South of the Border: 10 Destinations Down Mexico Way

Paraphrasing New York Times writer Brooks Barnes, Mexico is luring back travelers with cool new hotels, a flourishing contemporary art scene, world class gastronomy, and the world famous beaches and colonial heritage. Recent months have seen a swine flu scare and media reports of violence in the border towns - all of which have contributed to decreases in tourism. While a trip to Mexico might not seem like a good idea, the truth is different. Rates are down, even in the swankiest of boutique hotels, and the truth is that the country is still predominantly a peaceful destination - just as crime rates in Detroit wouldn't stop tourists from going to Orlando, Mexico's most touristy destinations are safe, fun, and beautiful. So, without further ado, let us look at the 10 most popular destinations in the country.


CANCUN: 40 years ago, a coconut plantation with only three inhabitants was this part of the Mexican Caribbean's only trace of civilization. Today, it is a fantastic resort city, world famous for it's year round pleasant weather, white sand beaches, and the cool, crystal clear waters plentiful with coral reefs and multicoloured fish. This coastal city has it all: world-class restaurants, luxurious hotels, and more options for entertainment than can be listed. And yet, if you were to look for activities away from the city, you would find eco-excursions to nature preserves, scuba diving tours, visits to the centuries old Maya ruins of the region, or day trips to Cozumel, an island a few miles away and with a charm all its own.


MEXICO CITY: This mega-city, home to over 20 million persons, might seem too large to be real. But the city has a history spanning seven centuries and enough variety to last a life time. First it was the capital of the Aztec empire, as can be seen by the archaeological wonders on display at the National Anthropology Museum. Centuries later, it became the capital of Spanish territories in the New World, as testified by the old colonial neighborhoods of Coyoacán and San Angel, and the city's downtown itself, all rich with European heritage. And in the early 19th century it became the capital of Mexico, and ever since has developed an identity that is both cosmopolitan and uniquely Mexican. Hotels of all kinds, top class gastronomy, and endless cultural and entertainment opportunities await travelers who head to the place German explorer Alexander von Humboldt called the City of Palaces.


GUADLAJARA: Mexico's second largest city, nicknamed La Perla de Occidente (the Western Pearl) is a city of rich culture, and with an identity completely its own. Here you will find restaurants serving all varieties of Mexican food, but also Irish pubs and Argentinean steak houses, French bistros and Japanese teppanyakis. This football-mad city is well known for the warmth of its people and the beauty of its avenues. A few miles away, Mexico's agave growing region is located. Here's where tequila is produced, in the region of the same name. Visitors to Tequila will find a culture surrounding the drink that is light-years away from the throat-burning fuel of frat parties, one that is much more similar to Scotland's whisky culture. Go ahead, give it a shot - you won't regret it. 

PUERTO VALLARTA: One of Mexico's more famous Pacific Coast cities, Puerto Vallarta spreads on both sides of the Ameca River's mouth, occupying a spot of privilege in the Bay of Banderas. It is said that the most beautiful sunsets in the Pacific can be seen from Puerto Vallarta. First gaining international notoriety as the place where John Huston filmed The Night of the Iguana, with Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton, the city has gained a renown for beautiful beaches, excellent weather year round, and, being in the Pacific coast, access to some of the world's best sport fishing and surfing spots.


EL BAJIO: This region boasts industrial centers like León, where most of Mexico's leather production is located, to cultural cities like Guanajuato - at one point the world's largest producer of silver and now home to the International Cervantes Festival, the world's largest celebration of the Spanish language and its culture. Smaller, charming colonial towns and cities are abundant in the region. If you decide to go there, don't forget to visit San Miguel de Allende, site of some beautiful Spanish colonial architecture; Celaya, famous for the cajeta candy, made with goat's milk, and a delight to anyone with a sweet tooth; and Irapuato, where some of the best strawberries in the world are grown.


ACAPULCO: Another city in the Pacific, Acapulco was originally set up as a Spanish port in the Pacific, and from here sailboats called naos would travel to Japan, the Philipines, and China. Acapulco celebrates each year the Nao Festival, celebrating centuries of contact between the city and Asia. The city occupies the Bay of Santa Lucía, and at night the view is simply stunning. World class restaurants can be found all over town, as well as small, traditional Mexican eateries, where excellent seafood and Mexican fare can be had. The city's nightclubs are varied and you are sure to find one that suits your taste - whether it is salsa and Latin rhythms at Q, pop and dance music at Alebrije or Palladium, Siboney for those looking for a piano bar serving great martinis, or the hyper-exclusive Baby'O for celebrity-spotting, Acapulco has something for everyone.


LOS CABOS: The southernmost tip of Baja, comprised of San José del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas, is internationally known simply as Cabo. This is a perfect destination for those looking for golf courses, relaxing spas, and sport fishing. It is also a prime destination for whale-watchers: humpback whales come here every year to give birth and raise their young. Secluded beaches pepper the peninsula, with some attracting surfers and others attracting people looking to spend a while away from everything.


TIJUANA: Mexico's fifth largest city has acquired a somewhat dubious reputation of a place ripe with seedy spots and dodgy areas. In truth, it is an industrial city that has nevertheless developed a very interesting and active cultural scene. While thousands of American tourists cross the border each day in search of cheap booze and entertainment, others have found Tijuana to be a place of great weather and interesting alternatives. Art galleries can be found everywhere in town, and the old city center is a stunning reminder of the city's colonial past. This is the birthplace of Ceasar salad (which you can still have at the place where it was created - Caesar's Hotel), and home to many unforgettable dining experiences.


IXTAPA-ZIHUATANEJO: Remember that beach at the end of The Shawshank Redemption, where Andy and Red meet again? That's Zihuatanejo, one of the Mexican Pacific lesser known places. A charming town, where life just seems to flow at a leisurely place, it stands as the more traditional half of Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo, the other being the resort town of Ixtapa. Unlike other places, this one mixes the charm of small Mexican villages with the modernity of resorts like Cancun. Whether you are on the lookout for nightlife or just wish to lay back and enjoy the beach, you will surely find it here. It is truly the kind of place you often dream about, but don't really think it could actually exist. Only, in this case, it does.

MAZATLAN: Owning a history that is markedly different from that of other Mexican cities, Mazatlán went from being a small fishing village to a large commercial seaport through the influence of German settlers. While most of them are gone now, their heritage is still clearly visible in the Bavarian-influenced music of the city and the Pacifico brewery, as well as in some buildings here and there. It was much later that it became a tourist destination, with frequent visits from John Wayne, Gary Cooper, and other Hollywood stars of the time. Mazatlán is more city than resort, but one where life is relaxed, and where visitors can just enjoy a day of fishing for swordfish which you can later have grilled or smoked at any of the many excellent seafood restaurants of the city.

Written by Carlos Isoard Freyssinier, originally published in Skyscanner.net