9 Beautiful Small Towns in Mexico
Let’s face it: small towns are charming. Maybe it’s the slow-paced lifestyle, a certain sense of community that lures you into it, or perhaps it’s the long-established tradition of the city that makes you want to know MORE. whatever it may be, it’s charming.
So if you’re dreaming to visit this year a small town, you should definitely go to Mexico. Back in 2001, the Mexican government initiated a specific program that was meant to highlight these towns.
The project was known as “Magical Towns”, probably referring to their vast cultural and natural richness. So if you’re particularly searching for such distinctions, the town you decide upon must have a little bit of everything: historic architecture, amazing landscapes, but also rooted traditions.
Everything matters the symbolism, the fantastic legends, even the hidden history. Luckily, we made a list of towns that have everything, so have a look!
Bacalar, Quintana Roo
When it comes to Quintana Roo, probably the first thing that pops into your mind is the white sand and wonderful blue waves. However, few people know that the Lagoon of Seven Colors is the core of Bacalar, not the beaches.
This huge white lagoon which captured the hearts of many visitors for its varied shades of blue is a great place for swimming, snorkeling, and, of course, scuba diving. So those who will have the courage to go deep enough will soon discover the magical underwater caves that are connected to the cenotes (water formations), such as Blue Cenote, which is the reason behind the lagoon’s magical colors.
You can easily stay in any of the hotels surrounding the lagoon, and if you’re an adventurous soul, there are many campsites. The town’s downtown is as out of fashion as you can imagine (which makes it even more charming), with streets where you can walk with your family and friends, and small but interesting restaurants.
Tequila, Jalisco
If you want to visit a place that has REALLY good tequila and want to know how it’s made, the name of this small town speaks for itself. Its name originates from a word that means “place of tribute”, and in this region, most places pay tribute to the wonderful art of turning blue agave into a world-famous distilled beverage.
The town has everything, including a tequila museum that explains the whole process. In the past, the town was known to have big traditional haciendas. Nowadays, many of those constructions are still standing, but they’re home to some of the most important distilleries. For example, at José Cuervo’s hacienda, you can explore every single step of the production, from the moment they start cleaning the agave to the final touch.
San Cristóbal de Las Casas, Chiapas
This wonderful town carries the name of the patron saint of travel San Cristóbal. This is one of the most interesting places in Chiapas because it has everything from the beauty of colonial architecture to the lush jungle that protects and hides the town.
The city is “occupied” by a constant fog that comes from the jungle, which gives a particular peculiar feeling to the city. There’s a preserved collection of buildings that date all the way back to the 16th century, so you’ll have many baroque and neoclassical buildings to admire. The people of the city are known to decorate their balconies with flowers and paint their houses with bright colors.
Orizaba, Veracruz
The town is well known for being on the slopes of the Pico de Orizaba volcano, which is the highest mountain in Mexico. With a snowy landscape in the background, the town is beloved by many tourists. Its name comes from an ancient Aztec word that means “place of joyful water”, making reference to the river that flows in the town’s vicinity.
One of the most breathtaking buildings is the Iron Palace, a 126-year-old Art Nouveau building that’s entirely made from iron. The building was basically sent in pieces all the way from Brussels, and it was meant to become a government building. Now, it’s divided into six different museums.
Izamal, Yucatán
Would you ever think that there’s a town in this world where every single building is painted golden yellow? That’s the beauty of Izamal. Here, pre-hispanic buildings coexist with interesting colonial architecture and invite the visitors to discover how these people managed to nurture their culture for so many centuries.
It gets better: there’s a highly important Mayan religious center and recently found pyramids that were hidden in the jungle for many years, but now they’re open to being explored. One of the most relevant ones is Kinich Kakmo, a pyramid that was built for the Mayan sun God. Visitors have the option of climbing all the way to the top to enjoy the breathtaking view.
Palenque, Chiapas
If you want to be fully embraced by the outstanding natural beauty of the southern Mexican jungle, Palenque is the place to go. It’s a very small town, but it’s also the heart of the national park, where some of the most important Mayan cities are. The archeological site is hidden in the deep jungle.
Once you arrive there, you’ll immediately lay eyes on those mesmerizing pyramids and Mayan palaces. The ruins of Palenque are seen as some of the most relevant archeological sites of the Mayan civilization, as they combine crucial constructions dedicated to ancient religious rituals, but also scientific research. There’s also an impressive collection of hieroglyphics and the well-known sacred tomb o King Pakal.
Xilitla, San Luis Potosí
There’s a direct link between Mexican culture and surrealism, and this town definitely contributes to it. Xilitla is surrounded by the jungle of Huasteca Potosina and its wonderful waterfalls. It’s also the place where the famous English artist Edward James made his surrealist garden, a magical and unique place in the world.
It successfully mixes the lush vegetation with an enormous art piece with unfinished concrete staircases, pillars, and, of course, labyrinth-like passageways. This town is also where the oldest buildings in the country are still standing. It’s also well known for its food, as you’ll find here the tastiest enchiladas potosinas, but also organic coffee.
Valladolid, Yucatán
As the oldest town in the Mexican peninsula, Valladolid is a wonderful city. Every single building has a particular aesthetic that tells you the stories of this town. It’s a particular place where traditions are deeply rooted in religion, so you will see many wonderful churches, such as the ones dedicated to Santa Lucía, Santa Ana, and San Juan.
This is also a place where you will find some of the best crafts, like stone sculptures and hammocks. And like any other marvelous place in Yucatán, it has a natural beauty that’s impossible to ignore. Valladolid has 10 cenotes, out of which the most important one is the Cenote Zaci, a deep cavern with ancient stalactites.
San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato
If you’ll visit San Miguel de Allende, you’ll find cobblestone streets, colorful houses, many colonial mansions turned into museums, and, of course, the Church of Saint Michael the Archangel, magically carved out of pink sandstone.
This town has everything, from the beauty and traditions of the past to modern trends and luxurious living. It’s also the home to many relevant art galleries, so many national and international artists visit the city.
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