Laberinto Ajusco
Camino Viejo Al Maninal No. 13, Carr. Picacho-Ajusco Km 15, Ampliacion San Miguel Ajusco, Tlalpan, 14710 Ciudad de México, CDMX
5512747511
A fantastical British-style labyrinth has become a popular destination for the residents of Mexico City and its tourists in the past couple of decades. Built by historian Ignacio Figueroa in 1999 it was designed to resemble the original, and bigger labyrinth, from the Castle of Hever in England, where Anne Boleyn resided. This peculiar landmark sought to bring a little piece of the English countryside found in storybooks and children’s tales to Mexico, bewildering visitors who normally see these kinds of landmarks in series or movies set within the royal world of the British monarchy. The Laberinto Ajusco is located at the foothills of the Ajusco, a mountain range that’s located on the southern outer edges of the metropolis; public transportation can be tricky to use at this relatively far destination, but a trip by car or Uber should make it that more manageable. The exact location is Kilometer 14.5 from the Picacho-Ajusco highway.
The size is smaller than the one in Anne Boleyn’s former residence but the design is exactly the same, it takes you some 20 minutes to traverse the whole maze, but it’s recommended you take your sweet time and enjoy this beautiful walk between the tall hedges as if you’re in a scene from Alice in Wonderland, or The Shining, if a creepy setting is more to your liking, it all depends on your personal tastes. The maze is open every day from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and the cost is $100 pesos to enter but can increase if you also wish to enter the lovely country house designed in the Tudor style that’s accessible with a prior reservation. There are also rooms for rent and a camping ground, as well as barbecue pits for a fun family outing, the whole complex has been designed and promoted as a place to enjoy nature; future plans include romantic dinners decorated with rose petals and other types of romantic services.
In the meantime, it’s completely acceptable to bring your own food and wine and have a special picnic in the green areas surrounding the main landmark, while if for some reason you forget to bring your own food and are feeling hungry on the spot, the kitchen of this fancy Tudor home will sell you quesadillas, because even though you may feel like you’re in an English storybook, you’re still in Mexico after all!
