A Guide to Pueblos Magicos in Mexico

Guide to Pueblos Magicos in Mexico

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Guide to Magical towns in Mexico

If you have not heard about Pueblos Magicos in Mexico you are missing out!!!

If you’re looking for a new Mexican destination to visit, I highly recommend choosing a Pueblo Magico!

I am going to share this guide to Pueblos Magicos in Mexico with you. 

So you’re probably wondering what is a Pueblo Magico? Well it is a Magical Town in Mexico.

I will tell you why I think Pueblos Magicos are so awesome, and why I think you will enjoy visiting them!

Here is the official logo taken from By gobierno federal - presidencia.gob.mx, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=26825154
Sculpture about a Pueblo Magico in Mexico.

This is the official logo that you can look for, if you want to see if a Mexican destination is a Pueblo Magico or not.  You can see the flower-type symbol is on this piece of art beside it.

Good to Know First!

Click the links to check them out!

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Rent your motorcycle, scooter, quads,& bicycles here in advance so you can travel freely!

How many Pueblos Magicos are there?

THERE ARE 132 PUEBLOS MAGICOS IN MEXICO!

That’s so many great vacations for you to take!

I am going to make a list of all of the Pueblos Magicos in Mexico for you.  I will list them by the state that they are in.

I have been to quite a few of them, but there are others that are 100% still on my bucket list!

There are some beautiful hotels in Pueblo Magicos!

You can check them out here, and even book your hotel here too!

How did Pueblos Magicos start?

The Ministry of Tourism of Mexico started the Pueblo Magico concept of naming towns as magical towns in 2001. 

The towns have to be special to be named a magical town.

What makes these towns special?

Well, they could have really old and beautiful architecture, be very beautiful, or have some special historical significance.  There has to something that is ‘magical’ about each town!

Not only that, the town has to have a special government tourism group dedicated to making and maintaining its magical status. 

Pueblos Magicos cater to tourists, have good food, fun places and events and rich Mexican culture.

Towns must be approved from the Federal government of Mexico to call themselves a Pueblo Magico.

Even more than that, they can lose their status if they don’t maintain the required magical standards too.

List of Mexico's Pueblos Magicos

Here is a list of the 77 Pueblos Magicos listed by state.

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State of Mexico

Puebla

Aculco, Estado de México

El Oro, Estado de México

San Juan Teotihuacán y San Martín de las Pirámides, Edo de México

Malinalco, Estado de México

Tonatico, Estado de México

Valle de Bravo, Estado de México

Tepotzotlán, Estado de México

Villa del Carbón, Estado de México

Ixtapan de la Sal, Estado de México

Metepec, Estado de México

Jolitepec, Estado de Mexico

Otumba, Estado de Mexico

Atlixco, Puebla

Chignahuapan, Puebla

Xicotepec, Puebla

Cholula, Puebla

Tlatlauquitepec, Puebla

Tetela de Ocampo, Puebla

Cuetzalan del Progreso, Puebla

Huauchinango, Puebla

Zacatlán de las Manzanas, Puebla

Pahuatlán, Puebla

Huejotzingo, Puebla

Teziutlan, Puebla

Xicotepec, Puebla

 

Sign for a Pueblo Magico in Mexico.
Pyramid in Mexico City

These are photos of San Juan Teotihuacán y San Martín de las Pirámides, Edo de México.  You can learn more about this Pueblo Magico with this Guide to visiting the Teotihuacan Pyramids.

Here, you can even eat at a Restaurant in a Cave – Mexico here too!

I have included an interactive map for you where I have marked a few of the Pueblo Magicos. 

This way you can see where they are and look for your hotel in that Pueblo Magico too.

Coahuila

Guanajuato

Arteaga, Coahuila

Parras de la Fuente, Coahuila

Cuatro Ciénegas, Coahuila

Melchor Múzquiz, Coahuila

Guerrero, Coahuila

Viesca, Coahuila

Candela, Coahuila

General Cepeda, Coahuila

Muzquiz, Coahuila

Jalpa de Cánovas, Guanajuato

Comonfort, Guanajuato

Dolores Hidalgo, Guanajuato

Mineral de Pozos, Guanajuato

Salvatierra, Guanajuato

Yuriria, Guanajuato

Sign for Pueblo Magico- Villa Del Carbon
Sign for a Pueblo Magico in Mexico.
Leather products from Villa Del Carbon

Villa Del Carbon is another pueblo magico, but very different from San Juan Teotihuacan.

