Puebla, or Eroica Puebla de Zaragoza ( Heroica Puebla de Zaragoza) is the fourth largest city in Mexico, founded by the Spaniards as one of the first in Mexico (the date of its foundation is considered to be 1531). Located less than a hundred kilometers from Mexico City, in a valley surrounded by as many as four volcanoes, one of which is active (Popocatepetl). Due to its historical center, which has preserved a large number of buildings from the colonial era, Puebla is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Puebla is also known as the gastronomic capital of Mexico.
The city received its modern name in honor of the historical battle that took place near the city on May 5, 1862, when Mexican troops under the command of General Ignacio Zaragoza defeated the French invaders. Now May 5th is one of the most important public holidays in Mexico. Before this, the city was known as Puebla de los Angeles ( Puebla de los Angeles).
How to get there:
Quite simply, Puebla is one of the largest cities in Mexico and has excellent transport links to all regions of the country. From the TAPO bus terminal in Mexico City, buses to Puebla depart every 10-15 minutes. The average travel time is two hours, which is very convenient for a day trip from Mexico City. Although Puebla is undoubtedly worth staying here for a day or two.
Map of Puebla on googlemaps:
Intercity buses arrive at the CAPU terminal, which, although not on the outskirts, is still not very close to the historical center of the city. The terminal is modern, and all the necessary amenities are available to the traveler, from toilets to luggage storage (payment is the same as in a taxi - a small fee for “boarding” and an hourly “counter”, the size of the luggage matters).
Taxi from the terminal to the center - 50-60 pesos. There are city buses, but without knowing Spanish it’s not so easy to figure out which ones go to the center.
If you have some time and want to look at the “Mexican-style residential areas,” you can walk from the bus terminal to the historical center.
These areas look something like this:
It doesn't look as colorful as in the guidebooks, but there are some bright spots here. Something like this (this is a pet store):
Or this “low rider”:
Closer to the center, the surrounding urban landscape becomes more cheerful, not least thanks to graffiti. There are many drawings on the theme of national history.
Here, for example, on the topic of the Battle of Puebla already mentioned above:
And here are these on the theme of the Spanish Conquest:
Here is an example of “social” graffiti:
Closer to the Zocalo it becomes pedestrian:
Walking along it you can't pass by churches of Santo Domingo (Templo de Santo Domingo), the austere facade of which strongly contrasts with its bright red walls:
But its main value lies inside. Unlike most churches and temples, this is not the main altar, although it is worthy of attention. The main delight of the eyes here is located to the left of the main altar Rosario Chapel(Capilla del Rosario):
Photos say better than any words:
Altar and walls
Dome and vaults
A couple of blocks from the Church of Santo Domingo is Zocalo(Zocalo). This is how in Mexico they call the central square of the city, next to which, as a rule, there is a cathedral and a government building, usually called the government palace ( Palacio de Gobierno).
It’s always crowded here; in addition to tourists, there are many vacationing locals:
Here on the square a special excursion bus awaits tourists:
On the north side of the square is Government Palace:
Cathedral Puebla:
Built in the second half of the seventeenth century, its interior decoration is not inferior to the cathedral in Mexico City:
After visiting the Cathedral, you can go for a walk through the surrounding neighborhoods. The historical center of Puebla is very bright and colorful:
Church of San Cristobal:
Church of the Holy Spirit (La Compaña):
I would like to note the fact that in Mexico they do not charge money for entering churches and temples.
Street 6 Sur:
The blocks east of the Zocalo are the best place to grab a bite to eat and buy souvenirs. There are a large number of restaurants at the disposal of hungry tourists, where you must try dishes with local sauce Mole Poblano(Mole Poblano), which contains more than twenty ingredients, including chocolate and chili pepper. "Signature" drink of Puebla - Pulque- a low-alcohol drink made from agave, most reminiscent of our mash.
In addition to restaurants, you can quickly grab a bite to eat at numerous eateries. Their assortment is usually limited to a couple of types of local fast food - tacos, enchiladas and other snacks, the basis of which is a corn tortilla with meat. These eateries are very popular among Mexicans.
