PACHUCA TRAVEL GUIDE

Places to Stay - Click here for price key

Four-star Hotel Emily ($$, Plaza Independencia s/n, tels. 771/715-0828 and 771/715-0849, 01800/501-6339 toll-free in Mexico, www.hotelemily.com.mx) has underground parking, free Wi-Fi, a restaurant, and a professional staff. It’s located facing the main plaza and the Reloj Monumental.

Across the plaza from the Emily is three-star Ciros ($$, Plaza Independencia 110, tels. 771/715-4083 and 771/715-5351, www.hotelciros.com.mx). This hotel offers parking, a restaurant, free Wi-Fi, laundry service, and room safes, as well as a good downtown location.

Business-oriented Fiesta Inn ($$$, Carretera México-Pachuca, Km. 85.5, Col. Venta Prieta, tels. 771/717-0700 or 771/717-0714, www.fiestainn.com) offers a restaurant, bar, business center, free Wi-Fi, outdoor parking, a gym, and an indoor pool.

Pachuca’s fanciest hotel is Camino Real ($$$$, Camino Real de la Plata, Zona Plateada, tels. 771/717-8500 and 771/715-8505, www.caminoreal.com), in the Silver Zone near government and financial offices and institutions, shopping centers, the Ben Gurion Park, and Convention Center. Part of the upscale Mexican hotel chain, the Camino Real has a gym, parking, Internet, shops, restaurant, and a bar, among other services.

Places to Eat - Click here for price key

Don’t miss the pastes (pronounced PAH-stays), imported by the Brits during the mining heyday of the 19th century. In addition to traditional ones of potatoes (vegetarians take note: these also have a bit of ground beef), you’ll find pastes of beans and mole verde and a wide variety of delicious seasonal fruits.

Pastes Kiko ($, Av. Juárez 804, centro, tel. 771/713-2385) is a chain of paste shops found in Pachuca and outlying areas. Eating one of these sweet or savory turnovers is a must while in Hidalgo’s mining area, including the capital city.

For evening snacks (antojitos) at an unassuming, friendly and clean little restaurant, see Tacos Kaluga, the Pachuca Meal Deal

A bright and cheerful eatery, Bice Bistro ($$$--$$$$, at the Hotel Camino Real, Zona Plateada, tels. 771/717-8500 and 771/715-8505) specializes in Italian food.

La Mansión ($$$--$$$$, Blvd. Luis Donaldo Colosio s/n, Col. Booths 771/719-7630 and 719-7631, http://www.lamansionmex.com) is one of a chain of steak restaurants popular with business executives. It’s located in the Zona Plateada, the city’s main shopping area. They have grilled T-bone, filet mignon, and other cuts, as well as Ben&Jerry’s ice cream!

Sweet, Snacks, and Coffee

Chikita Café ($, Av. Revolución 1200, Col. Constitución, tel. 771/718-0909) is a popular pit stop for the locals for coffee and conversation.

Facing the main plaza, Mi Antiguo Café ($, Matamoros 115, tel. 771/107-1837) has an abbreviated menu of yummy looking cakes and savory items for a nosh.

The chain ice cream and coffee shop Santa Clara ($, Allende 106, tel. 771/717-7700) has several locations; the one mentioned here is just across from the main plaza. Open daily 10AM to 9PM.

Things to Do & See

Tranvía Turístico: on the main plaza, tel. 771/718-7120, www.tranviaturisticopachuca.com

former Bank of Hidalgo: Calles Zaragoza at Leandro Valle, Centro

Foro Cultural Efrén Rebolledo (Cultural center with changing exhibitions): Calle Nicolás Bravo 202, Centro

Casa Rule: Plaza Pedro María Anaya at Calles Morelos and Leandro Valle, Centro

Ben Gurión Cultural Park: Near Perisur Commercial Plaza, south side of town

Photography Museum and Archives (Calle Casasola s/n, at Ex-Convento de San Francisco, centro, tel. 771/714-3653 or 771/719-1273, www.sinafo.inah.gob.mx).

Shopping

Plaza Galerías (Carr. México-Pachuca km. 85.5, Col. Venta Prieta, tel. 771/133-0154, www.galerias-pachuca.com), Plaza Gran Patio (Carr. México-Pampico, Ex-Hacienda de Coscotitlán, www.granpatiopachuca.com.mx), and Plaza Q are among the important malls in town. Each has a movie theater, restaurants, and shops.

Hidarte (Av. Juárez at Calle Vicente Segura s/n, Col. Periodistas, tel. 771/193-5425, www.artesanias.hidalgo.gob.mx) sells art from the various regions of Hidalgo, including silver jewelry; handcrafts and house wares of wood, reeds, or ceramic, and textiles.

How to Get There & Away

Sample distances (with basic highway information) between nearby cities and Pachuca, Hidalgo. For more specific driving directions, go to http://www.mexicoguru.com/mexico-driving-distance.php.

Mexico City, D.F. to Pachuca: 61 miles via Mexico Hwys 150D, Arco Norte, and 85D
Puebla, Puebla to Pachuca: 95 miles via Hwy Mexico 88
Veracruz, Veracruz to Pachuca: 265 miles via Hwys Mexico 150D and Mexico 88
Querétaro, Querétaro to Pachuca: 144 miles via Hwys Mexico 57D and Arco Norte
Guanajuato, Guanajuato to Pachuca: 240 miles via Hwys Mexico 57D and Arco Norte

Located on Boulevard Rojo Gómez near the soccer stadium and the main market, Pachuca’s Central Camionero (Bus Station; Blvd. Rojo Gómez s/n, tel. 771/713-3449) has the following bus lines: ADO, Estrella Blanca, Futura, Autobuses del Valle de Mezquital, Flecha Roja, Toltecas, and Omnibus. For more info go to http://www.mexicoguru.com/buses-in-mexico.php.

You can purchase bus tickets (or plane tickets, or rent a car) at Destiny Travel & More (Hotel Camino Real, Zona Plateada, tells. 771/212-5192 or 771/211-7966).

More Info

You can pick up information and maps of Hidalgo state at the Secretary of Tourism (Av. Madero 702, Col. Real de Minas, tel. 771/718-4454 or 771/718-3937, 01800/718-2600 toll-free in Mexico, www.hidalgo.travel) or at Casa Rule (Plaza Pedro Ma. Anaya at Calles Morelos and Leandro Valle, tel. 771/713-6100). Closer to the main plaza, get information about the city and surroundings at Dirección de Turismo Municipal (Plaza Independencia 106, Edificio Orba, 3rd floor, tel. 771/717-6400, ext. 1916).