Learn more about pueblos mágicos and find out where they are located. Get recommendations on which pueblos mágicos are worth a visit.
Table of Contents
What are pueblos mágicos?
The pueblos mágicos is a program of Mexico’s tourism department (Secretaría de Turismo). The aim of this program is to highlight towns and populations which represent the best of Mexico to national and foreign visitors.
A pueblo mágico is a place with symbols and legends, towns with history that in many cases have been the scene of momentous events for our country, are places that show national identity in each of its corners, with a magic that emanates from its attractions; visiting them is an opportunity to discover the charm of Mexico.
Mexico’s Secretaría de Turismo
As of this writing there are 121 pueblos mágicos spread throughout the republic of Mexico.
Where are these pueblos mágicos?
The map below has divided the country into 7 regions, each with it’s own list of pueblos mágicos. Read on to find out more about each region and which town we recommend you visit.
El Norte (The North)
This region of Mexico includes northern states such as Baja California, Chihuahua, Zacatecas, and Aguascalientes. These big states make up the largest region in the country and include the most number of pueblos mágicos (a total of 31).
| Pueblo | State |
|---|---|
| Calvillo | Aguascalientes |
| Real de Asientos | Aguascalientes |
| San José de Gracia | Aguascalientes |
| Tecate | Baja California |
| Loreto | Baja California Sur |
| Todos Santos | Baja California Sur |
| Batopilas | Chihuahua |
| Casas Grandes | Chihuahua |
| Creel | Chihuahua |
| Arteaga | Coahuila |
| Candela | Coahuila |
| Cuatro Ciénegas | Coahuila |
| Guerrero | Coahuila |
| Melchor Múzquiz | Coahuila |
| Parras de la Fuente | Coahuila |
| Viesca | Coahuila |
| Mapimi | Durango |
| Nombre de Dios | Durango |
| Bustamante | Nuevo León |
| Linares | Nuevo León |
| Santiago | Nuevo León |
| Álamos | Sonora |
| Magdalena de Kino | Sonora |
| Mier | Tamaulipas |
| Tula | Tamaulipas |
| Guadalupe | Zacatecas |
| Jerez de García Salinas | Zacatecas |
| Nochistlán de Mejía | Zacatecas |
| Pinos | Zacatecas |
| Sombrerete | Zacatecas |
| Teúl de González Ortega | Zacatecas |
Central Mexico
The central region of the country is home to some superb pueblos mágicos including Valle de Bravo and Tepotzotlan. There is plenty to choose from in this region which include a total of 28 of these magic towns.
| Pueblo | State |
|---|---|
| Aculco | Mexico |
| Atlixco | Puebla |
| Chignahuapan | Puebla |
| Cuetzalan del Progreso | Puebla |
| El Oro | Mexico |
| Huamantla | Tlaxcala |
| Huasca de Ocampo | Hidalgo |
| Huauchinango | Puebla |
| Huichapan | Hidalgo |
| Ixtapan de la Sal | Mexico |
| Malinalco | Mexico |
| Metepec | Mexico |
| Mineral del Chico | Hidalgo |
| Pahuatlán | Puebla |
| Real de Monte | Hidalgo |
| San Juan Teotihuacán y San Martín de las Pirámides | Mexico |
| San Pedro Cholula | Puebla |
| Tecozautla | Hidalgo |
| Tepotzotlán | Mexico |
| Tepoztlán | Morelos |
| Tlatlauquitepec | Puebla |
| Tlayacapan | Morelos |
| Tlaxco | Tlaxcala |
| Valle de Bravo | Mexico |
| Villa del carbón | Mexico |
| Xicotepec | Puebla |
| Zacatlán de las Manzanas | Puebla |
| Zimapán | Hidalgo |
El Bajío (The Lowlands)
El Bajío (the Lowlands) include parts of Jalisco, Guanjuato, Queretaro, and Aguascalientes. The fertile lands of this region are home to some amazing pueblos mágicos, including our top pueblo mágico: Pátzcuaro. The region is recognized as having the best quality of life in the country, and also the safest.
