Jalpa

Jalpa is a little town in the very south of Zacatecas. It benefits a little from its proximity to Nochistlán, about two hours away, and perhaps slightly better known among international travelers. But Jalpa is totally its own thing, as there's no other town in Zacatecas more natural and unspoiled.

People come for the atmosphere, for the food, and for the unparalleled authenticity. The landscape is one of incomparable natural beauty and you can literally see into the distance, as if it were the very past from which this part of the world has emerged. The city is known to have begun as a Nahuatl kingdom in the 11th century, but the modern city was founded as Santiago de Xalpa Mineral as early as the 1540s. The Nahuatl name, which in other places is spelled Xalpa, simply means on the sand. It's said that the layout of the modern city was strongly influenced by the French during their occupation of the region in the 1860s. The fantastic stone kiosk in Plaza Aréchiga also dates from this period.

Jalpa is perhaps best known for its late 19th-century sanctuary. Just east of town, but high on a bluff, it seems to rise above the city and the valley like some medieval mirage. It's an ideal spot for taking photographs or for simply getting a sense of where you are in the world. People come to visit the downtown streets, the Morelos Market, and the shops on the surrounding streets. There is always something to do. And the market and its surroundings are always the best place to eat. Jalpa is also mezcal territory, so don't be surprised by the seemingly endless agave fields. Locals call it Mezcal Zacatenco (don't miss it).

Most visitors arrive in Jalpa from Guadalajara and the more populated regions in the south. From the capital of Jalisco, the TL Premium bus line makes the journey in about three hours. In fact, you can get there by car via the most direct route in about two and a half hours. The trip from Aguascalientes takes only about 90 minutes, and Jalpa receives a good portion of the tour groups arriving from there.