7 MAGICAL PLACES IN MEXICO

Mexico is littered with incredible archaeological sites and natural wonders. Unfortunately, these hotspots are increasingly overrun by tourists. Remember to occasionally leave the beaten track to visit lesser-known gems. We offer 7 tips.

Of course you'll want to visit Monte Alban, Taxco and Teotihuacan. These cultural wonders are definitely not to be missed. But if you have a lot of miles to cover, you better squeeze in some rest stops. For example, in a charming town that has not yet been crushed by tourists.

Mexico promotes a series of lesser known towns that are rich in culture and history: Los Pueblos Mágicos (Magical Towns).

A lot of them are worth visiting, others have already fallen prey to mass tourism. San Cristóbal de las Casas, for example, used to be nothing more than a small indigenous village with muddy roads, with little tourism except for a few hippies and backpackers. Now San Cristóbal has become a pretty tourist trap with stores, markets, restaurants and bars. Little remains of its former authenticity.

So we decided to make our own selection of Magical Places to visit.

Calakmul

The Reserva Biosfera de Calakmul in the state of Campeche combines nature and history. The nature reserve was declared by Unesco as one of the most biodiverse places in the world, with a healthy population of jaguars, pumas, monkeys, toucans and tapirs. At the hart of the forest lies the archeological site of Calakmul, one of the largest cities of the Maya during the Classic Period. Located deep in the forest, the site is less accessible than more famous archaeological sites. But what a view from the top of the pyramid! The jungle is also the home of El Volcan de los Murciélagos, translation: bat volcano. Everyday at sunset, millions of bats leave their cave in a giant swarm. Read more about the bat cave and Calakmul.

Tlacotalpan

This village in the state of Veracruz is so authentic and charming that it looks like a movie set. Many films and telenovelas have been shot here since directors had noticed the same thing. With the colorful houses, the lagoon with herons, the old kiosk and romantic town squares, this place is a dream for travelers with a taste for slow tourism and photography. As the only foreigners there, we were so charmed by the authenticity and friendly residents that we decided to stay there for an extra day.

Robert Brady Museum

Most people visit Cuernavaca to see the palace of Cortés, while the real gem of the city is the museum of art collector Robert Brady. Not for fans of minimalism, but if you like folklore, interior design, history, art and magic realism, his house is a must-see for you. The former Franciscan monastery is the quirky decor for art from all over the world, like African tribal art, Oriental furniture, Murano glass and Mexican folklore objects. Frida Kahlo’s Self-Portrait with Monkey is part of the collection, among other big names (Milton Avery, Diego Rivera, José Clemente Orozco, Max Beckmann, Paul Klee,…). Read more

Tepozotlán

This village, 25 miles (40 km) from Mexico City, is worth a visit just for the monastery and church. If you thought that the gold-clad interior of the Rosario Chapel in Puebla was madness, you certainly can't believe your eyes at St. Francis Xavier Church. The gilded church interior, the museum of baroque and colonial art inside the monastery, the maze of corridors and the garden with orange trees make quite an impression. You’ll need half a day to visit the Museo Nacional del Virreinato.
And while you're there: have a nice and cheap meal at the covered market nearby instead of the more expensive restaurants.

Cholula

The Great Pyramid of Cholula is known as the largest pyramid in the world by volume. However, it is not the size that impresses, as the temple has not been excavated and is completely overgrown. It is the fact that a church was built on top of it. It is interesting to walk through Cholula, especially on market days. But the main reason to come here are the churches of Santa María Tonantzintla and San Francisco Acatepec, just a five minutes drive apart. It would be too much work to visit all the churches in Mexico, but these two are definitely must-sees, as they are the finest examples of typical mestizo religious architecture. They were both built in the 16th century, and combine Catholic elements with pre-Hispanic indigenous motifs with a splash of color, Baroque architecture, and figures of saints and angels. An eternal spectator here is Popocatépetl, the still-active (and sometimes ash spewing) volcano. Be sure to make a stop here before heading to Puebla.

Querétaro

This colonial city is the favorite refuge of Mexico City's wealthier residents. Not that surprising, as the city has much to offer: some 3,000 historical monuments, numerous city squares where there is always something to see, car-free streets and markets. On weekends there are many concerts and street performances, but it’ s also crowded with Mexican day-trippers. You won’t see many foreign tourists here. If you prefer to explore the city without the weekend crowds, better come on a weekday. We thought the crowds here were far from annoying. The presence of Mexican tourists somehow feels more authentic.

Coyoacán

The crowded centre of Mexico City can be quite overwhelming and loud. To escape the masses, the traffic and the noise, there’s no better place to retreat than Coyoacán, a half hour taxi ride away. It’s an artists' district with charming corners, tasty restaurants and, of course, its most famous tourist attraction: the Frida Kahlo museum. We celebrated Dia de los Muertos here. Our Mexican friend Lalo happens to be a terrific tour guide with a keen nose for the best food. He showed us were to eat the best tacos al pastor at the Coyoacan market. Never had better tacos and churros anywhere. If you need a tour guide or driver for your Mexican adventure, contact him with our compliments.

Museo de Arte Popular

The Museum of Mexican Folk Art is an ode to fantasy, featuring the typical alebrijes (fantastic figures made of papier-mâché), masks, costumes and artisan objects. Another colorful experience. If you want to buy a souvenir, skip the museum's giftshop, and buy the same items for a lower price at the Mercado de Artesanías La Ciudadela three blocks away. You‘ll find artisan products there at reasonable prices. Don't forget to practice your bidding skills.