Oaxtepec facts for kids

Oaxtepec is a fun town in the state of Morelos, Mexico. It's part of the Cuautla area. Many people visit Oaxtepec for its cool water parks and hotels, especially those from nearby Mexico City. The weather here is warm and tropical, and the area is full of green plants.

In 2020, about 7,097 people lived in Oaxtepec. This town was even a special place during the 1968 Olympic Games, hosting a World Youth Camp and some horse-riding events!

A Look Back: Oaxtepec's History

Oaxtepec was a big town even before the Spanish arrived. The powerful Aztecs, led by Emperor Moctezuma I, took control of it.

The First Botanical Garden

During Moctezuma I's rule (from 1440 to 1469), Oaxtepec became a special place for Aztec nobles to relax. Moctezuma ordered that the natural springs in Oaxtepec be used to water farms and grow important plants for the Aztec Empire. This led to the creation of a beautiful royal garden. It was actually the very first botanical garden in all of the Americas!

When the Spanish explorers first came to this region, they were amazed by Oaxtepec's beauty. They wrote about how wonderful it was in their stories of the Aztec conquest.

Building a Hospital and Church

In the 1500s, the Spanish decided to build a hospital in Oaxtepec. This was because so many helpful medicinal plants grew in the area. The Santa Cruz de Oaxtepec hospital was built in 1569. For the next 200 years, it was run by a group called the Brothers of Charity.

The Templo de Santo Domingo de Guzmán (Church of Saint Dominic of Guzman) was also built around this time. It was constructed on the remains of Oaxtepec's main Aztec pyramid.

Modern Water Parks Arrive

A big change happened in 1964 when the Centro Vacacional Adolfo López Mateos IMSS Oaxtepec opened. This was a huge water park, covering 120 hectares (about 300 acres), and it became the most important water park in Latin America!

Later, in 2018, this park was updated and sold to a private company. It is now known as Six Flags Hurricane Harbor. There used to be a smaller water park called Parque Acuatico Oaxtepec (PAO) nearby, but Hurricane Harbor bought that one too.

What's in a Name? And Where is Oaxtepec?

The name Oaxtepec comes from the Nahuatl language, which the Aztecs spoke. It means "On the mountain of huajes." A huaje is a type of tree called a leadtree. Its fruits are edible and are a popular food in central Mexico.

Oaxtepec is located about 1,377 meters (4,518 feet) above sea level.

• It's about 12 kilometers (7.5 miles) from Yautepec.
• It's about 14 kilometers (8.7 miles) from Cuautla, Morelos, which takes about 21 minutes to drive.
• It's about 44 kilometers (27 miles) from Cuernavaca, the state capital, taking about 44 minutes.
• From Mexico City, it's about 91 kilometers (56.5 miles) or 100 kilometers (62 miles), depending on the highway you take. The drive can be around 1 hour and 30 minutes to 1 hour and 45 minutes.

Cool Places to See

Monastery of Santo Domingo

The front of the old Convent of Santo Domingo de Guzmán in Oaxtepec.

The old monastery of Santo Domingo Félix de Guzmán was built by the Dominican Order between 1528 and 1580. The church itself was actually named Santiago Apóstol. It has a large open area (atrium) that leads to the town's main square, a single long hall (nave), and two small chapels. There are also two towers on the side.

This church has seen a lot of history! During the Siege of Cuautla in 1812, it was used as a headquarters by General Leonardo Bravo. Later, during the Mexican Revolution, it served as a base for the Liberation Army of the South. For a while, it was even a high school and a local cultural center. A few years ago, it was given back to the Church.

Awesome Water Parks

Six Flags Hurricane Harbor is a famous chain of water parks. The one in Oaxtepec opened in 2017 and is one of the biggest in Latin America! It has all sorts of fun slides, from body slides to tube slides, plus wave pools and lazy rivers.

This water park first opened in 1964 as the Centro Vacacional "Adolfo López Mateos" IMSS Oaxtepec. It was run by the Mexican Social Security Institute. In 1998, it was sold to a private company and became "Parque Acuático Oaxtepec (PAO)." After that company faced problems in 2011, Six Flags bought it. You can still find hotels and campgrounds run by the Social Security Institute within the park.

Another cool place is Balneario El Bosque Oaxtepec (which means "The Oaxtepec forest water park"). This park has a more natural feel, with a suspension bridge, waterfalls, a river, pools, and even an archeological area. The Pozo Azul (Blue Pond) here is believed to have been used by the Aztec ruler Moctezuma I way back in the 1400s!

Ancient Ruins to Explore

Besides the archeological site inside "El Bosque" water park, you can find other ancient ruins. There are pre-Hispanic ruins on the Cerro de los Huajes ("Hill of leadtrees") near the cemetery. You can also see the ruins of the colonial Hospital de la Santa Cruz, which was built by the Brothers of Charity between 1586 and 1820. These ruins are close to the "El Bosque" water park.

Climate

See also

In Spanish: Oaxtepec para niños