| Pueblo | State |
|---|---|
| Amealco de Bonfil | Querétaro |
| Aquismón | San Luis Potosí |
| Cadereyta de Montes | Querétaro |
| Comonfort | Guanajuato |
| Cuitzeo del Porvenir | Michoacán |
| Dolores Hidalgo | Guanajuato |
| Jalpa de Cánovas | Guanajuato |
| Jalpan de Serra | Querétaro |
| Jiquilpan de Juárez | Michoacán |
| Mineral de Angangueo | Michoacán |
| Mineral de Pozos | Guanajuato |
| Pátzcuaro | Michoacán |
| Real de Catorce | San Luis Potosí |
| Salvatierra | Guanajuato |
| San Joaquín | Querétaro |
| San Sebastián Bernal | Querétaro |
| Santa Clara del Cobre | Michoacán |
| Tacámbaro | Michoacán |
| Tequisquiapan | Querétaro |
| Tlalpujahua de Rayón | Michoacán |
| Tzintzuntzan | Michoacán |
| Xilitla | San Luis Potosí |
| Yuriria | Guanajuato |
North Pacific Coast
This region features the Pacific states of Jalisco, Nayarit, Colima, and Sinaloa. In our list of the best pueblos magicos Tequila and Lagos de Moreno are #4 and #5, respectively.
| Pueblo | State |
|---|---|
| Comala | Colima |
| Compostela de Indias | Nayarit |
| Cosalá | Sinaloa |
| El Rosario | Sinaloa |
| El Fuerte | Sinaloa |
| Jala | Nayarit |
| Lagos de Moreno | Jalisco |
| Mascota | Jalisco |
| Mazamitla | Jalisco |
| Mocorito | Sinaloa |
| San Pedro Tlaquepaque | Jalisco |
| San Sebastián del Oeste | Jalisco |
| Sayulita | Nayarit |
| Talpa de Allende | Jalisco |
| Tapalpa | Jalisco |
| Tequila | Jalisco |
South Pacific Coast
Further south the Pacific coast are includes the beautiful states of Guerrero, Oaxaca, and Chipas. The state of Guerrero includes Taxco (#2 in our list), while the state of Chipas has San Cristóbal de las Casas (#3 in our list).
| Pueblo | State |
|---|---|
| Capulálpam de Méndez | Oaxaca |
| Chiapa de Corzo | Chiapas |
| Comitán | Chiapas |
| Huautla de Jiménez | Oaxaca |
| Mazunte | Oaxaca |
| Palenque | Chiapas |
| San Cristóbal de las Casas | Chiapas |
| San Pablo Villa de Mitla | Oaxaca |
| San Pedro y San Pablo Teposcolula | Oaxaca |
| Taxco de Alarcón | Guerrero |
El Golfo (The Gulf)
If you like seafood you can’t go wrong with visiting the states on the Gulf side of the country: Veracruz and Tabasco.
| Pueblo | State |
|---|---|
| Coatepec | Veracruz |
| Coscomatepec | Veracruz |
| Orizaba | Veracruz |
| Papantla | Veracruz |
| Tapijulapa / Tacotalpa | Tabasco |
| Xico | Veracruz |
| Zozocolco de Hidalgo | Veracruz |
The South
The Yucatán peninsula is home to some amazing beaches and historical archaeological ruins. A visit to the pueblos mágicos of Tulum and Valladolid are highly recommended.
| Pueblo | State |
|---|---|
| Bacalar | Quintana Roo |
| Isla Mujeres | Quintana Roo |
| Izamal | Yucatán |
| Palizada | Campeche |
| Tulum | Quintana Roo |
| Valladolid | Yucatán |
Which pueblos mágicos are worth a visit?
If you are looking for more information on these towns, I recommend you take a look at some of our pueblos mágicos blogs. We also have a list of the best pueblos mágicos we have visited which you’ll want to read.
If you are ready to start planning your next trip, be sure to check out our list of travel itineraries. Here you will find travel and logistic information for some awesome trips to Mexico and other places.