What are Magical Towns?

These towns are recognized by the Mexican government for preserving their history, culture, traditions, and natural beauty. A Pueblo Mágico (Magical Town) is a way to discover part of the country's richness through its people, cuisine, architecture, landscapes, and handicrafts. Each town offers a unique experience.

In the State of Oaxaca, there are officially six Magical Towns:

• Capulálpam de Méndez.
• San Pablo Villa de Mitla.
• Saint Peter and Saint Paul Teposcolula.
• Huautla de Jiménez.
• Mazunte.
• Santa Catarina Juquila.

On our last trip to the wonderful lands of Oaxaca, we visited five towns steeped in history and tradition. Two of them have been designated as Pueblos Mágicos (Magical Towns), and although the other three don't have that official recognition, they stand out for their rich artisanal crafts. From these three places, we brought back unique textiles and beautiful black clay pottery.

Below, we share some photos and the wonders we discovered in these three towns.

Saint Thomas Jalieza
The village of cushion covers and table runners.

Forty minutes from the city of Oaxaca, we find Santo Tomás Jalieza, a small and peaceful Zapotec village that, through the backstrap loom, has preserved an ancestral technique passed down from generation to generation.

It is renowned for its artisanal textile production, especially cushion covers, table runners, bags, tablecloths, tortilla warmers, belts, bracelets, and dolls. In the town's central market, women sell their creations and demonstrate how to work the loom. With their skill, they transform cotton threads into fine geometric designs and traditional Zapotec motifs.

Its serene atmosphere, the mountain landscapes that make us feel small, and its sense of community make this place a cultural gem.

Teotitlán del Valle
The village of wool textiles.

Located 30 kilometers from the city of Oaxaca is Teotitlán del Valle, one of the oldest towns in the state, renowned for its wool rugs woven on large wooden pedal looms. This Zapotec community keeps alive a tradition that dates back more than 500 years.

The designs range from pre-Hispanic Zapotec motifs to modern interpretations of universal art. Hand-spun sheep's wool is used, dyed with natural pigments such as cochineal (reds and pinks), indigo (blues), and extracts of walnut shell, Mexican marigold, moss, and marigold flowers (greens, ochres, and yellows).

Teotitlán del Valle is not a Pueblo Mágico (Magical Town), but its textile tradition and the natural environment that surrounds it make it an unmissable destination.

San Bartolo Coyotepec
The village of black mud.     

Twenty minutes south of the capital of Oaxaca is San Bartolo Coyotepec, a Zapotec town of potters who honor black clay and mold pieces with centuries of history and a unique technique that distinguishes this small place in the whole world.

The community extracts clay from the nearby hills, shapes it on a foot-powered potter's wheel, and fires it in underground wood-fired kilns. At the beginning of the 20th century, Rosa Real discovered that polishing the pieces before firing them achieves the shiny, metallic finish that makes Oaxacan black clay famous today.

Some of the figures that stand out in his work are skulls, jugs, crosses, jaguars, vases, and jewelry; all made with clay and fire.

San Bartolo Coyotepec is more than a destination: clay is a connection to its ancestors, its identity, its art, and its cultural resistance.

If you like the crafts from these places, we have

If, after experiencing a bit of the magic of these three villages, you're eager to take home a piece of their art, we invite you to visit our shop. You'll find handicrafts, textiles, and black clay pieces that we've brought directly from these villages, all crafted by indigenous artisans.