Vegetarians will also not feel deprived - fresh fruit vendors are at their service:
As for souvenirs, they are also sold almost everywhere, but there are two places where their concentration per unit area reaches a maximum. This is Los Sapos Square ( Los Sapos) southeast of the Zocalo and market Mercado El Parian northeast of the same Zocalo. The assortment is largely repeated, but Los Sapos has a larger percentage of “homemade” products. For example these:
Market Mercado El Parian:
The “signature” souvenir of Puebla is painted ceramics Talavera (Talavera).
Next to the market, in a building called " Caramel House» ( Casa de Alfeñique) there is a museum with exhibits from colonial times (information about the museum: INAH):
Walking a little further northeast from the souvenir market you can see San Francisco church (Templo de San Francisco). This church was built in the mid-sixteenth century, as part of a monastery of Franciscan monks.
In one of the chapels of the church there is a statue of Our Lady, donated to the church by Cortez himself. And under it, in a special reliquary, the relics of Sebastian de Aparicio, who is considered the patron saint of travelers, are kept:
Museums
In addition to the museum mentioned above in the Caramel House in Puebla, there are several other museums worth visiting:
— Puebla Folk Art Museum (Museo de Arte Popular Poblano). There are exhibitions dedicated to the folk crafts of the Puebla region. The museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 10.00 to 17.00, ticket price is 30 pesos, admission is free on Tuesdays. The museum is located in the former convent of Santa Rosa, famous for the fact that the nuns of this convent invented the Mole Poblano recipe. Museum information: INAH.
— Regional Museum of Puebla (Museo Regional de Puebla). A historical museum, the exhibitions cover the entire history of Mexico, from pre-Columbian times to the War of Independence. The museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 09.30 to 18.00, ticket price is 46 pesos, admission is free on Sundays. Museum information: INAH.
— Amparo Museum (Museo Amparo). Private museum with collections of objects from the pre-Columbian era and the colonial period. Located in a former hospital built in the seventeenth century. The museum is open every day except Tuesday from 10.00 to 18.00, ticket price is 35 pesos, admission is free on Mondays. Museum website: http://www.museoamparo.com.
In conclusion, I would like to mention another original attraction of Puebla - the “extinct” geyser Quexcomate, or Cuescomate (Cuexcomate), which translates from Nahuatl as “clay pot.” You can go down into its crater, 13 meters deep. The geyser is located on the outskirts of modern Puebla, so to visit it you will have to take a taxi or use public transport.
January 2013, Mexico, Puebla, Eroica Puebla de Zaragoza
The Zocalo is the cultural, political and religious center of Puebla. The main square of the city was originally rectangular in shape, but then it was made square, because, according to the city authorities, it was not perfect. The square changed its name several times. It was originally called Plaza de Armas, then Public, then Plaza Mayor and finally became Plaza Zócalo. We can say that it appeared simultaneously with the founding of the city. In 1531, it was around this central piece of land that city streets were formed.
Until the end of the 18th century, the central market of Puebla was located here. The Indians here sold their goods with the same enthusiasm as the white traders. Throughout almost the entire colonial period, the Zocalo was also the site of the main source of drinking water, established in the 16th century. The entire population of the city gathered here to, in line for life-giving moisture, discuss the latest news, find out the orders of the city mayor, and simply gossip. Nowadays, the Zocalo Square is planted with trees and decorated with a large number of monuments. Probably the most significant decoration of the square is the statue of the Archangel Michael, installed on the fountain, opened in 1777.
The square is surrounded by many interesting buildings, among which the Municipal Palace, the Doll House and the Cathedral stand out.
Most streets in Puebla do not have a name, but a serial number. The countdown of these city arteries begins from the northwestern corner of Zocalo Square.
The approaching Christmas added its own charm. In Mexico, it is customary to decorate Christmas trees for December 1, and in all cities squares were actively decorated for the holiday, garlands were hung, huge snowmen were placed, shining in the hot Mexican sun and completely inconsistent with the weather. The blue sky was reflected in the New Year's balls, artificial trees looked completely awkward among the lush greenery of the trees, and the unreal picture was complemented by workers in shorts hanging balls on the main Christmas tree of Puebla. Probably, if in Mexico they decorated a huge cactus for Christmas, it would be more appropriate, in my opinion.
