Calvillo
Calvillo is a small town in Aguascalientes, Mexico. It is designated as one of Mexico's Pueblos Magicos.
Understand
[edit]Calvillo is the second largest city in Mexico's smallest state. The town's population stands at just under 20,000.
Get in
[edit]
Taxi is the easiest way to get from Aguascalientes to Calvillo. The one hour ride should cost about M$200-300 (March 2023).
A shuttle bus is also available from TL Premium. Prices range from about M$100 to M$200, but if you're going at an unusual (no demand) time of day, they'll offer to drive you at a price about 10 times what a taxi would cost. Phone +52 449 578 4858 or email: Mkt_tlpremium@outlook.com
Get around
[edit]The town is compact and easily navigated by foot. Use a taxi to explore the nearby lakes, canyons, or villages.
See
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- Plaza Principal Porfirio Díaz - the town's main square, pleasant place for an afternoon stroll or to sit on a park bench beneath the orange trees, feeding the pigeons. On weekends, the plaza is often filled with food vendors, strolling entertainers, and families enjoying a day off. Tourist trolleys leave from the plaza to take you on a tour of the town for M$60 (March 2023).
- Parroquia del Señor del Salitre (Church of Our Lord of Salitre), Calle Ignacio Zaragoza 100–109, Centro - Large historic church with three naves on the Plaza Principal. Built in 1772, contains a number of outstanding paintings and sculptures as well as an architecturally unique dome featuring murals of St. Joseph (patron saint of the city).
- Sanctuary of the Virgen of Guadalupe, Calle 20 de Noviembre, Centro - Beautifully ornate neo-gothic church with elaborate belfries and a spectacular interior dominated by a gold-leaf altar.
- Museo Nacional de los Pueblos Magicos, Av. Benito Juárez 312, Centro - Its only fitting that a museum focused on Mexico's "magic towns" should be located in the heart of one of its Pueblos Magicos, like Calvillo. Discover the story behind one of the federal government's most popular programs for promoting tourism in Mexico's "off the beaten path" destinations, and find out how the myriad towns preserve folks traditions and strengthen the country's identity and appeal to foreign visitors.
Do
[edit]- Guava Factory Tour (Fabrica de Guayabas/FL Grupo), Blvd. R. Landeros 456 - Visit a processing facility for guavas and see how the fruit is cleaned, mashed, and pressed into sweet sheets, and packaged for export, ready for use in baking or sweet making. Try samples of chocolates, cookies, and drinks made with guava.
- Guava Fair (first week of December) - a great opportunity to taste locally made jams, pies, candies and other confections made from the town's main export
- Presa de Malpaso - the Malpaso Dam created a large reservoir that is a popular recreational space for visitors and residents of Calvillo. Fishing, boating, horseback riding, or just relaxing at a lakeside restaurant with a shrimp cocktail and a cold beer are all good ways to enjoy the lake. There are actually 3 dams (and reservoirs) near Calvillo, on the Calvillo, La Labor, and Santos rivers.
- Hacienda Tour - Calvillo prospered in the 17th century when silver and gold were mined in the area and great haciendas were built. Five of these haciendas are San Diego, La Primavera, La Labor, Vaquerías, and La del Sauz. Tours are available to see the haciendas and learn more about their role in colonial Mexico.
- Yolihuani Temazcales Spa, Carr. La Panadera – Palo Alto KM14 - traditional hot-house steam spa with massages and other spa services.
Buy
[edit]Hand-crafted embroidery, made in nearby villages, could make a meaningful souvenir. Calvillo is recognized as the home of deshilados, a traditional style of embroidery with Flemish and Venetian roots. The hacienda of La Labor specializes in elaborate pieces featuring plants and animals.
Eat
[edit]
Known for its guavas, it's only natural to find the local fruit worked in to many deserts, confections, and beverages. An agua fresca is commonly available at local taquerias and the fruit is even used to make liquers. They can also be eaten fresh, typically with a shaker of chili and dry lime (Tajin). Calvillo is also famous for its delicious homemade ice creams and for round pastries called chamucos that are made using two types of dough: first a sugary cookie-like center and then an outer ring like shortbread.
- 1 Rosa Mexicana, Malecón Nte., López Mateos (on the banks of the Rio Calvillo, inside the Casa Bugambilias Hotel), ☏ +52 495 9560095. 09:00 - 21:00 (until 22:00 on Friday and Saturday). Calvillo's top restaurant. An elegant dining experience featuring gourmet regional specialties (particularly guava-laced cocktails, deserts, and sometimes even entrees). M$300-400.
- 2 La Fragua, Zona Centro (C. 5 de Mayo y C. Matamoros), ☏ +52 495 9560086. 12:00 - 19:00. Upscale seafood restaurant with elegant ambiance.
- 3 Calvillo Lindo Terraza, C. Teran #301, Zona Centro. 13:00 - 00:00. Fun restaurant with great views from the terrace. Range of dishes with steaks, salmon, shrimp and more.
- 4 Pozolería Cacahuazintle, C. Zaragoza 213, Zona Centro, ☏ +52 495 9567228, pozoleria.cacahuazintle@gmail.com. 14:00 - 22:30. Red or green pozole. Rumor has it they serve enchiladas and antojitos, but when there's so much delicious pozole, why?
Drink
[edit]There are a number of old, traditional cantinas in Calvillo, some of which offer exotic drinks served in guava shells.
- 1 Bengala Bar, Lib. Calvillo-Jalpa, Km. 4.7, Col, Emiliano Zapata, ☏ +52 4951092172. 21:00 - 02:00 Friday and Saturday. Lively bar with music and large dance space. Good food and large drinks.
Sleep
[edit]- 1 Cabaña San Mateo, San Ignacio, José Landeros, ☏ +52 495 101 0713. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 12:00. Rustic cabin with 4 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms, wood and iron furnishings, stone and exposed brick walls, saltillo tile floors, outdoor patio with pool.
- 2 Hotel Casa Bugambilias, Malecón Nte., López Mateos, ☏ +52 495 956 0095. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 12:00. Elegantly casual hotel in the heart of the city. Every room is unique and colorfully well appointed. Spa with jacuzzi, massages, and therapy sessions. Relaxing garden area. Gourmet restaurant on site.
- 3 Hotel Doña Chela, Av. B. Juárez 110, Zona Centro, ☏ +52 4959560036. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 12:00. Mid-range hotel with spacious rooms and a central location on a busy street. On-site cafeteria. M$800.
- 4 Hotel Valle de Huejucar, Av. Principal, Zona Centro, ☏ +52 4959567069. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 12:00. Clean, comfortable mid-range hotel. Rooms facing the river are quieter. M$820.
- 5 Casa de los Rios, Priv. Articulo 115 Const. 808, Centro, ☏ +52 495 1172727. Clean, comfortable rooms in a central location. Friendly service. M$800.