Puebla’s Magical Towns for a Romantic Weekend
When love needs a getaway, Puebla comes to the rescue with three incredible destinations that have it all: Cholula, Atlixco, and Zacatlán.
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Puebla is one of the states in Mexico with the most Magical Towns, and it is not a fluke. Each possesses its own charm, rhythm, and secrets. Nevertheless, there are three that top the list when it comes to celebrating love or stretching an experience into a romantic weekend getaway—Cholula, Atlixco, and Zacatlán.
History, tradition, enchanting scenery, and the perfect ambiance for re-connecting with your partner—these are all the ingredients sweethearts need for a dream trip.
So come discover Puebla’s Magical Towns! This is a call to hit the pause button, wander hand-in-hand down colonial-era lanes, toast with artisanal mezcal, and let their charm make you to fall in love over and over again.
Charming Cholula
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▌Just minutes from Puebla’s capital, Cholula, better known as San Pedro Cholula, is a place that blends ancestral vibes with modern-day life.
It is even considered the oldest living city in the Americas, and the town is just the spot for those looking for an intriguing, passionate, and deeply symbolic atmosphere.
Imagine starting off the day with a coffee in front of Tlachihualtépec, the great pyramid, then climbing up to the famous Nuestra Señora de los Remedios church, a gem for the ages. The church, named for Our Lady of Remedies, hides secret tunnels and underground legends, just waiting to be discovered.
Besides, it represents the balance between past and present. Be sure to include it in your plans!
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▌Exploring Cholula is sure to delight you. There is its architecture from the colonial period, hidden gardens, markets bursting with color, and of course, many, many churches. But its appeal is also its young, free-spirited air, thanks to the many nearby universities. You will find pleasant cafés, bars with welcoming patios, and rooftop gardens perfect for proposing a toast with mezcal while the sun goes down.
So, wander Zócalo square, filled with urban art, pop into magnificent baroque churches, and don’t hesitate to try traditional dishes such as corn with crickets or rich poblano mole sauce in a restaurant with outdoor seating. It will be a trip filled with happy, memorable moments.
◆ Besides, this Magical Town is known for producing cider, Talavera ceramics, fireworks, pottery, and straw art. The latter is an age-old pre-Hispanic technique that uses dyed vegetable fibers to create images and designs on a waxed surface.
It is an astonishing art!
While all this beauty will make you sigh, give your senses yet another experience with a beer or artisanal mezcal tasting.
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Yet another incredible option is visiting Talavera de la Reyna, a place where visitors can see the methods and amount of work that go into creating Talavera pieces. It is an enduring tradition whose intricate process makes it one of Mexico’s most remarkable. Even better? You can visit the exhibition gallery and pick up some favorite pieces.
To wrap up the day, enjoy a romantic dinner in one of lovely restaurants with a garden, followed by an evening walk around San Pedro Cholula’s downtown, all by the light of the stars. You can see Plaza de la Concordia, the square lined by Los Portales, a series of 46 arches built in 1573 that are 557.7 feet long. It is Mexico’s longest arcade.
Cholula’s Attractions ⎯⎯⎯⎯
• Capilla Real (Royal Chapel)
• Complejo Cultural Cholula (Cholula Cultural Center)
• Container City
• Ex convento de San Gabriel (Former San Gabriel Convent)
• Jardín Etnobotánico (Ethnobotanical Garden)
• Mercado Cosme del Razo (Cosme del Razo Market)
• Museo Regional de Cholula (Cholula Regional Museum)
• Museo de Talavera Alarca (Alarca Talavera Ceramics Museum)
• Parroquia de San Pedro (San Pedro Church)
• Zona Arqueológica de Cholula (Cholula’s Archeological Site)
• San Francisco Acatepec (San Francisco Acatepec Church)
• Santa María Tonantzintla (Santa María Tonantzintla Church)
• Plaza de la Concordia – Los Portales (Plaza de la Concordia-Los Portales Square and Archway)
• Santuario de la Virgen de los Remedios (Our Lady of Remedies Church)
Atlixco, “Ciudad de las Flores” (City of Flowers)
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▌Only 35 minutes from the city of Puebla, you will fall in love with Atlixco—with its mild weather, cobblestone streets, and color-drenched facades—from the moment you arrive. This makes it the perfect spot to unplug from the hustle and bustle. Let yourself follow the slower rhythm of love.
In fact, strolling through downtown Atlixco is like walking into a picture—the mansions from colonial times, building fronts wrapped in bougainvillea, fountains, sculptures, murals, and flower-lined balconies. It’s a feast for the senses.
Also known as the “Ciudad de las Flores” (City of Flowers), the town is a sublime spot for snapping photos or just losing yourself to the colors and scents.
◆ Visit Jardín Mágico, an immersive floral experience featuring light tunnels and natural botanical sculptures. Furthermore, nature lovers should explore the ornamental plant nurseries, and if they are looking for breath-taking views, they can’t go wrong with the scenic overlook on Cerro de San Miguel, the hill towering over the town.
▌In the afternoons, the town square, the Zócalo, fills with music, stalls offering local products, and hand-crafted ice cream with flavors like chile en nogada (stuffed pepper in cream sauce), marzipan, and even “vaporub” (VapoRub).