This town specializes in leather goods, hats, boots, boats, skins, – think cowboy style.

They have a beautiful town square with beautiful architecture all around.

Queretaro

Hidalgo

Amealco de Bonfil, Querétaro

San Joaquín, Querétaro

Tequisquiapan, Querétaro

Jalpan de Serra, Querétaro

Bernal, Querétaro

Cadereyta de Montes, Querétaro

Pinal de Amoles, Querataro

 

Real de Monte, Hidalgo

Huasca de Ocampo, Hidalgo

Huichapan, Hidalgo

Mineral del Chico, Hidalgo

Zempoala, Hidalgo

Zimapán, Hidalgo

Tecozautla, Hidalgo

Acaxocochitlan, Hidalgo

Metztitlan, Hidalgo

Mineral del Chico, Hidalgo

To learn more about Bernal in Queretaro, check out Guide to Visiting Bernal, Mexico.

This Pueblo Magico- Magical Town- has the 3rd largest monolith in the world!

A monolith is a huge rock, that looks like a mountain.  Yes, people do climb it! You can read all about it in 3rd largest monolith in the world!

Downtown Bernal street and the monolith
downtown in Bernal, Quertaro, Mexico on the weekend.

Jalisco

Michoacan

Talpa de Allende, Jalisco

Ajijic, Jalisco

Mascota, Jalisco

Mazamitla, Jalisco

San Pedro Tlaquepaque, Jalisco

Lagos de Moreno, Jalisco

San Sebastián del Oeste, Jalisco

Tequila, Jalisco

Cocula, Jalisco

Sayula, Jalisco

Temacapulin, Jalisco

Cocula, Jalisco

Jiquilpan de Juárez, Michoacán

Santa Clara del Cobre, Michoacán

Paracho de Verduzco, Michoacán

Pátzcuaro, Michoacán

Tacámbaro, Michoacán

Tzintzuntzan, Michoacán

Cuitzeo del Porvenir, Michoacán

Tlalpujahua de Rayón, Michoacán

Angangueo, Michoacan

Cotija, Michoacan

Sign for a Pueblo Magico in Mexico.

These photos are from Tequila, Jalisco, yes, TEQUILA! That is where they make a whole lot of tequila too! There are tequila factory tours that you can go on and a lot of fun things to enjoy there.

They even have tour buses that are the shape of chili peppers, agaves, tequila barrels and more that take you to tequila factory tours.

When you walk into most stores they offer you a shot of tequila.

There are also ‘cantaritos’ which are large special glasses that they fill with a mixed drink with tequila.   If you go to Tequila, you’ll see so many people walking around drinking from their ‘cantaritos’. 

Morelos

Campeche

Tepoztlán, Morelos

Tlayacapan, Morelos

Tlaltizapan, Morelos

Xochitepec, Morelos

Isla Aguada, Campeche

Palizada, Campeche

Candelaria, Campeche

Oaxaca

Veracruz

Santa Catarina Juquila, Oaxaca

San Pablo Villa de Mitla, Oaxaca

Huautla de Jiménez, Oaxaca

San Pedro y San Pablo Teposcolula, Oaxaca

Mazunte, Oaxaca

Capulálpam de Méndez, Oaxaca

Xico, Veracruz

Orizaba, Veracruz

Papantla, Veracruz

Zozocolco de Hidalgo, Veracruz

Coatepec, Veracruz

Cordoba, Veracruz

Coscomatepec, Veracruz

Naolinco de Victoria, Veracruz

 

Coscomatepec, Veracruz

Orizaba builing

Orizaba is another Pueblo Magico that I highly recommend visiting.

It is extremely clean, they have staff that are constantly sweeping and cleaning up the town centre.

There are beautiful murals and architecture.

One of the things that I loved about Orizaba is how happy and positive it is.  I know, you’re thinking how is a town happy, well let me tell you.

