5 Ways to Discover the Magic of Aguascalientes

by Melissa Teutsch on September 24, 2024 in Travels,
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Sitting 6,000 feet above sea level in the heart of north-central Mexico, Aguascalientes is a hidden gem. This charming city is celebrated for its namesake hot springs, flourishing wine scene, captivating colonial architecture, and vibrant food.

Yet Aguascalientes is not just a destination; it’s a haven for those craving a truly unique and authentic travel experience. Whether you’re sipping local wines, exploring the picturesque streets lined with historic buildings, or savoring the local cuisine Aguascalientes has everything you need for a magical, unforgettable adventure.

Plaza de la Patria: The Public Square of Aguascalientes

Street of storefronts with colorful banners
Nieto Street is the place to buy authentic handmade goods in Aguascalientes. Photo courtesy Melissa Teutsch.

Start your first day in Aguascalientes at the Plaza de la Patria, the city center. Hop on a trolley tour to learn the history of the city and its neighborhoods then head to Nieto Street known as the go-to street for authentic handmade items from lace and embroidery to beadwork and pottery. (Make sure you leave space in your luggage when packing for this trip…you’re going to need it!) Don’t miss the Palacio de Gobierno (Government Palace), an architectural gem from 1665 that was once a private home. Today, aside from housing the governor’s office on the 2nd floor, it features stunning murals by Chilean artist Oswaldo Barra Cunningham, which tell the story of Aguascalientes. (Free to enter.)

Barrio del Encino: Art, History, and Charm

Pink stone church with white stucco museum
This church marks the center of the oldest neighborhood in Aguascalientes, dating back to 1565. The José Guadalupe Posada Museum (the white building to the right) is housed in the former cultural center of the church. Photo courtesy Melissa Teutsch.

Along your trolley tour, you’ll be introduced to the Barrio del Encino neighborhood, the oldest neighborhood in Aguascalientes, dating back to 1565. Just a short 13-minute walk from your trolley stop, stop by the José Guadalupe Posada Museum, dedicated to the renowned engraver famous for his striking La Calavera Catrina. (He might not sound familiar, but you’ll probably recognize some of his work.) 

Drawing of female skeleton with hat of flowers
José Guadalupe Posada used his art, which appeared in newspapers, to critique the government and its policies during his time. He became famous for using skulls and bones in his art and is most known for this piece, called La Calavera Catrina, which translates to “The Female Skull”. Photo courtesy Melissa Teutsch.

Attached to the museum is the Temple of Encino, built in 1773, which houses the revered Black Christ of Encino. If you’re lucky like I was, you might even catch it right before a wedding, which adds to its beauty.

Ruta del Vino: Sip and Savor Along the Wine Route

A glass of wine with palm trees and mountains
Vinícola El Secreto is one of more than twenty wineries in Aguascalientes, yet one of the few that exports its wines. Photo courtesy Melissa Teutsch.

As Mexico’s second-largest wine producer, Aguascalientes boasts an impressive selection of vineyards and wineries. With over twenty to choose from, it’s impossible to visit them all, but the best time to go to as many as you can is in August and September during Vendimias, their Grape Harvest Festival, when special events are held in celebration. 

A glass of wine with handmade chocolates
Vinícola Santa Elena handmakes the chocolates that are used for their wine pairings. They are available for sale in their gift shop. Photo courtesy Melissa Teutsch.

Aside from tours, wine tastings, and live music, you can visit Vinícola El Secreto for their mouthwatering themed menus, as well as food workshops; Vinícola El Aguje, for their country cooking on charcoal with outdoor seating that offers panoramic views of their vineyards; and Vinícola Santa Elena for a delightful combo of wine and handmade chocolates, plus the chance to see grapes on the vine year round, even after harvest.

Grapes on the vine
You can always find grapes on the vine in one area of Vinícola Santa Elena’s vineyard, even after the harvest. That’s because these grapes are grown for seven years before they are harvested. Photo courtesy Melissa Teutsch.

Pueblos Mágicos: Magical Towns Full of Character

Aguascalientes’ Pueblos Mágicos (Magic Towns) are not to be missed. The Pueblos Mágicos Program was created by Mexico’s Ministry of Tourism in 2001 to increase tourism to towns that offer visitors a blend of history, culture, architecture, food, and handcrafts. The state of Aguascalientes has several Pueblos Mágicos, all within an hour drive or less from the city.

Real de Asientos

Simple crosses marking graves in adobe walled cemetery with cacti
The Real de Asientos cemetery is one of the oldest ones in the state of Aguascalientes and is where many of their first colonizers are buried. Photo courtesy Melissa Teutsch.

In Real de Asientos, founded in 1548 as a mining town, visit the church in the city,  Templo Parroquial de Nuestra Señora de Belén, that was built in 1705 and its underground tunnel. Spring for the guided tour that includes a 500-year-old statue of Jesus that was created with human teeth, ribs, and skull as well as a private room of unique religious art. Across town, don’t miss the Panteón de Guadalupe, a historic cemetery that is one of the oldest in the state that includes a viewable ossuary, an underground cave where the bones of unknown people are on display, as well as two mummies and multiple skeletons on display above ground. (Mexico isn’t known for celebrating Day of the Dead for nothing!) 

