Calvillo

Calvillo brings together culture in the town center with public art, handicrafts and a distinctive guava cuisine. Visitors can choose between a guided tour, a walking route along the main plaza, and discoveries in museums and workshops. The history of the Señor San José temple and an outing to Cascada El Garruño also offer different perspectives.

Art, handicrafts and history in Calvillo

In the center of Calvillo stands the Señor San José temple, also known as Señor del Salitre. Its main façade faces the garden. Construction began in 1772 on the grounds of the former Hacienda San Nicolás, which belonged to Señor José Calvillo. The dome originally built over the central nave was completed in 1884; today’s dome spans all three naves. The temple therefore offers a tangible insight into the town’s architectural history. Calle de las Graditas, an attraction in Calvillo Pueblo Mágico, is also known by another name: Andador Matamoros is popularly called Calle de las Graditas. It was laid out in 1980 and renovated in 2016.

The Museo Nacional de los Pueblos Mágicos, or MUNPUMA for short, is located at Juárez 312 in the Centro. It preserves and presents the cultural heritage of Mexico’s 121 Pueblos Mágicos. Casa del Artesano Calvillo is at Zaragoza 300, also in the Centro. Across 500 square meters, it displays and sells work by artisans from Calvillo. Items on view and for sale include textiles and woodwork, willow basketry, costume jewelry, and jewelry featuring semiprecious stones such as opal. Scented candles and saddlery are also available.

These places offer different ways to engage with Calvillo’s culture: MUNPUMA focuses on the heritage of the Pueblos Mágicos, while Casa del Artesano showcases the work of local artisans. As you plan your trip, consider combining these insights with a walk through town or an outing into the surrounding area.

On foot: art and peaceful walks

The Ruta del Artista is a guided walking tour about 1.5 kilometers long and lasting approximately two hours. It includes 17 works of art, among them murals and sculptures. They are located on various streets and in alleys near the bus station and the Santuario de Guadalupe, in the eastern, southeastern and southern parts of central Calvillo. The route focuses on art in the urban landscape, setting it apart from a visit centered mainly on individual exhibition venues.

For a more peaceful stroll, Andador Juárez offers an accessible route from the main plaza, with shops and areas for leisurely walks. If you are choosing between a guided tour of artworks and a relaxed walking route, these two options offer different emphases. Andador Matamoros, also called Calle de las Graditas, adds its own history of construction and renovation to the impressions of public spaces.

Guava and local specialties

Cuisine is also part of Calvillo’s character. Visitors can sample traditional chamucos, guava cake and traditional sorbets. A wide variety of guava products is also made in Calvillo Pueblo Mágico. These include sweets, jams, jellies and guava paste, as well as liqueurs, empanadas, cookies and sorbets. The selection also includes cakes, fresh guavas, guavas in syrup and guava mole. If you are interested in regional specialties, you will encounter guava here in many forms—from fresh fruit to processed products.

An outing to the Sierra del Laurel

South of Calvillo, Cascada El Garruño lies in the Sierra del Laurel, on the border between Aguascalientes and Jalisco and a few hundred meters from the community of El Garruño. The approach is along an unpaved road. You then park the vehicle and reach the waterfall on foot. This outing is quite different from cultural discoveries in town: allow time for both the drive and the walk that follows.

When choosing your vacation rental in Calvillo, you can first decide what you want to shape your stay: art, handicrafts and guava specialties in town, or an outing to the Sierra del Laurel as well. If you would like to include other destinations in your plans, you can also find Jesús Gómez Portugal, Aguascalientes, Peñuelas, El Llano and Las Crucitas.

Go to the main travel overview: Aguascalientes.