They have street signs that tell you to stop etc., but they also have a lot of streets signs that tell you to “smile-you’re in Orizaba” most of them have little positive quotes or reasons to smile. 🙂

Sign in Orizaba, Pueblo Magico in Mexico.
Sign in Orizaba, Pueblo Magico in Mexico.

These smile signs are all around Orizaba, they are even on the garbage trucks!

The 1st one says: Start each day with a smile and maintain it all day long!

The 2nd sign says: A smile costs less than electricity and gives more light in your life.

How positively nice! 🙂

Sinaloa

Zacatecas

El Fuerte, Sinaloa

El Rosario, Sinaloa

Cosalá, Sinaloa

Mocorito, Sinaloa

San Ignacio, Sinaloa

Jerez de García Salinas, Zacatecas

Guadalupe, Zacatecas

Nochistlán de Mejía, Zacatecas

Pinos, Zacatecas

Sombrerete, Zacatecas

Teúl de González Ortega, Zacatecas

Villanueva, Zacatecas

Ajijic sign -Pueblo Magico
Sign for a Pueblo Magico in Mexico.

This is Ajijic in Jalisco, Mexico.  A calm little town by Lake Chapala.

They have a small boardwalk, not as much of a beach town. 

Just a nice chilled-out lake boardwalk and a friendly community.

Baja California

Tamaulipas

Tecate, Baja California

Todos Santos, Baja California Sur

Loreto, Baja California Sur

Santo Rosalia

Tula, Tamaulipas

Mier, Tamaulipas

Tulum letters in the Pueblo Magico in Mexico
Tulum beach, a Pueblo Magico in Mexico

Tulum is another fun beach town to check out.

Although it has grown since I was last there, it is rich with culture and fun laid back times.

You can find Mayan shops there, as well as Mayan ruins and cenotes in this area too.

The municipal square has vendors and a large Mayan calendar.  You can actually stand in it, next to your sign if you like, for a photo.

Tulum had some great food and fun times!

To learn more about Tulum check out:

Tulum streets at night, a Pueblo Magico
Posing with the Ven a La Luz sculpture

Quintana Roo

Yucatan

Bacalar, Quintana Roo

Isla Mujeres, Quintana Roo

Tulum, Quintana Roo

Cozumel, Quintana Roo

Izamal, Yucatán

Maní, Yucatán

Sisal, Yucatán

Valladolid, Yucatán

Espita, Yucatan

Motul, Yucatan

Tekax, Yucatan

Parroquia de San Bernardino de Siena in Valladolid, Mexico
Principal Park in Valladolid with Mayan dancers

Valladolid is another beautiful Pueblo Magico.

This town is full on authenticity, history and charm. This town is full of museums, old buildings, churches and great restaurants.

There are so many things to do like cenotes, hang in the municipal park and eat traditional Mayan food.

Here are some of the Best Things to do in Valladolid, Mexico!

Cenote Zaci in Valladolid, Mexico
San Servacio Church in Valladolid, Mexico

Nuevo Leon

Chihuahua

Bustamante, Nuevo León

Linares, Nuevo León

Santiago, Nuevo León

General Teran, Nuevo Leon

General Zaragoza, Nuevo Leon

 

Batopilas, Chihuahua

Casas Grandes, Chihuahua

Creel, Chihuahua

Guachochi, Chihuahua

Hidalgo del Parral, Chihuahua

Nayarit

San Luis Potosi

Jala, Nayarit

Sayulita, Nayarit

Compostela de Indias, Nayarit

Mexcaltitán, Nayarit

Ahuacatlan, Nayarit

Amatlan de Cañas, Nayarit

Ixtlan del Rio, Nayarit

Puerto Balleto (Islas Marias), Nayarit

San Blas, Nayarit

Aquismón, San Luis Potosí

Real de Catorce, San Luis Potosí

Xilitla, San Luis Potosí

Santa María del Río, San Luis Potosí

Cuidad del Maiz, San Luis Potosi

Tierra Nueva, San Luis Potosi

 

The municipal square in Sayulita, Mexico.
Sayulita Sign

These pictures are from Sayulita, Mexico.  A chilled-out hippie surfer beach town that is quaint and not too big. You get tons of surf lessons, vegetarian food, tacos, dream catchers, etc. here.

