Top 5: Mexico Off The Beaten Path

I love traveling. Discovering new places, the rush of going somewhere new and trying all sorts of different things. Often I find myself going to the typical tourists attractions in a city, I'm not saying it's wrong because they're the main attractions for a reason, but sometimes locals possess the best kept secrets to truly experience a place.

I believe that taking the road less traveled can lead me to great and new things, and when it comes to travel and getting to know a place these is still true. I like getting a complete sense of the culture and traditions the place I'm visiting, if that means not going to the typical touristy attractions then I'm in. 

I'm mexican so I know all the cool places to visit in Mexico if you want to immerse yourself in the culture and awesomeness that is Mexico.

1. Guanajuato City. Guanajuato City is in the heart of Mexico. About 5 hours north from Mexico City you'll find this colorful town situated between mountains. Guanajuato was the place where Mexico's Independence was born and it has the characteristic look of the colonial era, with beautiful and outstanding architecture. The food, the people and nightlife are great, but what Guanajuato is better known for is for its mines and for the enormous cultural heritage and history. Don't forget to visit the mummies museum!

2. Zacatecas City. This city is located on the north-center region of Mexico, it was one of the most important cities for the Spanish because of the richness of its lands in silver and other mineral, nowadays you can still visit some of the mines. It's a World Heritage Site because of its baroque architecture, its ancient buildings are covered in pink marble which make the city even more beautiful. You can find delicious food, great architecture, culture and history, archaeological sites, and camping sites. 

3. Barrancas del Cobre, Chihuahua. In english known as Copper Canyon, this place is located in the state of Chihuahua, in the north of Mexico. The Canyon is actually bigger and deeper than the Grand Canyon in the U.S., so that's pretty impressing. Here you can practice hiking, biking and horseback riding. The coolest thing to do there is take the train called Chihuahua-Pacífico or "Chepe" for short. the trip passes through different towns and the views while on the train are breathtaking. The train does different stops in the towns where you can spend the night and enjoy the local cuisine and crafts. 

4. Morelia, Michoacán. Morelia is the capital of the state of Michoacan, located in the center of Mexico. It was declared a World Heritage Site for its well preserved colonial buildings and the layout of the historic center. This city is beautiful, full of life and history. You can't miss walking around the city center, eating at one of the restaurants in the "portones" and going to the market. You have to visit the orchid museum with more than 3,400 species of orchids and the Mask Museum that holds examples of the mexican culture from several states. 

5. Sierra Gorda and Huasteca Potosina. If nature is your thing you can't miss these two. Sierra Gorda is a one the principal mountain ranges in the country and it'a an ecological region in the state of Queretaro. It has mountains, caves, waterfalls, rivers, canyons, all kinds of adventure and animal diversity. As for Huasteca Potosina, it's also an ecological region located in the Gulf Coast of Mexico, it has a broad diversity of climates which make for incredible nature sightseeing, it's also one of the most diverse areas in Mexico so expect to find all kinds of animals. These two places are next to each other so if you like nature and adventure this is for you.

There are so many places to visit in Mexico that are not Cancún or Cabo. Give yourself a chance to get to know the real Mexico, you won't regret it!

What do you think of traveling off the beaten path? What are your recomendations for visiting in your country?

XO
Mary