I've heard a lot about gloomy and gloomy Mexicans. Perhaps I'm just lucky to have good people, but I haven't met a single unfriendly Mexican. Their stern faces blossomed with smiles as soon as you asked them a question. Everyone willingly allowed themselves to be photographed, gave directions, helped to understand the menu and eloquently proved how hot their seasonings and peppers were. It was in Puebla that I was offered to try ice cream with chili peppers, but, deciding that chocolate-covered chicken was enough for me to experiment with, I refused the controversial delicacy.
Mexican cathedrals also amazed and surprised. Incredibly beautiful, completely different from each other, surpassing themselves in luxury and elegance of decoration! It turned out to be very cozy, very light and somehow good for the soul. No one shushed us when they saw that we were taking pictures of everything. We went to services, to weddings - we were greeted with smiles and were treated with understanding about our movements inside the cathedrals.
Mexicans in small towns do not speak English, but they quickly communicate using gestures, a calculator and fingers. They were easy and simple to understand, and in return we received a smile.
I remember Mexican children forever with their adult and serious eyes. They didn't beg. They simply silently offered their crafts and looked into their eyes. And I capitulated under their gaze... Having cleverly set up a warning system about my approach, in each new city a gang of young businessmen took me into a tight ring and, tugging on my sleeve, offered me exactly their product. They didn’t need a long siege... It’s impossible to imagine how much nonsense I had to buy, contributing to the prosperity of their business! Arriving home, I generously gave Mexican trinkets to all my friends.
And further. It was from Puebla that I began to fall in love with such a different and interesting Mexico; here the harsh gods were replaced by living people. Bright and sunny Mexico coincided with me perfectly, evoking a reciprocal feeling in my soul.
Guide to Mexico. Cities of Mexico - 5. Paraiso - Puebla.
Paraiso (Paraiso - paradise). City in Mexico, state of Tabasco, municipality of Paraiso.
GPS coordinates of the city center: 18°23′52″ N. w. - 93°12′43″ W. d.
The name of the city comes from the name of the árbol de paraíso tree, which grows in the area.
Founded - April 25, 1824. Population - 36,000 people.
The city is located 78 km from the capital of the state of Villahermosa, 20 km from the city of Comalcalco.
Quiet and calm town. A large oil terminal and the commercial port of Dos Bocas are being built near the city and the city is growing rapidly.
Near the city there are several very beautiful lagoons and lakes, comfortable beaches.
The beautiful city cathedral (Church of St. Marcos) in the central square of the city.
Witches Beach,
SPA center with its own beach.
Patzcuaro.
A city in Mexico, part of the state of Michoacan.
GPS coordinates of the city center: 19°30′59″ N. w. - 101°36′35″ W. d.
The height of the center is 2,140 m (N.B.). Population - 51,124 people. Founded by the Purépecha people
Patzcuaro is located a 5-hour drive from Mexico City in the west-central highlands, on the southeastern shore of the lake of the same name.
Lake Patzcuaro is a high-mountain (H = 1920 meters), endorheic lake of volcanic origin, with an area of 126.4 square kilometers. Patzcuaro lies surrounded by beautiful volcanic mountains with very steep slopes. There are several islands, the most famous of them is the island of Hanitsio.
What to watch. The main square of Patzcuaro, Plaza Vasco de Quiroga, is considered one of the most beautiful in Mexico. There is a lot of greenery here, which covers with its thickets the mansions and buildings of the 17th century standing along the perimeter of the square, most of which have been converted into museums and shops.
The city is famous for its Day of the Dead celebrations, which take place annually on November 2. The local Purepechas tribe celebrate this day by performing magical rituals and observing the ancient traditions of the local peoples.
Souvenirs can be purchased at the city market, which also has a wide selection of local handicrafts.
3.5 km southeast of it is Lake Lago de Patzcuaro, surrounded by villages where these folk craftsmen live.
Puebla. City and municipality, capital of the state of Puebla.
GPS coordinates of the city center: 19°00′00″ N. w. - 98°00′00″ W. d.
The city of Puebla was founded by the Spaniards in 1530 as a trade center between Veracruz and Mexico City. Population -1540 thousand people (2010).
