Zoom in

Zoom in

Zoom in

Zoom in

Zoom in

THE MAGIC TOWNS PROGRAM TODAY ENGULFS 121 SMALL TOWNS OR CITIES THAT HAVE SPECIAL VALUES OF THEIR OWN. JUST BECAUSE THEY ARE SO IMPRESSIVE, THEY REEL IN A HIGH PERCENTAGE INCOMING TOURISTS

Just a few years ago, Mexico was viewed above all for its beaches and archaeological zones, two jaw-dropping gems for international tourism. However, Mexico had other choices as travel destinations as well: small colonial and historic towns or cities of breathtaking beauty which led to the implementation of the Magic Towns Program, which today embraces 121 small burgs that reel in a high percentage of incoming tourists.
 However, all that glitters is not gold and many of the appellations were doled out for political reasons rather than for their significant values as a whole. Either way, we invite you to dig out the great beauty of the Magical Towns.

 Let's start with the top six that already boast the condition of World Heritage sites:

1- San Miguel Allende, in the state of Guanajuato. It’s a city sought after by a large number of American retirees and pensioners, and considered by many publications as the best place to live in Mexico. Its Baroque and Gothic Cathedral is a must-see. It’s also an ideal destination for weddings. And if you eventually swing by here, don’t miss out on the enchiladas mineras.
 2- Guanajuato. An astonishing city full of alleys and tunnels, famous for its large number of museums. Visiting this city is like skimming through the pages of Mexico’s independence history.
 3- Campeche. It is located in the Gulf of Mexico. It’s a walled city because of the assaults of pirates that used to sail off its coast back in the 17th and 18th centuries, something that makes it so unique in the whole country. Don’t forget to take a closer look at such archeological sites as Calakmul and Edzna. Its cuisine is quite peculiar.
4-Oaxaca. A colonial city founded in the 16th century that features one of the most beautiful historical centers in all of Mexico. Ideal place to sip at a good cup of coffee, tuck in a good mole and walk through its streets as you picture its great history on your mind. It also offers the colorful archaeological site of Monte Alban.
 5-Puebla. Also known as the City of Angeles or the Angelopolis, Puebla was declared World Heritage site under the title "The Reliquary of the Americas” back in 1987. Just a one-hour drive from Mexico City, it is also world famous for its stuffed chilies dipped in walnut sauce.
 6-Zacatecas. Also called the birthplace of the Revolution. Just traipse down its cobblestoned streets and unravel its history on every corner; enjoy a good callejonada to the beat of tambora while drinking mescal. All those things will make you want to come back time and again.

As far as Mexico’s most beautiful and emblematic Magic Town are concerned, this is my personal top-10 list in terms of I propose a very particular top-10 list in terms of gastronomy, services, hospitality, history and personal treatment:

1-San Cristobal de las Casas. A city in the state of Chiapas which still keeps its indigenous flavor and whose fusion with Catholicism on the heels of the arrival of Spaniards has made it turn out to be an impressively beautiful travel destination.
 2-Huasca. Located in the state of Hidalgo, its Church of San Juan Bautista, dating back from the 16th century honors the town’s patron saint. The place is famous for its Basaltic Prisms, rock formation with waterfalls that pour down from the San Antonio Dam.
 3-Taxco. In the state of Guerrero, this city is famous for its silver jewelry and Spanish colonial architecture. It’s home to the iconic Church of Santa Prisca, built in the 18th century and painted in pink with an elaborate churrigueresque style.
 4-Palenque. It is located in the beautiful state of Chiapas and is one of the most important archaeological sites in the world, surrounded by beautiful landscapes in the jungle area.
 5-Tepoztlán. It’s known to be the birthplace of Quetzalcoatl, the Aztec god portrayed as a feathered snake. A trail reaches out to the Tepozteco Aztec pyramid, on top of a hill that overlooks this city in the state of Morelos. It proudly harbors the former Convent of Tepoztlan, a Dominican monastery harkening back to the 16th century.
 6-Bacalar. Boasting the unrivaled Laguna de los Siete Colores (Pond of the Seven Colors), the chance to enjoy its waters and beauty is an amazing gift of the nature in this magical place nestled in the state of Quintana Roo.
7-Parras de la Fuente. Located in the State of Coahuila, it’s home to great wines and the oldest winemaking in the Americas. The governor of Nueva Vizcaya, Diego Fernandez de Velasco, delivered the mercy authorized by King Felipe II on August 19, 1597, with the express purpose of planting vineyards to distill both wine and brandy, thus bringing the Hacienda de San Lorenzo –today called Casa Madero- to life.
8-Real de Catorce. This beautiful mining town in San Luis Potosí was of great importance during the colonial rule due to its silver mines. The villa can be accessed through the long Ogarrio tunnel, which passes through the surrounding peaks.
9-Tzintzuntzan. This city in the state of Michoacan was back in the day the most important town of the Purepecha Empire and later its capital, located next to Lake Patzcuaro.
10-Cholula. Also known as “the place of those who fled”, this city is located in Puebla. It boasts a significant prehistoric settlement and a large number of temples that were built during the Classic Period and that makes it a sacred place.