Explore Mexico with Magical Towns Program
Mexico Magical Towns Program (Pueblos Mágicos) is a government initiative spearheaded by the Mexican Secretariat of Tourism. This is a way to promote places in Mexico that are otherwise overlooked by the tourism crowds of Cancun and the Baja coast. These towns offer “magical” experiences due to their culture, art, cuisine, folklore, and beauty, which are bound to bring tourism to the rural Mexican interior.
Since its inception in 2001, the Magical Towns Programme has amassed more than 83 towns and villages in each of the 31 Mexican states. For a mostly rural community, it has also given the opportunity for the towns’ residents to also make a living from tourism, in turn diversifying the economy and stemming the exodus to urban areas that many countries around the world are plagued with. This program has proved wildly successful, even going as far as reducing poverty in the magical towns’ surrounding regions!
With Daytrip, you can experience the beauty and the magic of these towns with our thematic tour. You will be able to see the real culture of this massive and dynamic country and experience a beautiful mixture of culture, history, sights, and tastes with this tour. You will be able to get a sense of everything Mexico has to offer, all with the added bonus of riding with one of our partner drivers, who will be a local with the drive and passion for explaining and showing you around Mexico’s best and most authentic!
Mexico magical towns itinerary
Day 1: Ciudad del Carmen to Villahermosa(Stop in: Comalcalco)
Day 2: Villahermosa to Palenque(Stop in: DRUPA Interactive Chocolate Museum)
Day 3: Palenque to San Cristobal(Stop in: Tonina)
Day 4: San Cristobal to Comitan(Stop in: Church of St Juan Bautista)
BONUS Day: Comitan to Tuxtla Gutierrez(Stop in: Miradores del Canon del Sumidero, Tuxtla Gutierrez)
Day 1: Ciudad del Carmen to Villahermosa
Your starting point is Ciudad del Carmen, a city located on the island and a gateway into the Terminos Lagoon. It is sandwiched between a heavily protected wildlife area, creating a sanctuary for both the dolphins and turtles that populate the area, as well as people wanting to relax in the sunny Mexican heat!
The city is known for its colonial influences and history, with places like the Museo Victoriano Nievez to visit and get a sense of the historical significance of the region. Visit the Playa Norte for some clear waters, blue skies, and lots of fun!
Comalcalco
Comalcalco is the only Mayan city made of clay bricks instead of the usual stone
The only major Mayan city built of bricks instead of limestone, as well as the westernmost city of the Mayan civilization, Comalcalco is a very noteworthy historical site. With 432 structures across the old city, you will be able to step back in time to get a true sense of Mayan life!
Villahermosa
You can spot local wildlife such as as herons and nasua in Tomáš Garrido Park
The capital of the Mexican state of Tabasco, this city is a force to be reckoned with. The center of the Mexican oil industry is a highly modern city rich in natural resources. Attacked for many decades by pirates, the city was in ruins for much of the 16th century. However, during the colonial age, the city became a thriving city, being named “New Spain” by captains and generals.
Today, it is a beautiful and lively city filled with cultural and natural attractions! Visit the Casa de los Azulejos, a beautiful and imposing colonial building built in 1890 with Gothic and Moorish styles. You can also visit the La Venta Museum, which is the largest and most important exhibition of Olmec Native Mexican art. Relax at the Plaza de Armas with sprawling fountains and the beautiful Palacio de Gobierno. With leafy streets and a warm climate, you will find it to be a stunning first stop on your journey!
Day 2: Villahermosa to Palenque
After a sojourn in “Beautiful Village,” head on over to the next beautiful stop: Palenque.
DRUPA Interactive Chocolate Museum
DRUPA offers an interactive journey through Mexico's rich chocolate-making history
A cacao hacienda, this traditional chocolate factory not only shows you the full process of making this sweet gold, but you can even participate in the process! With a full array of activities, you will be able to harvest at the museum as well as prepare things like your own drinks.
Palenque
The Temple of the Inscriptions houses the tomb of the great Mayan ruler, Pakal the Great
Shining through the thickets of cedar, mahogany, and sapodilla trees, Palenque is the perfect setting to get to know a beautiful Mayan civilization. While smaller than Tikal or Chichen Itza, it contains some of the best examples of Mayan architecture. Archaeologists have reconstructed the majority of the history of this settlement from reading the hieroglyphical inscriptions found on many monuments. The most interesting part is less than 10% of the total city has been explored, leaving more than a thousand buildings still hiding in the jungles.
You can explore many unique sites like the Temple of the Inscriptions which was a funerary monument of Hanab-Pakal. The temple houses one of the longest texts known to the Mayan world. The Palax is a complex of several structures and was built over four centuries. There are also notable buildings like the Temple of the Skull, which has a skull on one of the pillars. With this many relics of the past, it is impossible to ignore the sheer beauty of these sites.
