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 The Pueblos Magicos (Magic Towns) program was initiated by the Mexican government to help preserve towns that embodied the best of Mexican culture, history and tradition. Launched in 2001, the program provides financial assistance to places that "reflect the beauty of traditional Mexican culture" according to Tourism Secretary Rodolfo Elizondo. The program has met with stunning success in terms of increasing tourism and bringing a much needed cash injection into these areas. Currently, there are 34 towns that are officially listed as Pueblos Magicos. If you want to experience Mexico's rich history and architectural past then these places are definitely worth visiting.
The idyllic town of Cosala lies on the Pacific coast of Mexico in the Sierra Madre Occidental - a sprawling 1,500-kilometer mountain range that extends from Arizona through to Guanajuato - in the State of Sinaloa. The town is famous for its surrounding lush, green vegetation which gave rise to its Pre-hispanic name Cozatl which means "the place of surrrounding beauty." Cosala is widely regarded as a romantic getaway due to its fairy-tale architecture and super relaxed atmosphere and it was declared a Pueblo Magico back in 2005.
Although Culiacan is the state capital of Sinaloa, Cosala has held a special place in the hearts of Mexican dignitaries throughout the years. Francisco Iriarte y Conde, who was the first governor of Sinaloa, declared Cosala the capital of the western state in 1826. He introduced printing in Sonora and Sinaloa and it was in Cosala that the first newspaper of Sinaloa, "The Impartial Spectator" was published.
Places to See
Walking along the streets of Cosala one marvels that much of the architecture that was built more than five hundred years ago remains in place with a lot of it having been restored since it acquired status as a Pueblo Magico. The town's principal church - La Capilla de Guadalupe - is one of the oldest in the region and dates between 1650-1700. It is also a great example of a building constructed out of adobe which was a popular material of the times because of its abundant availability (adobe is made out of sand, clay, and water) and resiliance to poor weather conditions - although it is highly susceptible to earthquakes.
With its pleasant tropical tempratures and aesthetic surroundings Cosala became a place where affluent Sinaloans would build their holiday homes and this can be seen today as the town boasts an impressive range of haciendas and elegant houses. Prime examples are the Quinta Minera - a luxurious mansion - the municipal palace, and the House of Don Francisco Iriarte y Conde who as mentioned previously was the first governor of Sinaloa and whose private residence sits alongside the municipal palace.
Adding to the quaintness of this place, horse-drawn carriages will take you around Cosala's best known attractions or alternatively you can simply walk through its tree-lined streets. In the past, Cosala's economy relied heavily on mining and the production of raw sugar cane. Reminents of these industries are on display at the local musuem - Museo de Mineria e Historia - where glass cabinets are full of old mining tools and historical maps.
Arts and Crafts
Cosala excels itself in equestrian products be they riding boots, whips, gloves or saddles. The high-quality leather and relatively cheap prices make this a mecca for tourists who are afficionados of horses. Another local product is ixtle which is a strong coarse fibre used to make handbags and hammocks and consequently make popular holiday presents.
What to Eat
Thanks to Cosala's long tradition of being a sugar-producing town there are countless sugar-related products on offer such as honey, piloncillo (a dark brown sugar with a high molasses content) and alfenique (a pastry of cooked sugar stretched into very thin layers and which is commonly-used to make edible skulls for the Day of the Dead celebrations). Apart from the wealth of confectionary, Cosala also offers some fantastic preserves including papaya and sweet milk. Other typical dishes are tamales - a steam-cooked corn dough (masa) with or without a filling and wrapped in a corn husk or plantain - sweet bread, machaca - dried, spiced meat (most commonly beef) that has been rehydrated and pounded to make it tender - and various cheeses.
Tourism Offices
Coordinacion General de Turismo del Estado de Sinaloa
Calle Carnaval y Mariano Escobedo 1317,
Centro,
Tel. (669) 981 8883 to 87 and 89
www.sinaloa-travel.com
Ayuntamiento de Cosala
Rosales y Gabriel Leyva s/n, Centro
Tel. (696) 965 0001
www.cosala.gob.mx
Where to Eat
El Rincon del Mineral
5 de Mayo 7, Centro
Tel. (696) 965 0280
Los Faroles
Tel. (696) 965 0350
El Pueblito
Rosales s/n, Centro
Tel. (696) 965 1039
La Finca
Av. 5 de Mayo, esq. Belisario
Dominguez s/n, Centro
Tel. (696) 965 0976
Places to Stay
Hotel Ray 4 Hermanos
Arteaga s/n, Centro
Tel. (696) 965 0303
Real del Conde
Rosales 6, Centro
Tel. (696) 965 0199
Motel Rizueño
Belisario Domiguez s/n
Centro
Tel. (696) 965 0190
La Quinta Minera
Miguel Hidalgo 92, Centro
Tel. (696) 965 0222 y 01 70
www.haciendaquintaminera.com
Colonial
Arteaga s/n, Centro
Tel. (696) 965 0660
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