Mexico is one of the world's richest countries in terms of cultural, historic and tourist values. People refer to it as a travel paradise on the whole, cradle of extraordinary indigenous civilizations such as the Mayans, whose surprising wisdom was rendered in countless monuments, archeological sites and discoveries of undeniable scientific importance. The Mayans provided loopholes to some of the most puzzling riddles of modern science. But perhaps the charm of a more traditional and cultural Mexico lies in the so-called magic villages of the hinterlands, places that are as luring as the big city, even though travelers had made light of them up to now. It's time to make them surface. Aware of this reality, Mexico's Tourism Department set going a promotional program in 2003 to give the magic villages a new lease on life. These are little more than a dozen (fifteen in all) communities with many appeals of their own. Mexican tourism authorities insist travelers ought to know what these inland town have to offer and urge trekkers to visit the magic villages to learn about their history, arts, environment and cuisine.

Fifteen Magic Villages in Mexico Colama, located in the state of Colima, is better known as the White Town of the Americas due to its typical and picture-perfect white houses of red roof tiles that jut above groves of lavish vegetation. Some must-sees are the San Miguel Archangel Parish, the Main Plaza or Arms Square, the Pueblo Blanco Cooperative (teeming with workshops, warehouses and exhibition halls), the former Noriega Estate that now houses the Center of Western Anthropological Studies and the Center of Design, Architectural and Esthetic Research at the Colima University, and the town of Suchitlan, an enclave known for its folklore and handicraft at a 15-minute drive from Coloma.

Cuetzalan is one of the major travel destinations in the state of Puebla. It features peerless natural attractions such as caves, waterfalls and a wide assortment of plants and wildlife. Perched on the higher grounds of the Sierra Norte, Cuetzalan is every now and then blessed with heavy clouds of fog that make it twice as much magical. In addition, the town cherishes different architectural styles handed down by the many civilizations that took turns in dominating the region: Totonacs, Toltecs, Chichimecs, Aztecs, Spaniards and half breeds.

Dolores Hidalgo is a town in the state of Guanajato boasting gorgeous colonial buildings –the local parish and the city hall are two cases in point- bricked together with stones from the nearby quarries that flourished in the 18th century. The importance of the parish is owed to priest Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, whose speech delivered from the church culprit on September 16, 1810, unleashed the country's struggle for its independence. On that same day, the church bells tolled as Padre Hidalgo harangued his followers to break free from the Spanish colonial rule. Huasca de Ocampo in the state of Hidalgo, is a mining town touched by a breathtaking urban layout in which cobblestone streets and pastel-painted houses of reddish roof tiled gables really meet the eye. Santa Maria Regla, San Antonio Regla and San Miguel Regla estates, now turned into lodging facilities. Down in Huasca, visitors can buy beautiful earthenware pots and tuck in the tastiest local food: barbacoa, chinicuiles, escamoles, maguey chichas, panza mole, huitlacoche quesadilla or pumpkin flower, pastes, tlacoyos and sopes, pulque bread rolls, as well as milk and pumpkin pastries, all that washed down by sips of pulque, the local beverage of choice.

Izamal, in Yucatan, is also known as the City of Three Cultures. This used to be a huge ritual site during the Mayan civilization. The Kinich Kakmo Pyramid sports a four-block base as a token of its magnificent sizes and grandeur. Using the rocks of these edifices, Spanish conquistadors built an enormous Franciscan temple. Nowadays, Izamal is a quiet town. Most buildings, including houses, stores and monasteries, are painted in yellow.

The island of Mexcaltitan, in the state of Nayarit, is known as the Cradle of Mexican Identity because, as the legend has it, it once harbored the hamlet of Aztlan, the place where Incas departed to found the city of Tenochtitlan (Mexico City). Its church (Lord of Ascension) was built in the 19th century in tribute to San Pedro and San Pablo, the village's patron saints. Mexcaltitan features such allures as the Huichol Center that sells great handicrafts, the House of Culture or the mural on 20 de November Street.

One of the most spectacular places in the state of Michoacan is the town of Patzcuaro, named after the nearby lake and declared Heritage of Mankind by UNESCO. Patzcuaro played a major role during the colonial rule. There's a few places around town where visitors may spend some time of relaxation and feast eyes on the local craftsmanship. The first of the those spots is the Vasco de Quiroga Plaza. The second is the Museum of Handicrafts with its arrays of local works and pieces, some of them harking back from the dawn of the local civilizations. Not far from there, in the lowlands that stretch out all the way to the cove, the Patzcuaro Lake is one of the most stunning ponds in the entire region.

