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Mexico's Best Adventures
Rich Beattie April 3, 2007
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Sea, ocean, mountains, canyons, and jungle make Mexico an adventurer’s paradise. And when describing adventures in Mexico, travelers tend to toss around a lot of superlatives. It’s not surprising: The country’s unique geography offers up tons of opportunities.
So we assembled an expert panel of travel agents, tour operators, and writers to choose Mexico’s best adventures. They chimed in with all sorts of options, from the rugged to the family-friendly, and everything in between.
One reason travelers flock here, they said: wildlife. Howler and spider monkeys swing through the rainforest and cassowaries strut along the jungle floor. But Mexico specializes in migrations. Winter brings three species here. First is the enormous gray whale, which makes its way to the waters off the coast of Baja for the months of January to March. Also spectacular are the monarch butterflies, which arrive en masse to the volcanic highlands of central Mexico. Third, of course, are the humans who come to witness all the action.
If you’re more of a hard-core thrill-seeker, there’s plenty to keep you happy, like climbing around on volcanoes or hiking through ancient ruins, far from modern civilization. Cenote-diving is another way to up the adrenaline ante: These freshwater-filled sinkholes offer crystal-clear diving, giving center stage to the colorful fish and coral reef off the country’s eastern coast. Better still, these cenotes often lead to underground, flooded caves, which are rich in natural treasures.
Not a diver? Not to worry—many of the hard-core adventures can be done on a lighter level. Cenotes, for example, are perfect just to take a refreshing dip, or to strap on mask and snorkel and explore that way.
And just because some sights are out in the wild doesn’t mean you have to rough it to see them. Panelist Ron Mader calls Mexico one of the world’s richest places in terms of biodiversity. But, he said, you can see it all by private railcar and with superb interpretation, sumptuous accommodations and world-class cuisine.
In fact, two first-class trains chug through the country. There’s the train that hugs the narrow walls of Copper Canyon, a fissure in the earth four times the size of the Grand Canyon. Another option is the Expreso Maya, which threads its way through some of Mexico’s ancient cultural sites and colonial towns.
Kids and families are hardly left out of the mix—there are ways to experience adventure outside of the resort pool. Fortunately, some of the family-friendly parks aren’t far from the major tourist centers in the Yucatan.
So get ready for a Rocky Mountain High, Mexico-style, as you read our panelists’ choices for the best Mexican adventures.
See our slideshow of Mexico’s Best Adventures.
