Mazatepec, Morelos, Mexico

Mazatepec is a small town in Morelos, Mexico with 3500 years of history. They were under the tribe in today’s Cuernavaca, which was itself under the Aztecs. They were also governed by Xochicalco.

Coatetelco, Morelos, Mexico

Coatetelco is a small town in Morelos, Mexico that is one of the few remaining indigenous fishing villages in the country. It has an archaeological site dating back 2500 years ago, which was an ancient city that rose to power in the region after the fall of Xochicalco, a UNESCO world heritage site. The first human inhabitants were nomadic and the Aztecs were believed to have passed through the area from their mythological hometown to their promised land Tenochtitlan. Apart from the ruins, the lake nearby is also an attraction – legend has it that it was formed after a Princess wept after the destruction from how their god protected them against a tribal invasion with lightning.

The Spanish destroyed the main temple and built its main church, transforming the area to be a sugar cane production region. After the revolution, the trade was abandoned. Today, they continue with many traditional practices, including the worship of the indigenous god of mother nature.

San Pablo Guelatao, Oaxaca, Mexico

Guelatao of Juarez or San Pablo Guelatao is a small village in Oaxaca, Mexico of around 500 known for being the birthplace of President Benito Juárez, a former Chief Justice who ascended to the presidency as the only Native American to do so during the Reform Wars against the conservatives. Before that, he was governor of the state during the American invasion and the president during the second French invasion, during which he led a government-in-exile going around the country and at one point to the United States, while resisting Emperor Maxmillian’s attempt to appoint him a prime minister under His Imperial Majesty’s French puppet regime. He eventually won the war and after an extended time in office, died in office. Today, he’s known as a national hero and the only person whose birthday is a national holiday.

Capulálpam de Méndez, Oaxaca, Mexico

Capulálpam de Méndez is a small town in Oaxaca around 2 hours away from the state capital that’s designated a “free and sovereign” magical town, known for the natural reserve surrounding it. It also has maintained its traditions in herbal medicine and music, with a well-preserved town centre.

Santiago, Nuevo León, Mexico

Santiago is a small town within the metropolitan area of Monterrey in Nuevo León, Mexico that’s a magical town. It was founded by a family who obtained the land from the governor, who left the area after the natives repelled them for trying to steal the land, but they eventually returned.

China, Nuevo León, Mexico

China is a small city in Nuevo León, Mexico named after St Felipe de Jesús. He was the first saint born in Mexico, but was sent to the Philippines where he died – the region where west of Mexico traded with in East Asia was collectively known as just “China”. It has the largest dam for human consumption in Latin America and is known for its production of cabrito.