We recently took our very first trip to Puebla! Since we have never been to Puebla and wanted to explore the downtown area, we wanted to stay somewhere comfortable, in a walkable area of town, and close to the city center as well as explore one of the most unknown parts of the city!
WHERE TO STAY: PALACIO SAN LEONARDO
LOCATION- The location of Palacio San Leonardo is incredible. The hotel is situated about one block off the the main Zocalo in Puebla. This was really nice when we wanted to venture around town and needed a quick, refreshing break in our room-the hotel was always super close.
THE HOTEL ITSELF- The hotel is an old home and the owner of the home is actually still the owner of the hotel! The pictures simply do not do this place justice. From the moment we entered, we were greeted by two grand staircases and a beautiful chandelier overhead! We truly felt special in this gorgeous place. We also explored a few of the banquet rooms, in which a lot of the furniture, artwork, and decorations are all original from the home! It felt like we were wandering around a castle.
THE STAFF- From the moment we stepped out of the car and into the hotel, we were treated with such awesome service. I think this is one of the distinguishing factors of this place-everyone was so kind to us. The gentleman at the door, the ladies at the front desk, the room cleaners, and the waitstaff in the restaurant all went above and beyond to treat us so very nicely!
THE BREAKFAST- We opted for the buffet breakfast on our last morning in town. The cost was $195 pesos per person. This was one of the better breakfasts we have ever had! They had ham, sausage, sautéed veggies, fruit and yogurt, coffee, orange juice, and of course sweet bread all out and ready for us as we walked in. Once seated, they handed us a little menu with several breakfast options to order from. In my opinion, this was the best of both worlds for a buffet! Sometimes I get turned off from buffets because the food has been sitting out and can become a bit soggy. Not the case here! The main dishes are all made to order. Between the two of us, we had eggs in mole sauce which were incredible, by the way, chilaquiles with chicken, and French toast. (I know-we can eat a lot!) The food here was really top notch. We could immediately tell that the quality of the food was unlike anything we have ever been served at any hotel. We definitely think the breakfast buffet is totally worth every peso!
OVERALL EXPERIENCE- We would highly recommend staying at Palacio San Leonardo in downtown Puebla! From the beautiful hotel itself and the kind hospitality of the team throughout, to the very best location we could have asked for, we had an absolute great experience and are so happy we finally got to make the short trip south to Puebla!
Keep it Kinetic!
Hillary
Book HERE
Hotel website: https://www.hotelsanleonardo.com.mx
Hotel address: Av 2 Ote 211, Centro, 72000 Puebla, Puebla
Hotel reservations: 01 222 223 6600
Hotel contact: reservaciones@hotelsanleonardo.com.mx
WHAT TO DO: EXPLORE THE UNDERGROUND TUNNELS IN THE CITY
We recently explored the tunnels under the city of Puebla and it was a one of a kind experience like nothing else we have ever seen!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9vN43aeXixM&t=25s
DISCOVERY- These tunnels were considered an urban legend that was passed down by generations until 2015, when they were rediscovered during construction. The workers originally thought the tunnels were an intricate part of a sewer system until another discovery lead them to the tunnels themselves.
HISTORY- The tunnels were used some 500 years ago to connect the Loreto Fort to the city. The tunnels are 10 kilometers long but as of now, only around 2.5 kilometers are open to the public. Alongside archaeologists, the city is working to clear and restore more of the tunnels over time.
STRENGTH AND DURABILITY-The tunnels are made of a strong, cement-like composition which has allowed them to withstand the test of time. It is this strong material that has preserved the tunnels including traffic overhead as well as earthquakes.
THE TOUR-Today, the tunnels themselves are full of artifacts as well as the sounds and music of the battle of Cinco de Mayo. The tunnels are full of cool, humid air. The city has done a great job of preserving artifacts and creating a really neat environment for tourists and locals alike to explore these mysterious tunnels.
COST: $25 pesos per person
HOURS: Open through Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00AM to 4:00PM. Closed on Mondays.
LOCATION: 210 Calle 2 Norte, Puebla. Here is a street view of where the entrance is. It looks like a subway entrance on the right side of the street.
Until next time, Have Less. Do More. Be More.