Real de Catorce belongs to the state of San Luis Potosi. The words that cross anybody's mind when it comes to defining this town are splendor and decadence. The location bloomed thanks to a frenzied mining activity only to went to seed during the Revolution. Reminiscences of its glory days are still standing as you steal a glimpse at the rundown houses and the abandoned mines. The Parish of the Immaculate Conception, the House of Currency, the Municipal Palace and the Centennial Square are some of its top must-sees. The Dolores and Padre Flores mines are also in the vicinity. Next to the city of Guanajato, the small town of San Miguel de Allende flashes a historic core that stands for one solid National Monument. The calmness of the place, its astounding surroundings and its history have made the location the perfect getaway for a considerable number of artists. No wonder the cultural values that this particular city has to offer could make other villages turn green with envy: expositions, concerts, performing arts, traditional parties and music on the streets.

Tapalpa, in the state of Jalisco, is a lovely urban settlement perched on the east mountainside of the Tapalpa Sierra. Some of its main attractions are the Water House (built by the Franciscans), the Parish of San Antonio de Tapalpa, the temples of Juanacatlan and Our Lady of Mercy, La Conquista paper factory, and an assortment of natural places such as Cascada del Molino, Salto del Nogal, Sierra de Tapalpa and Peña Rajada. The Purisima and Soledal chapels are two places also worth taking a peek at. Tepozotlan, in the state of Mexico, is a typical colonial town. Its riches spread all across the municipality: the garden, the groves and the mills of the former Jesuit college built in 1740, now housing the National Museum of the Viceroy's Domain and treasuring a magnificent collection of pictorial and sculptural art encompassing three centuries of the Spanish colonial rule. Next to the college, the baroque-style Chapel of San Jose's Relic, featuring a wooden altarpiece, a tall nave and walls plastered with gilt moulds, the Temple of San Mateo of Xoloc and the Xalpa Aqueduct, are three standouts.

The city of Taxco, in the state of Guerrero, is by far one of the most picturesque locations of colonial Mexico, declared National Historic Monument a few years ago. The town, perched on the hillside of the Atachi Mount and run through by reeds and hedging mountains, simply packs a wallop among visitors. The beauty of the Church of Santa Prisca dwarfs the humble houses of white walls and red roof tiles. The village has preserved its colonial ambience marked by old-timed buildings and a unique urban layout of zigzagging cobblestone streets stripped of any sidewalks.

The history of Tepoztlan, on the north side of the state of Morelos, dates back to the 16th century when Fray Domingo de la Anunciacion settled down on the premises to preach the gospel doctrine among the local dwellers. Its top sightseeing spots are the El Tepozteco National Park, the archeological site, the former Convent of the Nativity, the city's Museum and Center of Historic Documentation, the Carlos Pellicer Archeological Museum and the Museum of Amatlan de Quetzalcoatl.

The history of the town of Tequila, in the state of Jalisco, is closely linked to the beverage that bears the same name and that has become a landmark of Mexico's national identity all around the planet. Its beaches are famous, too: El Paraiso Escondido, La Fundicion, Los Azullitos or La Toma form quite a five-pack. The Calvario and Santa Cruz de los Espinos chapels are places to visit, as well as the Miguel Hernandez's House where the first tequila distillery set up shop. The House of Culture, the colonial-style House of Divine Shelter, the Municipal Presidency, the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the Church of the Immaculate Conception of Maria, the El Indio Ranch (an experimental farming ground where peasants explain to tourists how they grow century plants), the Cerro de Tequila (a watchtower overlooking the crags over the Santiago River and the Sierra del Salvador) are all interesting spots you can't pass up. And don't forget to swing by the Cuervo, La Perseverancia Sauza and Villa Sauza tequila factories.

San Cristobal de las Casas, is the state of Chiapas, is one of the most fine-looking locations in Mexico. This colonial city cherishes an interesting blend of architectural styles from the 16th and 18th centuries, especially in churches, squares, cobblestone streets, red tiled roofs, houses outfitted with gorgeous patios and other amazing edifices built between the 16th and 19th centuries. Some must-see places are the San Nicolas Church, the Cathedral, the House of the Mermaid, the Municipal Palace, the Diego Mazariegos House, the temple and former monastery of Santo Domingo de Guzman, the Na-Bolom Museum and the Church of Mercy. In the same breath, the city offers visitors a one-and-only colonial marketplace selling a variety of natural and handmade items.

Last but not Least Coast to coast from the Pacific to the Caribbean, from the desert to the tropical jungle, from the lowlands to the snow-capped volcanoes, the Aztec nation proffers an incredible variety of hues, shades and landscapes, let alone a high level of national unity that renders in progress and pride for the cultural roots of yesteryear. No other country in the New World has so many riches to offer: superb cuisine, lovely beaches, archeological sites, history, folklore and colonial art.