Best Travel Destinations - Mexico
The ruins of Chichén Itzá take you back in time to an era of a vast and powerful Mayan empire, once the center of being for all of the Yucutan civilization ruling over politics, religion, and military. Today the ceremonial structures and various other buildings that were in their time of grandeur between 800 - 1200 A.D are in various states of preservation, and open for travelers to explore. Set in a clearing surrounded by jungle, the history of Chichén Itzá entails stories of humans sacrifices and ultimately a violent end spurred by a revolt against the reigning powers that shifted development away from Chichén Itzá. Today it is a UNESCO World Heritage site and was recently declared one of the new 7 Wonders of ...
In southern Mexico, nestled between ranges of volcanic mountains, the town of Catemaco springs to life every March with a spectacle of witchcraft, sorcery and merriment. The Noche de Brujas—“Night of the witches”—dates back to the precolonial era, drawing traditional healers, shamans, prophets and fortune-tellers from all over Mexico to gather for a legendary all-night festival, during which participants invoke a mass cleansing to alleviate the previous year’s negative energies. Adventurous tourists join in on the fun of Noche de Brujas, some just to witness the spectacle, others daring to get involved. The adorable avenues and landscapes of pristine Catemaco are supercharged with mysticism on a regular day, but during Noche de Brujas the sense is nearly palpable. Streets are crowded year-round with vendors selling ...
Lying just off the Yucatan Peninsula, Isla Cozumel, the Island of the Swallows, offers world class diving in picture perfect surroundings. With striking coral reefs, thriving marine life and crystal clear waters to spy them through, Cozumel was Mexico’s best kept secret until a young Jacques Cousteau “discovered” it in the 1960’s, placing this sleepy isle square on the scuba map. With over forty major dive sites to choose from, Cozumel caters to every diving level and preference, from dolphin dives to personalized ‘Scuba Subs’. Yet the island’s greatest attraction remains drift diving: currents that carry divers along great swathes of reef on an ‘aquatic wind’. As you float over the technicolor corals you’re likely to spot sea turtles, stingrays, angelfish and even grey nurse ...
Akumal is a wonderfully laid back, quiet village 60 miles south of Cancún, along Quintana Roo’s Mayan Riviera coast in Mexico. A world away from the turbulent goings-on farther north, Akumal has held onto its rich history and Mayan roots, which is very evident when mingling with the residents on a walk along the town’s narrow avenues. One of the former residents is celebrated just inside the town arch, where a statue of Gonzalo Guerrero and his family stand. Guerrero was a Spanish conquistador, who, after being shipwrecked at Akumal, made the very best of his situation by becoming a respected warrior and marrying a Mayan princess to start the first known Euro-American family. Re-discovered in the early 1950s, Akumal’s sugar sand beaches, coconut palms ...
Despite the common misconception, Cinco de Mayo is not actually Mexico's Independence Day. Cinco de Mayo celebrates the Mexican militia's victory over the French army at the Battle of Puebla in 1862. It is more of a regional holiday than a national one, and most of the celebrations occur in the city of Puebla. Those parts of the United States with large Mexican populations will also enjoy the thrill of Cinco de Mayo celebrations, which have become a bigger tradition than in Mexico itself. Cinco de Mayo is seen more as a day to celebrate Mexican culture within the United States. The Battle of Puebla took place over forty years after Mexico gained its independence from Spain. The years following independence were riddled with war, ...
The Yucatan Peninsula is commonly considered and visited for the warm beaches around places like Cozumel, Cancun, and Playa del Carmen. They’re great getaways that draw the sun worshipers looking to unwind, relax and have some fun; but it’s not all about the sand and surf. Visitors to the area can also explore ancient city ruins of the once powerful Mayans: a civilization that ruled a large chunk of present-day Mexico and Central America for thousands of years. The most popular of these sites is the nearby Chichen Itza; but just a bit further down the road sits its impressive cousin: Uxmal (Oosh-mahl)— an interesting and less crowded experience. The UNESCO World Heritage Site of Uxmal, which is Mayan for “built three times,” is believed ...
The Monarch butterfly migration “is one of the most significant biological events on this planet,” according to University of Kansas biology professor Chip Taylor. It is an awe-inspiring sight to see thousands, if not millions, of Monarch butterflies come to roost in the Oyamel forests of Mexico and the trees of Southern California. The Monarch butterfly migration route takes these insects thousands of miles from the north, some coming from as far away as Canada, making this migration a beautiful wonder, and one that no other butterfly takes part in. Each winter, as the temperatures drop in the north, the Monarch butterflies migrate south to the warmer climates of the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve. No bad for an insect that weighs less than a gram. ...
Las Pozas, which means “The Pools,” is an eccentric and surreal sculpture garden high in the rain forest outside Xilitla, Mexico. English poet and artist Edward James built Las Pozas because he “wanted a Garden of Eden set up,” and what he found on a visit to Los Angeles in the 1940s wasn’t to his liking. Instead, “Mexico was far more romantic,” he explained, and there was “far more room than there (was) in crowded Southern California.” In the lush mountains seven hours north of Mexico City, and about 2,000 feet (610 meters) above sea level, Las Pozas sits on 80 acres (320,000 meters2) that Edward James chose as the ideal location for his Eden. Prior to building the Las Pozas gardens, James planted orchids, ...
There's adventure travel and then there's the Cave of Swallows, which takes adventure travel to a whole other level. As the deepest cave shaft in the world, there's only one way to see the Cave of Swallows, and that's down. This is the Mount Everest of caves, and adventure travellers and groups of outdoor enthusiasts make the trek each year to the pit cave that is deep in the Mexican forest. Located in the small town of Aquismón in the state of San Luis Potosi, Mexico, the Cave of Swallows is certainly off the beaten path, away from the town in a heavily wooded area. The pit cave doesn't have the same history as many of Mexico's landmarks, as it was only found a little ...
A lazy holiday at Cancún resort can easily be highlighted with a trip to the Mayan ruins at Tulum, Mexico. As the most important archaeological site on the coast of the Riviera Maya, Tulum is a fascinating cultural experience, and provides an opportunity to glimpse the coastline of the Yucatan Peninsula as it might have been hundreds of years ago. Tulum is just a few hours south of Cancún, and is one of the most easily accessible archaeological sites in the area. When temperatures and humidity are soaring, the relatively small size of the Tulum site (compared to Coba and Chichen Itza), and the accessibility of Tulum’s beach, make the archaeological site one of the best choices on the Riviera Maya. Green lawns surround the ...
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