Magical Towns with archaeological sites
Teotihuacan, Palenque, El Tajín, Paquimé, Tulum, Malinalco and Cholula: these Magical Towns are gateways to some of Mexico’s most important pre-Hispanic cities. Arrive early to beat the heat and the crowds.
Estado de MéxicoTeotihuacán de Arista
Gateway to the City of the Gods: the UNESCO-listed Pyramids of the Sun and Moon, sunrise hot-air balloon flights, obsidian crafts and local food.
Estado de MéxicoSan Martín de las Pirámides
Shares with Teotihuacán de Arista the Teotihuacan archaeological zone, one of the largest cities of the ancient Americas and a World Heritage Site.
ChiapasPalenque
A great gateway to the Maya world: the UNESCO-listed Palenque ruins in the rainforest, a site museum, dynastic inscriptions and nearby waterfalls.
VeracruzPapantla
The Totonac heart of Veracruz: the UNESCO-listed El Tajín and its Pyramid of the Niches, the Voladores ritual and vanilla.
ChihuahuaCasas Grandes
Home of UNESCO-listed Paquimé: an adobe city with T-shaped doorways, water systems and the Museum of the Cultures of the North.
Quintana RooTulum
A walled Maya city on a cliff above the Caribbean, beaches, cenotes, jungle and the new Jaguar Park.
Estado de MéxicoMalinalco
An Aztec temple carved from a mountain rock face, an Augustinian convent with murals, mountains and living traditions in the south of the State of Mexico.
PueblaSan Andrés Cholula
The Great Pyramid of Cholula topped by the Remedios sanctuary, one of the oldest living cities in the Americas, talavera pottery and student life.
PueblaSan Pedro Cholula
The San Gabriel convent and its 49-dome Royal Chapel, a main square with one of Mexico's longest arcades and the Great Pyramid a few blocks away.
YucatánIzamal
Yucatán's “yellow city”: the Convent of San Antonio de Padua built on a Maya platform and the huge Kinich Kak Moo pyramid right in town.
OaxacaSan Pablo Villa de Mitla
The Zapotec “place of the dead”: stone fretwork unique in Mesoamerica, Yagul, valley mezcal, and close to Hierve el Agua and the Tule Tree.
MichoacánTzintzuntzan
The ancient Purépecha capital on Lake Pátzcuaro: the yácata pyramids, a Franciscan complex with centuries-old olive trees, crafts and Night of the Dead.
ZacatecasVillanueva
La Quemada (Chicomoztoc), the largest pre-Hispanic settlement in north-central Mexico, and the town of San Judas Tadeo, founded in 1692.
MorelosTepoztlán
Sacred mountain and Tepozteco pyramid, the UNESCO-listed Natividad convent, a lively market, temazcal baths and Morelos cooking an hour from Mexico City.
PueblaCuetzalan
Living Nahua culture in Puebla's Sierra Norte: mist, coffee, a Sunday market, the Voladores ritual, Yohualichan archaeological site and waterfalls.
NayaritIxtlán del Río
The Los Toriles archaeological site and its round temple, the Cristo Rey viewpoint and natural pools in southern Nayarit.
QuerétaroSan Joaquín
Querétaro's forested highlands and huapango music: the Ranas archaeological site atop two hills, the Herrera caves and a cool climate.
Quintana RooCozumel
An island in the Mexican Caribbean: coral reefs for diving and snorkeling, the San Gervasio Maya site, Punta Sur and island culture.
YucatánTekax
Adventure in southern Yucatán: caves, rappelling and zip lines, the San Marcelino Maya village and easy access to the Puuc Route and Uxmal.
CampecheCandelaria
A turquoise river, waterfalls and jungle in Campeche: Salto Grande, the El Tigre (Itzamkanac) archaeological site and a Maya Train stop.
TamaulipasTula
The cradle of Tamaulipas and its iconic cuera jacket: listed historic architecture, mountains, canyoning at Arroyo Loco and waterfalls.
ZacatecasTeúl de González Ortega
Mezcal and stone in southern Zacatecas: blue agave fields, mezcal distilleries, an archaeological site, reservoirs and mansions with stone gargoyles.
MichoacánCuitzeo
On the shores of Lake Cuitzeo: the Augustinian convent of Santa María Magdalena, the Tres Cerritos archaeological site and nearby hot springs.
Baja CaliforniaTecate
A border Magical Town and northern gateway to Baja California's Wine Route: artisan bread, beer, La Rumorosa, wellness retreats and Kumiai culture.