The Pueblos Mágicos Programme

Pueblos Mágicos (Magical Towns) is a designation created in 2001 by Mexico’s Tourism Ministry (SECTUR) to recognize towns that, because of the cultural and historical richness they hold, their legends, traditions or natural setting, are special destinations. Huasca de Ocampo, Hidalgo, was the first to receive it.

Today more than a hundred towns across the country hold the title, such as Tepoztlán, Real de Catorce and Valle de Bravo. It is a Mexican government programme to promote tourism beyond the big cities and beaches, not a UNESCO designation.