The Magical Towns of Hidalgo show us the viceregal past through their physical heritage, history and traditions, and offer wonderful places for fun and relaxation, as well as unparalleled gastronomy.
1. Huasca de Ocampo
In the Sierra de Pachuca, very close to the state capital and Real del Monte, is the Magical Town of Hidalgo de Huasca de Ocampo.
The history of the town is marked by the estates established by Pedro Romero de Terreros, the first Count of Regla, to extract the precious metals with which he made his immense fortune.
The former estates of Santa María Regla, San Miguel Regla, San Juan Hueyapan and San Antonio Regla, testify to the past of wealth and splendor of that time.
Santa María Regla was the hacienda where the silver processing began in Huasca de Ocampo and today it is a beautiful rustic hotel where the 18th century chapel with the image of Our Lady of Loreto is preserved.
San Miguel Regla was also converted into a hotel with a rural setting and has an eighteenth-century chapel, lakes and an ecotourism center for horseback riding, fishing and excursions, among other activities.
San Juan Hueyapan is another former hacienda transformed into a rustic lodging and has an attractive 19th century Japanese garden, as well as being surrounded by a set of colonial myths and legends.
The old former farm of San Antonio Regla was submerged under a dam, leaving the ends of the great chimney and a tower as the only witnesses protruding from the water.
In the Magic Town, the church of Juan el Bautista is distinguished, a 16th century construction that has an image of San Miguel Arcángel that was a gift from the Count of Regla.
Also in the village is the picturesque Museum of the Goblins, located in a wooden house. In Huasca de Ocampo there are tales and legends of goblins everywhere and among the pieces exhibited in the museum there is a collection of horse manes.
Another great natural attraction in Huasca de Ocampo are the basaltic prisms, almost perfect stone structures chiseled by nature under the blows of water and wind.
- Huasca de Ocampo, Hidalgo - Magic Town: Definitive Guide
2. Huichapan
The Magical Town of Hidalgo in Huichapan stands out for the beauty of its religious buildings, its ecotourism parks and its pulque, which the locals celebrate as the best in the country.
The parochial temple of San Mateo Apóstol was built in the mid-18th century by Manuel González Ponce de León, the most important man in the history of the town. In a niche located next to the presbytery the only known image of the famous Spanish captain is preserved.
The stone tower of the church has a double bell tower and was a defensive bastion during the wars that ravaged Mexican territory in the 19th century.
The Chapel of the Virgin of Guadalupe was the original home of Saint Matthew and has a neoclassical altar in which are notable paintings of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the Assumption of Mary and the Ascension of Christ.
The chapel of the Third Order has a double churrigueresque façade and inside there is a beautiful altarpiece related to the Franciscan order.
El Chapitel is a complex made up of a church, convent house, guest house and other rooms, where in 1812 the Mexican tradition of uttering the cry of independence every September 16 was inaugurated.
The Municipal Palace is a 19th century building surrounded by beautiful gardens and has a quarry facade and a set of 9 balconies.
The House of the Tithe is a neoclassical building that was created for the collection and custody of tithes, later being a fortification during the wars of the 19th century.
One of the most representative works of Huichapan is the splendid El Saucillo Aqueduct, built during the first half of the 18th century by Captain Ponce de León. It is 155 meters long, with 14 impressive arches that reach 44 meters in height.
After a long journey through the architectural beauties of Huichapan, it is only fair that you fancy some fun in a park.
In the Los Arcos Ecotourism Park you can camp, go horseback riding, hike and rappel, zip-line and practice other entertaining activities.
- Huichapan, Hidalgo - Magic Town: Definitive Guide
3. Mineral del Chico
El Chico is a welcoming town of just 500 inhabitants, nestled 2,400 meters above sea level in the Sierra de Pachuca.
It was incorporated in 2011 to the Mexican Magical Towns system, due to its beautiful architectural heritage, its mining heritage and its beautiful spaces for ecotourism, in the middle of a delicious mountain climate.
The enchanting natural landscapes that Mineral del Chico has are countless, most of them within the El Chico National Park, which has peaceful valleys, forests, rocks, bodies of water and various developments for ecotourism.
The Valleys of Llano Grande and Los Enamorados are located within the park and are beautiful green grassy areas surrounded by mountains. In the Valley of the Lovers there are rock formations that give it its name. In these two valleys you can go camping, horseback riding and ATVs, and practice different ecological activities.
In Las Ventanas you will find yourself at the highest point of the national park, in a place where it snows in winter and where you can practice climbing and rappelling.
If you dare to fish a trout, you may be lucky in the El Cedral Dam, a place where you will find cabins, zip lines, horses and all-terrain vehicles.
Among the ecological parks, one very well endowed is Las Carboneras, which has spectacular 1,500-meter long zip lines, arranged over canyons up to 100 meters deep.