Located 120 km from Mexico City, on a plateau, at an altitude of 2160 meters. The Puebla-Panama highway begins in the city. The international airport is located 23 km from the center. Population - 1,850 thousand people, with suburbs - 2,865,000 people. The fourth largest city in Mexico by area and population, after Mexico City, Guadalajara and Monterrey.
This is one of the first cities founded by the Spanish conquistadors in Mexico and the Americas. Large archaeological center of Latin America. An important industrial, transport, scientific and economic center of Mexico. In 1987 it was declared a World Heritage City by UNESCO.
Puebla is the only city in the world located between four volcanoes: Peak Orizaba (5747 m), Popocatepetl (5500 m, an active and permanent volcano), Iztaccihuatl (5220 m) and Malinche (4503 m). All four volcanoes are the highest points in Mexico and among the highest in North America.
Puebla is connected by highway to all major cities in Mexico, Central America and the USA. In 1999, during an earthquake, the city suffered significant damage.
The name of the city comes from the Franciscan priest Juan de la Puebla, who in Spain recruited missionaries who accompanied the conquistadors and founded this city.
On May 5, 1862, during the Franco-Mexican War, a battle took place near Puebla in which the Mexican army under the command of Ignacio Zaragoza defeated superior French forces and this day is celebrated in Mexico and some states of the United States as a national holiday (it is a public holiday). only in Puebla).
The territory of the state was one of the first in modern Mexico to be inhabited by people. Most of the early settlements were found in the Tehuacán Valley. The oldest of them, dating back to about 12,000 BC, is near Mount Agujereado. In this place, the oldest corn cobs in the world were found, the age of which dates back to 1500 BC. Stone tools found date from between 6500 – 4900 BC, and evidence of agricultural activity from 3500 – 2000 BC. There is ample evidence of the cultivation of corn, beans, squash, chili peppers and cotton.
During the Mesoamerican period of history, this territory was inhabited by numerous ethnic groups - Mixtecs, Popolos, Olmec-Xicalanques, Aztequis, Toltecs, Totonacs, Mazatecs, Otomi, Aztecs and others.
Today Puebla is an important industrial (textile, auto assembly - Volkswagen), cultural and educational center of Mexico and one of the most ancient colonial cities on the continent. There is an international airport.
The historical center of Puebla is included in the list of UNESCO monuments.
What to watch:
Puebla is a very cozy town, replete with churches with a beautiful old center. Despite the damage caused to the city by the 1999 earthquake, Puebla has more than 70 churches and hundreds of interesting colonial-style buildings. Many of them are decorated with painted tiles (azulejos), which are produced here. Of great interest is the central square with its magnificent cathedral, the tallest in the country and the second largest after the capital.
- Main Cathedral of Puebla. Rising above the city, the cathedral is considered one of the most perfect buildings in Mexico, combining Renaissance and early Baroque styles.
Consecrated in 1649. The second largest in Mexico, 14 chapels (the height of the towers is 70 m). It is famous for the splendor of its decoration - paintings, precious stones in the decoration of the altar, carved benches, marble columns,...
The cathedral was built thoroughly: just for the construction of the building itself, it took more than a century (1575 - 1690) and the same amount for the interior decoration of the cathedral. But the cathedral turned out to be very impressive.
The Rosario Chapel in the Church of Santo Domingo is a unique symbol of the city. It amazes with its wonderful interior - openwork lace with golden ornaments, with inserts of talavera ceramics and paintings on biblical themes. Rosario Chapel in the Church of Santo Domingo. A Baroque masterpiece - the walls, vaults, columns are covered with gilded wooden ornaments and knock carvings.
The Monastery of Santa Monica and the Palafoxiana Library located on its territory. Large, antique book storage (The library has free Internet access). In 1646, Juan Palafox founded a library in the seminary where he served, to which he donated 5,000 valuable volumes for his personal library. This was the beginning of the first library on the entire continent. Four centuries later, the library already has forty-five thousand books, valuable manuscripts, historical documents and the title of a UNESCO cultural heritage site.
