Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
Puglia Italy - Matera
Italy • 8 days, 7 nights
Southern Italy: Castles, Caves & Coastal Treasures in Puglia
from
Turkmenistan Gates of Hell Darvaza crater
Turkmenistan • 10 days, 9 nights
Turkmenistan & the Gates of Hell
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
Pinal Airpark
Note the chrysanthemum crests.
Hachiman Bridge
Clarendon War Memorial.
Clarendon War Memorial
This fried chicken is one of Bangkok’s most famous.
Gai Tord Jae Kee
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
This fried chicken is one of Bangkok’s most famous.
Gai Tord Jae Kee
Chefs Aruss Lerlerstkull and Atcharaporn Kiatthanawat lean into regional traditions.
Charmgang
The khao soi at Gedhawa comes with a rich, coconutty broth.
Gedhawa
At Nai Mong Hoi Thod, the oyster omelet is worth waiting for.
Nai Mong Hoi Thod
In this deceptively simple dish, top-quality ingredients are paramount.
Kor Panich
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
Haleakalā National Park’s summit region, shrouded in the pre-dawn fog.
Beware the Legends Behind These National Park Souvenirs
5 days ago
For Aguilar-Carrasco, nature is a powerful reminder of the interconnectedness of all life.
How Can National Parks Be Made Accessible to All? AO Wants to Know.
6 days ago
Podcast: Finding ‘The Great Gatsby’ in Louisville
6 days ago
Here’s which treats you can safely lug home without risking a fine.
Dear Atlas: What International Food Can I Legally Bring Into the U.S.?
8 days ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All Mexico San Rafael Nahualac Pond

Nahualac Pond

A shrine in the middle of this pond represents a Mesoamerican creation myth.

San Rafael, Mexico

Added By
Patricio Orden
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
View of the pond and the volcano   Porden / Atlas Obscura User
View of the pond and the volcano   Porden / Atlas Obscura User
  Porden / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

This Place Is a Stub

Help improve this place with additional information or photos.

Make an Edit

About

This shrine was built during prehispanic times as a way to honor the Mesoamerican creation myth, where Cipactli (a crocodile that represents the earth) was floating on water. From his body, all the land and sky were created.

A tetzacualco (shrine) sits at the middle of Nahualac Pond. Archaeologists believe that the place may be a miniature model of the universe, built to represent Cipactli and his role in primordial time and space. The pond and shrine are located at the foothills of the Iztaccihuatl Volcano, at 3,870 meters above sea level. 

Related Tags

Archaeology Shrines Folklore Mythology Pond Volcanoes

Know Before You Go

It is an 8 hour hike from the nearest parking spot. I recommend going from Amecameca rather than from San Rafael town, as it it known to be a bit unsafe for hiking

Atlas Obscura Adventures

Yucatan Family Adventure: Meteors, Pyramids & Maya Legends

Explore Maya temples and learn about the asteroid that wiped out the dinosaurs.

Book Now

Community Contributors

Added By

Porden

Published

October 17, 2023

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • https://www.sciencealert.com/archaeologists-uncover-ancient-mexican-universe-model
  • https://arqueologiamexicana.mx/mexico-antiguo/nahualac-sitio-en-las-faldas-del-iztaccihuatl-podria-representar-un-microcosmos
  • https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.ngenespanol.com/el-mundo/el-estanque-de-nahualac-pudo-representar-la-creacion-del-mundo/amp/
Nahualac Pond
San Rafael
Mexico
19.181644, -98.679511
Visit Website

Nearby Places

Casino Cosmopolita

San Rafael, Mexico

miles away

Ex-Hacienda de Chautla

San Lucas el Grande, Mexico

miles away

Murals of Cacaxtla

Nativitas, Mexico

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of San Rafael

San Rafael

Mexico

Places 2

Nearby Places

Casino Cosmopolita

San Rafael, Mexico

miles away

Ex-Hacienda de Chautla

San Lucas el Grande, Mexico

miles away

Murals of Cacaxtla

Nativitas, Mexico

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of San Rafael

San Rafael

Mexico

Places 2

Related Places

  • Pray here for the rain…or pubes, if you like.

    Tokyo, Japan

    Kenashi Pond

    Haunted by a giant white snake, this pond is said to bring the rain and pubic hair.

  • The site of the mythological Sanada no Osada.

    Kirishima, Japan

    Sanada no Osada

    According to Japanese mythology, the first rice paddy in history was created here many aeons ago.

  • A unique place of worship in Umeda, Osaka.

    Osaka, Japan

    Umeda Kitamuki Jizo

    A rare north-facing Ksitigarbha statue enshrined in a passageway off Osaka’s busiest area.

  • A petroglyph of a sea turtle.

    Kalapana, Hawaii

    Puʻuloa Petroglyphs

    Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park is home to one of Polynesia’s largest petroglyph fields.

  • The Demon Oak Tree.

    Hirosaki, Japan

    Demon Oak Tree of Onizawa

    A mountain demon once helped a local villager construct a canal, after which he sat on this oak tree to rest.

  • The Tomb of the Nue at night.

    Osaka, Japan

    Tomb of the Nue

    The tomb of an infamous chimeric monster whose corpse once washed ashore in Osaka.

  • Sansuna’s Rock.

    Xagħra, Malta

    Sansuna’s Rock

    Local legend associates this large limestone chunk with a giantess, but archeologists say it may be the remains of a neolithic burial chamber.

  • The city pillar

    Vientiane, Laos

    Hor Lak Muang

    The site of an ancient city pillar that was lost and rediscovered.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.