And then there are the water parks supplied with water from Popocatépetl volcano that will make visitors lose track of time and reconnect with their inner selves. A very tempting plan…
◆ One of Atlixco’s newest attractions is “Callejón del Amor” (Love Lane), a vivid space where visitors leave ribbons with romantic messages with the aim of immortalizing lovers’ stories. Would you memorialize your love?
But if you have more traditional tastes, there is also the “Banca del Amor” (Lovers’ Bench). As legend would have it, if you sit on this bench with your sweetheart, your love will be stronger and longer lasting. It is even decorated with flowers, hearts, and pictures of singer-songwriters of ballads, as well as famous people from human history.
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Atlixco is also famous for its Villa Iluminada (Lighted Village) at Christmastime and its summery counterpart with floral figures and lights that turn the nights into a glowing show. But even outside these seasons, the city holds on to its magic—you can visit the former textile mill, ex Fábrica de Hilados y Tejidos de Metepec, or savor an afternoon of wine and small bites on a terrace overlooking Volcán Popocatépetl, which stands tall over the town.
To top off the day, stay in a boutique hacienda estate standing in sweeping gardens, enjoy a relaxing couple’s massage, or dine alfresco under strings of glowing lights, bathed in the fragrance of flowers, and lulled by the murmur of a venerable fountain.
Atlixco is serenity, beauty, and natural romance. A place where time stands still to leisurely applaud love…
Atlixco’s Attractions ⎯⎯⎯⎯
• Antiguo Hospital de San Juan de Dios (Former San Juan de Dios Hospital)
• Capilla de la Tercera Orden (Chapel of the Third Order)
• Cerro de San Miguel (Mount San Miguel)
• Ex convento del Carmen (Former Our Lady of Carmen Convent)
• Helados Ximitl (Ximitl Ice Cream Shop)
• Mercado Benito Juárez (Benito Juárez Market)
• Museo de Bonsái John Nak (John Nak Bonsai Museum)
• Parque Colón (Colón Park)
• Parroquia de Santa María de la Natividad (Santa María de la Natividad Church)
• Templo de San Francisco de Atlixco (Saint Francis of Atlixco Church)
• Viveros de Atlixco (Atlixco’s Nurseries)
Zacatlán, Spellbinding Scenery
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▌Tucked into Puebla’s Sierra Norte region, Zacatlán de las Manzanas is a destination where romance plays out among mountains cloaked in fog, fresh air, and sweet aromas. Here, every moment seems to play out in midst of a cozy mood and scenery that urges you to take it in, breathe deeply… and feel it all.
This Magical Town is perfect for couples looking for a more sensuous getaway, imbued with nature and tradition. From the minute you arrive, its cool weather and cobblestone streets will urge you to wander, while the aroma of apples and freshly baked bread perfumes every step.
◆ In fact, one of its most cherished treasures is the Barranca de los Jilgueros, a natural wonder where fog slips through the mountains’ greenery, creating shifting scenery that transforms as the hours pass. It is home to the popular Mirador de Cristal, an experience that will (literally) raise your spirits as you step out onto the glass walkway to gaze over the landscape and marvel at its dizzying heights from a one-of-a-kind perspective.
▌Close by, art also comes to life in the mosaic murals in the Callejón del Hueso, where bits of glass tell nature’s stories. Without a doubt, it is a spot that invites you to stop, take it in, and discover every little detail with your special someone. Follow up the murals with the Complejo Conventual Franciscano, where the architecture of the former convent will touch your very core.
Meanwhile, delight your tastebuds in the La Primavera wine museum which offers visitors a sensory connection to the region’s fruit-growing traditions. Here, apples are turned into delectable ciders and wines.
This is the perfect outing for sharing and learning together!
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◆ Zacatlán is also synonymous with history and precision. In the Museo de Relojes Centenario, time takes on a new meaning through the museum’s monumental clocks that tell of the town’s years of crafting timepieces.
Evidence of this is the iconic Reloj Floral, a can’t-miss landmark right in the heart of town. This enormous clock built into a garden bed creates one of the destination’s most romantic backdrops. Furthermore, it is surrounded by flower plantings that change with the seasons.
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And if you want to unplug completely, Valle de Piedras Encimadas is a natural area with almost surreal scenery studded with unusual rock formations that pique the imagination. The valley is laced with trails through the woods, begging you to explore by foot, bike, or on horseback.
The perfect plan for couples includes staying in a mountain cabin, waking under a blanket of fog, wandering the canyons hand in hand, and then wrapping up the day with a tasting of local ciders while the surroundings slowly dissolve into golden hues that fade into the dusk.
Zacatlán is contemplative, magical, and so, so romantic. It is a destination that cradles love in silence, under low-hanging clouds, clasped by the scenery.
Zacatlán’s Many Charms ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯
• Barranca de los Jilgueros Canyon
• Mirador de Cristal Lookout
• Callejón del Hueso Lane and Its Mosaic Murals
• Complejo Conventual Franciscano Convent
• Museo de Relojes Centenario Clock Museum
• La Primavera Wine Museum
• Reloj Floral de Zacatlán Landmark
• Valle de Piedras Encimadas Natural Area
