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Gribblenación México; Paseo del Cerrito in Zacoalco de Torres, Jalisco

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Paseo del Cerrito is an approximately 1.5-kilometer cobblestone paved switchback road located in Zacoalco de Torres.  The corridor begins at Jalisco State Highway 401 and ascends rapidly westward through four switchbacks to Santuario de la Virgen de Guadalupe.  The roadway while open to automotive traffic is more popular as a foot trail and appears on numerous hiking pages. 




A drive on Paseo del Cerrito

Paseo del Cerrito (Hill Walk) is located in the town of Zacoalco de Torres.  The corridor climbs west from Jalisco State Highway 401 via four cobblestone paved switchbacks to Santuario de la Virgen de Guadalupe (Chapel of our lady Guadalupe).  The chapel is named after the Virgin of Guadalupe which was said to have appeared to Juan Diego on Tepeyac Hill in 1531 at what is now Mexico City.  The chapel overlooks Zacoalco de Torres and is one of numerous like-named structures which can be found in Mexico.  

The entomology of "Zacoalco" comes from the word "Tzacoalco" which is thought to have meant "place of confinement," "in the pyramind," or "place where eagles perch."  The area that is now Zacoalco de Torres was settled by the Aztecs in 1264.  The Aztecs settled upon Chiquihuitillo Hill which rests between Laguna de Zacoalco and Laguna de San Marcos.  In 1524 the Spanish arrived in the Aztec lands surrounding Laguna de Zacoalco.  Most Aztecs fled to the south towards Laguna de Sayula in response to Spanish Conquistador Francisco Cortes de San Buenaventura attempting to subdue them by force.  The Spanish invasion prompted the commissioning of the Town of Zacoalco.

In 1810 during the Mexican War of Independence the Town of Zacoalco was taken by revolutionary Jose Antonio Torres during the Battle of Zacoalco.  The Town of Zacoalco was renamed to Zacoalco de Torres in 1829 in memory of Jose Antonio Torres and the battle which took place there.  During Mexican rule Zacoalco de Torres mostly came to be known for the numerous homemade wood furniture (equipales) stores which are located in the town. 

Santuario de la Virgen de Guadalupe is obvious from most high vantage points in Zacoalco de Torres westward.  


Paseo del Cerrito begins at Jalisco State Highway 401 at the western outskirts of the Zacoalco de Torres town site.  Traffic is greeted by a sign saying "Bienvenidas Pueblo Guadalupe."



Paseo del Cerrito winds through four switchbacks and terminates at Santuario de la Virgen de Guadalupe.  There are numerous shortcuts which hikers use to bypass the switchbacks. 





















The view facing east from Santuario de la Virgen de Guadalupe overlooking Zacoalco de Torres.


The descent on Paseo del Cerrito back to Jalisco State Highway 401.  





















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