FUN FACT
Mexico is one of the world’s most popular
vacation destinations with over 20 million foreign visitors a year. Famous for
its tequila, the Aztecs and the Mayas, and the beach resorts on the Pacific and
Caribbean side, Mexico can offer something for every sort of traveler.
You know what the top ten destinations in Mexico?
10. Acapulco: is the original Mexican resort town which came into
prominence by the 1950s as a getaway for Hollywood stars and millionaires.
Still, Acapulco remains a popular tourist destination especially among Mexicans
and as a spring break destination among US college students. No visit to
Acapulco is complete without watching the cliff divers perform their impressive
jumps into ocean. They have been doing it since the 1930s, although today the
divers are professionals.
9. Guanajuato: Nestled
in the mountains of the Sierra de Guanajuato lies the beautiful colonial city
of Guanajuato. The city was founded in 1554 next to one of the richest silver
mining areas of Mexico. The 16th-century mining boom led to the construction of
beautiful haciendas and fine colonial buildings. Guanajuato streets and many
colorful alleyways spread out in every direction while most of its traffic is
served by a network of underground tunnels making it an excellent city for
pedestrians.
8. Oaxaca: The city of Oaxaca is
well-known for having one of the best Dia de Los Muertos festivals in Mexico, a
holiday celebrated in many parts of Latin America. In Mexico the festival can
be traced back thousands of years ago to indigenous cultures such as the
Zapotec and Aztec. In Oaxaca the Day of the Dead Festival starts at the end of
October when families prepare the tombs for the return of the spirits. During
this time tombs and home altars are decorated with
flowers and families leave offerings for the spirits in the cemeteries.
7.
Cozumel: Located just off the Yucatan Peninsula, Cozumel is a popular destinations for scuba diving and snorkeling. The
underwater world around Cozumel was discovered by Jacques Cousteau in 1959 who
called it one of the best diving areas in the world. Since that time Cozumel
has become a National Marine Park to protect the delicate balance of it’s
beautiful coral reefs and amazing variety of tropical fish.
6.
Los Cabos: is a
lively 20 mile beach area at the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula.
The white sandy beaches backed by sophisticated resorts, restaurants, bars and
other attractions run from spring break destination Cabo San Lucas down to the
quieter San José del Cabo. Los Cabos is a great destination for water sport
aficionados with some of the best all-around sport fishing in the world. In the
winter, whales can be observed in the Pacific ocean.
5. Palenque: is an archaeological site that
was located on the western edge of the Maya empire in the present-day state of
Chiapas, Mexico. Palenque is much smaller than some of its
Mayan neighbor cities, but it contains some of the finest architecture and
sculptures the Maya ever produced. Most structures in Palenque date from about
600 AD to 800 AD including the Temple of Inscriptions, the only Mesoamerican
pyramid built as a funerary monument.
4.
Copper Canyon: is in
fact a network of canyons which together are several times larger than the
Grand Canyon. The most popular way to explore the Copper Canyon is on the
“Chihuahua al Pacifico” Railway. The track passes over 37 bridges and through
86 tunnels, rising as high as 2,400 meter (7,900 feet) above sea level
featuring spectacular views of the canyons below.
3. Tulum: is situated on the east
coast of the Yucatán Peninsula. It once served as the major port of the Mayan
city of Coba. Tulum was built around 1200 AD when the Mayan civilization was
already in decline and therefore lacks the elegance of some other famous sites.
The tropical beach backdrop however makes this a stunning top attraction which
should not be missed.
2. Chichen Itzá: is the largest of
the Maya cities in the Yucatan Peninsula and one of Mexico’s most visited
tourist destinations. The most famous landmark of Chichen Itza is the temple-pyramid
of El Castillo. The design of the temple has special astronomical significance.
Each face of the pyramid has a stairway with 91 steps, which together with the
shared step at the top, add up to 365, the number of days in a year. Other
highlights of Chichen Itza include the Great Ballcourt and El Caracol, a
circular temple which served as an astronomical observatory.
1.
Teotihuacan: In the 2nd century BC a new civilization arose in the
valley of Mexico. This civilization built the flourishing metropolis of
Teotihuacán and it’s huge pyramids. The Pyramid of the Sun was built around 100
AD and is the largest pyramid in Teotihuacán and all of Mexico. The
construction of the smaller Pyramid of the Moon started a century later and was
finished in 450 AD. Seven centuries after the demise of the Teotihuacán empire
the pyramids were honored and utilized by the Aztecs and became a place of
pilgrimage.