House of Muñecos figurines. The University Museum is located here. The history of the construction of this house is unusual. According to historical chronicles, the owner of this house in the 18th century decided to build an extension to it - a third floor, but the city authorities did not allow him to do this. Then he wrote a petition to the king of Spain, and he allowed him to build the third floor. When the third floor was built, the city officials who arrived for its opening were horrified to recognize themselves in the caricatures and on the tiles decorating the façade of the building. So the owner of the house took revenge on his offenders and entered the history of the city forever. The house is very beautiful, but the museum is kind of boring.
The abbot's house. In 1953, city officials suddenly decided to demolish the old and dilapidated building in the center, but then a wave of indignation arose. It turned out that the house had not been restored and had not changed at all since its construction in the 16th century, which means that the unique façade and the paintings on the walls and ceilings (the only non-religious frescoes of those centuries, by the way, preserved in Mexico) were intact and unharmed. This unique architectural monument of the 15th century survived thanks to the public position.
Private Archaeological Museum of Amparo. This is one of the best archaeological museums in Mexico. The small, elegant house of the museum is a repository of extremely valuable and educational collections on the history of Mexico, from ancient times (2000 BC) to the modern state of the country. Here you can find rock paintings, treasures of Aztec civilization and local pride - pottery and talavera ceramic tiles (Wed-Fri, 10-00 - 18-00).
Museum of the Revolution. Nice little museum. The Museum of the Revolution is an exhibit in itself: on the whitewashed walls you can clearly see the round chips of bullets that were left by police weapons during the capture of the Cerdan family - the main pioneers of the revolutionaries of Puebla, who opposed the policies of Porfirio Diaz. This, in fact, was their home: inside there was preserved unsightly furniture, a cracked mirror and materials dedicated to a turning point in the history of Mexico.
The Barrio del Artista area is a pedestrian zone, something like the local Arbat. Artists sit in the shade of trees and houses and paint portraits of passers-by. Communication is free and friendly. You can order them something like a portrait or buy something from the artist’s original works.
Volcano Quexcomate. A very unusual natural attraction. The smallest volcano in the world. The volcano is located almost in the center of the city and is not scary at all, just like home. The volcano is almost ten centuries old: it was formed in 1064, splitting off from Popocatepetl. Nothing has erupted from it for several hundred years (the last eruption was in the 17th century). You can go down into the mouth of the volcano crater via a spiral staircase (13 meters).
Cappella Real (main square, 49 domes),
Monastery of Santa Rosa. It was here that the spicy chocolate sauce, mole poblano, was first prepared.
There is a Car Museum (a large collection of classic vintage models) and a railway museum located in the old station.
Frog Square. The name of the square comes from the fact that farm laborers used to live here, who screamed very similar to the croaking of a frog.
Another iconic religious site is the Baroque Church of San Francisco with a glass coffin inside and the incorruptible relics of Sebastian de Aparicio.
On the southern outskirts of Puebla is Mexico's largest cage-free zoo.
And, of course, the local Parayan Market (Mercado Municipal) is the best place to buy souvenirs and handicrafts. There is everything here - hats, quilts, clay plates, flowers, knitted ponchos, thread products, rugs for the home, food and drink, homemade liqueurs.
Among Mexicans, Puebla is considered the gastronomic capital of the country and the birthplace of most Mexican cuisine. It was in Puebla that the dark, spicy sauce “mole poblano” was invented, a savory chocolate sauce usually served with turkey or chicken. This pride of Mexican cuisine consists of 20 ingredients, including chocolate and various types of peppers.
Another delicacy created by the monks of the monastery is chiles en nogada, green peppers stuffed with meat and garnished with white nut sauce and red pomegranate seeds.
Coat of arms of the city and state.(material from Wikipedia. I couldn’t resist quoting it. It’s a very “sophisticated” coat of arms. I remember I studied it for a long time when visiting this city, trying to understand it. Now I specially “unearthed” the information. Maybe someone else will be interested).
The state coat of arms is a four-part shield with a white border and a small shield in the middle.
In the first quarter, on a green and gold field, a factory with three smoking chimneys, a gear wheel and a shuttle are depicted, as symbols of industry (textile).
The second part contains a stylized image of Mexico's first dam and power plant, Necaxa, built in the north of the state.
