Grutas Xoxafi, Cave system in Santiago de Anaya, Mexico
The Xoxafi cave system extends 105 meters below ground, featuring multiple chambers with mineral formations and natural rock patterns spanning several hundred meters.
The cave formation dates back millions of years through geological processes of water erosion, creating an intricate network of underground passages and chambers.
Local Otomi people named the cave Xoxafi, meaning 'lightning which struck' in their Ñañú language, connecting it to regional folklore about its creation.
Visitors can choose between three different tour options: Basic Tunnel for beginners, Extreme Tunnel with zip lines, and Adventure Tunnel with rappelling sections.
The cave contains five species of fruit bats and features specialized chambers including the Room of Triumph, Hallways of the Organs, and Leopard's Skin section.
Location: Hidalgo
Location: Santiago de Anaya
Elevation above the sea: 2,229 m
GPS coordinates: 20.38832,-99.02761
Latest update: March 5, 2025 14:26
Hidalgo state sits northeast of Mexico City, connecting volcanic landscapes with more than two thousand years of human settlement. The region extends from high-altitude pine forests to semi-arid canyons, with geological processes having created basalt columns, cave systems with thermal springs, and marble formations. Colonial monasteries from the 16th century stand alongside mining towns that emerged during the Spanish era, while the archaeological site of Tula served as the capital of the Toltec civilization that preceded the Aztec empire. Visitors can walk among the hexagonal basalt columns at Prismas Basálticos, bathe in the warm pools of Grutas de Tolantongo, or view the stone warrior statues at Atlantes de Tula. Mining towns such as Real del Monte preserve their narrow streets and historic mines, while the Aqueduct of Padre Tembleque, a 16th-century UNESCO World Heritage structure, carried water across distances through a series of tall arches. National parks like El Chico protect mountain forests, the Metztitlán Canyon Reserve hosts desert ecosystems, and Atezca Lake offers views of calm water surrounded by forested hills. The combination of natural variety and centuries of history makes Hidalgo a place where each visit reveals both geology and human adaptation to this demanding environment.
El Chico National Park
36.9 km
Salón de la Fama del Fútbol
42 km
San Nicolás Tolentino Temple and Ex-Monastery
16 km
Reserva de la Biósfera de la Barranca de Metztitlán
55.3 km
Church of San Miguel Arcángel
22.6 km
Los Reyes Magos monastery, Metztitlán
35.8 km
Grutas de Tolantongo
26.9 km
Templo y exconvento de San Agustín
39.1 km
Via Dorada
42 km
Tolantongo Canyon
29.6 km
La Maestranza
41.6 km
Templo y exconvento de San Francisco
35.7 km
Metztitlan Canyon
38.2 km
Centro Interactivo Mundo Futbol
42 km
Santuario del Señor de Mapethé
32.7 km
La Comunidad Building, Metztitlan
35.8 km
Centro Cultural El Ferrocarril
42.1 km
Museo de miniaturas
41.7 km
Museo de Mineralogía de la UAEH
42.1 km
San Antonio mine
35.7 km
Biblioteca Central del Estado de Hidalgo Ricardo Garibay
42.1 km
La Tercena Building, Metztitlan
36 km
Futbol Interactive Center
42 km
San Bartolomé Parish
16 km
San Miguel Arcangel Parish
16 km
Santiago Apóstol Parish
16 km
Parroquia de San Nicolas Tolentino
23.1 km
Ex convento de Actopan
16 kmReviews
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