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.
Nestled amongst rolling green fields and pine forests, the town of Tapalpa provides the perfect getaway from the hustle and bustle of the modern-day city. Lying 90 kilometers south of Guadalajara - the nation's second-biggest urban center - it is impossible to mistake the red-thatched roofs of Tapalpa for anywhere else. The air is clean and fresh, as it should be for a town situated 2,200 meters above sea-level, while the surrounding ample open spaces are ideal for nature walks and horse-riding.
The name Tapalpa comes from the Nahuatl world Tlapalpan meaning the "land of colors" which is a true reflection of the town's beauty. Despite it's tiny population - around 16,000 according to the latest census figures - Tapalpa has been the birthplace to several famous figures including the mother of Mexican revolutionary hero Emiliano Zapata. It also boasts a rich literary vein providing the inspiration to writers and poets such as Raúl Quintero Parra, Cipriano Campos Alatorre and Luis Enrique Bracamontes.
Tapalpa's fresh springs are renowned throughout the whole region and explains why the area is so rich in flora and fauna. There are four important wells within the city - De las Culebras, Del Tecolote, Del Perro and La Colorado - and local residents to this day come to collect water from them which according to folklore is renowned for its healing qualities. During the last few centuries the worship of the indigenous deity Atlquiahuitl - the God of water - has become popular in the region. Statues of Atlquiahuitl who is represented in the form of a sparrowhawk can be seen dotted throughout the town.
As with all Pueblos Magicos, the town's centerpiece attraction is the local church which was built in 1650 and is a wonderful example of neoclassical architecture. The Parroquia de San Antonio was designed and built by Fransican monks and is noted for its massive interior and opulent stone arches.
Because of Tapalpa's high altitude, the climate hovers around 16 centigrade or 61 Fahrenheit all year round with the temperature dropping considerably at night. Therefore it's recommended to take warm clothing.
Locals also recommend that visitors should take a tour of the town and the surrounding region - known as Sierra de Tapalpa - on horseback to experience the panoramic scenery and the "magic atmosphere" that the territory is famously associated with.
Tourist Offices
Jalisco Tourism Secretariat Av. Morelos 102, Plaza Tapatia, Centro Guadalajara, Jalisco Tel: (333)668 1602 www.jalisco.gob.mx
Mazamitla - like nearby Tapalpa - is another pine forest wonderland set in the heart of Jalisco. Located 122 km to the south of the state capital Guadalajara the town has been built high up in the mountain ranges of the Sierra de Tigre - 2,200 meters above sea level.
The name gives it away but the town of Tequila is famous for producing one of Mexico's most iconic drinks. Located 60 kilometers to the northwest of Guadalajara - Mexico's second-largest city - Tequila was named a Pueblo Magico in 2003.
There's something fascinating about man-made island-cities. Perhaps, being enveloped by water gives an allusion to a fairy-tale setting and that by traversing it means you've set off on a journey into the unknown. Mexcaltitan, which is in the State of Nayarit on the western coast of Mexico, is one such place. Historians say it was founded in 1091 by a tribe called the Mexica and was originally known as Aztlan. The Mexica would later famously set out on a pilgrimage from the island that would lead them to the founding of Tenochtitlan - the cradle of the Aztec civilization - and which is now present-day Mexico City.
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.
The wonderful city of Jerez, which is the birthplace of the celebrated poet Ramon Lopez Velarde, can be found 57 km to the east of Zacatecas in the state of the same name. Geographically, Jerez lies in a large, flat valley which sits at the entrance to the Tlaltenango Canyon. With a dry, temperate climate Jerez is ideal for the traveller looking to experience a traditional Mexican town within a natural environment.
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.
