Hidden Gems of Mexico City: Exploration Game and Tour
Step into the shoes of a legendary landscape artist and uncover the colonial secrets of Chimalistac at your own pace.
This Mexico City hidden gems exploration game takes you away from the crowded tourist circuits and into the quiet colonial streets of Chimalistac, one of the capital's most atmospheric and lesser-known suburbs. Armed with only your phone, you follow an original narrative inspired by the celebrated landscape painter Jose Maria Velasco as he searches for the perfect composition for his next masterpiece.
The experience unfolds through a series of location-based challenges that reveal the layered history of Chimalistac, from 17th-century Carmelite hermitages to historic fountains and park monuments that most visitors to Mexico City never see. Each stop rewards curiosity with carefully researched stories written by professional storytellers.
Because the game runs entirely on your phone and requires no guide or fixed schedule, you move through the neighborhood at whatever rhythm suits you. It is equally well suited to solo travelers, couples, and small groups who want a more personal and reflective way to experience the city.
After completing your booking, you will receive an email with instructions for downloading and launching the game. A single phone can be shared among a group, though purchasing individual tickets provides the most complete experience for each participant.
Tour Highlights
A phone-based narrative game built around the real life of painter Jose Maria Velasco, blending storytelling with exploration.
Access to colonial-era landmarks rarely visited by tourists, including a 17th-century Carmelite hermitage and a historic chapel.
Discover little-known spots that make for compelling photographs, away from the typical crowded backdrops of the city center.
Walk through tranquil parks and tree-lined streets in one of Mexico City's most peaceful and charming districts.
Engage with original written content crafted by skilled writers who bring the history of Chimalistac to life through immersive storytelling.
Solve location-specific challenges that guide you from one landmark to the next, making the walk both interactive and educational.
Itinerary
Your adventure begins in this public park in San Angel, which memorializes revolutionary general and former president Alvaro Obregon, assassinated in 1928 at the restaurant that once stood on this site. The monument complex opened on July 17, 1935, the seventh anniversary of the assassination. Here you solve your first challenge and unlock the next chapter of the story.
Known locally as the Chamber or Hermitage of the Secret, this small construction on Del Secreto street was built in 1626 under the direction of Carmelite friar Andres de San Miguel and is dedicated to the Virgen de los Dolores. Its walls display paintings including The Sermon on the Mount, and inside stands a stone cross that reaches the ceiling. This is one of the most evocative and least-visited colonial structures in the entire city.
This ornate fountain dates to 1896 and was constructed to mark the 400th anniversary of the arrival of the Carmelite religious order to the Chimalistac neighborhood. It remains a charming and photogenic landmark that anchors the character of the district. Your challenge here connects its history to the broader story of Jose Maria Velasco's search.
Named in honor of Protasio Tagle, a military figure who served as Governing Secretary of the Federal District and Secretary of Justice and Public Instruction, this park sits beside the Chapel of San Sebastian Martir. Built at the end of the 16th century and declared a historical monument in 1932, the chapel is the oldest construction in Chimalistac and celebrates its patronal feast on January 30. This final stop brings the narrative and your exploration to a satisfying close.
What Is Included
Included
- Mobile game access with full narrative content
- Location-based challenges and story unlocks
- Self-guided tour route through Chimalistac
- Post-booking email with download instructions
Not Included
- Transportation to the starting point
- Food and beverages
- Personal mobile data or Wi-Fi connection
- Entry fees to any enclosed monuments
Important Information
Ready to Explore Chimalistac?
Unlock a side of Mexico City that most visitors never find. Begin your self-guided game tour through the colonial streets of Chimalistac and follow in the footsteps of one of Mexico's great painters.
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