There is SO MUCH More to Mexico than Meets the Eye

I’d like to take a minute to say something additional about Mexico before I move onto the next location. I spent two weeks traveling across Mexico this past November in 2021, and I had also spent over a week in Mexico in June 2017. When I say Mexico, most people generally think of the beach, but I cannot express enough how much they are doing themselves a disservice by doing that. My least favorite parts of Mexico lay by the beach. Don’t get me wrong, Cancun is a great spot, but there is so much more to Mexico than beaches. After all, Mexico’s total land mass covers 1,972,550 square kilometers, but only 9,330km of that is coastline!

Mexico is brimming with culture, and the unfortunate fact is that most people think of Mexico and think of the beach- or worse. I’m not saying Mexico is the safest place you can visit, but if you do your research, plan ahead, and hire a guide to show you around on your way, you can discover some incredibly charming and unique places across Mexico. The culture is just palpable, and there’s so much to see.

Mayan Regions

If you head down south to the Yucatan Peninsula and the Mayan regions of Mexico, you’d be surprised to find Mayan villages and many cities that still hold onto the Mayan customs and beliefs. In fact, in Acanceh, a small town on the outskirts of Merida, we met with families whose older relatives only spoke the Mayan language and continued to follow the tradition of cooking in a Mayan hut outside of their home. Certain family members would spend all day preparing the corn tortillas, cooking a delicious pumpkin spread, and putting together pork tacos. Their traditional foods and preparation methods were handed down from their families for generations back to their Mayan heritage, and they are still practiced today. In the words of our guide, “People ask where the Mayans went. They didn’t go anywhere. They are all around us still in this region. They just changed over the years like the rest of the world.”

Read More About THE HIDDEN MAYAN GEMS AROUND YUCATAN

And READ MORE ABOUT THEIR MEALS HERE!

Central Mexico

If the Mayan regions are a little too meat-filled for you (there are a lot of traditionally meaty meals), then I cannot recommend the artistic and cultural hubs found in Central Mexico enough!! In Guanajuato, you will find a colonial city filled with beauty, theatre, singing, and celebration. Plus, the food is delicious and accommodating to almost any dietary restrictions. And in San Miguel de Allende, you will find a trampoline for talented artists just starting out on their careers and blossoming into talented powerhouses. I can’t forget to mention Puebla, either, which is brimming with colonial hotspots and history.

Read More about GUANAJUATO, SAN MIGUEL de ALLENDE, or PUEBLA!

There is so much more to Mexico than meets the eye. Don’t judge Mexico without visiting. Research, plan, and I hope you get to discover its hidden gems firsthand!