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Tlaltizapán, known more formally as Tlaltizapán de Zapata, is a remarkable spring-fed town in the southeast of Morelos. It's so surrounded by aquatic parks and balnearios that some huge number of visitors will only arrive here after a trip to the water slides or the nearby spa. In fact the original town, going way back, was settled by Xochimilca people. This was likely in the decades before they founded, in 1156, the town that still bears their name, Xochimilco, in today's Mexico City.  

Tlaltizapán is surrounded by mountains and rivers. The Nahuatl name could be translated loosely to place of soaked earth. The Las Estacas Nature Park, Las Tasas and a few other relatively posh swimming holes hug the Yautepec River on the town's east side. There are others too. 

The town was an important part of the Zapatista movement during the Mexican Revolution. Some of the town center is still intact, but the local headquarters of the Zapatista fighting forces are preserved in Museum of the Revolution in the South: The Barracks Museum. It's a small museum, but one that's guarding a collection of artifacts and important objects from that time, now more than a hundred years ago. Their leader, and still a national hero, Emiliano Zapata had a mausoleum built within the San Miguel Arcángel church in the town center. It's still visited by people from all over the region, but most of them will know that Zapata's remains will be forever interred in Cuautla.  

Tlaltizapán people are likely most proud of a cochinita and red mole served over turkey. There's an evident basket and ceramic trade that meets here too. Both Carnival and the Zapata Vive Festival are celebrated every year.  The Zapata Vive Festival is usually the second week of August. 

• People get to Tlaltizapán often via Jojutla, which is the nearest stop on the Pullman de Morelos bus line. A taxi from there will take about half an hour. Buses from Cuernavaca run more regularly but will let you off in Xoxocotla. A taxi from there is a little quicker at about 20 minutes. 

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