Hidalgo is a landlocked state in central Mexico, just north of Mexico City, known for the mining heritage of Pachuca de Soto and Real del Monte, the Toltec ruins of Tula de Allende, the basalt columns of Huasca de Ocampo, and the hot-spring grottoes of Grutas de Tolantongo. The state pairs colonial and pre-Hispanic history with dramatic natural landscapes across its mountains, canyons, and semi-arid valleys.
- Public
- Hidalgo has no airport with regular commercial passenger service and no metro or commuter rail of its own; getting into the state means arriving by road or bus from Mexico City, AIFA, or the Mexico City bus network, then relying on Pachuca's Central de Autobuses and second-class combis to reach the Pueblos Magicos and smaller towns
- Taxi
- Sitio (stand-based) taxis are the norm in Pachuca and the Pueblos Magicos such as Huasca de Ocampo, Real del Monte, and Tula de Allende; fares are agreed before the ride in most towns rather than metered
- Rental
- A rental car is the most practical way to see Hidalgo in a single trip, since the state's main draws - Huasca de Ocampo, Real del Monte, Grutas de Tolantongo, Tula de Allende, and El Chico National Park - sit in different directions from Pachuca and are only loosely connected by bus
- Walking
- Pachuca's historic center, Real del Monte, Huasca de Ocampo, and Tula de Allende all have compact, walkable town centers, but the highway distances between towns require a car, bus, or organized tour
Transport at a glance
Airport transfers
Getting from the airport to your accommodation.
- Overview
- Hidalgo has no commercial airport of its own, so every air arrival begins with a transfer from either Mexico City International Airport (MEX) or Felipe Angeles International Airport (AIFA) in Zumpango, State of Mexico, roughly 45 minutes to 2 hours from Pachuca depending on the airport and traffic.
- Options
- {'type': 'Private shuttle or transfer', 'detail': 'Door-to-door transfers from MEX or AIFA to Pachuca or directly to a Pueblo Magico such as Huasca de Ocampo, arranged in advance through hotels or transfer companies', 'cost': 'MXN 900-2,000 (about USD 53-118) depending on the airport and final destination'}, {'type': 'First-class bus via Mexico City', 'detail': "From MEX, a connecting ride to Terminal Norte followed by an ADO or Ovnibus service to Pachuca's Central de Autobuses", 'cost': 'MXN 250-400 (about USD 15-24) combined'}, {'type': 'Rental car', 'detail': 'Major agencies operate at both MEX and AIFA; driving directly to Hidalgo avoids extra transfers and is the most flexible option for multi-town itineraries', 'cost': 'From MXN 700/day (about USD 41/day) for an economy vehicle'}, {'type': 'AIFA Mexibus/bus connection', 'detail': 'AIFA links to the Mexibus network with an onward bus connection toward Pachuca, slower than driving but cheaper than a private transfer', 'cost': 'MXN 200-350 (about USD 12-21) combined'}
- Tips
- Compare AIFA and MEX fares before booking - AIFA is often the shorter drive to Pachuca and southern Hidalgo, while MEX has more flight options overall, Book a private transfer in advance for arrivals headed straight to a Pueblo Magico like Huasca de Ocampo or Real del Monte, since neither airport has direct public transport to those towns, Allow extra time for the MEX-to-Pachuca transfer during Mexico City rush hour, roughly 7-10am and 6-9pm on weekdays
Local transport
Getting around the city.
Pachuca
- Buses
- City buses and colectivos cover Pachuca's neighborhoods and connect the historic center with the bus terminal and outlying areas for a low flat fare, though routes are informal and posted schedules are limited
- Taxis
- Sitio taxis at stands throughout the city are the standard way to get around; agreeing on the fare before riding is common outside a few metered cabs
- Rideshare
- DiDi and Uber both operate in Pachuca with reasonably reliable coverage, unlike much of the rest of the state
- Walking
- Pachuca's historic center around the Reloj Monumental clock tower and Plaza Independencia is compact and walkable, though outlying neighborhoods require a bus or taxi
Pueblos Magicos
- Detail
- Huasca de Ocampo, Real del Monte, and Tula de Allende all have small, walkable town centers once a visitor arrives, but reaching the Prismas Basalticos, individual haciendas, or archaeological sites outside town typically requires a taxi, rental car, or organized tour, since local bus service beyond the town center is limited
Valle Del Mezquital
- Detail
- Ixmiquilpan and the surrounding Valle del Mezquital towns are connected by second-class combis and colectivos running frequently along Highway 45D and local roads, useful for reaching individual balnearios in the area, though a rental car remains far more flexible for visiting several in one day
Taxis & rideshare
What to expect from taxis and apps.
- Overview
- Taxis are the standard on-demand transport in Pachuca and Hidalgo's Pueblos Magicos, since rideshare coverage is limited to Pachuca itself; sitio (stand-based) taxis are the trusted default in smaller towns.
- Typical Fares
- MXN 40-80 (about USD 2-5) for a short in-town ride in Pachuca or a Pueblo Magico; trips to sites outside a town center, such as the Prismas Basalticos from Huasca de Ocampo, cost more and are often negotiated as a round trip with wait time included
- Tips
- Use sitio (stand-based) taxis rather than flagging down random cars, especially outside Pachuca, Agree on the fare before getting in for any trip outside a town's immediate center, since most taxis in the Pueblos Magicos do not run meters, Hotel front desks in Huasca de Ocampo, Real del Monte, and Tula de Allende can typically arrange a trusted driver for a half-day or full-day rate to nearby sites
Intercity travel
Getting between cities and regions.
