Coyoacan is one of the oldest and most attractive neighborhoods that you can meet when you take one of the flights to Mexico City. It is a center of stories and legends where you can breathe an air very different from the rest of the city, the simple fact of walking through its streets is a real pleasure, and one of the favorite pastimes of many citizens, so dedicate an afternoon to this great place and organize your time in a perfect way.
A coffee to start a perfect walk
We will start our tour in the center of Coyoacan, if you go very early to wake up and make some exercise, you will need a good coffee, and the recommendation for this is Avellaneda, a cafeteria that is just a block away from the center, a rather small place where it serves good quality coffee and if you are a coffee lover, you will appreciate the options and the service. However, this is not the only place to stock up on caffeine, since nowhere else in the city will you find as many cafes as in Coyoacan.
To visit gardens and historical sites
Once the nutritional needs are met, we can start with our journey, start by touring the two central gardens of Coyoacán, the Hidalgo Garden and the Centennial Park, take advantage of the fact that it is early to take the rigorous photo in the Coyotes fountain, which always look prettier with the morning sun. Cross the street to the Hidalgo Garden and enter the Church of San Juan Bautista, this is one of the oldest churches in Mexico and its history goes back to the first years after the conquest of Tenochtitlan by the Spanish conquerors.
Let’s eat at the market
If after crossing the streets of Coyoacan you start to feel a little hungry, head to the Coyoacan Market, because here you will find the best places to recover energy, although the best option here are the toast. In the same market, right at the exit to the street of Xicoténcatl, there are restaurants that offer a complete food at very cheap prices, in case yours are more home-cooked meals. In addition, if you don´t go by the directions of the market, don´t worry because in Coyoacan there is food in every block.
One afternoon at the museum
A couple of blocks from the market on the street of Allende, is one of the most popular attractions in Coyoacan, La Casa Azul, where Frida Kahlo lived all her life and where she shared her years with Diego Rivera. If you decide to visit this place, buy your tickets online, otherwise, you will lose a good part of your afternoon in line to access the house. The entrance ticket to Casa Azul includes transportation and access to Anahuacalli, the museum where Diego Rivera’s collection of pre-Hispanic art is on display.
There is still a lot to tell you about Coyoacan, but there is no better way to get to know it than walking through its streets, so take advantage of the flights to Mexico City and visit this neighborhood full of life, history and beauty.
