San Bartolo Hidalgo

Will be going to San Bartolo Hidalgo in Jan. and wondering what to expect. We've never been to Mexico, but are visiting friends. What is the best airport to arrive at? Would someone give us some insight as to what we are getting ourselves into!

Crystal. i was just there last weekend. san bartolo is a beautiful place but very rustic, with virtually no tourism infrastructure, so be prepared to improvise. it is like travelling back in time. but is well worth it. it is in the highlands with beautiful forests and spectacular scenery. many people there still speak otomi and i doubt you'll find any one that speaks much english. be sure and visit tutotepec, which is just up the hill from San Bartolo. you'll find the ruins of a beautiful church that was under construction only 50 years after the discovery of america.
getting there takes some determination. it is 3-4 hours from mexico city depending on traffic and road conditions, and that is probably your best bet. if you haven't driven in mexico i would definitely not attempt this particular road.

good luck and safe travels.

[StrykerGT2001]

It looks very possible by first class bus. Looking at the links I have, you could leave from Terminal Norte (accessible either by the Mexico City metro or taxi from the Mexico City airport). My guess is take a bus from there to Tulancingo, Hidalgo (direct) and then from there you should be able to take a bus to San Bartolo Tutatepec. I beleive you can also fly into Pachuca, but I'm not sure which carriers/destinations you can get from the airport.

If your friends are from the area, best thing is to have them meet you wherever you are getting off the bus, and then drive you back to their place.

Sounds like it hasn't changed much. My dad's relatives live there. They are the Bengoa family. The last time I was there was in 1976. Dad used to take us there almost every summer. We would drive through Tulancingo and go as far as the road would take us which was Tenango and either walk or ride horseback (my grandpa would send someone to pick us up if he knew we were coming) through Santa Maria and into San Bartolo. Every year the road would take us closer until it went past san Bartolo.
My wife was surprised when we got my tshirts back from the laundry, they were stretched to a size XXLarge, they still washed on the rocks by the stream.