#56 best destination in the world

Malecón, Puerto Vallarta

MALECON_DE_PUERTO_VALLARTA

  • 12 block, mile long boardwalk lined with numerous sculptures

Playa Escondida, Islas Marietas National Park

hidden-beach-marietas-islands-puerto-vallarta-mexico-1

  • Rumored to have been created as the result of deliberate military testing in the early 1900s
  • Involves taking an hour long boat ride with a tour company to get there or it can be swum or kayaked to

Hospicio Cabañas

Hospicio_cabañas

  • One of the oldest and largest hospital complexes in the Americas
  • Founded in 1791 in order to combine the functions of a workhouse, hospital, orphanage, and almshouse
  • The design was based on classic examples around Madrid
  • Although it served for a time as barracks in the mid-19th century, the hospital lasted well into the 20th century and continued to function until 1980, when the Cabañas Cultural Institute moved in
  • UNESCO World Heritage Site

Historic Center of Mexico City

Mexico_City_Downtown

  • Zocalo that is the largest plaza in Latin America, it can hold up to nearly 100,000 people
  • The Spaniards began to build what is now modern Mexico City in the 16th century on the ruins of the conquered Tenochtitlan, capital of the Aztec Empire
  • As the centre of the ancient Aztec Empire and the seat of power for the Spanish colony of New Spain, the Centro Historico contains most of the city’s historic sites from both eras as well as a large number of museums
  • UNESCO World Heritage Site

Frida Kahlo Museum

Frida-Kahlo-Museum-Coyoacan-Mexico

  • Also known as the Blue House (La Casa Azul) for the structure’s cobalt-blue walls, is a historic house museum and art museum dedicated to the life and work of Mexican artist Frida Kahlo
  • Showcases Mexican folk art, pre-Hispanic artifacts, photographs, memorabilia, and personal items
  • The collection is displayed in the rooms of the house which remains much as it was in the 1950s

The Island of the Dolls

14988757749_e87f6dfa8c_b

  • Broken and deteriorated dolls of various styles and colors are found throughout the island, originally placed by the former owner of the island, Julián Santana Barrera
  • Julián believed that dolls helped to chase away the spirit of a girl drowned years ago.
  • Santana died in 2001 of a heart attack, close to the same spot where the girl drowned

National Museum of Anthropology

Aztec_Calendar_Stone_(8263450477)

  • National Museum of Mexico
  • #9 of the top 25 museums in the world
  • Contains archaeological and anthropological artifacts from Mexico’s pre-Columbian heritage such as the Aztec calendar stone

Cuicuilco

Leading2PyramidCuicuilcoDF

  • Ceremonial site dating back to 800-600 BC
  • The region flourished from 700-150 BC
  • One of the oldest buildings in the world

Quetzalcoatl’s Nest

W1siZiIsInVwbG9hZHMvcGxhY2VfaW1hZ2VzL2M1NjVmMWFjYTFmMzVlM2MzZF9vcmdhbmljYXJjaGl0ZWN0dXJlUU4yLmpwZyJdLFsicCIsInRodW1iIiwieDM5MD4iXSxbInAiLCJjb252ZXJ0IiwiLXF1YWxpdHkgODEgLWF1dG8tb3JpZW50Il1d

  • A feathered Aztec serpent god Quetzalcoatl has been turned into a series of condos
  • The architect took inspiration from nature and aims for minimal impact to the environment
  • This location can be accessed through overnight rental stays

Teotihuacan

Teotihuacán-5946

  • Ancient Mesoamerican city known today as the site of many of the most architecturally significant Mesoamerican pyramids built in the pre-Columbian Americas
  • At its zenith, perhaps in the first half of the first millennium 1 AD to 500 AD, Teotihuacan was the largest city in the pre-Columbian Americas, with a population estimated at 125,000 or more
  • After the collapse of Teotihuacan, central Mexico was dominated by the Toltecs of Tula until about 1150 AD
  • The later Aztecs saw these magnificent ruins and claimed a common ancestry with the Teotihuacanos, modifying and adopting aspects of their culture
  • Scholars have suggested that Teotihuacan was a multi-ethnic state since they find cultural aspects connected to the Maya as well as Oto-Pamean people
  • UNESCO World Heritage Site

