Pueblos Magicos in Mexico to Add to Your Itinerary
If you’re planning a trip to Mexico make sure to add some of these Pueblos Magicos to your list! Pueblos Magicos are small towns in Mexico that have been named ‘Magic Towns’ by the government because of their beauty, history, and symbolic qualities. Each Pueblo Magico is different and they each have something very special to offer in the way of historic sites, great food, and more. So here are ten different Pueblos Magicos in Mexico to add to your itinerary!
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MEXICO TRAVEL BASICS
Getting There: FLIGHTS & BUSES
Getting There: AIRPORT TRANSFERS
Accommodation: HOTELS & HOSTELS
Things to Do: TOURS & ACTIVITIES
Getting Around: RENTAL CARS
Safety & Health: TRAVEL INSURANCE
Malinalco, Estado de Mexico
Malinalco is one of the first pueblos magicos I ever visited when I moved to Mexico. It’s a beautiful town overflowing with flowering plants. One of the main attractions in Malinalco is the hike up the Cerro de los Idols. Once you hike up to the top of the mountain, you can visit the archeological zone of Cuauhtinchan. You can read more about Malinalco and the Aztec site, Cuauhtinchan, here.
Metepec, Estado de Mexico
My husband grew up in Metepec and it’s a beautiful small town in Estado de Mexico. In Nahuatl, the name ‘Metepec’ means ‘hill of the maguey plants’. It’s located quite close to Toluca, the capital of the state. In Metepec you can visit the Museo del Barro, shop for handmade goods like pottery, and visit the Ex Convento Franciscano San Juan Bautista.
Mitla, Oaxaca
Mitla is a beautiful small town in Oaxaca. You will most likely pass through Mitla if you are on your way to visit Hierve el Agua. I actually got ‘stuck’ in Mitla after visiting Hierve el Agua with a friend once because there was a protest happening on the street leading from Mitla back to the state capital. Make sure to visit the Zona Arqueológica de Mitla which was an important Zapotec religious site. You can also eat delicious Oaxacan food at the Restaurante Doña Chica.
Pátzcuaro, Michoacan
Pátzcuaro consists of a small town and lake in the state of Michoacan. The name ‘Pátzcuaro’ means ‘the gate of heaven’ and was one of the first cities established by the Purépecha people. In Pátzcuaro you can visit the Plaza Vasco de Quiroga, hike the Volcan del Estribo Grande, and visit the Museo de Artes y Oficios. You can also take a boat taxi out on the lake to visit the small island Janitzio. Close to the island, there are often fishermen using traditional butterfly fishing nets to pull in the catch of the day. You can read about how to spend a weekend in Michoacan here.
Cholula, Puebla
Cholula is most famous for one of the only places where you can actually go INSIDE a pyramid! The pyramid is overgrown with grass and there is a large yellow church sitting on top of it now. Behind the church, you can clearly see the active volcano, Popocatépetl. You can climb up the pyramid to go visit the church on top and go inside the pyramid through tunnels at the bottom.
Taxco, Guerrero
Taxco is a beautiful pueblo magico known for its silver. It’s a couple of hours away from Mexico City by car, making it the perfect day trip. Taxco is a hilly town, perfect for buying jewelry, visiting museums and churches, and taking a trip into the old silver mines. It’s also very close to Mil Cascadas, an area known for its hiking and beautiful waterfalls that you can swim in.
Tepotzotlán, Estado de Mexico
Tepotzotlán is located just north of Mexico City. You can hike on and around the aqueduct of Tepotzotlan, eat ‘nieve’ (a kind of ice cream made with water and fruits and no lactose) at the kiosk, and visit the Museum of the Viceroyalty. My favorite part of visiting Tepotzotlán was hiking on the aqueduct which is 438 meters high!
Tequisquiapan, Querétaro
Tequisquiapan is a beautiful pueblo magico filled with colorful buildings, streets full of papel picado (paper art), and bright flowers. It’s a great place to go to get away from the hustle and bustle of big cities. In fact, Tequisquiapan is right in the center of Mexico and there’s an art installation in the town marking it as the ‘Heart of Mexico’. Tequisquiapan is also filled with cute cafes and book shops. It’s a great place to go on a day trip especially if you’re already visiting the capital of Querétaro. You can read more about Tequisquiapan and Querétaro here.
Tequila, Jalisco
Did you know that Tequila is basically the ‘Champagne’ of Mexico? That’s right. If the alcohol you’re drinking is called ‘Tequila’ then it has to come from Tequila, Jalisco, Mexico. The town of Tequila is unsurprisingly a very lively town. It’s very colorful and the buildings are mostly yellow and orange. There are many different places in Tequila where you can taste tequila including the Jose Cuervo distillery. I would highly recommend visiting Tequila as a day trip from Guadalajara, the capital of Jalisco. You can read more about Tequila and Guadalajara Jalisco here.
Tlalpujahua, Michoacán
Tlalpujahua is a pueblo magico known for its handmade Christmas ornaments. The residents make Christmas ornaments and other artisan goods all year round but the best time to visit is in December. You can buy many kinds of ornaments in shops and street stalls. The ornaments are made from many materials such as wood and fabric but their most famous ornaments are made from glass. In some areas, you can even watch the artists painting the glass. You can read more about Tlalpujahua here.
Valle de Bravo, Estado de Mexico
Valle de Bravo is a beautiful area in the State of Mexico (Estado de Mexico) with mountains surrounding a green-blue lake. There’s a butterfly sanctuary that you can visit in the winter to see the monarch migration, plenty of hiking trails, waterfalls, and more. If you’re looking for a relaxing weekend make sure to check out this gorgeous hotel and spa which is home to some incredible infinity pools. If you just want to take a day trip out of Mexico City, check out the town of Avandaro, hike to Velo de Novia, or take a boat out on the lake. You can read more about Valle de Bravo here.
Other Posts You Might Like:
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- Tasting Mexican Wine in Querétaro: A Three Day Itinerary
- Speaking Spanish in Mexico: Basic Spanish Phrases and Mexican Slang
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