The newest Magical Towns
In 2023 Mexico’s Tourism Ministry added 45 new Magical Towns, the largest expansion in the program’s history. Many still see few visitors, which makes them a great choice for uncrowded towns at local prices.
AguascalientesPabellón de Hidalgo
Small but packed with Independence history: the Hacienda de San Blas and the Museum of the Insurgency in northern Aguascalientes.
Baja California SurSanta Rosalía
A French-influenced copper-mining town on the Sea of Cortez: Santa Bárbara church, El Boleo museum, wooden houses and El Boleo bakery bread.
CampecheCandelaria
A turquoise river, waterfalls and jungle in Campeche: Salto Grande, the El Tigre (Itzamkanac) archaeological site and a Maya Train stop.
ChiapasCopainalá
A Zoque mountain town in Chiapas: red-tile roofs, citrus orchards, regional food and a calm pace away from the crowds.
ChiapasOcozocoautla de Espinosa
Karst landscapes and Zoque culture in Chiapas: the Sima de las Cotorras sinkhole with its parakeets at dawn and El Aguacero waterfall near El Ocote.
ChihuahuaGuachochi
The heart of the Sierra Tarahumara: deep canyons, forests, lakes and waterfalls, Rarámuri life and the Canyons Ultramarathon.
ChihuahuaHidalgo del Parral
Silver mining, the Revolution and Pancho Villa's legacy: the Alvarado Palace, the Francisco Villa Museum, La Prieta mine and baroque churches.
CoahuilaGeneral Cepeda
Coahuila's dinosaur Magical Town: the Rincón Colorado fossil site, the Trail of Time and a history dating back to 1575.
Estado de MéxicoJilotepec
Climbing crags, reservoirs and one of Mexico's oldest Franciscan parishes on the Camino Real de Tierra Adentro, 100 km from Mexico City.
Estado de MéxicoOtumba
Colonial history near Teotihuacan: former convents, the Viceroys' House, pulque haciendas, a railway museum and the famous Donkey Fair.
GuerreroIxcateopan de Cuauhtémoc
A marble town in the Guerrero mountains where, according to local tradition, the remains of Cuauhtémoc, the last Aztec emperor, rest.
GuerreroZihuatanejo
A fishing bay on Guerrero's Costa Grande: Playa La Ropa, the Fishermen's Promenade, the Archaeological Museum and waterfront seafood.
HidalgoAcaxochitlán
Water and forest in Hidalgo: Tejocotal reservoir, the Chimalapa waterfalls, flower-inspired embroidery and acachul berry liqueur.
HidalgoMetztitlán
The Metztitlán Canyon biosphere reserve, full of cacti, its lagoon and an imposing Augustinian convent in Hidalgo.
JaliscoCocula
“The mariachi comes from Cocula!”: the world birthplace of mariachi in Jalisco, with a museum, music in the plaza and birria.
JaliscoSayula
Cajeta, handmade knives and the memory of Juan Rulfo in southern Jalisco: workshops, museums and an unhurried historic center.
JaliscoTemacapulín
Hot springs and the Río Verde canyon in the Altos de Jalisco: a village with strong community memory and a history of defending its land.
MichoacánCotija de la Paz
Home of Cotija cheese: stone architecture, colonial roots, cattle ranches and the traditional cooking of western Michoacán.
MorelosTlaltizapán
Zapata's legacy and natural springs in southern Morelos: Zapata's former headquarters, the mausoleum, water parks and catfish soup.
MorelosXochitepec
Warm weather and colorful façades in Morelos: the Cerrito del Reloj clock-tower viewpoint, former sugar haciendas, water parks and weddings.
NayaritAhuacatlán
On southern Nayarit's tourist corridor: historic churches, the Ceboruco volcano, natural pools and its October patron-saint festival.
NayaritAmatlán de Cañas
A rural corner among mountains in southern Nayarit: hot springs, waterfalls such as El Manto and quiet village life.
NayaritIxtlán del Río
The Los Toriles archaeological site and its round temple, the Cristo Rey viewpoint and natural pools in southern Nayarit.
NayaritPuerto Balleto
On Isla María Madre, the former Islas Marías penal colony: guided tours, history, trails and nature in a protected area.
NayaritSan Blas
A historic Nayarit port: the Contaduría fort, La Tovara mangroves, birdwatching, a crocodile sanctuary, beaches and seafood.
