Everyone’s heard of Cabo and Cancun, but Mexico has more. So
much more! Here are some of the lesser-known gems in this
wonderful country – and each one of them could be worth a
week-long trip in itself.
- Huatulco: Or, in other words, a beachgoer’s paradise. This
charming town near Oaxaca is a wonderful place to spend a
week on the beach. And it’s one of Mexico’s most
forward-thinking destinations, loaded with rules to protect the
environment and preserve the ambiance. Buildings cannot be
more than six stories tall, and the wonderful, lush surroundings
are mostly untouched.
2. Punta Mita: Just sixteen kilometres north of Puerto Vallarta,
you’ll feel like you’ve entered into another world. And a world
loaded with glam! From vacation rentals to high-end hotels
like the Four Seasons, golf courses, and private beaches, here
you’ll be able to lay down for a week and truly relax.
3. Guanajuato: If you Instagram a picture of yourself standing in
this central Mexican city, before a hill piled with houses in every
color – vibrant and bright like the feathers of tropical birds –
your followers will be convinced that you hacked into
Photoshop. And you might have trouble believing this place
yourself. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, this
Guanajuato is a kaleidoscope in every sense of the word: from
the bustling plazas to the lovely Mercado Hidalgo, where you
can buy authentic souvenirs aplenty. Don’t miss the city’s
famed underground streets and tunnels, which you can
explore on a walking tour or at your own leisure.
4. San Miguel de Allende: Visit this wonderful mountain city, part
of the state of Guanajuato, and ninety kilometres east of the
city of that name. Walking the cobblestoned streets, it will feel
like you’ve stepped back in time. And there’s history here for
sure: from the days when this was a stopover point for
transporting silver out of the mountain mines, to when it fell
into disuse, until it was revived by a Chicago native who
transformed it into the artist’s and expat’s hub that it is today.
5. Zacatecas: Also in Mexico’s centre, this wonderful, colonial city
is a must for history lovers – or anyone who wants to see how
the real Mexico is, away from the crowds. The city got its start
as a silver mining hotspot – and some of the old mines have
become museums today. There’s also a nearby hill, the Cerro
de la Bufa, where you can ride a cable car to the top and be
rewarded with sweeping vistas of the city below.
6. Mérida: The capital of the Yucatán is sadly overlooked as a
tourist destination, with everyone flocking to Cancún and
missing out on the wonderful history here. But everything you
can do from Cancún – Mayan ruins or pristine beaches – you
can do from Mérida. And then some! Wander the Paseo de
Montejo, lined with stone mansions, and get a sense of the
colonial times at the Sunday Market. Then wrap up the day in
one of a dozen quaint boutique hotels.
