Huasca de Ocampo

About Huasca de Ocampo

Huasca de Ocampo is a small highland town in the state of Hidalgo, set among pine and oak forests northeast of Pachuca. It was the first place named a Pueblo Mágico when Mexico launched the program, and its history is tied to the silver haciendas built here in the colonial era to process ore from nearby mines. Adobe houses, tiled roofs and cool mountain air define its character.

The best-known natural sight is the Prismas Basálticos de Santa María Regla, a canyon lined with tall, many-sided basalt columns over which waterfalls spill. Trails and footbridges lead through the Barranca de Santa María Regla for closer views. The former haciendas of Santa María Regla and San Miguel Regla, with their stone arches, ponds and old smelting works, now operate as hotels or attractions open to visitors. In the surrounding forest, outfitters offer zip lines, horseback rides and cabins.

The town center has the Parroquia de San Juan Bautista, a Casa de Cultura and the whimsical Museo de los Duendes, devoted to local legends of elves. The Monday market and pottery stalls are worth a look. Huasca suits families and weekend visitors. Weekends and holidays get crowded, and evenings can be cold.