The awards gala for the second edition of the Magicos por Excelencias Awards took place on April 12, 2024, at the Magistral Hall of the Mundo Imperial Convention Center in Acapulco.
During his opening remarks, Jose Carlos de Santiago, president of the Excelencias Group, said it's a true honour to present these Magic Awards by Excelencias and highlighted Mexico's participation in the Excelencias Awards, where it always surprises with the nominations submitted.
"We are looking for those special corners in every city or in every one of the towns in this country," he said later, referring to the Awards. He also commented that Mexico will be a protagonist next year at Fitur.
He congratulated the winners and also thanked the Mexican government for supporting the Magic Awards, which shows the willingness of the public-private alliance to promote tourism in the country. He praised the massive participation in the popular voting for the awards, which this year exceeded 186,000 people.
“We are a grain of sand in this great mountain, which seeks to boost the country,” he said. The event was hosted by Ms. Consuelo Elipe, Director of the Excelencias Mexico Group, and was attended by Mr. Miguel Torruco, Mexico's Secretary of Tourism, tourism secretaries from different states, municipal presidents, members of the General Directorate of Mexico's Magical Towns, among other authorities.
In this edition, the Magical Towns of Excellence Awards recognized the Magical Towns in the following categories:
Religion, Cultural, Nature, Oenology, Heritage, Sustainability, Paleontology, Gastronomy, Archeology and Inclusion. The ‘City of Excellence’ and ‘Neighbourhood of Excellence’ awards were also presented.
The winners were selected after the popular jury's vote count, the individual decision issued by the Jury, which was made up of notable and renowned professionals from the tourism and gastronomic industry, and the assessment of the technical jury made up of members of the Permanent Secretariat of the Excelencias Awards.
EXCELENCIAS NATURE AWARD
WINNER:
From the State of Quintana Roo, the magical town of Isla Mujeres for the project "Municipal program for the cleaning and certification of Isla Mujeres beaches".
FINALISTS:
- From the State of Quintana Roo, the magical town of Isla Mujeres for the project "Municipal program for the cleaning and certification of Isla Mujeres beaches".
- From the State of Coahuila, the magical town of Arteaga for the project "Sierra de Arteaga - Ultra Coahuila.
- From the State of Tabasco, the magical town of Tapijulapa for the "Biocultural Heritage" project.
EXCELLENCE IN RELIGION AWARD
WINNER:
From the State of Guerrero, the magical town of Taxco de Alarcón for the project "Cultural and Religious Town". "Cultural and religious town".
FINALISTS:
- From the State of Oaxaca, the magical town of Santa Catarina Juquila for the Santa Catarina Juquila project.
- From the State of Guerrero, the magical town of Taxco de Alarcón for the project "Cultural and religious town".
- From the State of Aguascalientes, the magical town of San José de Gracia for the project "La fe que mueve a San José de Gracia" (The faith that moves San José de Gracia).
EXCELENCIAS PALEONTOLOGY AWARD
WINNER:
From the State of Coahuila, the magical town of General Cepeda for the project "Paleontological Wealth - Rincón Colorado".
FINALISTS:
- From the State of Coahuila, the magical town of General Cepeda for the project "Paleontological Wealth - Rincón Colorado".
- From the State of Guanajuato the magical town of Yuriria for the project "Yuriria".
- From the State of Coahuila, the magical town of Melchor Muzquiz for the "Muzquiz Geopark" project.
EXCELENCIAS SUSTAINABILITY AWARD
WINNER:
From the State of Oaxaca, the magical town of Mazunte for the project "La magia la hacemos todos" (Magic is made by all of us).
FINALISTS:
- From the State of Quintana Roo, the magical town of Cozumel for the project "Permanent program for the collection of recyclable waste and garbage" (Programa permanente de recolección de residuos reciclables y cacharros).
- From the State of Guerrero, the magical town of Zihuatanejo for the project "Sustainability and flavor".
- From the State of Oaxaca, the magical town of Mazunte for the project "La magia la hacemos todos" (Magic is made by all of us).
EXCELENCIAS GASTRONOMY AWARD
WINNER:
From the State of Tabasco, the magical town of Frontera for the project "Festival del comal".
