Tepeyac Hill, Sacred mountain in Gustavo A. Madero, Mexico

Tepeyac Hill is a volcanic hill in Gustavo A. Madero, northern Mexico City, part of the Sierra de Guadalupe range. At its foot stands the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, while the small Capilla del Cerrito sits on the summit. The hill's slopes are partly covered by an ecological park.

Before Spanish arrival in the 16th century, the hill served as a place of worship for the Aztec earth goddess Tonantzin Coatlaxopeuh. The Spanish colonization transformed the site into a Christian pilgrimage center that remains important today.

The Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe brings pilgrims year-round who walk or climb on their knees to honor their faith at this location. The hill serves as a gathering space where people come to pray, offer candles, and spend time in quiet reflection.

Access the hill through Avenida de los Insurgentes at its base, where walking paths lead upward through the grounds. The climb requires physical effort, especially in hot weather, so arriving early with plenty of water is practical for a comfortable visit.

In Nahuatl, Tepeyacac combines tepetl (mountain), yacatl (nose) and -c (at), which scholars read as 'a settlement on the ridge or brow of a hill'; yacatl, the nose going first, may refer to the hill being the first of a series of three. The chapel of El Cerrito stands on the summit, while the basilica lies at the foot.