Cuetzalan- The Magical Village of Mexico

Some people might be wrong to say that there is no real adventure in these days of GPS coordinates and Google earth. An adventure don’t need the distance and beauty of the place, it is an open mind, faith about yourself and your love for the nature. The availability of technology gadgets like GPS devices, more affordable charging systems have provided comfort for the journeys. Eco-tourism and explorations are a way to go, though a little loss will not hurt. It is a profit for improvement of community.

In Puebla State of Mexico, Cuetzalan is one of the Mexican magical villages on nested high hills of Sierra Norte. Cuetzalan is a tiny town surrounded by tropical forests and coffee plantations, grottos and waterfalls. The Lush Flora is the beautiful area here that was once the home of colorful birds like Quetzal. This bird is the symbol of worship for here civilizations because its feathers are highly coveted among upper class and priests here.

Cuetzalan name dates backs to 1475; it means “the home of quetzal”. The native language of this village is Nahuati, but most of the residents also speak Spanish. Cuetzalan is a beautiful village of colonial past and indigenous through its inhabitants, gastronomy, traditions and architecture. This town is still away from modern life of Mexico, and it’s the reason that still natural beauty is uncovered to enjoy here.

In 2002, Cuetzalan was named as “Pueblos Magicos” of Mexico, means a magical village. Central part of this village is filled with beautiful churches like San Francisco Parish Church, a handful of quaint and Municipal Palace.  San Francisco Parish Church was built in 17th century. Cuetzalan is full of magical life and filled natural beauty.

When you drive Mexico, you will cross the miles of flat fields and farmlands spread around you, but soon you will experience that you are traveling towards a mountain line. Their peaks can be seen from the distance, but once you enter the mountains, they are like limitless to be crossed.  Once you crossed the plains and few hills, there are many towns and small cities on the way being waiting for eco-tourists. A welcome traffic sight can be seen after hours of distance from wheat fields, along with a line of sherbet colored churches and friendly locals who amuse you.

Now you start your wending on the mountain road and its great fun to stop on the way and get some nice photos, some enjoying and chill beside your wheel. However driving is great challenge here for inexperienced drivers. Towards the Cuetzalan village, it is one of the few straight-aways on this curvy drive. Cobblestoned and steep streets of Cuetzalan are the first impression along with churches for new comers and it make easier for cars to climb to the slopes.

In local Market of Cuetzalan, you can enjoy with fresh vegetables and fruits, embroidered clothing like blouses and other fabrics, juices, street food etc. on many peak areas in the town, you will found that that this town is built into a steep mountain side and has unobstructed views of Sierra Madre range at the tops. When you are on the streets of Cuetzalan, you will experience the steepness of streets and beautiful naturally grown flowers which add colors to the town. In some streets of the town, there is too steepness for automobiles and most you will find into pedestrian stair zones- a traditional stairs style found in ancient times. There is an open market in the center of this village and main church is just a few steps in front of this one square market.

For accommodations, there are many local hotels around the town which are comfortable and only at a distance of few minutes from main plaza of the town. What is most mystery is the night of this town. It looks similar to many other towns you may have seen in Italy with steep streets and built on the mountains.

This death defying and impressive ritual expressing the harmony of people, love for spiritual world and nature. Along with Voladores dancing, there have been many other traditional dancing festivals in the town like Quetzals, Negritos and Santiago. There are two major festivals which are celebrated in Cuetzalan in the month of October. First is the “fair of Coffee”, in which a celebration is arranged for this crop. Second is Huipll Festivity, a traditional dancing festival in which young girls of 14-20 years of Cuetzalan are dressed in most traditional elegant dressing dance around the village along with dancers and musicians.

Cuetzalan is town, most popular for cavers and hiker around the world. Many places are here ready to be explored. The caves including Ampolis caves, atepolihui, Chapultepec and Chivostoc caves beside a short hike form the Cuetzalan town.

Some people might be wrong to say that there is no real adventure in these days of GPS coordinates and Google earth. An adventure don’t need the distance and beauty of the place, it is an open mind, faith about yourself and your love for the nature. The availability of technology gadgets like GPS devices, more affordable charging systems have provided comfort for the journeys. Eco-tourism and explorations are a way to go, though a little loss will not hurt. It is a profit for improvement of community.

In Puebla State of Mexico, Cuetzalan is one of the Mexican magical villages on nested high hills of Sierra Norte. Cuetzalan is a tiny town surrounded by tropical forests and coffee plantations, grottos and waterfalls. The Lush Flora is the beautiful area here that was once the home of colorful birds like Quetzal. This bird is the symbol of worship for here civilizations because its feathers are highly coveted among upper class and priests here.

Cuetzalan name dates backs to 1475; it means “the home of quetzal”. The native language of this village is Nahuati, but most of the residents also speak Spanish. Cuetzalan is a beautiful village of colonial past and indigenous through its inhabitants, gastronomy, traditions and architecture. This town is still away from modern life of Mexico, and it’s the reason that still natural beauty is uncovered to enjoy here.

In 2002, Cuetzalan was named as “Pueblos Magicos” of Mexico, means a magical village. Central part of this village is filled with beautiful churches like San Francisco Parish Church, a handful of quaint and Municipal Palace.  San Francisco Parish Church was built in 17th century. Cuetzalan is full of magical life and filled natural beauty.

Every year, there are number of activities, festivals or fairs here in this village. A unique place here for eco-tourists is Voladores, which has been described on an online forum as; these flyers dress in colorful costumes and scurry up at a 60 feet tall tree trunk and ropes tied around their ankles and their jumping is similar to scuba diving in the air, head first and backward. When rope unwinds, four people soar around the trees and fifth one just dancing on the tinny part of tree trunk.

This town is recognized as unique sample of cultural heritage by official groups and only the place where most of the difenos and chilangos Mexicans are residing. There is town, about four to five hour drive over plains of Sierra Madres toward the hills on a side of the mountain that need to be explored. The hotels are great and almost inexpensive here. Cuetzalan village has been mentioned as “Perfect Mexican Mountain Town” in Washington Post.

 Cuetzalan Pueblos Magicos program identifies and explains the cultural attributes of this town like music, handcrafts, gastronomy, music, customs, traditions and architecture. There are about places in Mexico along with Cuetzalan village which have earned the title of Pueblos Magicos.