Visit Mexico 2023: Part 2
We continue with the second part of the most popular tourist destinations you must visit in 2023 while in Mexico. This time, we will learn a little more about the Yucatan peninsula, which is already famous for its destinations such as Cancun or Playa del Carmen. This time, we will show you other wonderful destinations that you may not yet know about.
6. MERIDA, YUCATAN
The capital of the state of Yucatan is a beauty when it comes to architecture. Their houses and designs are postcard perfect. Its colonial history transports us to the time of the conquest of the peninsula. At the end of the 19th century, the growing economic development and the henequen boom led to the construction of imposing haciendas and beautiful mansions that gave the city a beautiful appearance. It can still be seen on the traditional Paseo de Montejo, one of the attractions of the area. Its food is undoubtedly one of the most important in the country. If you try the lime soup, panuchos, and cochinita pibil, you will have quite an experience. The area that makes up Yucatan has many natural and archaeological destinations that are worth visiting. The cenotes, of which there are quite a few, and ruins such as Uxmal and Chichen Itza, are some of the main attractions of the region.
7. HOLBOX, QUINTANA ROO
Holbox, which means “black hole” in Mayan, is located in a hidden corner between the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico. It is a 40-kilometer island that is located within Yum Balam, a Flora and Fauna Protection Area that gives a feeling of being on an island totally isolated from the rest of the world. However, it has services and amenities that offer a comfortable and pleasant stay to guests who decide to visit this paradise of the Mexican Caribbean. Its beaches are very calm and have a turquoise color during the day. When the sun sets, the beaches become vibrant with reddish colors.
8. OAXACA, OAXACA
In the state of Oaxaca is its capital city that bears the same name. Founded in the 16th century, this beautiful place among the mountains offers many things to do. Culturally speaking, it is very rich. Its Mixtec and Zapotec heritage in the archaeological zone of Monte Alban and its beautiful streets and buildings from colonial times with a New Spanish Baroque style are made rom green quarry stone. Its food is a must-eat experience, since you can find everything from the famous chapulines (grasshoppers), and edible insects, to chorizo, beef jerky, tlayudas, and their 7 moles. There are also several places you can visit. One of them is Hierve el Agua, which are petrified waterfalls with beautiful views of the mountains. Also nearby, are the archaeological zones of Monte Albán and Mitla, the tule tree, and the towns of Santiago Matatlán, the capital of the manufacture of Mezcal, Teotitlan del Valle, where rugs are made with materials from the region, San Antonio Arrazola, where alebrijes are made, along with many more places.
9. BACALAR, QUINTANA ROO
Bacalar or Laguna de los Siete Colores,(Lagoon of the 7 different blues) is a lagoon located in the state of Quintana Roo, very close to Chetumal, the state capital. Its name comes from the Mayan Bakhalal which means “near or surrounded by reeds”. Because the bottom soils have different depths and the variation in the intensity of the sun, the waters show a wonderful diversity of blue colors. You can also visit the Fort of San Felipe, which was built in 1729, in order to stop the attacks of the pirates who lurked with their ships from the Caribbean Sea. It is a historical site that witnessed battles against English colonizers. Around the lagoon there are bungalows, houses for rent and places to eat that help give a quiet vacation full of beautiful landscapes.
10. MEXICO CITY
The capital of the Aztec country is a must, not only because it is the capital of the entire Mexican territory, but also because of its cultural richness. There are thousands of activities that can be experienced and places to visit are infinite. Mexico City was originally a lake with a small islet in the middle where the capital of the Aztec or Mexica empire was founded in 1325. This city had pyramids, but after the conquest by the Spanish, were destroyed to build new Catholic temples. Also, due to the type of terrain, the little that was left gradually sank.
The city displays different times, including the pre-Hispanic past with its 5 archaeological zones, its colonial era, with the different neighborhoods, such as Coyoacán, San Ángel, Tlalpan. It even has a historic center with its emblematic buildings, and its more contemporary time can be seen in the surroundings of the forest of chapultepec. The capital boasts of being the city with the largest number of museums in the world, 173 to be exact and 43 galleries. It also has a huge park, El Bosque de Chapultepec, with 686.05 hectares you can experience. It also has different lakes, a castle, and different museums. This area, which represent the lungs of the city, is larger than Central Park in New York City. There are plenty of activities to do in the city, depending on the season.
If you want to learn more about Mexico's rich history and culture, continue following our Houton Spanish language learning blog. Spoken Learning can also help you speak fluently when you decide to visit Mexico yourself! Sign up for a Houston spanish course near you.