Historic Centre of Puebla

Palacio_de_Gobierno,_Puebla,_México,_2013-10-11,_DD_01

  • Historic Monuments Zone that retains a lot of colonial buildings
  • Several of the oldest buildings were badly damaged in 1999 after the earthquake and later were subsequently repaired.
  • Unfortunately, after the 2017 earthquake, some of them again suffered damage
  • UNESCO World Heritage Site

Monte Albán

Monte_Alban_West_Side_Platform

  • Large pre-Columbian archaelogical site located on a low mountainous range
  • Partially excavated civic-ceremonial center
  • One of the oldest cities in Mesoamerica
  • UNESCO World Heritage Site

Agua Azul

1600px-Cascada_1_de_Agua_Azul

  • The water has a high content of calcium carbonate and other minerals, and where it falls on rocks or fallen trees, it encases them in a thick shell-like coating of limestone
  • Local residents reportedly restored the waterfalls after the 2017 Chiapas earthquake has created a crack and led to a temporary reduction of the water flow over the falls

Chichen Itza

1920px-Chichen_Itza_3

  • Was one of the largest pre-Columbian cities built by the Maya
  • City thrived from 600-1200 AD
  • Important example of Central Mexican architectural style
  • Considered a mythical great city in later Mesoamerican literature
  • UNESCO World Heritage Site

Cenote Samulá and Cenote Xkeken

19655105381_43cb23b0c5_b

  • Naturally formed pits created when limestone rock caves are exposed to underground pools
  • Considered a sacred place in Mayan culture
  • Long roots hang down from the skylight inside the cave and nourish the trees above ground

Rio Secreto, Riviera Maya

img134

  • Newly-discovered underground river with thousands of stalactites and stalagmites
  • Very few places in the world have the conditions that make this underground river possible

Playa Norte (Isla Mujeres)

playa-norte-mujeres-mexico

  • #17 of the top 25 beaches in the world

Playa Delfines

8599440118_36f071d031_k

  • Long white-sand beach featuring shallow waters plus umbrellas, restaurants, and dolphin sightings

Río Secreto

1024px-Cueva_Río_Secreto_(1)

  • Semi-flooded limestone cave system with 24 miles of caves in the system, of which approximately 10% are used for ecotourism
  • Currently protected as a nature reserve

Xcaret

rvmhxcr_m01

  • Opened in 1990 as an eco-archeological park where visitors from all over the world can enjoy Mexico’s biodiversity and cultural heritage
  • Attractions include: Underground rivers, beach, lagoon and pools, tropical jungle trail, and a rotating scenic tower

Mr Sanchos Beach Club

mr-sanchos-banner1

  • Club that offers restaurant and bar services, 3 pools, 2 of which have a swim up bar
  • Largest private beach on the island with over 1000 feet of white sand at Cozumel’s sea shore
  • Includes an aquatic park, wave runners, parasailing, banana boat rides, snorkeling tours, scuba diving, horseback riding, and an ATV tour through the jungle and the beach
  • Access includes beach lounge chairs, kayaks, hammocks, lockers and Beach Cabanas

Costs

Number of Days: 36 days

Best Time To Fly: Dec-April

Airline tickets: $744

Seattle -> Puerto Vallarta (one way) $193
Puerto Vallarta -> Guadalajara (one way) $46
Guadalajara -> Mexico City $25
Mexico City -> Oaxaca (one way) $37
Oaxaca -> Villahermosa (one way) $75
Villahermosa -> Mérida (one way) $37
Mérida -> Cancún (one way) $136
Cancún -> Seattle (one way) $195

Food: $14/day x 36 days = $504

Entertainment/tours: $1,255

Airbnb: $70/day x 35 days = $2,450

TOTAL: $4,953