In-depth travel guides and itineraries to Puebla City and the Pueblos Magicos (magical towns) of Puebla, Mexico
I’ve explored many cities and small towns in Mexico and Puebla remains one of my favorites. In my opinion, it’s one of the most underrated cities in the country. It’s surprising to me that Puebla doesn’t get as much attention as Oaxaca or Mexico City. It has so much to offer in regards to culture, … Read more
As of this writing, the state of Puebla is home to twelve pueblos mágicos, the most of any state in Mexico (tied with Jalisco and Estado de Mexico). People who’ve been to Puebla City have probably taken a day trip to Cholula, but there are eleven more magical towns in this state that you need to know about and visit.
Tetela de Ocampo was the last pueblo mágico I visited in Puebla. Being the newest, my trip to this sleep Sierra Norte mountain town was a fitting end to my quest to visit all ten. Before Tetela was declared a pueblo mágico in 2020, the last towns in Puebla state to receive that distinction were … Read more
Small towns in Mexico can be given the pueblo mágico designation for any number of reasons. In Xicotepec de Juarez, I’m sure Xochipila has a lot to do with it. In Cholula, the Great Pyramid is an obvious reason while in Tetela de Ocampo, the town’s historical significance has to be a major factor. There … Read more
The pueblo magico designation is given to small rural towns in Mexico that “offer visitors special experiences”. Those special experiences can come as a result of many factors like the town’s natural beauty, its folklore, historical relevance, and cultural richness. Visit all the pueblos magicos in Puebla and it’s easy to see how each one … Read more
Tlatlauqui. That’s what the locals affectionately called Ciudad de Tlatlauquitepec, a pueblo magico nestled in the Sierra Norte region of Puebla. I didn’t understand it at the time but Tlatlauqui is a fitting nickname for this magical town. It’s a cute name, like something you’d affectionately call a younger sibling, or your nephew or niece. … Read more
I’ve visited all ten pueblos magicos in the state of Puebla. Cholula is the easiest to get to and by far the most visited, at least by foreign tourists. On the opposite end is Pahuatlan del Valle, a tiny mountain town with a population of a little over 20,000. As far as I know, hardly … Read more
I was telling a restaurant owner in Xicotepec de Juarez that I was on a mission to visit all ten pueblos magicos in Puebla. He seemed impressed and asked me where I had been. I told him I had already been to Cholula, Atlixco, Zacatlan, and Chignahuapan. I was going to Huauchinango the following day … Read more
Cholula is by far the most popular and frequently visited pueblo magico in the state of Puebla. There are two reasons for this. One, it’s the most accessible. It’s located just a little over 9 miles (15 km) west of Puebla, making it an easy day trip from the capital city. And two, it’s one … Read more
I’ve visited all ten pueblos magicos in the state of Puebla and in my opinion, Zacatlán de las Manzanas is one of the most interesting. Nestled in the Sierra Norte mountain range of Puebla, the region is known for its production of apples, cider, and fruit wines and is home to the Relojes Centenario company, … Read more