Just 90 minutes south of Guadalajara, the colonial town of Tapalpa is an alpine refuge nestled in the Sierra Madre Mountains. A designated pueblo mágico (magic town), it’s home to a picturesque plaza, where artists often congregate to sell handmade wool and pine needle crafts. Spend the day discovering the restaurants, churches, and historic buildings around the plaza, or explore the lakes, streams, and forests in the surrounding countryside.

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Adventurer's Playground: Mexico's Colorful Tapalpa

I had never heard of Tapalpa until I was brought to the region for work on some local farms. Coming up into the mountains, I saw a whole different kind of Mexico. The sweeping hills and widespread views, countless outdoor adventure opportunities (paragliding, horse trekking, mountain biking, etc.), this area was just begging to be explored. I was sad I couldn’t squeeze in a weekend to play, but will definitely be back to do some serious adventuring.

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