In the third quarter of the shield, on a silver field, a red flame and a hand clutching a rifle are depicted. It is a symbol of the struggle for freedom against Spanish rule.
In the fourth part, against the background of green-yellow fields and the blue sky, there is an open palm with a corn seedling, which symbolizes the importance of this agricultural crop for people’s lives, and the green and gold colors symbolize prosperity and wealth.
On the middle shield, on a green-azure field, there is a silver star with the inscription (“May 5, 1862”). On this day, the defenders of Puebla defended the city in battle against the French invaders.
On the white border of the shield are the words of the state motto, in Spanish - “United in time, in strength, in justice and hope.”
The shield is topped with an image on a golden background of the main mountain peaks of the state - Peak Orizaba or Citlaltepetl, Popocatepetl, Iztaccihuatl and Matlacueitl or Malinche, which are among the highest in the country.
The coat of arms is surrounded by images of two feathered snakes with an ear of corn at the ends of their tails. This is the Aztec sun god Quetzalcóatl - the creator of humanity in the present cosmic age of the Fifth Sun (Sun of Movement). The snakes depict traces of human feet and four Suns - symbols of bygone eras. Between the heads of the snakes is the mask of the god of rain and water, Tlaloc, a symbol of life extension.
Below is a gold ribbon with the official name of the state written on it - “Free and Sovereign State of Puebla”, in Spanish.
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Puebla de Zaragoza seemed different to me from other cities in Mexico. It seems that here there is everything that the tourist meccas of this country are famous for: majestic Catholic cathedrals, Indian pyramids, delicious cuisine and enchanting music. However, in Puebla all this is mixed in an absolutely bizarre, absurd form: here one of the most beautiful churches is located right on top of an Aztec pyramid, and in the middle of a residential area the world’s smallest volcano proudly welcomes tourists.
Stunning colonial architecture surrounded by majestic peaks, incredible antiquity, which is periodically shown in the midst of modern buildings, the tireless struggle between pre-Hispanic and colonial cultures, which seems to be going on to this day - all this makes Puebla a special city that never gets boring and never ceases to amaze.
How to get there
Despite its attractiveness, Puebla is not an exceptionally important point on the map of Mexico. I don’t think there are tourists who fly to the country just for this city. Most often, Puebla is visited by travelers traveling from Mexico City to colorful Oaxaca.
That is why the path to Puebla from Russia is not easy. It involves transfers and changes in transport. Tourists will have to cover most of the journey by plane, after which they are faced with a number of options: domestic flights, buses, minibuses, rented cars and even hitchhiking.
Below I will talk about the most popular ways that travelers choose on their way to Puebla.
By plane
Unfortunately, not a single company has yet offered direct regular flights from Russian cities to my beloved Mexico. And to fly to Puebla, tourists have to make at least 2 transfers. In addition, in my opinion, the ready-made connecting flights in this direction were arranged extremely thoughtlessly. Despite the fact that they are offered by several European airlines (KLM, Lufthansa, AirFrance), such flights depart only from Moscow, cost at least 1,500 USD, and take almost 2 days due to long and inconvenient transfers in European and Mexican cities.
Therefore, in order to save a significant amount of time and money, I advise you to buy separate tickets for each leg of the journey.
Self docking
- Moscow-Mexico City;
- St. Petersburg-Mexico City;
- Moscow-Cancun.
Several European airlines offer flights to these destinations from only 750 USD round trip. And if you want to get to Puebla exclusively by air, the third option is suitable for you: Moscow-Cancun. Now I will explain why.
Domestic flights
Puebla is located just 100 km from Mexico City. That is why there is no direct air service between these cities. To fly to Puebla from the capital, you will need to make a huge detour, circling back and forth over the entire country.
But Volaris flies daily from Cancun to Puebla. It offers 2-hour direct flights starting from just USD 60 one way. Thus, instead of 1,500 USD (which you will pay for a ready-made connecting ticket), you can easily fit in 900. And thanks to the fact that all flights in Cancun are served by one airport, connecting on your own will not require any additional expenses from you.
However, this option is not the most cost-effective and fastest. If you really want to save time and money, I would recommend flying to Mexico City and then taking a bus that goes directly to Puebla. Thus, you will pay less than 800 USD for the entire journey, and at the same time save time. But I will talk about this option in the appropriate section.
