Cosalá a Magic Town and a Cultural Patrimony of Mexico

Cosalá is a pueblo nestled in the Sierra of Sinaloa equidistant from both Mazatlan and Culiacan. It was originally named Quetzalla (Place of beautiful evenings) and then named the ungainly name of the Royal Mines of Our Lady of the Eleven Thousand Virgins of Cosalá, before it was shortened to simply Cosala. It was officially founded in March of 1562 by Amador López; however the region was previously inhabited by Tepehuanes, Sabaibos, Acaxes and Ximimies Indians since time immemorial. We know this because of the petroglyphs and cave paintings in the area. Casalá was named one of the world’s wealthiest mining centers by Spain back in the old days. This was due to the presence of the well-yielding of San Jose de las bocas, Cajón de Tapacoya, Guadalupe de los Reyes, La Cienega and Nuestra Señora. It was once Sinaloa´s most important commerce center.
The boom of Cosala attracted numerous foreigners, particularly Spanish, who decided to settle in this promising place. This sparked an even larger social and commercial boom also attracted adventurers. Heraclio Bernal, “El Rayo de Sinaloa” was the most famous and among the first. Cosala was the Government seat in 1824. Don Francisco Iriarte Conde acted as Vice Governor, but never became Governor since he was elected by the people which didn’t mesh well with the Spanish Government’s plans. Two other Governors of Sinaloa have come from Cosala: Leopoldo Sánchez Celis and Jesús Aguilar Padilla.
The people from Cosalá have fought forever to preserve their culture, customs, traditions and the beauty of their town. They want their cultural legacy to be recognized and they welcome tourist who are interested in what they have to offer. They know what they have in their hands and that this, represents the resources to achieve this recognition. In 2000 during the presidency of Ernesto Zedillo, Cosalá was recognized as an official part of Mexico’s Patrimony. Such national recognition was thought to be the detonator that would catapult Cosala into orbit and fulfill the wishes of the citizens, but it wasn’t to happen for years lamentably. With the arrival of native son and Governor to state power, plans were reactivated to rescue Cosalá from being forgotten. He and the locas worked intensely and on October 5, 2005, the national Government bestowed the coveted title of Magic Pueblo on Cosalá. Two years after this stupendous happening, Cosalá has achieve important advances in rescuing big old houses, streets, traditions, culture and has become a magnet for tourists all over the globe.
The tourist boom of Cosalá is generating new investments in the core of the pueblo and is sparking the developments of other attractions around the area as Vado Hondo, Mineral de Nuestra Señora and San José de las Bocas. It is also strengthening the already existing attractions like it is sport fishing.
To visit Cosalá is to be transported to the past that is present in its stately old houses, churches, streets, legends of ghosts, food and life style.
Mazatlan is surrounded by this charming towns; all together make an interesting place to visit or live and ad an incredible value to the wonderful Mazatlan Real Estate.