex Hacienda Xochimancas is located in Ticumán, Tlaltizapán de Zapata, Morelos. The Hacienda de Xochimancas flourished during Ticumán’s historical development; a description from 2021 describes it as being in ruins. The Plateados are also associated with Xochimancas: they stayed there, and Ignacio Manuel Altamirano mentions them in connection with former residents of Ticumán.
The town’s religious history includes the Dominican order’s establishment there during evangelization; Santo Domingo de Guzmán is named as the town’s patron saint. The colonial history of the town also includes sugarcane cultivation promoted by the conquerors. The railway is another part of its history: Ticumán had a station on the Interoceanic Railway, and remnants of the railway have been preserved there. Together, these historical themes span religious and economic development, literary memory, and transportation history.
Spring landscape and activities at Las Estacas
At the nearby Las Estacas nature park, spring water emerges to form an oasis in the dry forest landscape. The flow of water sustains a unique ecosystem. This natural environment is quite different from the caves, whose significance is primarily associated with burial and ritual history and archaeological finds. When planning by theme, there are thus two distinct areas of interest: material traces of the past and a landscape shaped by spring water.
Las Estacas offers swimming in a clear river, snorkeling and paddleboarding, as well as certified PADI dives. Diving is considered one way to experience the park from a different perspective. Offerings, reservations, and availability may change, so check the latest information before making plans.
For the broader travel overview: Tlaltizapán.
