Mexico has 177 Magical Towns (Pueblos Mágicos). That has been the official number since 2023, when the Tourism Ministry (SECTUR) added 45 new towns, the largest expansion in the program's history. There is at least one in each of Mexico's 31 states.
You can see all of them on our interactive Magical Towns map or browse them by state.
What is a Magical Town?
It is a designation granted by SECTUR to towns whose symbolic value, history, architecture, traditions and food make them unique. The program started in 2001 to bring tourism beyond big cities and beach resorts and to help preserve each town's heritage.
The designation is not permanent: towns must keep a tourism development plan and meet the program's guidelines. Some have temporarily lost the title and later regained it.
The first Magical Towns (2001)
The program began with four very different towns:
- Huasca de Ocampo, Hidalgo: Mexico's first Magical Town, home to the Basaltic Prisms and old mining haciendas.
- Real de Catorce, San Luis Potosí: a former mining town in the desert, reached through the Ogarrio tunnel.
- Tepoztlán, Morelos: the Tepozteco pyramid and the Natividad convent, an hour from Mexico City.
- Mexcaltitán, Nayarit: the “Mexican Venice”, an island tied to the legend of Aztlán.
The newest: 45 towns designated in 2023
In 2023, 45 towns from all over the country joined the list, from Zihuatanejo and Cozumel to Sayula and Huejotzingo. Many still see few tourists, which makes them ideal if you want quiet towns at local prices. We grouped them in the newest Magical Towns.
Which states have the most Magical Towns?
Estado de México and Puebla lead the list, followed by Jalisco, Michoacán and Hidalgo. These states are rich in colonial and mining history and sit close to large cities, so they are perfect for weekend trips:
- Magical Towns of Estado de México
- Magical Towns of Puebla
- Magical Towns of Jalisco
- Magical Towns of Michoacán
- Magical Towns of Hidalgo
How to choose which one to visit
With 177 options, the easiest way is to filter by what you are looking for:
- Near your base: Magical Towns near Mexico City, Guadalajara, Cancún or Puerto Vallarta.
- By type of trip: beach towns, cool mountain towns, towns with cenotes, hot springs or archaeological sites.
- By festival: the Magical Towns festival calendar lists carnivals, fairs and Day of the Dead celebrations with their dates.
Keep your own passport
On every town page on the map you can mark the towns you have visited and share your progress. How many of the 177 have you been to?