Journey Mexico recently chatted with Travel Weekly about off the beaten path destinations in Mexico. Below are excerpts from the article “Unexplored Mexico” written by Gay Nagle Myers and featured on Travel Weekly’s website:
It is possible to [discover] the pulse of old, authentic Mexico in the country’s hidden gems lying in wait in villages, pueblos and family-run lodgings. In the lore spun by local guides. In the secret trails tucked among the canyons. In the crystalline pools of underground cenotes. In cobblestoned streets and behind kitchen counters where senoras hand-press tortillas.
In an interview last year with Travel Weekly Editor in Chief Arnie Weissmann, Claudia Ruiz Massieu, secretary of tourism, explained one of the strategies of Mexico’s overall tourism plan. “We have traditionally leaned heavily on sun-and-beach destinations, which of course are very competitive,” Ruiz Massieu said. “But we want to make the most of other competitive advantages, such as cultural heritage, natural heritage, touristic know-how and human resources.”
Zachary Rabinor… …offered his own favorites, culled from years of guiding travelers and exploring on his own. His suggestions included Patzcuaro, a town founded in the 1320s in the state of Michoacan and recognized as one of the 100 Historic World Treasure Cities by the United Nations. “I feel this is a hidden gem, especially the five-suite Casa de la Real Aduana boutique hotel,” Rabinor said.
“While many people know about Mexico’s Copper Canyon, it is largely unvisited by North Americans, aside from several bus groups,” Rabinor said. “The potential for backcountry hiking, trekking, rock climbing, mountain biking, caving, spelunking and more should have this place firmly on the maps of adventure travelers.” The Copper Canyon, in the state of Chihuahua in northern Mexico, is four times the size of the Grand Canyon and offers some of the most intact indigenous culture in the world, Rabinor said. “Most people think they would have to go to Nepal or Tibet to see this level of traditional subsistence lifestyle, unique dress, language and customs,” he said. In vibrant celebrations held several times a year, the communities dance, sing, drum and quaff potent corn beer.
Rabinor’s other gems included the highland Shangri-La of San Cristobal de las Casas, the jungle-shrouded Mayan ruins of Palenque and Yaxchilan and the Sumidero Canyon, all in the state of Chiapas.
“Then there’s the Sierra Gorda area in Queretaro, home to some of most remote villages and pueblos with towering mountains and rustic albergues (shelters),” Rabinor said. “I could go on and on. I love Mexico!”
TO READ THE COMPLETE ARTICLE ON TRAVEL WEEKLY, CLICK HERE.
