Do you want to know the five Magical Towns of Oaxaca? After touring its capital, we recommend you continue exploring the state for its wonderful Magical Towns, where you will find extraordinary places, landscapes and traditions.
Magical Towns of Oaxaca
Huautla de Jiménez
In the Mazateca region, drawn by the vegetation that rises and falls with the mountains, we find this village dressed in mist with a scent of wet earth, deep caverns and ancestral rituals.
Huautla de Jiménez provides tourists and travelers who visit many experiences. The most outstanding of them, undoubtedly, Cerro de la Adoración, considered by the locals a mystical and sacred site. It is said a God dwells there and will grant wishes in exchange for eggs, candles, or a bit of cocoa.
On September 27, 2015, Huautla de Jiménez was declared a Magic Town by the Ministry of Tourism of the Federal Government. This distinguished appointment is due to the vast offering of culinary, wild and cultural attractions that the town offers.
The reason to go
El Sótano de San Agustín. Located in the community of the same name, one hour from Huautla, it is a cave system, considered the deepest in America. It has 20 entrances, 72 kilometers long and 1,545 meters deep.
Essentials
- Appreciate the population and the Sierra Mazateca from the Loma de Chapultepec viewpoint.
- Enjoy the coffee produced in the region.
- Learn about the shamans, María Sabina and Julieta Casimiro.
San Pablo Villa de Mitla
Part of its name is due to the Mexicas, who called it Mictlán, which means “Place of the dead”. It seems that the spirit of its ancient inhabitants remains in the archaeological zone, as well as in the streets that look proudly towards the Valley of Tlacolula.
The reason to go
The archaeological zone of Mitla. It is one of the most important in Oaxaca and stands out for its decoration with mosaic frets and the hundreds of carved pieces that have been found. This area was inhabited by the Zapotecs after the fall of Monte Alban and later by the Mixtecs.
Essentials
- Find out how much time you have left in the Column of Life in the archaeological zone.
- Enjoy the mezcal made in the Region.
- Take home clothes made with lanzadera and pedal loom.
San Pedro and San Pablo Teposcolula
Treasure of the Mixteca region, which during the colonial period was established as the most important political and commercial center of the area, nowadays it is a perfect destination to admire buildings and enjoy gastronomy.
The reason to go
The colonial convent set, which was built in the sixteenth century with a tequitqui art facade. The Chapel of Santa Gettrudis has elements similar to La Antigua de Guatemala, while the Open Chapel is the largest in Latin America.
Essentials
- Visit the Casa de la Cacica to learn more about Teposcolula, a 16th century building where several caciques lived and where it currently houses the BS Children’s Library.
- Know the hydraulic colonial buildings of Alarcón and La Alcantarilla.
- Explore the hill of the Old Town.
Masunte
This fishing village has become a meeting point worldwide for nature lovers. Its residents have redirected their efforts, betting on sustainable projects focused on tourism and the creation of friendly products with their environment. Here, where the sea feels warm on the feet, is where the turtles chose to return every year.
The reason to go
Because it is an ecological destination par excellence. Here there are guarded fields for the conservation of the sea turtle. In this destination hundreds of olive ridley turtles spawn at night in certain lunar stages. The brown, leatherback and hawksbill species also occur to a lesser extent.
Essentials
- Know its main beaches: Marmejita, San Ajustinillo, La Ventanilla, Agua Blanca, La Escobilla and Cerro Sagrado.
- Visit Punta Cometa and its ceremonial center, where rituals are performed with healers; Thanks to its strategic position, you will enjoy a 180 ° visibility of the ocean.
- Try the dishes made with fresh sea products, especially the needlefish or seafood tamales wrapped in banana leaf.
Capulálpam de Méndez
It is one of the places that are close to the sky and not only because of its altitude (2,000 meters), but because of its people, its landscapes and its buildings that coexist in perfect harmony. Its inhabitants speak Zapotec and take pride in their roots, they also profess a great respect for nature.
The reason to go
The Temple of San Mateo Disciple. Visiting it is like going back in time, because it preserves the original decoration of the Dominicans, which was characterized by its colorful lily flowers. Its construction began in the sixteenth century, and according to the medallion located at the entrance, it was inaugurated on April 20, 1731. Appreciate its 14 valuable altarpieces. Some say they were made right there and others claim that they were brought from several regions of the Sierra Norte.
Essentials
- Get a cleansing at the Center for Traditional Indian Medicine.
- Listen to a Marimba Nueva Esmeralda concert with local children.
- See the sunrise from the viewpoint of La Cruz.
- Taste the delights that families offer on Sundays in the downtown portals.