Overview
First-class and second-class bus lines connect Pachuca's Central de Autobuses with Mexico City, the Pueblos Magicos, and the Valle del Mezquital towns; the Mexico-Pachuca toll highway (Arco Norte and connecting autopistas) is the fastest route in and out of the state, while a rental car remains the most efficient way to combine several of Hidalgo's spread-out attractions in one trip.
Operators
- Name
- ADO
- Area
- Mexico City (Terminal Norte) to Pachuca, and connections onward toward Huejutla and the Huasteca region
- Website
- https://www.ado.com.mx
- Name
- Ovnibus
- Area
- Pachuca to Tula de Allende, Tulancingo, and other Hidalgo destinations
- Website
- https://www.ovnibus.com
- Name
- ATSA (Autotransportes Servicios Ejecutivos)
- Area
- Pachuca to Real del Monte, Huasca de Ocampo, and other Comarca Minera towns
- Website
- https://atsahidalgo.com.mx
- Name
- Autobuses Volcanes / Flecha Roja
- Area
- Pachuca to Ixmiquilpan, the Valle del Mezquital, and connections toward Zimapan and Queretaro
- Website
- https://www.autobusesvolcanes.com
Key Routes
- Route
- Mexico City (Terminal Norte) to Pachuca
- Duration
- About 1.5-2 hours depending on traffic, via the Mexico-Pachuca highway
- Cost
- MXN 180-280 (about USD 11-17)
- Route
- Pachuca to Real del Monte
- Duration
- About 25-40 minutes by car; local combis run more slowly with stops
- Cost
- MXN 20-40 (about USD 1-2) by combi
- Route
- Pachuca to Huasca de Ocampo
- Duration
- About 35-45 minutes by car or direct bus
- Cost
- MXN 40-70 (about USD 2-4)
- Route
- Pachuca to Tula de Allende
- Duration
- About 1-1.5 hours by car; roughly 1.5 hours by Ovnibus bus, running hourly
- Cost
- MXN 90-150 (about USD 5-9)
- Route
- Pachuca to Ixmiquilpan
- Duration
- About 1-1.5 hours by car or bus
- Cost
- MXN 100-160 (about USD 6-9)
- Route
- Pachuca to Huejutla de Reyes
- Duration
- About 3 hours by car via Highway 105
- Cost
- MXN 250-350 (about USD 15-21)
Tips
- Buy first-class bus tickets at Pachuca's Central de Autobuses or online through the operator's website, especially for weekend departures to and from Mexico City
- For Grutas de Tolantongo, connect through Ixmiquilpan; there is no direct bus from Pachuca, and the full public-transport journey can take 4-4.5 hours versus about 2.5 hours by car
- Second-class combis and colectivos fill gaps between the first-class routes, especially for shorter hops like Pachuca to Real del Monte or Actopan to Ixmiquilpan
- The Arco Norte toll road bypasses central Mexico City for travelers driving from AIFA or western/southern Mexico directly into Hidalgo, avoiding city traffic entirely
Transportation details
Full breakdown of how to get around.
Hidalgo is a landlocked central Mexican state bordering the State of Mexico, Queretaro, San Luis Potosi, Veracruz, Puebla, and Tlaxcala, and it has no commercial airport of its own. Almost every visitor arrives via Mexico City, either flying into Mexico City International Airport (MEX) and driving roughly 1.5-2 hours north to Pachuca de Soto, the state capital, or flying into the newer Felipe Angeles International Airport (AIFA) in Zumpango, State of Mexico, which sits noticeably closer to southern Hidalgo. From Pachuca, first-class and second-class bus lines and a well-developed highway network reach the state's Pueblos Magicos - Huasca de Ocampo, Real del Monte, Tula de Allende, and Molango - along with the Grutas de Tolantongo hot springs and the Valle del Mezquital towns around Ixmiquilpan. Because Hidalgo's attractions fan out from Pachuca in several directions rather than along a single corridor, a rental car offers the most efficient way to see more than one or two destinations on a single trip; bus and combi service exists between every major town but adds substantial time, especially to Tolantongo and Huejutla.
Airports
Mexico City International Airport (Aeropuerto Internacional Benito Juarez)
Felipe Angeles International Airport (AIFA)
Useful apps
Download before you arrive.
Transport tips
Travel smarter, not harder.
Hidalgo has no commercial airport of its own as of 2026; fly into Mexico City International Airport (MEX) or Felipe Angeles International Airport (AIFA) in Zumpango, State of Mexico, then continue overland to Pachuca
AIFA sits closer to southern Hidalgo than MEX does, roughly 45 minutes to an hour by car to Pachuca, and is worth checking for domestic and a growing number of international routes before defaulting to MEX
Pachuca's Central de Autobuses (also called CIT Pachuca), on Boulevard Javier Rojo Gomez across from the Central de Abasto, is the hub for onward travel to Real del Monte, Huasca de Ocampo, Tula de Allende, Ixmiquilpan, and Huejutla
A rental car is the best way to combine multiple Pueblos Magicos in one trip, since Hidalgo's attractions are spread across several directions from Pachuca and cross-connections between towns by bus are limited
Grutas de Tolantongo has no direct bus from Pachuca; the practical public-transport route goes Pachuca to Ixmiquilpan, then a combi or shared van on to Cardonal/Tolantongo, adding significant time versus driving
Carry pesos outside Pachuca's center and the larger Pueblos Magicos, since card acceptance thins out quickly in smaller towns and at rural balnearios
Toll (cuota) highways such as the Arco Norte and the Mexico-Pachuca and Pachuca-Tulancingo autopistas are faster and generally preferable to older free (libre) roads for both time and road-condition reasons