Mexico Travels to date

Mexico is such a beautiful and diverse country. There are 31 states and the Federal District, and the climates range from the hot, sweltering beaches many people picture to high desert mountains.

So far, we have had the opportunity to visit five central highland states (Guanajuato, Hidalgo, Puebla, Queretaro, and Tlaxcala) and the Federal District. I will highlight a few of our favorite spots to date, and please reach out to us to let us know where we should go next - we definitely have Xcaret on our travel bucket list!

In the state of Guanajuato, one of our favorite spots has been Delores Hidalgo, which has the Independence Bell of Mexico. This area is also well known for the artisans who come for the markets, and you can find so many amazing buys from handmade leather bags and clothes to the various beautiful ceramics many of us know from Mexico.

My younger son's favorite spot in Mexico is hands down Grutas Tolantongo in the state of Hidalgo. This mountain tourist spot has many relaxing pools built into the side of the mountain, which are filled with the naturally warm water from the local geothermal pocket - the water is constantly running throughout the pools, cascading down to the river at the bottom of the valley, which you can also swim in. There is a second section of Tolantongo with a cave system that is also filled with this wonderfully warm water, and although we did not get to go into the cave during our visit, I have heard the water gets warmer as you go into the cave, and you may not make it to the very back depending on your temperature preferences. Zip lines are also found here for an alternative to the water attractions, as well as shops, restaurants, hotels, and camp sites - but remember to bring lots of pesos with you, as the entire area is cash only. hotels included.

The iglesia at the top of Cholula

I love living history locations, and there are many pyramids throughout Mexico. In the state of Puebla, the town of Cholula (near Puebla city) has an amazing archaeological zone with the remnants of a multi-building complex known as the Great Pyramid of Cholula. During certain seasons, you can tour inside the tunnels that still exist, but don't worry if you don't time your plans right, there is always access to the exterior of the site with informational signs in both English and Spanish languages. Atop Cholula sits an extraordinarily beautiful historic iglesia, or church. From this point on clear days, you can see two volcanoes from the top - Popocatepetl Iztaccihuatl. This church was built by Spanish colonists to take over the historic site. Be ready to climb hills and/or stairs for this experience though. My phone said I climbed 17 flights of stairs that day. Bonus for my husband and sons who are dual citizens, Mexican nationals get to visit Cholula for free! The price for tourists wasn't bad, I believe less than $5 USD at our time of visit.

Another favorite pyramid is in our family's home state of Queretaro. El Cerrito is such an amazing spot to visit. This archaeological zone also had a big complex and now has a beautiful museum to tell the history of El Cerrito and how it was part of most major goods trade routes for Pre-Spanish Mexico. There are scale models comparing some of the major pyramids in Mexico and a timeline of various sites to show the interconnectedness of it all. And because we have family in Queretaro, we have spent most of our time in this state. Two other hot spots we enjoy are Bernal and Pinal de Amoles. Bernal is home to Pena de Bernal, the third highest monolith on the planet. There are many nice restaurants in town with beautiful seating to enjoy the view if you're not up for hiking. Pinal de Amoles in the Sierra Gorda mountains has many treasures, some we have visited, and others are on our to-do list still. The Mirador de 4 Palos has many breathtaking views, often from above the clouds, and the addition of the Mirador de Cristal adds adventure to anyone brave enough to walk onto the glass platform. Also, part of this beautiful park is a hike to a cave (don't worry, you can rent a flashlight!) There are wooden ladders going down into the cave, along with a guide provided, and the hike was more strenuous due to the altitude of the area, but not extremely difficult.

Part of a mural depicting what El Cerrito looked like in its prime, located in the museum.