Nuevo LeónGeneral Terán
“Land that smells of oranges” and a cradle of norteño music: citrus orchards, El Sabino Gordo park and Los Mimbres reservoir.
Nuevo LeónGeneral Zaragoza
Forests, rivers and waterfalls in southern Nuevo León: El Salto park, Velo de Novia waterfall, cabins and ecotourism.
PueblaHuejotzingo
A 16th-century Franciscan convent, the famous Huejotzingo Carnival, cider and chiles en nogada, just outside the city of Puebla.
PueblaTeziutlán
Mist and mountain architecture in Puebla's northeastern sierra: a cathedral, railway museum, bamboo forest, waterfalls and chilposo stew.
QuerétaroPinal de Amoles
Viewpoints over a sea of clouds in Querétaro's Sierra Gorda: the Cuatro Palos lookout, Chuveje waterfall, mist and cabins.
Quintana RooCozumel
An island in the Mexican Caribbean: coral reefs for diving and snorkeling, the San Gervasio Maya site, Punta Sur and island culture.
San Luis PotosíCiudad del Maíz
San Luis Potosí's Middle Region: Pame tradition, churches and plazas, and guiso borracho, a pulque stew dating to the 18th century.
San Luis PotosíTierra Nueva
Land of the palm-leaf hat in San Luis Potosí: hat workshops, the Temple of San Nicolás Tolentino and the red “pigeon blood” flagstone.
SinaloaSan Ignacio
Jesuit heritage in Sinaloa: the baroque Parish of San Ignacio de Loyola, the Piaxtla River, the sierra and the Las Labradas petroglyphs.
SonoraSan Carlos
Desert, mountains and sea in Sonora: Tetakawi peak, sunrise kayaking, diving and fishing in the Sea of Cortez, and postcard sunsets.
SonoraUres
One of Sonora's oldest towns (1644): the Plaza de Armas, the church of San Miguel Arcángel, old mansions, sweets and the Sonora River Route.
TabascoFrontera
A port on the Grijalva River and gateway to the Pantanos de Centla, one of the largest wetlands in Mesoamerica, in Tabasco.
TabascoTeapa
Tabasco's “Sultana of the Sierra”: the Coconá caves, the Puyacatengo River, sulfur springs and lush tropical scenery.
TlaxcalaIxtenco
Tlaxcala's last Otomí stronghold: colorful native corn, sour purple-corn atole, pepenado embroidery, language and traditional festivals.
VeracruzCórdoba
Where the Treaties of Córdoba were signed: the Portal de Zevallos, cathedral, Coffee Museum, former sugar haciendas and lively arcades.
VeracruzNaolinco de Victoria
Handmade shoes and leather, mist and viewpoints in Veracruz: sausages, mole, wood-fired bread, white clay pottery and Day of the Dead traditions.
YucatánEspita
A less-visited Yucatán: the Temple of San José, an old Franciscan convent, hammocks, vine baskets and cross-stitch embroidery.
YucatánMotul
Birthplace of huevos motuleños and Felipe Carrillo Puerto: Yucatán's henequen country, Sambulá cenote and social history.
YucatánTekax
Adventure in southern Yucatán: caves, rappelling and zip lines, the San Marcelino Maya village and easy access to the Puuc Route and Uxmal.
ZacatecasVillanueva
La Quemada (Chicomoztoc), the largest pre-Hispanic settlement in north-central Mexico, and the town of San Judas Tadeo, founded in 1692.
States in this list
Magical Towns near your city
- Near Mexico City
- Near Guadalajara
- Near Monterrey
- Near Puebla
- Near Querétaro
- Near León
- Near Mérida
- Near Cancún
- Near Oaxaca
- Near Puerto Vallarta
- Near Toluca
- Near Cuernavaca
- Near Pachuca
- Near Tlaxcala
- Near San Luis Potosí
- Near Aguascalientes
- Near Morelia
- Near Zacatecas
- Near Saltillo
- Near Xalapa
- Near Veracruz
- Near Tuxtla Gutiérrez
- Near Villahermosa
- Near Colima
- Near Tepic
Explore by theme
- Beach Magical Towns
- Mountain Magical Towns with a cool climate
- Magical Towns with cenotes
- Mining Magical Towns
- Wine Magical Towns
- Magical Towns with hot springs
- Magical Towns with archaeological sites
- UNESCO World Heritage Magical Towns
- Magical Towns for Day of the Dead
- Magical Towns for Mexican crafts
- Coffee Magical Towns