FINALISTS:
- From the State of Michoacán, the magical town of Jiquilpan for the project "Jiquilpan de mis amores" (Jiquilpan of my loves).
- From the State of Tabasco, the magical town of Frontera for the project "Festival del comal".
- From the State of Sinaloa, the magical town of El Fuerte for the project "Gastronomic richness of freshwater dams and a fertile valley".
EXCELENCIAS ENOLOGÍA AWARD
WINNER:
From the State of Querétaro, the magical town of Tequisquiapan for the project "Sabores, amores y aromas tintos" (Flavors, loves and red aromas).
FINALISTS:
- From the State of Coahuila, the magical town of Parras de la Fuente for the project "Parras de la Fuente en la ruta de vinos y dinos" (Parras de la Fuente on the wine and dino route).
- From the State of Querétaro, the magical town of Tequisquiapan for the project "Sabores, amores y aromas tintos" (Flavors, loves and red aromas).
- From the State of Baja California, the magical town of Tecate for the project "La Rumorosa".
CULTURAL EXCELLENCE AWARD
WINNER:
- From the State of Coahuila, the magical town of Cuatro Ciénagas for the project "Grape Fair".
FINALISTS:
- From the State of Coahuila, the magical town of Cuatro Ciénagas for the project "Grape Fair".
- From the State of Baja California Sur, the magical town of Todos Santos for the project "The cultural centre and gastronomy".
- From the State of Sonora, the magical town of Ures for the project "Culture in Ures".
HERITAGE EXCELLENCE AWARD
WINNER:
From the State of Hidalgo, the magical town of Zempoala for the project "Magical route of the pulque haciendas" (Ruta mágica de las haciendas pulqueras).
FINALISTS:
- From the State of Veracruz, the magical town of Papantla de Olarte for the project "Papantla de Olarte".
- From the State of Sinaloa, the magical town of Cosalá for the project "Fiesta de las velas".
- From the State of Hidalgo, the magical town of Zempoala for the project "Magical route of the pulque haciendas" (Ruta mágica de las haciendas pulqueras).
EXCELENCIAS ARCHEOLOGY AWARD
WINNER:
From the State of Oaxaca the magical town of San Pablo Villa de Mitla for the project "San Pablo Villa de Mitla
FINALISTS:
- From the State of Guerrero, the magical town of Ixcateopan de Cuauhtemoc for the project "Cradle of Mexicanity".
- From the State of Oaxaca, the magical town of San Pablo Villa de Mitla for the San Pablo Villa de Mitla project.
- From the State of Michoacán, the magical town of Cuitzeo for the Tres Cerritos project.
EXCELENCIAS INCLUSION AWARD
WINNER:
From the State of Jalisco the magical town Tlaquepaque
FINALISTS:
- From the State of Nayarit the magical town Sayulita
- From the State of Querétaro the magical town of Amealco
- From the State of Jalisco the magical town Tlaquepaque
CITY OF EXCELLENCE
WINNER:
From the State of Coahuila the city of Saltillo
FINALISTS:
- From the State of Coahuila the city of Saltillo
- From the State of Oaxaca, the city of Oaxaca de Juárez.
- From the State of Michoacán the city of Morelia
NEIGHBORHOOD OF EXCELLENCE
WINNER:
From the State of Mexico City the district of Xochimilco
FINALISTS:
- From the State of Baja California the neighborhood of La Chinesca
- From the State of Oaxaca the Jalatlaco neighborhood
- From the State of Mexico City the district of Xochimilco
POPULAR VOTE
WINNER:
From the State of Guanajuato the magical town of Yuriria for the project "Yuriria".
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
- Mr. Eduardo Paniagua Morales, former president of the Mexican Association of Travel Agencies, for visiting and promoting the 177 Magical Towns.
- Mrs. Gloria Torruco Garza, president of the foundation "El espacio de Michelle a.c." honorary member of SECTUR's Inclusion Committee, for her commitment to inclusive tourism.
- Islas Marías for being a unique tourism project for the recovery of spaces.
- La Chinesca for its history in the fusion of two cultures.