It is a gift to travel.
In Mexico I have enjoyed exploring Pueblos Magicos (magical towns) from Alamos (Sonora in the north) to Izamal (Yucatan in the south), learning about Aging in Place/Aging in Community (which most Mexicans do), healthcare, and end of this life traditions.
Magical towns are designated by the Mexican government SECTUR (Mexican Tourism Board) as part of “Mexico desconocido” or unknown Mexico – towns or villages representing the cultural diversity of the country.
Below is a photo along the malecon adjacent to Rio Calvillo (the river) near the entrance to Calvillo a pueblo magico in the state of Aguascalientes.
I recently had the pleasure of visiting Calvillo, Mexico’s leading producer of guavas. There is far more to meet the eye than guavas, and, there was that feeling of magic.
What immediately struck me on arrival at the bus station was how clean the streets are (no trash, no stains), how flat the city is (mostly), how safe and flat the sidewalks are, how immediately friendly the people were, and how unpolluted the air seemed. It was a breezy, sunny weekday.
Just a few minutes away, down Calle Jesus Gomez Portugal to the left of the hallway exit, I stopped outside a space flooded with light and inviting aromas. A local restaurant, Gorditas Jenny. Smiling ladies beckoned me to enter for a look see. Fresh, unadulterated breakfast food in an immaculate setting served from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Yes, I tried it and wish to return! Thank you, ladies!!
The Casa del Abuelo (grandparent’s home), a DIF (government) day center for older adults which opened in January 2024, was the next stop. In the link below you will see a photo of the entrance: https://www.elclarinete.com.mx/inauguran-la-casa-del-abuelo-en-calvillo/
Again, a warm and welcoming reception on arrival. The center offers painting (part of a program called “pintemos la magia de Calvillo” – let’s paint the magic of Calvillo), tai chi, chair exercises, handicrafts, carpentry, meals, trips, and resources for aging. In the following short you will hear precious elder Salomé Salas, a 94-year-old, joyfully share in Spanish why he loves the center, and you’ll get a glimpse of some of the activities. https://www.facebook.com/reel/3714970688791551
Asilo San José (originally Asilo de Los Ancianos Señor San José) is the only assisted living/nursing home in Calvillo. It was founded by the Catholic church and a group of locals and continues to be supported by the church, the locals, and a group of Mexican/Mexican-Americans from Santa Paula, Ventura County, CA, “citrus capital of the world.” As with many Mexicans who emigrate to the U.S., folks from Calvillo and surroundings send funds or return home to support the local community. Those who were born here often prefer to return to die or be buried.
Front of the Asilo San Jose Assisted Living/Nursing Home in Calvillo below.
Over 50 residents, men and women, reside on the spacious campus with three sections of housing. Most rooms are shared, two to a room. When I arrived, elders in wheelchairs were accompanied from mass at the chapel back to their rooms or recreation hall. I met with lovely assistant administrator Maria who graciously showed me the living quarters, the perfectly organized laundry and wardrobe area, the dining area, the meds room, and the offices. We agreed I would not take any photos. I was grateful to feel a sense of attention and care from her and the support staff as they looked after their charges. Without spending more time, or talking to community members, it is difficult to assess more. What was clear, however, is that the residence was welcoming and the residents clean, smiling, and mostly disabled, one severely disabled/bed-confined with an attendant. Each required round-the-clock care perhaps not possible in their homes. Below is a link to a video filmed 10 years ago which offers an idea of the environment, now re-painted and more lively.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x0dbLLBaQ4g
Medical care
There are three small hospitals in town: Hospital General de Calvillo, IMSS Unidad de Medicina Familiar, and the Clinca del Valle. I was unable to manage site visits, but I understood from locals that for more serious medical challenges some folks go to Aguascalientes an hour away by car or bus. I noticed medical and dental offices in the city center.
Parrochia del Señor del Salitre
The beautiful baroque parish church has three magnificent domes adorned with frescoes. It is dedicated to the patron saint of the city, Lord of the Saltpeter. According to city legend a group of older adults saw a miraculous appearance of the Lord on the parish spot before the church was built around 200 years ago. The colors inside are gold, light pink, and light blue.
The people of Calvillo appear to be deeply religious.
It was a remarkable synchronicity that I arrived at the church in time to attend mass for a beloved older woman. The church was full. I stood in the back. Mariachis waited at the exit. After the mass they accompanied the woman’s casket to a waiting car.
The woman’s family sat in the van behind the white hearse. Music played for blocks around the church and down Avenida Revolucion to the Cemeterio Señor del Salitre about a mile away.
The gentle words of the priest at mass, the reverence and grief of the attendees, the mariachis, and the atmosphere were deeply moving. I was simply a bystander. My eyes and heart welled up with tears off and on. A blessed experience. I am thankful to the fellows from Funeraria Carrillo who shared some of the details.
National Museum of Magical Towns It was a nice surprise to walk down Avenida Benito Juarez in the afternoon and discover this beautiful museum which I did not know existed until I walked by!!
There are 177 magical towns in Mexico’s 32 states. The museum showcases folklore, cuisine, handicrafts, and traditions from eight regions. You may learn more about the museum at this link: https://magicaltowns.mx/atractivos/museo-nacional-de-pueblos-magicos/
The photo below features a piece in the museum from Morelos, Mexico, representing the creation of man, community, and the universe.
Conclusion:
Magical town Cavillo, with a population of around 60,000, is clean, inviting, and well-organized and worth a weekday visit. It is apparently crowded on weekends and on festival days.
Its streets are flat, its sidewalks comfortable for walking. In a few places there are hills. It sits alongside the Rio Calvillo.
Aging in Place/Aging in Community seems a lot easier in Calvillo than in larger Mexican cities, especially if you are not of high income. There is local social support and love energy.
Resources:
https://www.lugaresturisticosenmexico.com/en/calvillo-aguascalientes-mx/
https://www.lugaresturisticosenmexico.com/en/pueblos-magicos-magical-towns-by-state/
https://www.instagram.com/p/C2nT344Re1v/ inauguration day at Casa del Abuelo, Calvillo, Aguascalientes
© All rights reserved. Wendy Jane Carrel, 2025
Wendy Jane Carrel, MA, is an older adult health care advocate, advisor, and care coordinator from California. She has conducted due diligence for senior living and retirement on five continents and is dedicated to supporting families and their elders. She provides informed, attentive, compassionate guidance and curated options for aging in Ecuador, Mexico, and other destinations both domestic and abroad. She is a speaker and published author on subjects related to senior well-being. Wendy’s web site is https://www.WellnessShepherd.com
Wellness Shepherd 