Xico

Xico is located at an average altitude of 2,234 meters above sea level and has a temperate subhumid climate with summer rains. The area has moderate temperatures year-round, with relatively cool winters and mild summers.

Early pre-Hispanic history refers to the area around the Cerro de Xico.

For a long time, the area where the city of Xico now sits was underwater, covered by Lake Chalco, just like much of the Mexico Basin. The Lake Chalco formed when lava from nearby volcanoes blocked rivers from flowing south.

• The area was mostly fishing villages from 900 BC to 100 AD.
• From 550 to 650, it was dominated by the Teotihuacan culture.
• From 650 to 750, the area was home to a prominent Otomi settlement.
• The Acxotecas settled in Xico around 1328 and introduced chinampa farming.
• The area was conquered by the Aztec ruler Tezozomoc in 1381.
• Aztecs expanded the chinampa system throughout the 14th and 15th centuries.
• In 1529, the area was ceded to Hernán Cortés by the Spanish king.

The Spanish drained most of the lakes in the Valley of Mexico to stop flooding. In the 1800s, Porfirio Díaz also ordered the draining of Lake Chalco, which hurt the local communities that had relied on the lake for their livelihoods.

The government later gave these communities farmland called ejidos. The two biggest in the area were Estación Xico and San Miguel Xico. These lands, like the modern city and municipality, are mostly on what used to be the lakebed.

The area stayed mostly empty until the late 1970s, when the lake was fully drained.

After that, many families from other parts of Mexico moved in, looking for land. Some farmers made informal deals to take over the land and began growing crops in the rich volcanic soil, even farming inside the volcano’s crater.

The area didn’t officially become a separate municipality until 1994.

The area doesn’t have many famous landmarks, but there are a few interesting places. One of them is Cerro del Marqués, the hill with old buildings and archaeological remains. However, this site is not open to the public.

Community Museum (Museo Comunitario)

The museum is located inside the Casa de Cultura “Chalchiuhtlicue”. The museum showcases artifacts from the region’s pre-Hispanic past, including tools, pottery, and other everyday items used by the early inhabitants of Xico.

The Community Museum also offers cultural workshops, various educational programs, and temporary exhibitions that help preserve and promote the area’s rich indigenous and colonial heritage and traditions.

Ex-Hacienda de Xico

The ex-Hacienda de Xico is a former estate which built around the late 19th century. The hacienda was built just after Lake Chalco was drained and served as a center for agricultural production on the newly reclaimed land.

It reflects the colonial-era architecture and landowning system that shaped much of the region’s rural economy. Though not fully restored, the structure remains and is a reminder of the area’s transition from lake to farmland.

Cerro de Xico

Cerro de Hico is a tuff ring, a circular volcanic crater formed by explosive eruptions where magma met water. These eruptions occurred in what was once Lake Chalco. Remnants of the lake are still visible around the edges of the crater.

Cerro de Xico is part of the Chichinautzin volcanic field. Although the city has expanded around it, the inside of the crater is still used for farming. Its natural circular walls help protect it from the spread of urban development.

Metro + Bus/Combi

• Take the Metro towards La Paz and disembark at Metro Santa Martha.
• From Metro Santa Martha, catch a combi or minibus heading to Xico.

Get off at stops near Xico, such as Emiliano Zapata Xico, Calle Sur 5, Campo 9 Adolfo López Mateos, or Oriente 29. These stops are located close to the heart of Xico and allow for an easy walk to most central points of interest.

Direct Bus Routes

Several bus lines serve the area:

• RUTA 104: Begins service around 4:05 AM.
• Route 82: Last service around 11:01 PM.
• Route 200: Operates throughout the day.

These buses connect various parts of Mexico City to Xico.

Driving

If you prefer to drive, take Calzada Ignacio Zaragoza eastward, continue onto Carretera Federal 190, and follow signs to Valle de Chalco Solidaridad. Estimated times are approximately 40 minutes, depending on traffic conditions.