Day 3: Palenque to San Cristobal
After taking a dip into history, it is time to venture up into the highlands.
Tonina
Another Mayan archeological site, Tonina's pyramids are set on rising terraces. Marvel at the Stelas depicting different eras of the city, as well as learn about the many rulers who presided over the region!
San Cristobal
Also known by its native name, Jovel, is the cultural capital of this part of Mexico. This leafy town maintains its original layout and is adorned with cobblestone streets, red terracotta roofs, and balconies decorated with flowers. With a beautifully vibrant history, San Cristobal’s history is based on its culture and indigenous population.
You can visit the Santo Domingo convent. It is a beautiful church with golden panels and beautifully built pillars that truly add to the holy feel of the building. The San Cristobal City Hall is a great example of late-colonial Spanish architecture. The main plaza of the city orbits a kiosk that sells a host of different foods, including cured meats, that have a large Spanish and German tradition, from the German settlers of the city. Also in Santo Domingo is the market that will filled with indigenous textiles and crafts that define the city’s cultural life!
Day 4: San Cristobal to Comitan
After a relaxing stop in the cultural center of Chiapas, it's time to continue to Comitan.
Church of St Juan Bautista
The Church of St. Juan Bautista is known for its mix of Catholic and Indigenous traditions
A rather different church from the others, this church is decorated with beautiful indigenous accents, as well as covered in pine from the interiors. No photos are allowed inside as this atmospheric experience is sacred.
El Romerillo
Located about halfway between San Cristobal de las Casas and the major town of Tenejapa, the tiny Mayan settlement of El Romerillo doesn’t even show up on the map. Its inhabitants are entirely indigenous and without internet access. Being an indigenous settlement, the Romerillo is in typical Chiapas Maya style, which means giant wooden crosses colored in shades of blue with pine branches hanging from them. Below these, the graves are recognized by their humble mounds and more modest-sized wooden crosses, among which livestock can often be seen grazing.
Comitan
The church of San José though the lense of Max Böhme
A traditional town at its finest, Comitan is also the fourth largest town in Chiapas State. The Tzeltal People of the area founded this town in a swamp, a far cry from the beautiful town it is today. You can feel the indigenous influences on the area, a beautiful attribute of the Southern Mexican regions!
Today, Comitan is a wildly popular tourist destination for Mexicans, although it is becoming more and more popular with foreign tourists as well! The colonial and indigenous structures make a beautiful mix, and the clean streets and the pleasant disposition of the locals are a big reason why it is a trusted vacation spot for Mexicans! For culture, visit the Junchavin theatre, which holds European as well as Indigenous Mexican theatre plays. For some ecotourism fun, visit the nearby Mayan ruins of Tenam Puente, as well as the Lagunas de Montebello, a series of cascading waterfalls (this costs some pesos to enter).
Bonus day: Comitan to Tuxtla Gutierrez
After visiting one of the most popular domestic tourist destinations, complete your journey to Mexico’s natural center!
Chiapa de Corzo
La Pila fountain taken by Roger Ce
Filled with charming colonial architecture, this quiet town is the oldest in the state. Relax and enjoy the La Pila fountain in the main plaza, or go admire the mixed architectural styles of the Santo Domingo Church. Or add an extra hour to your visit to explore one of the oldest archaeological sites in Mesoamerica!
Miradores del Canon del Sumidero
Grijalva River of Sumidero Canyon through the lens of Falco Negenman
Stop for 75 minutes to hike through the rainforest around this dramatic river canyon and soak in the spectacular views!
Tuxtla Gutierrez
The capital of Chiapas State, this city is a modern wonder and a natural one in every regard! One of the safest cities in Mexico, European experts have labeled Tuxtla Gutierrez as a ‘City of the Future’! Tuxtla has a vibrant but tumultuous history, from uprisings to revolutions, but has come a long way to become the quiet and peaceful city it has worked so hard to become.
Today, the city orbits around the Main Plaza, called the Plaza Civica, which is lined by many administrative buildings. For a lesson on this city’s colorful history, visit the Old Town Hall, now the city’s museum. The most famous site is the St. Mark’s Cathedral, with its apse, the only one preserved from the colonial era in Chiapas State. Relax at the Marimba Garden Park, where you can enjoy the leafy and lush gardens as well as the beautiful colonial kiosk! For an indigenous taste, go to the local tianguis where you can snag a great deal on timeless indigenous crafts and delicious local delicacies like Pozol!
Ready to book Mexico Magical Towns tour?
Here’s each leg of the trip:
Book a car from Ciudad del Carmen to Villahermosa
Book a car from Villahermosa to Palenque
Book a car from Palenque to San Cristobal
Book a car from San Cristobal to Comitan
Book a car from Comitan to Tuxtla Gutierrez
