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Regions and Major Tourism Cities in Mexico.
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about the major tourism regions of Mexico and see the wonders offered by
each! NORTH
(US-MEXICO Border)
 Northern Mexico, the nearest to the U.S. and most similar in climate, offers
a varied menu of attractions for any tourist.
In Coahuila, visit the first winery in the Americas, Casa Madero, founded in
1597. The centuries of experience show in the quality of the wines and
brandies that the winery offers! While you're in the area, visit Iglesia del
Santo Madero, a historic church perched atop an ancient volcano.
If you're a fan of old westerns, Durango is another must-see spot on your
tour. Its location in the rugged Sierra Madre Occidental range made it an
ideal spot for Westerns starring actors from John Wayne and Charlton Heston
to John Candy and Nick Nolte.
Monterrey, Mexico's
third-largest city, offers all the entertainment and nightlife options of
any major urban center, along with the Gran Plaza, one of the largest city
squares in the world. The Cuauhtemoc Brewery is a very popular location,
producing a million bottles a day and housing a baseball hall of fame that
celebrates famous Mexican players.
The whole region offers thousands of opportunities for rugged touring,
backpacking and other outdoor excursions. If a night by a campfire under
some of the most star-splattered skies in the world is your idea of
paradise, you'll find it here!
THE GULF AND THE SOUTH (Yucatan Peninsula)
Oaxaca
 is a shining example
of the culture of colonial Mexico, where the charm of the old-world Spanish
meets the indigenous Indian culture with marvelous results. Walking the
streets of Oaxaca is an experience like no other, and strolling in any
direction will bring you to cafes, small parks, colonial homes and hundreds
of other attractions.
If Mother Nature at her most glorious is your destination wish, Chiapas is
the place to be. You'll find rain forests, waterfalls, rivers, lakes,
volcanoes and a beautiful coastline. The Mayas left their mark here in the
form of ancient pyramids looming mysteriously from the jungle, including the
famous site Palenque.
While Tabasco is not a major tourism attraction, if you are hunting history
you'll find a rich treasure trove of Olmec artifacts and sites here that
will keep you fascinated for days. The famous sauce that bears the Tabasco
name is not made here, of course. It's actually from Louisiana!
Veracruz is one of the most beautiful port cities steeped in history. Hernan Cortez landed
on an island just off the coast in 1519 before his conquest of the Aztec
Empire, and the city has existed since then. The historical exploration
opportunities are limitless, and the surroundings beautiful.
Cancun is a legendary vacation spot, with crystal-clear water and beautiful,
well-maintained beaches. You'll run out of days long before you run out of
things to do and fun to have in one of the top tourism cities in the world!
BAJA CALIFORNIA
San Jose Del Cabo
 is truly
the high-class destination of the Baja, the older and more traditional of
the two major resort towns on the peninsula. While it has been settled since
1730, most of the buildings date from the 1880s. The shops and restaurants
cater to a varied clientele, and tend toward the higher end in prices and
service.
The "hotel zone" dominates the beach, with miles and miles of beautiful
Pacific beachfront offering every amusement imaginable for your seaside
vacation pleasure. Try the lesser-known Pueblo La Playa, a fishing village
that offers great sportfishing tours to the Gordo Banks, housing the highest
concentrations of gamefish on the peninsula.
Birdwatchers will not want to miss the estuary sanctuary, home to hundreds
of birds and easily accessible on foot or by kayak. Fill your spotter book
here!
CENTRAL MEXICO
The heart of Mexico is also one of its greatest treasures. History runs deep
here, especially in Hidalgo, where the Toltecs left their mark and
indigenous cultures still thrive, speaking their native languages and living
much as they have for centuries.
Michoacan is another great area, on Mexico's west coast, where the Monarch
butterfly migration every year draws thousands of tourists to see trees
festooned with millions of the beautiful flyers. Don't miss the Cascada de
Tzararacua, a spectacular 30-meter waterfall.
In the state of Morelos lies one of the world's great botanical treasures,
Cuernavaca, known as "The City of Eternal Spring." Tropical plants of every
type grow to incredible size and in amazing abundance here. The floral
displays and walls of greenery are breathtaking, and you'll wear out your
camera long before you run out of pictures to shoot. Cuernavaca is also an
international learning center for Mexico's language, culture and history.
The state of Mexico, which borders Mexico City but does not contain it, is a
major agricultural area that offers many opportunities to explore
pre-Columbian ruins of the Toltecs and Aztecs and immerse yourself in the
wonders of the past.
Are you looking for a quiet small-town getaway, somewhere to relax and
collect your thoughts or maybe get to work on your novel? Guanajuato is just
the place, a picturesque government seat and college town that is filled
with quaint plaza and historic buildings.
Guadalajara is the perfect
blend of urban and slower-paced colonial life, with all the options a large
city offers along with abundant quiet, picturesque plazas and neighborhoods
where you can relax and let the leisurely pace of life draw away your cares.
 Of course, no discussion of Mexico would be complete without
Mexico City, the
third-largest city in the world and the capital city of Mexico. The
beachside destinations get all the glossy press, but Mexico City is well
worth a visit, with its magnificent cathedrals, museums, colonial buildings
and lively and varied nightlife. You could spend a month here and still only
scratch the surface!
Food fans will have to be sure and add the state of Puebla to their
itineraries. It is the epicenter for mole sauces, complex creations of
chiles, chocolate and exotic spices that are among the most difficult to
make well and most prized in the world. There are thousands of mole sauce
recipes, and you'll want to try them all!
Looking to relax and wash your cares away with a dip in a hot spring spa?
Aguascalientes is your destination, with the very name meaning "hot waters"
in Spanish. Go in late April or early May for the San Marcos Fair and
collect all the best in arts and crafts, see magnificent parades and
bullfights and find food like you've never tasted!
For a deep dose of Mexican history, the small state of Queretaro is an ideal
destination. The plans for the rebellion against Spain were hatched here.
United States history met Mexico's here in 1848, when the treaty of
Guadalupe-Hidalgo ceded California, Arizona and New Mexico to the U.S.
During the French occupation, Emperor Maximilian made his headquarters here
before he fell to his own army following defeats to Benito Juarez's people's
army. More recently, the current Mexican constitution was drafted here in
1917.
WEST COAST (Pacific)
Jalisco
Whether your wish is for climbing a snow-capped mountain or exploring a
tropical jungle, the state of Jalisco is your ultimate destination. Puerto
Vallarta, famed port of call of "The Love Boat," is a jewel of the state,
and Lake Chapala is as beautiful as any in the world and has long been an
inspiration for artists. Jalisco is also the home of tequila and mariachi
music. Fiesta!
If you like your mountains steaming and belching lava instead of
snow-capped, be sure and see Ceboruco, in Nayarit state. Take a soak in the
thermal springs while you're there.
Perhaps no resort city in the world is more famous than Acapulco. From the
magnificent beaches during the day to the world-class, vibrant nightlife
after the sun goes down, you'll never lack for anything to do. Lie on the
beach and let the passing parade of food and drink vendors tempt your palate
with an amazing variety of local delicacies, then dance the night away in
one of Acapulco's famous night spots!
Wherever you go in Mexico, you'll find an amazing variety of things to do,
see, taste and experience.
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