The tiny village of Acatepec is just 5 kilometres south of Cholula, and easily reached by local bus or Tranvía Turistica (Tourist Tram), as well as being included in most tours of the town. The main lure for most visitors is the gorgeous 16th century Templo de San Francisco Acatepec, claimed by proud locals to be the most beautiful in America. The church is an excellent example of Mexican-Baroque architecture, combining baroque style with brightly colored, handmade talavera tiles. The handcrafted cedarwood altarpieces inside were destroyed by a fire in 1939 and painstakingly recreated over the ensuing 25 years by a local family.


Just a kilometer away is the village of Tonatzintla, renowned for its Temple Santa María Tonantzintla. The church shows unique baroque and indigenous influences in its elaborately decorated interior- dark angels with feathers in their hair are surrounded by mangos, chiles, coconuts, bananas and maize alongside traditional Biblical scenes
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Both villages are accessible via the local bus ($.40) which goes down Miguel Alemán (corner with 5 Poinente) in Cholula, marked “Tonantzintla”. The hourly Tranvía Turistica, which leaves from the zócalo every 20 minutes past the hour (from 10.20 a.m- 5.20 p.m) and costs $3.50 is as an even easier option. The tram stops in both villages for around 20 minutes each.