Puebla Airport. How to get to the center
There are several ways to get to the center of Puebla.
- By regular bus for 13 USD one way. The exact schedule and stop location can be found out from any airport employee by asking “bus a Puebla”. Usually the journey takes about 1 hour, but I would advise leaving for the airport in advance, as unexpected traffic jams can greatly delay you. The final stop is at the Mercado de Sabores, from where you can easily reach your desired area by public transport or taxi.
- By Van taxi, which serves Puebla airport. This is a great opportunity to comfortably get to the right place in the city without fear of being deceived. However, this is not a cheap pleasure - the cost of a trip to the center at the time of my trip was as much as 70 USD.
- By regular taxi, who will also be waiting for you at the airport exit. You can bargain with them and agree on a trip to the city for 40-50 USD. However, if you do not like to get into arguments and do not have knowledge of at least basic Spanish, I would not recommend embarking on this adventure. Since after the trip the amount may suddenly double, and you simply will not be able to prove something to the driver without knowing the language.
By bus
Unlike the air option, which involves a transfer in Cancun, the easiest way to get to Puebla by bus is from the capital. Moreover, for this it is not necessary to get into the thick of the endless metropolis: buses to Puebla even run from Mexico City airport.
Mexico City Airport - Puebla
In my opinion, this is the easiest and cheapest option to get from Russia to Puebla, if this city is really the only purpose of your visit to Mexico. Upon arrival at the capital's airport, you can take the Estrella Roja bus, which stops at terminals 1 and 2 and goes directly to Puebla. It departs every 30-40 minutes during the day, at night (from 23:30 to 06:00) the interval increases to 2 hours. The ticket price is 17 USD, which is almost the same as a ticket from Puebla airport to the city center.
Tapo Bus Station (Mexico City) - Puebla
If you want to first get to know the capital and only then go to Puebla, the buses that run from the Tapo bus station (TAPO) are suitable for you. I also used this option.
I’ll say right away that you don’t even have to think about buying tickets in advance. TAPO resembles not so much a bus station as an endless city in which the offices of transport companies go beyond the horizon. And among the countless carriers, a good half carries passengers to Puebla.
The route schedule is usually written in large letters, so identifying the companies you need will not be difficult. Tickets almost everywhere cost the same - 11-13 USD, so just choose the ticket office with the smallest queue, and in about 15 minutes your bus will depart towards the treasured city.
Bus stations in Puebla
Flights from Mexico City and other cities in the country are served by 2 main bus stations in Puebla.
- Bus station 4 Poniente, named after the street of the same name, is located in the very center of the city. From here you can easily get to the desired part of the city by public transport or taxi for a couple of dollars.
- CAPU bus station It is located a little further, but from there a huge number of minibuses and buses go to the center. A taxi around the city will cost you no more than 10 USD.
By minibus
In addition to buses, minibuses also operate in Mexico. This is the cheapest way to get around the country, with the exception of hitchhiking, of course. A trip by minibus to Puebla from Mexico City or other cities in the country will cost about 2 times less than by bus, and the journey will not take longer.
However, the details of the trips and, most importantly, the stopping places of these minibuses seem to be a terrible secret, accessible only to Mexicans. No matter how much I looked for information about this type of transport during my trip, I could not find anything except rare announcements about the flight on the fences of houses. It's even more interesting with stops. Almost every intercity trip on a minibus ended in a garage or residential yard, at best on the outskirts of city markets.
Therefore, the only sure way to take a minibus, which I discovered for myself, is to go to the outskirts of the city in the right direction and watch for the elusive transport there. Since minibuses run frequently (every 15-30 minutes), you won't have to wait long on the road. And a sign with directions on the windshield will help you understand that the minibus goes to Puebla.
By car
Puebla - holidays with children
To understand whether you want to spend a holiday with children in Puebla, just imagine that you are going to a medium-sized Russian city, but with a warmer climate. Of course, in Puebla, as in any metropolis, there are many amusement parks, and the colonial architecture and abundance of museums may appeal to school-age children. But I wouldn’t say that visiting this city will give your kids any special impressions.
