MEXICO TOURISM BOARD /CONSEIL DE PROMOTION TOURISTIQUE DU MEXIQUE

 

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Capulálpam de Méndez, Oaxaca is declared a Magic Town

 

Mexico’s Tourism Secretary and Oaxaca Governor lead the Official Ceremony declaring this community a Magic Town.

 

“Capulálpam” comes from the Nahuatl language and is the combination of two words: “capul-li” (cherry tree) and “apam” (river). Capulálpam de Méndez is one of the 26 towns of the Ixtlán District. It has a surface area of 19.14 km² and is characterized by a humid-mild climate with lots of rain in the summer. The town has a total population of 1,391 and its people speak two native languages: “Zapoteco” and “Chinantec”.

The town of Capulálpam de Méndez is surrounded by beautiful mountainous landscapes located in Oaxaca's Sierra Juárez. Attractions include ecotourism activities such as nature hikes in the forest, canopy, speleology, as well as visiting craft workshops and learning about indigenous medicine, with local guides explaining the role of medicinal plants.

Elizondo Torres mentioned that Sectur will initially allocate 30 million pesos for the creation of tourism projects in this area.

The San Mateo Temple was built at the end of the seventeenth century. Its distinguishing features include a wooden roof and altar. The neoclassical altarpieces are adorned with sculptures and paintings. From this temple, the Tourism Secretary, Rodolfo Elizondo and the State Governor, Ulises Ruiz Ortiz, headed the official ceremony naming this place a Magic Town. He emphasized the effort that the Federal Government, the State Government and the City Councils have been making in order to promote Mexico’s tourism attractions.

On December 3^rd Capulálpam de Méndez was evaluated by the Interinstitutional Committee for Evaluation and Magic Towns Selection. Ten days later, Elizondo announced the incorporation of this town in the Tourism Secretary Program, which today includes 35 destinations all over the country.

Federal and Local Authorities confirmed the artistic and cultural heritage of the community of Capulálpam de Méndez, located 70 kilometres away from the State Capital of Oaxaca.

Secretary Elizondo stated: “I recognize the numerous great attractions that Capulálpam de Méndez possesses; its majestic San Mateo Temple, its monuments and its flora make it an ideal destination for ecotourism”.  He emphasized that the Magic Towns Program has the purpose of building circuits and routes for tourism that allow tourists to visit big cities but also those smaller ones that contain alleys, historical buildings, temples, convents, customs, traditions and the magic that comprises a Mexican town  full of history, culture and charm.     

 

Elizondo also emphasized that the town consists not only of material and natural attractiveness, but also of the energy, conviction, commitment and determined participation of its habitants, as the people of Capulálpam declare.

 

Some of the projects for 2008 include the construction of a tourist corridor in Zicatela Beach and the restoration of the Pérez Gasga passageway, both in Puerto Escondido.

 

ABOUT THE MEXICO TOURISM BOARD

The Mexico Tourism Board (MTB) brings together the resources of federal and state governments, municipalities and private companies to promote Mexico's tourism attractions and destinations nationally and internationally. Created in 1999, the MTB is Mexico’s tourism promotion agency, and its participants include members of both the private and public sectors. The MTB has offices throughout North America, Europe, Asia and Latin America.

 

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