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
Malinalco is one those enchanted little Mexican towns that sounds like a tried and tested cliche but actually is closer to fact than fiction. Lying in the State of Mexico, near the industrial city of Toluca, Malinalco is surrounded by mountains, forests and breathtaking scenery.
Lured by it's exceptional natural beauty and breathtaking views, the idyllic town of Villa de Santiago has been for decades a traditional getaway for residents of nearby Monterrey - Mexico's third-largest city. Situated on the southern tip of Monterrey's National Park and in the state of Nuevo Leon, Santiago is enveloped by lakes, mountains and lush vegetation. It boasts a cool climate year-round and its street are lined with the finest examples of Spanish colonial architecture. It also is a shoppers Mecca for weekend deal seekers from Monterrey and boasts some outstanding traditional restaurants.
The fertile plains of Parras owes its existence to its fortuitous location within a valley with a large water supply. This has led to it being called an oasis in Coahuila - which is one of the dryest states in Mexico largely made up of arid or semi-arid land.
Originally discovered in 1683 by European conquistadores, Alamos resides in the state of Sonora close to the border with Sinaloa. The town grew as a silver mining colony - much like Taxco in Guerrero - and by the 18th Century it was one of the most important industrial centers in North East Mexico. However, once it rich silver and gold deposits started to wane, the town saw many residents flock to other cities with stronger economies and by the end of the 19th Century Alamos was virtually abandoned. It's only been in the last fifty to sixty years that it's rebuilt its population to any semblance of its former glory days.
The Zapotecs named this place Lyobaa; the Mixtecs called it Nuu Ndiyo and the Mexicas came closest to its present-day name with Mictlan. In all cases their names meant the same thing: "A place of rest". Now, San Pablo Villa de Mitla, is one of the nation's most important, and visited, archaelogical sites boasting a history that goes back to 800 B.C.
Mexico has the potential to be the number one destination for ecotourism according to Ernesto Enkerlin Hoeflich who heads the National Commission for Protected Natural Areas or CONANP. Hoeflich estimates the industry could produce an extra US$3.6 billion in revenue a year.
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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.
