Stand at the edge of the gorge below Xico and the sound arrives before the view does: the Texolo Waterfall dropping in a single white column, with a footbridge strung across the gap in front of it. This is a town where the walking is short and the rewards are immediate, whether you are following water or following the church calendar.
Xico suits travellers who are happy to build a day around two or three stops rather than a checklist, and who do not mind a little mud on their shoes. The town's strongest draws are its waterfalls and its churches, with a handful of small museums filling the hours between them.
This guide covers the sights and experiences worth your time, followed by a one-day plan and answers to the questions visitors ask most often.
Top things to do in Xico
1. Texolo Waterfall (Cascada de Texolo)
The main event. The falls drop roughly 80 m and have appeared in several films, among them Romancing the Stone and Clear and Present Danger. The real pleasure is not the viewpoint but the footpaths around the falls and the bridge over the gorge, which puts you close enough to feel the spray.
Cross the bridge to reach two smaller waterfalls on the far side. Entry is free, though access to the river may be paid. It sits about 3 km south of the city centre, so plan it as a half-day rather than a quick stop.
2. Parroquia Santa Maria Magdalena (St Mary Magdelaine Church)
Established in 1670, this is the oldest church in Xico, and its architecture is a study in contrast: a restrained neo-classical and baroque exterior giving way to an opulent interior of vaulted ceilings and domes with intricate tilework and gilded trim. Look for the sculptures of the Virgin Mary and the centrepiece figure of Christ behind the main altar, with a reposed figure of Mary Magdalene at his side.
It stands at Benito Juarez 179. The Museo de Vestidos is in the church courtyard and should not be missed, so combine the two in a single visit.
3. Museo de Vestidos (Dress Museum)
A collection of hundreds of elaborately decorated dresses made by parishioners for the Virgin and donated to the church, a local tradition rather than a formal collection. The scale of the display is what makes it worth the stop.
It sits behind Parroquia Santa Maria Magdalena, which makes it an easy pairing with the church. Admission is M$5 per adult.
4. Monja waterfall (Cascada de la Monja)
Smaller than Texolo but still impressive, and a natural second stop if you are already walking the paths around the main falls. The setting is the draw here, not the height.
The waters are dangerous, so do not bathe here. Entry is free.
5. Museo del Danzante Xiqueño (Museum of the Dancers of Xico)
Xico has a long history of indigenous dance, and these dances adapted to Spanish repression in the colonial era, morphing into a distinct local tradition. The museum celebrates that tradition with displays of hand-carved ceremonial masks and the elaborate costumes worn by the dancers.
Find it at Av. Miguel Hidalgo 76. It is open Tuesday to Sunday, 10:00 to 18:00, and closed on Monday. Admission is M$10.
6. Museo del Totomoxtle
A small museum showcasing the figurines made by artist Socorro Pozos Soto from corn husks, known as totomoxtle. The figures are arranged into scenes that bring Xico's much-storied past to life, which is what sets this collection apart.
It is on Av. Ignacio Aldama and open daily, 09:00 to 14:00 and 15:00 to 20:00. Note the midday closure when you plan your route.
7. La Xiqueñada (Fiesta de la Magdalena)
The town's biggest festival, held for one week each year in July or early August. On the Wednesday, artists create colourful carpets of sawdust known as tapetes de aserrín. Parades, music, folk dances and food run through the week.
The festival culminates in a running of the bulls, Pamplona style. If your dates are flexible and you want the town at its liveliest, build the trip around it.
8. Capilla torres
One of the churches in the city, and a straightforward stop if you are working your way through Xico's religious buildings on foot. Pair it with the other churches nearby rather than treating it as a standalone outing.
9. Cristo de la Sur 3
A church on the south side of town, useful for extending a walk beyond the centre. Visit it alongside the other southern churches to make the detour worthwhile.
10. Iglesia del Sagrado Corazon de Jesus
Another of Xico's churches and an easy addition to a walking route through town. Combine it with the other churches on your list rather than making a special trip.
11. Monumento San Juan Diego
A memorial in the city, and one of the quieter stops on this list. It works best as part of a broader walk past the town's religious sites.
12. Parroquia de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe
A parish church in the city and a natural companion to the other churches here. Add it to the same circuit as Iglesia del Sagrado Corazon de Jesus and Capilla torres.
13. Virgen de la Sur 3
The last of the churches on the southern side, and a sensible endpoint if you are walking the town's religious buildings in one stretch. Group it with Cristo de la Sur 3.
If you only have one day
Morning: Head south out of the centre to Texolo Waterfall (Cascada de Texolo). Walk the footpaths around the falls and cross the bridge over the gorge to reach the two smaller waterfalls on the far side. If you have time and energy left, continue to Monja waterfall (Cascada de la Monja) — and remember not to bathe there.
Afternoon: Return to town and visit Parroquia Santa Maria Magdalena at Benito Juarez 179, then step into the Museo de Vestidos behind it. Follow with the Museo del Danzante Xiqueño on Av. Miguel Hidalgo 76, which is closed on Mondays, and the Museo del Totomoxtle on Av. Ignacio Aldama if the timing of its midday closure allows.
Evening: Walk the town's churches at an easy pace — Capilla torres, Iglesia del Sagrado Corazon de Jesus, Parroquia de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe, then Cristo de la Sur 3 and Virgen de la Sur 3 on the southern side, with the Monumento San Juan Diego along the way.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to visit Xico for the festival?
La Xiqueñada, also called the Fiesta de la Magdalena, is held for one week every year in July or early August. The sawdust carpets, or tapetes de aserrín, are made on the Wednesday, and the week ends with a running of the bulls.
Are the waterfalls free to visit?
Texolo Waterfall is free to enter, though access to the river may be paid. Monja waterfall is free. The waters at Monja are dangerous, so do not bathe there.
Which museums are open on which days?
The Museo del Danzante Xiqueño on Av. Miguel Hidalgo 76 is open Tuesday to Sunday, 10:00 to 18:00, and closed on Monday. The Museo del Totomoxtle on Av. Ignacio Aldama is open daily, 09:00 to 14:00 and 15:00 to 20:00. The Museo de Vestidos, behind Parroquia Santa Maria Magdalena, charges M$5 per adult.
How much time should I allow for the waterfalls?
Texolo Waterfall is about 3 km south of the city centre, and the footpaths and the bridge over the gorge lead on to two smaller waterfalls, so treat it as a half-day rather than a brief stop.
Decide whether you are travelling for the waterfalls or for the festival week, and the rest of your Xico itinerary falls into place.