Chignahuapan

About Chignahuapan

Chignahuapan is a highland town in the Sierra Norte of Puebla, set among pine forests and cool valleys. Designated a Pueblo Mágico, it combines colonial churches with an unusual industry: the handmade glass Christmas ornaments produced in dozens of local workshops, which have made it a well-known destination in the months leading up to the holidays.

The Plaza de Armas is anchored by the brightly painted Kiosco Mudéjar, an octagonal pavilion with a fountain inside, and overlooked by the Parroquia de Santiago Apóstol, whose facade shows indigenous influences. A short walk away, the Basílica de la Inmaculada Concepción houses a towering carved image of the Virgin. The Museo Mexicano del Axolote focuses on the region's salamanders, and the town market sells local cheeses and bread. Visiting the Christmas bauble workshops to watch ornaments being blown and painted is a highlight in any season. Laguna de Almoloya hosts a Day of the Dead festival of light, while the Cascada de Quetzalapa offers a dramatic canyon waterfall.

Weekenders from Puebla and Mexico City fill the hotels on Saturdays and holidays. Nights are chilly, so warm clothing helps year-round. Outside town, the Aguas Termales thermal pools and the mushroom-shaped chapel at the Santuario del Honguito make relaxed excursions.