Ciudad López Mateos: Atizapán's Center on the Reservoir
Travel guide · editorialCiudad López Mateos is the main town of the municipality of Atizapán de Zaragoza in the northwest of Greater Mexico City. If you want to combine a trip to the capital with nature and quieter neighborhoods, you'll find reservoirs, forests, and the everyday life of an established suburb here.
From Villages to Metropolis
Until the mid-20th century, the area consisted of haciendas and villages such as San Lucas Tepetlacalco and San Mateo Tecoloapan, whose churches still stand today. As the capital grew, new settlements sprang up starting in the 1960s, and in 1970 the main town was named in honor of former president Adolfo López Mateos. The municipality is known for bringing together residential areas for very different social classes: from modest colonias on the hillsides to golf club communities such as Club de Golf Chiluca and Bellavista.
Sights in Ciudad López Mateos
The historic center of Atizapán has a village feel: The Church of San Francisco de Asís and the main plaza are surrounded by small shops, and on Sundays families come to the market. A place with history is the tomb of Adolfo López Mateos, whose memorial is located in the city. The biggest attraction is the Presa Madín, a reservoir where you can go boating, fish, and eat on the shore; bike paths lead through the wooded hills. Parque Los Ciervos offers green spaces, deer in an enclosure, and trails for joggers. If you want more big-city action, you can reach Satélite with its famous Torres de Satélite or the historic center of Mexico City in 30 to 60 minutes, depending on traffic.
Food and Nightlife
The restaurants in Ciudad López Mateos reflect the diversity of the municipality: At the reservoir, simple eateries serve fried trout and quesadillas, while the center has taquerías, pozolerías, and fondas with daily set menus. Steakhouses, cafés, and international chains have settled in the shopping centers along Boulevard Adolfo López Mateos. On weekends, barbacoa with consomé is the classic breakfast. Nightlife is concentrated in bars in shopping centers and small local spots; most residents head to the capital for a night out.
Festivals and Daily Life
The rhythm of the city follows the calendar of the old villages. During patron saint festivals, dancers, brass bands, and fireworks makers parade through the streets, and fairs with food stalls and rides spring up around the churches for a few days. In November, families decorate their homes and the cemetery with ofrendas made of cempasúchil flowers. During the week, commuting dominates: In the morning, buses and cars stream toward the capital, and in the evening life returns to the plazas and the tianguis, the street markets. For visitors, it's precisely this everyday life that makes Ciudad López Mateos interesting.
Getting Around and Best Time to Visit
Mexico City International Airport is about 19 miles (30 km) away, and the trip can take considerably longer during rush hour. There is no metro, so buses, ride-hailing services, and rental cars are the usual means of transportation; the Tren Suburbano can be reached from Tlalnepantla. As in the entire metropolitan area, you should keep an eye on your valuables and use app-based taxis at night. The best time to visit is during the dry season from October to May. In summer, heavy rain showers usually fall in the afternoon, but thanks to the altitude, it stays pleasantly mild.