Yalitza Aparicio Works with AirBNB to Showcase Magical Towns in Mexico

As the world slowly begins to open up again many people are eager to board a plane and experience their next travel adventure. In an effort to safely and responsibly encourage tourism to Mexico Indigenous actress Yalitza Aparicio is working with AirBNB along with Pueblos Mágicos, a series of magical towns that are recognized by the Mexican government for their “enchanting” qualities. Beyond their natural beauty, what makes these towns magical can be their history, natural wonders, or the folktales and legends attached to them. The Oscar-nominated actress is a native of Tlaxiaco, Oaxaca and a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador so to have her as the host of this project makes perfect sense considering she’s used her platform to amplify Mexican culture.

“As a Magical Host, I aim to share my Mexican and Latin American pride with guests from all over the world, so that they’re able to keep a bit of the country that they visit in a way that’s much more personal and local. What excites me about the Airbnb and Pueblos Mágicos partnership is not only that guests have the opportunity to learn about how spectacular Mexico is as a destination but that they also get to experience the warmth of its people,” she said in a statement to HipLatina.

Photo courtesy of AirBNB

She’s been a vocal and proud advocate of her Mixtec roots and of the beauty that Mexico has to offer. Now she’s boosting the visibility of 132 Pueblos Mágicos and encouraging people to safely make their way to Mexico when the time is right. Among the magical towns, there’s Mazunte, Oaxaca, Todos Santos, Baja California Sur, and Sisal, Yucatán which all boast beautiful views of the water for a relaxing getaway. One of the most popular towns is San Cristóbal de las Casas, Chiapas because of its preserved colonial architecture and Indigenous community and traditions.

Mexico is now open to travelers and there is no need to provide a negative PCR test or quarantine on arrival. However, visitors must complete a health declaration form and scan the QR code it generates on arrival. Keep in mind the land border between Mexico and the United States is closed for nonessential travel through at least May 21 but travel by plane is permitted. People traveling from the U.S. will need a negative Covid-19 test result taken 72 hours or less before travel to be able to return to the U.S.

Aparicio will host a webinar in Spanish for Airbnb Hosts as well as any other people who are interested in potentially becoming hosts. She will share her personal stories, tips, and experiences about how to share the beauty of Mexico. Registration is open and the event is on Monday, May 3 at 11 a.m. Mexico time. In the meantime, she’s also working on her second feature film,  Presences (Presencias) following her Oscar-nominated role in Roma three years ago.