Where To Go
The north of Mexico, relatively speaking, is dull, arid and sparsely populated outside of a few industrial cities - like Monterrey - which are heavily American-influenced. The Baja California wilderness has its devotees, the border cities can be exciting in a rather sleazy way, and there are beach resorts on the Pacific, but most of the excitement lies in central and southeastern Mexico. It's in the highlands north of and around the capital that the first really worthwhile stops come, with the bulk of the historic colonial towns and an enticingly spring-like climate year-round. Coming through the heart of the country, you'll pass the silver-mining towns of Zacatecas and Guanajuato , the historic centres of San Miguel de Allende and Queretaro , and many smaller places with a legacy of superb colonial architecture. Mexico City itself is a nightmare of an urban sprawl, but totally fascinating, and in every way - artistic, political, cultural - the capital of the nation. Around the city lie the chief relics of the pre-Hispanic cultures of central Mexico - the massive pyramids of Teotihuacan ; the main Toltec site at Tula ; and Tenochtitlan , heart of the Aztec empire, in the capital itself. Guadalajara , to the west, is a city on a more human scale, capital of the state of Jalisco and in easy reach of Michoacan : between them, these states share some of the most gently scenic country in Mexico - thickly forested hills, studded with lakes and ancient villages - and a reputation for producing some of the finest crafts in a country renowned for them. South of the capital, the states of Oaxaca and Chiapas are mountainous and beautiful, too, but in a far wilder way. The city of Oaxaca , especially, is one of the most enticing destinations in the country, with an extraordinary mix of colonial and indigenous life, superb markets and fascinating archeological sites. Chiapas was the centre of the Zapatista uprising, though visitors are little affected these days, and the strength of indigenous traditions in and around the market town of San Cristobal de las Casas , together with the opening-Lip of a number of lesser-known Maya cities, continue to make it a big travellers' centre. East into the Yucatan there is also traditional indigenous life, side by side with a tourist industry based around the magnificent Maya cities - Palenque, Chichen Itza and Uxmal above all, but also scores of others - and the burgeoning new Caribbean resorts that surround Cancun . The capital, Merida , continues its provincial life remarkably unaffected by the crowds all around. On the Pacific coast, Acapulco is just the best known of the destinations. Northwards, big resorts like Mazatlan and Puerto Vallarta are interspersed with hundreds of miles of empty beaches; to the south there is still less development, and in the state of Oaxaca are some equally enticing shores. Few tourists venture over to the Gulf Coast, "despite the attractions of Veracruz and its mysterious ruins. The scene is largely dominated by oil, the weather too humid most of the time, and the beaches, on the whole, a disappointment.
My Birthday giftAlex Arvizu says "If you happen to come to the Yucatan Peninsula you must visit both Isla Mujeres and Isla Contoy.
Isla Mujeres is a great place to relax and enjoy a laid back atmosphere.
Isla Contoy, an unhabited island north of Isla Mujeres, will take you back to the days when the first settlers arrived and found these amazing virgin islands. The feeling is equal to none." Tour Mayan Pyramids On Line (Video + Stills)David Mundstock says "My film "Mayavision” features the major Mayan cities of Copan, Tikal, Chichen Itza, and Uxmal in both Central America and Mexico. It also includes Mexico City, with the Virgin of Guadalupe and the temples of Teotihuacán. The film begins in Honduras, Belize, and Guatemala.
“Mayavision” can be seen on the web, if you have a high speed internet connection.
This is a free, non-commercial, streaming video on the Windows Media Player. No ads and no strings attached. I sell absolutely nothing.
With any modem you can view the new gallery of Mayan Pyramid still pictures.
The video can be watched and stills viewed by asking a search engine for:
Intrepid Berkeley Explorer
There are over 30 of my other free, amateur travel videos on-line including trips to China, Russia, Antarctica, Italy, the UK, Japan, Australia, Bali, Africa, Greece, and Turkey; see lions, whales, elephants, or penguins.
The Intrepid Berkeley Explorer" what not to dojosie says "don't let mexican people see you translation book because the will think taht you are an idiot! don't look like you have money you are likely to get robbed and what ever you do don't wear a sombrero!!" !GO MEXICO GO!sarahid says " don't be mean to a mexican, because they going to thick you are idiot<, and be respecful every timr whith others, mexicans don't care if you wear a hat is ok." New hostel in townEnsenada Backpacker says "There is a new hostel in Ensenada Baja California Mexico
www.ensenadabackpacker.com"
Your Tip for Mexico
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