The Hidden Gems That Make Mexico One of the Most Beautiful Countries on Earth

If you ’ve see a sunset off the coast of Puerto Vallarta , snorkeled in Cozumel , or cruise around the Arch of Los Cabos , then congrats . You have seen some fantastically beautiful things in Mexico . But do n’t discontinue there – you ’ve barely scratched the Earth’s surface . Mexico is home to more than 38 UNESCO World Heritage Sites , has some of the deepest canyon and high mountains in the world , rocks crystal - unmortgaged lake , and contains ruin that far exceed Tulum ’s . So before you originate brag that you ’ve been to Riviera Maya and therefore have " seen " Mexico , we press you to take a look at this leaning and strongly reconsider .

Barrancas del Cobre

Our Grand Canyon is , in fact , pretty opulent . But what if we told you that there ’s an even GRANDER canyon just on the other side of the Rio Grande ? In Mexico ’s northern state of Chihuahua ( the post , not the mascot for Taco Bell , which , also , is not super Mexican ) is Barrancas del Cobre , or Copper Canyon . This natural phenomenon spans more than 25,000 straight miles and is made up of six canyons in the Sierra Madre Occidental batch . It ’s a prime place for escapade locomotion , from hiking and biking to driving and horseback riding , and the most democratic path to cruise the canon is by train , aboard the Chihuahua al Pacifico , or " El Chepe . "

Tamul Falls

Mexico ’s eastern state of San Luis Potosi is cognize for its many aquatic delight , namely in the form of waterfalls . The fall of San Luis Potosi , all near Ciudad Valles , are top destination for born mantrap . But the Tamul Falls are the highest and most spectacular , which tumble more than 340 foot . Twenty - five miles downriver you’re able to disport among pre - Columbian ruins at the land site of Tamtoc . Other falls to retard out are the nearby Tamasopo Falls and the Micos Falls .

Bacalar

Perhaps the furthermost south you ’ve been ( or get word of ) is Tulum . And that ’s nerveless . Tulum is large . But if you could advert on for just a few more hours you ’ll detect yourself in a piazza even more magical – Bacalar . LITERALLY a Magic Town of Mexico , Bacalar is describe for the lake on which it sits , the Lake of Seven Colors . This paint natural masterpiece draws on seven different sunglasses of blue that shift key with the light as the sun moves across the sky . On the lake you’re able to kayak , canvass , sunbathe , frolic among the mangroves , or give yourself a born mud tub with the limestone deposit at the bottom . But most of all , just marvel at all those # nofilter pic .

Canon del Sumidero

You do n’t have to go all the way to New Zealand to chaseLord of the Rings - type majesty . You just have to go to Mexico ’s southern state of Chiapas on the perimeter of Guatemala . Here you ’ll see Canon del Sumidero . This deep , narrow canon reduce by the Grijalva River has vertical walls that go up as high as 3,200 foot . In the surrounding 53,000 - acre Sumidero Canyon National Park , you ’ll incur small caves , the most famous of which is the Cueva de Colores , name for the Mg , atomic number 19 , and other minerals that paint the walls of the cave . play your own hobbits , ring , and massively imposing gemstone statue of old dudes with beards .

La Paz

While all of your protagonist are doing electric - colored barb at Cabo Wabo and ignite up in a fetor of sweat and shame , you ’re getting therealtaste of Baja California over in La Paz . Two hours northwards from Cabo San Lucas is this pocket-size beach hangout community , known less for its mega - resort and more for its desert - sports meeting - ocean looker .

Cenotes of Cuzama

If you ’ve stayed in Cancun or along the Riviera Maya , you ’ve probably visited a cenote before , or at least visualise a billboard for them . What is a cenote , you ask ? It ’s a natural sinkhole in limestone bedrock that yield way to a serial publication of underground rivers filled with quartz - well-defined H2O . Mexico ’s Yucatan Peninsula is know for its cenotes , but some of the most spectacular are the cenotes of Cuzama near Merida . These swallow hole were thought to be hallowed by the ancient Mayans .

Calakmul

Chichen Itza ? Been there , done that . Tulum?Yawn . If you want untapped and telling Mayan story , point toward Campeche , the state that borders Quintana Roo . Here you ’ll regain a monumental jungle reserve that covers about 15 % of Campeche ’s territory . Within this sprawling 1.8 million - acre hobo camp are some of the Mayan civilization ’s most staggering archaeologic sites , including Calakmul . Only a small part of Calakmul has been uncover and restore , but it ’s been determined that the site was lodge in for about 1,400 years and was the chief rival to the Tikal city in nearby Guatemala . You ’ll regain burial crypts , as well as excavated construction and ton of wildlife .

Pico de Orizaba

Yes , Mexico has AMAZING beach . But for those of you who mean Mexico is all sun and Baroness Dudevant , it might interest you to know that 75 % of Mexico ’s altitude is above 3,300 ft . That ’s very far from the shore . This reach Mexico one of the best terminus in the world for mountaineering . Should you wish to try your luck , take a crack at Pico de Orizaba , Mexico ’s highest mountain . This grand peak caps off at an impressive 18,491 ft above ocean level ( in the United States , only Denali progress to higher ) and its glaciate top are known for mountaineering and mounting . Most travelers climbing these mass will make their base in Puebla .

Cholula

That magnificent red ambrosia you drench everything in ? It ’s really named after a place – a shoes you must chatter forthwith . This city in the land of Puebla is acknowledge for its Great Pyramid , a monolithic Aztec complex that is hump as one of the largest archaeological land site in North America . Atop the coordination compound is a beautiful chancel , Nuestra Señora de los Remedios , which seduce for a nifty pic op with the looming – and still active – Popocatepetl vent in the backcloth .

Mineral de Pozos

Fun fact : Mexico is one of the world ’s leading producers of silver , and has been throughout history . Today it ’s possible to visit one of the great , though now abandoned , excavation towns . In the state of Guanajuato , jaw Mineral de Pozos . You wo n’t find a lot of natural process in this ghost town , but it ’s an eery , cool glimpse into the past with its shield of building and the periodic Cycloloma atriplicifolium . Inhabitants are lento coming back to open thing like boutique hotels and workshop , so the time to go is now , lest it turn into an Epcot - ized reading of its former self .

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Chiapas Mexico