Tepoztlán has been inhabited for over 2,000 years. Founded by the Tlahuica people — a Nahuatl branch of the Aztec civilization — the village was first an important religious center dedicated to Tepoztecatl, the god of pulque and fertility. The El Tepozteco pyramid, perched 400m above town, was built around 1200 AD and remains one of the best-preserved archaeological sites in Morelos.
After the Spanish conquest, Dominican friars established the Convent of the Nativity in the 16th century, whose ruins still grace the town center today. Tepoztlán fiercely resisted the conquest, preserving its Nahuatl language and cultural traditions far longer than most Mexican towns.
In the early 20th century, Tepoztlán attracted anthropologists including Robert Redfield and Oscar Lewis who studied it extensively. In the 1990s, the town became a symbol of community resistance when residents united to block a golf course and hotel development that would have destroyed communal and archaeological lands.
Today, Tepoztlán holds its Pueblo Mágico designation since 2002 and is recognized as Mexico's wellness, yoga retreat, and spirituality capital. Its cobblestone streets, vibrant market, and majestic pyramid make it one of the most sought-after weekend escapes from Mexico City.