Changing the environment, the mining past of El Chico survived the mines of San Antonio and Guadalupe, which were prepared for the visitors' journey, as well as a small mining museum located next to the parish church.
The Purísima Concepción temple is the architectural emblem of Minera del Chico, with its neoclassical lines and quarry façade. It has a clock that came out of the workshop in which London's Big Ben was also built.
The Main Square of El Chico is a meeting of styles that reflects the different cultures that have passed through the town, with details left by Spanish, English, Americans and, of course, Mexicans.
- Mineral Del Chico, Hidalgo - Magic Town: Definitive Guide
4. Real Del Monte
Just 20 km from Pachuca de Soto is this Magical Town of Hidalgo, which stands out for its traditional houses, its mining past, its museums and its monuments.
From the mining boom of Real del Monte, there were mines that can be visited by tourists, as well as beautiful buildings such as the House of the Count of Regla, the Great House and the Portal of Commerce.
The Acosta Mine came into operation in 1727 and was active until 1985. You can stroll through its 400-meter gallery and admire a vein of silver.
In the Acosta Mine there is a site museum that tells the history of mining in Real del Monte over two and a half centuries. Another sample, oriented to the equipment and tools used at different times, is in La Dificultad Mine.
The Count of Regla, Pedro Romero de Terreros, was the richest man of his time in Mexico, thanks to mining and his manor house was called the “Casa de la Plata”.
The Casa Grande began as the residence of the Count of Regla and was later converted into accommodation for his managerial staff in the mines. It is a typical Spanish colonial house, with a large interior central patio.
The Portal del Comercio, located next to the temple of Nuestra Señora del Rosario, was the “mall” of Real del Monte in the 19th century, thanks to an investment by the wealthy merchant José Téllez Girón.
The Portal del Comercio had commercial premises and rooms for lodging, and there the Emperor Maximiliano stayed when he was in Real del Monte in 1865.
The church of Nuestra Señora del Rosario is an 18th century temple that has the peculiarity that its two towers are of different architectural styles, one with Spanish lines and the other English.
Real del Monte was the scene of the first labor strike in America, when mining workers rose up in 1776 against harsh working conditions. The anniversary is remembered with a set made up of a monument and a mural.
Another monument honors the Anonymous Miner, formed by the statue of a miner who has at his feet a coffin that represents the hundreds of workers who died in the dangerous mines.
- Real Del Monte, Hidalgo, Magic Town: Definitive Guide
5. Tecozautla
This beautiful Magical Town of Hidalgo has hot springs, beautiful landscapes, beautiful architecture and an interesting archaeological site.
In Tecozautla there is a natural geyser that rises impressively in a column of liquid water and steam, whose temperature reaches 95 degrees Celsius.
The hot water has been dammed in pools made in tune with the environment for the enjoyment of bathers. In addition, the El Geiser Spa Spa has cabins, palapas, hanging bridges, a restaurant and a camping area.
In the town of Tecozautla, the most representative building is the Torreón, a stone tower that was built in 1904 during the Porfiriato era. The town of narrow streets is made up of houses and buildings of colonial architecture.
The archaeological zone of Pahñu is located in a semi-desert site, northwest of Tecozautla, distinguished by some Otomi constructions such as the Pyramid of the Sun and the Pyramid of Tlaloc. By virtue of its strategic location, Pahñu was part of the Teotihuacán trade route.
To go to the archaeological site, we recommend that you wear light clothing and bring a hat or cap, sunglasses, sunscreen and water to drink, since the sun's rays fall vigorously.
Another ancient place of interest is Banzhá, where there are cave paintings made by artists of nomadic ethnic groups.
Tecozautla is a very festive town. The carnival is very lively, mixing pre-Hispanic and modern manifestations, with music, dances, dances, masks and allusive clothing.
In July the Fruit Fair is held, in honor of Santiago Apóstol. During the fair, cultural, artistic, musical and sporting events are presented, and the celebration closes with a nightly fireworks show worth seeing.
December 12 is the feast of the Virgin of Guadalupe, with pilgrimages and a solemn mass attended by all the people, in addition to great joy. The rest of December is dedicated to posadas and festive events around this very Mexican tradition.
At lunchtime, in Tecozautla you will have to choose from a variety of exquisite dishes, such as chicken and potato chalupas, mole with ranch hen or turkey, and escamoles. On Thursdays the “plaza day” is celebrated and barbecue, chili pepper and consommé are eaten at street stalls.
- Tecozautla, Hidalgo: Definitive Guide
We hope that you have enjoyed this walk through the Magical Towns of Hidalgo and that you tell us about any concerns you may have had. Happy travel through Hidalgo!
Find more information about Hidalgo in our guides:
- 15 Things To Do And Visit In Huasca De Ocampo, Hidalgo, Mexico
- The 12 Best Things to See and Do in Real Del Monte, Hidalgo
