Huasca de Ocampo

Huasca de Ocampo was the first town in Mexico to be named a 'Pueblo Mágico,' and for good reason. The star attraction is the Prismas Basálticos, towering geometric basalt columns washed by waterfalls, a rare natural phenomenon. The town is also surrounded by historic haciendas like Santa María Regla, which were once used for silver processing and now serve as luxurious hotels. Local legends of elves (Duendes) haunt the surrounding forests, and there is even a museum dedicated to them. For food, try the 'Pastes,' a local pastry with British Cornish roots. Huasca is about 40 minutes from Pachuca. The best time to visit is year-round, but weekdays offer a more peaceful experience away from the weekend crowds from Mexico City.

Nearby cities

Pachuca

The capital of Hidalgo, with a long history of silver mining.

Tula de Allende

A city in Hidalgo known for the nearby Mesoamerican site of Tollan, the capital of the Toltecs.

Mineral del Chico

An idyllic mountain village in Hidalgo state, surrounded by dense pine forests and spectacular rock formations.

Pachuca

Hidalgo's capital, known as 'La Bella Airosa', features a rich mining tradition and a distinct English influence.

Texcoco

A historical city that was a major cultural center in the pre-Hispanic period and a member of the Aztec Triple Alliance.

Chalco

A city in the State of Mexico, historically located on the shore of Lake Chalco.

Tlaxcala

The capital of Mexico's smallest state, with a rich pre-Hispanic history.

Puebla

Known for its colonial architecture, Talavera pottery, and culinary history.

Chimalhuacán

A city and municipality east of Mexico City, known for its stone carving tradition.

Cuautla

A historical city in Morelos that played an important role in the Mexican War of Independence.

Apizaco

An important commercial and railway city in the state of Tlaxcala.

Xilitla

A surrealist paradise in the Huasteca Potosina rainforest, featuring Edward James' extraordinary concrete garden.

Nezahualcóyotl

A densely populated city and municipality in the State of Mexico, part of the Mexico City metropolitan area.

Ciudad Valles

The gateway to the Huasteca Potosina, a region of waterfalls, rivers, and rich nature.

Chignahuapan

A colorful town celebrated for its thermal springs and traditional handcrafted Christmas ornaments.

More places

Aqueduct of Padre Tembleque

An impressive engineering masterpiece from the colonial era.

Pachuca Clock Tower

A monumental clock tower located in Plaza Independencia.

Monastery of Huejotzingo

One of the earliest 16th-century monasteries in Mexico, part of the UNESCO World Heritage site on the slopes of Popocatépetl.

Pyramid of the Moon

The second largest pyramid in Teotihuacán at the northern end of the Avenue of the Dead.

San Gabriel Convent (Cholula)

One of the oldest monasteries in Mexico, built on the site of a former Quetzalcoatl temple.

Africam Safari

A renowned wildlife park near Puebla where animals roam freely in large habitats that visitors explore by car or bus.

Fort Loreto

One of two forts in Puebla that were the site of the Mexican army's victory over the French on May 5, 1862.

San Juan de Aragon Zoo

The second largest zoo in Mexico City, focused on the conservation of native and endangered species like the Mexican wolf.