Calvillo

3 plates of guava candy in light brown, dark brown, and red colors
This guava candy is made at Frutland, a family-owned company near Calvillo that hand picks their 2000 guava trees as well as hand-manufactures all their guava candy. Photo courtesy Melissa Teutsch.

Near Calvillo, the guava capital of Mexico, stop by Frutland for a tour of their production plant and a taste of local guava delicacies including hot guava tea, empanadas, candies, cookies, jelly, mole sauce, and wine. Then head into town to Santa Cruz de Calvillo and climb the steps to the base of a large 108 foot tall cross that allows you a gorgeous 360 degree unobstructed view of Calvillo below.

Large cross statue with words Santa Cruz on display in front of it
The Santa Cruz complex is both a cultural and religious center, offering a chapel, a gallery exhibit on Calvillo’s history, as well as commercial space, including a bar. Photo courtesy Melissa Teutsch.

 While in Calvillo, make plans to eat at Quinta los Granados, a charming authentic Mexican restaurant bursting with Instagram-worthy ambiance that sits hidden at the bottom of a stone path. 

Various plates of meat
Quinta los Granados restaurant in Calvillo serves authentic Mexican food, which includes a variety of meats served alongside fresh corn tortillas and rice and beans.
Photo courtesy Melissa Teutsch.

In downtown Calvillo, be sure to step into their church in the city center, Parroquia del Señor del Salitre, to see one of the largest domes in Latin America. Don’t miss out on sampling guava ice cream from a street vendor just outside the church (while you’re at it, go ahead and ask for vanilla also…it’s going to put your store-bought vanilla ice cream to shame). 

Inside of a Catholic church decorated in blue and gold
This church in the center of Calvillo has one of the largest domes in Latin America. Photo courtesy Melissa Teutsch.

San José de Gracia

In San José de Gracia, take a short boat ride to the Santuario del Cristo Roto (Sanctuary of the Broken Christ) that stands 92 feet tall and is missing an arm and half a leg. Cristo Roto is based on a parable written by Jesuit priest Ramón Cué Romano. The statue, built in 2006, has become a religious pilgrimage site. 

A statue of Jesus that is missing an arm and half of a leg
The Cristo Roto (Broken Christ) Statue in San José de Gracia. At the base reads this inscription in Spanish: Leave me broken…I want that when you see me broken, you remember so many of your brothers and sisters who are like me, broken, crushed, destitute, oppressed, sick, mutilated… Without arms, because they have no possibilities or means of work; without feet, because their paths have been blocked; without a cross, because their honor, their respect and their prestige have been taken away. Everyone forgets them and turns their back on them, even though they are like me…a Broken Christ. Photo courtesy Melissa Teutsch.

La Estación Theme Park: A Journey Through Railway History

Wrap up your Aguascalientes visit at La Estación Theme Park, a tribute to the city’s railway heritage. Once a bustling rail hub, the old train station, built in 1910, now features a museum that brings the history of the railroads to life. Explore vintage trains from the 1950s, enjoy the musical dancing fountain in the railroad garden, and learn about the crucial role the rail industry played in the city’s development. With free admission, it’s a fun and informative way to end your trip.

Statue of railroad worker with vintage 1950s rail cars behind him
One of Aguascalientes’ main industries was the railroad up until 1995 when passenger cars were stopped. Photo courtesy Melissa Teutsch.

TIPS:

  • The Aguascalientes airport offers direct flights from/to Dallas, Houston, and Los Angeles.
  • If not planning a trip during Vendimias (their wine festival) then consider a visit during two other popular events: the largest fair in Mexico, San Marcos Fair, takes place for 3-4 weeks in the spring around April 25 (The Feast of St. Mark’s) or if Day of the Dead festivals are more your style, visit during Festival de Calaveras, which takes place from the end of October through the beginning of November.
  • Although there are several hotels downtown, we recommend staying in the northern part of the city for easier access to the vineyards and magic towns. Hotel Las Trojes is a great choice with on-site self-parking and their restaurant Silia offers not only a breakfast buffet but a full menu for both lunch and dinner. 
  • If staying at Hotel Las Trojes, check out Bife el Almacen restaurant nearby. Despite it being a steakhouse, the pizza there is fantastic with several unique combinations of toppings. Also nearby is Tikal, where steaks are cooked table side in a fiery show that makes your meal quite the experience. If you’re there around August, also try their chile en nogada, a seasonal dish. 
Chile en nogada dish
Chile en nogada is a poblano chile stuffed with meat and fruit filling and covered in a walnut sauce and pomegranate seeds, served cold (the colors of it–green, red, and white are meant to symbolize the Mexican flag). Photo courtesy Melissa Teutsch.
  • Street food is a plenty in Aguascalientes, so there’s no shortage of options, but one place you don’t want to skip is Lechón Rudy, where you choose from a taco or a torta (sandwich) filled with lechón (roasted suckling pig) and covered in a green sauce. This place is a favorite among locals–they roast seven pigs a day–so if you want to feel like a local, try it out as a late-night snack (they’re open until 3 am).

 

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 Cover Photo courtesy Melissa Teutsch

 

A native of Louisiana, Melissa Teutsch enjoys hiking, reading, baking, dabbling in home improvement on her 105-year-old home, traveling, and spending time with her husband and two kids. When she’s not working full-time in the publishing industry, she’s planning trips to new places for her family or taking day trips to explore the North Georgia and North Carolina mountains.