Zacatecas Is One of Mexico’s Colonial Hidden Gems

by Valentín Fuentes
Last updated: 11:00 AM ET, Sat May 2, 2026

In the center of Mexico lies one of the best-kept secrets of the country. This is Zacatecas, a state rich in history and culture dating back to pre-Columbian times.

Visitors can enjoy the vestiges of its time of splendor during Spanish colonization, when it became the main site for the extraction of silver, gold, and other precious metals, making it a key player in the economic development of the Spanish Crown. In addition, the City of Zacatecas was a key part of the Mexican Revolution due to iconic battles fought there by the troops of the legendary Pancho Villa.

Le Roy Barragán Ocampo, Minister of Tourism of Zacatecas, said that thanks to the great miners and colonial landowners who stayed to live in the city, a valuable architectural and cultural heritage has been preserved. “After that, Zacatecas participated in the most important movements of Mexico, such as Independence, and mainly in the Revolution,” he said.

For almost 200 years, in August, the famous Morismas de Bracho have been represented during a cultural and religious event. For three days, the clashes between the Moors and Christians of the Middle Ages are remembered. In this representation, held in honor of Saint John the Baptist, more than 10 thousand people participate, and it includes a pilgrimage through the main streets of the Historical Center.

The City of Zacatecas, Mexico, founded in 1546, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Founded in 1546, the city of Zacatecas, capital of the state, today preserves a series of magnificent ancient religious and civil buildings that have made it a UNESCO World Heritage Site. When walking through its streets, tourists can admire temples such as the Cathedral, Saint Augustine, the mint, the former Convent of San Francisco, the Conciliar Seminary of the Purísima of Zacatecas, as well as several Jesuit and Dominican convents, among others.

All these venues are now part of a series of museums that house an invaluable collection of viceroyal, modern and contemporary works by artists from Zacatecas, such as brothers Rafael and Pedro Coronel, Francisco Goitia and Manuel Felguérez, to mention a few. In addition, in the Pedro Coronel Museum, visitors can see works by artists such as Goya, Picasso, Dalí, Miró and Kandinsky, among others.

Many of the hotels in Zacatecas are located in mansions that date back to the colonial era, such as the Mesón del Jobito.

Zacatecas offers its visitors hotels for all types of tourists, from high-end to rustic, located in the mountains for those seeking ecotourism experiences. “We have a hotel capacity of 3,500 rooms, between five and four stars, and 5,000 of all the others,” said Barragán Ocampo.

In the mine of El Eden, families looking for entertainment and culture find an interesting place where they can learn about the life of those who worked there during the colonial era, extracting gold and silver. The visit includes a tour of the Museum of Rocks and Minerals, the largest in Latin America, which houses fossils and a large collection of minerals, including the famous “kryptonite.” After completing this historic tour, visitors can ride the glass-floored cable car that crosses the city over more than 700 yards and admire iconic sites such as Bufa Hill and the ancient bullring, and admire the majesty of the city's Baroque architecture.

During the colonial era, gold and silver extraction in places such as El Eden Mine was fundamental in the economic development of the Spanish Crown.

In addition, just outside the city of Zacatecas, tourists interested in nature experiences can enjoy Los Cardos Adventure Park, a place for enjoying kayaking, rappelling, hiking, zip lines, ATVs and more. To these experiences are added expeditions to the Bufa Hill, biking through the Historical Center, tours of the San Bernabé Mine, and theatrical visits that tell legends and historical passages.

One of the greatest treasures of Zacatecas are the crafts created by the Wixárica (Huichol) community, a social group native to the area, famous for its spirituality, the use of peyote (a medicinal plant), the creation of fine textiles and the use of the chaquira, which are small colored bone beads, with symbolism sacred to deer, corn and the sun. In addition to this cultural richness, Zacatecas has extraordinary workshops in silver crafts, textiles, ceramics and pottery.

Zacatecas is a region where native Wixárica (Huichol) culture is known for its textiles, ceramic creations and traditional medicine.

Tradition, Culture and Gastronomy

Zacatecas is one of the most important places in terms of religious tourism in Mexico. One of the best examples is the celebration of Holy Week, during which the population worships the figures of Jesus Christ and the Virgin Mary with traditional trades and, especially, with the world-famous Procession of Silence. As part of the procession, the different parishes and Catholic associations of the region participate dressed in traditional costumes of the colony and march to solemn music. Participants tour the city, concluding at the Cathedral.

On Saturday of Holy Week, in the Magical Town of Jerez, located 30 miles from the City of Zacatecas, the festival of the Burning of Judas takes place, which consists of setting fire to pyrotechnic dolls representing political figures. This holiday is filled with color, featuring a cavalcade of hundreds of Charros from all over Mexico, who proudly display their horses and clothing along the streets, while visitors enjoy traditional dishes and drinks in a family celebration.

During Easter, visitors witness the Procession of Silence along the streets of the City of Zacatecas.

Zacatecan cuisine is famous for a wide variety of typical dishes, such as the Asado de Boda — cooked with pork, chili and spice sauce — Zacatecan enchiladas, Pacholes, Brujitas de Sombrerete, Tacos envenenados and the traditional Caldo de Rata de Campo. These types of dishes are accompanied by spirit drinks such as mezcal, colonche and tequila, among others. There is a wide variety of dining options, from the most traditional to those offering signature cuisine, such as La Joia, Patria, Acropolis, Los Dorados de Villa and San Patricio, among others.

Zacatecas also produces quality wines from renowned brands such as Tierra Adentro, a vineyard where visitors can take tours to discover the facilities, including the Museum of the Barrel. Plus, visitors can enjoy tastings of wines made with grapes such as Malbec, Syrah, Cabernet, Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Viognier, Merlot, Tempranillo and Nebbiolo, to name a few.

In the Magical Town of Jerez, visitors can see Charros from all over Mexico riding their horses during an Easter parade.

Meanwhile, the Zacatecas Cultural Festival, which is celebrated during Easter, is one of Latin America’s leading festivals. This year, in its 40th edition, the event featured world-class figures, such as the artistic director Alondra de la Parra, who leads the Philharmonic Orchestra of the Americas, based in New York City, and Billy Idol, among others. This festival has also featured Bob Dylan and the Electric Light Orchestra Part II, to name a few.

Connectivity in Zacatecas has increased in recent years. Today, the airport connects to destinations in North America with high demand for visitors from Los Angeles, San Jose, San Francisco, Dallas and Chicago. Some of these are linked to destinations in Canada, such as Vancouver and Toronto.

The city of Zacatecas has one of the best examples of Baroque architecture on the continent.

Barragán Ocampo highlighted the importance of tourism for Zacatecas. “Twenty-five percent of the population of the suburbs lives from lodging and gastronomy, that’s why we want to keep the flow of tourists looking for colonial architecture, romance and meetings”, he concluded.

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