If you would like to learn more about Sayulita, check out 15 Must-Try Unique Experiences in Sayulita!

It has been getting a bit more touristy than it was before, but still a fun place to go to chill on the beach, check out some music at night and, of course, surf!

If you’re looking for a hotel near the beach check out Sayulita Beach side hotel review.

Mural in Sayulita, Mexico.
Sayulita flags and decorations

Chiapas

Augascalientes

Palenque, Chiapas

Comitán, Chiapas

Chiapa de Corzo, Chiapas

San Cristóbal de las Casas, Chiapas

Copainala, Chiapas

Ocozocoautla de Espinosa, Chiapas

Calvillo, Aguascalientes

San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes

Real de Asientos, Aguascalientes

Pabellion de Hidalgo

Tlaxcala

Durango

Tlaxco, Tlaxcala

Huamantla, Tlaxcala

Ixtenco, Tlaxcala

 

Mapimí, Durango

Nombre de Dios, Durango

Guerrero

Sonora

Ixcateopan de Cuauhtemoc, Guerrero

Taxco, Guerrero

Zihuatanejo, Guerrero

Alamos, Sonora

Magdalena de Kino, Sonora

San Carlos, Sonora

Ures, Sonora

Tabasco

Colima

Frontera, Tabasco

Tapijulapa, Tabasco

Teapa, Tabasco

 

Comala, Colima

 

What makes Pueblos Magicos so special!

If you have never been to Mexico, I highly recommend visiting a Pueblo Magico.

Before your go, read these Best Mexico Travel Tips! (Read Before You Go).

They are not huge cities, and they always have a municipal square.

These towns have beautiful nature, traditions, culture, fun and awesome hospitality for tourists.

If you want to go to Mexico and try somewhere new, but you’re concerned with picking a tourist friendly location in Mexico, that’s different than Cancun, check out a Pueblo Magico.

They all cater to tourists, and have a tourism department for their town.

Each Pueblos Magicos have a uniqueness about it.

That’s what I love about them, they all have their own ‘feel’. 

Pueblos Magicos, to me, are authentically Mexican, beautiful, fun and a must-visit whenever I’m travelling around Mexico!

This is a book that I made all about Mexico! You can enjoy it as you’re travelling to your next Pueblo Magico! It’s available on Amazon, simply click the links to get yours today!

Each Pueblo Magico is unique in its own way!

Here you can check out some of the excursions and tours that you can do in different Magical Towns!

And what about you?

Have you ever heard of Pueblos Magico?  Have you ever been to any Pueblos Magicos?  I would love to hear your experiences!

Which Pueblo Magico do you want to visit first??

Let us know in the comments below.

Besides being a travel blogger,  I am also a travel writer, Amazon author and an English teacher. Check out my services here!

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The Comments

  • 3rd Largest Monolith in the world! | Open Doors With Words
    July 17, 2023

    […] If you would like to learn more about Magical Towns, check out the Guide to Pueblos Magicos in Mexico. […]

  • Sayulita Beach side hotel review | Open Doors With Words
    June 19, 2023

    […] If you’re not sure what a Pueblo Magico is, check out my Guide to Pueblos Magicos in Mexico. […]

  • Anonymous
    April 19, 2023

    Pueblos Mágicos sounds very interesting for visiting! I can’t wait to go!! Also all your tips it is very helpful for me because I have plans to go Mexico 🇲🇽 soon!! Thank you open doors with words for all the information! Thanks 😊!!!

    • Lorraine Black
      > Anonymous
      April 19, 2023

      I think that Pueblo Magicos are so interesting too! Feel free to write back once you book your trip and I will offer you some tips for that location if I can! You’re welcome and thanks for reading! 🙂

  • P. Black
    March 21, 2023

    A must for travellers visiting Mexico

    • Lorraine Black
      > P. Black
      March 21, 2023

      Thanks. I agree visiting Pueblo Magicos are definite stops when visiting Mexico! Have you been to a Magical Town?