Location Spotlight: Mexico – OROGOLD Reviews
Mexico, birthplace to one of the world’s great civilizations, will never fail to tantalize all of your senses with its rich history and culture, colonial towns, delicious food, and sprawling white sandy beaches. Mexico offers a whole host of attractions, from exploring Meso-american ruins to diving into freshwater sinkholes in the Yucatan Peninsula to taking advantage of the golf courses of Los Cabos.
Mexico, with its vast coastlines of over 10000km, has different climates in its various regions. The northern areas of Mexico has a Mediterranean climate, with warm dry summers, although the mountainous regions tend to be colder. As you travel further south, you will experience a sub-tropical climate, and then a tropical desert climate. The summer months are also the rainy season, so the best time to visit would be around November.
Mexico is one of the most biologically diverse countries in the world with great scenery and landscapes for those who want to explore the high, rugged mountains, the tropical rainforests or the vast desert plains. Travelers who enjoy outdoor adventures will fall in love with all that Mexico has to offer, with hand-gliding in Hidalgo, canyoning in Veracruz, volcano climbing, caving and river rafting being just some of the activities that attract adrenaline junkies. Nature lovers should head to Baja California for whale watching, or go trekking through the jungle ending up at the vibrant blue lagoons of Guatemala.
The rich sense of history and heritage is present anywhere you go in , and some of the ancient archaeological wonders, such as the pre-Colombian pyramids, are a fascinating way to learn more about the country. If you want to visit well-preserved Spanish towns, Guanajuato and Dolores Hidalgo are the places to go, whilst San Cristobal de las Casas had some beautiful indigenous villages, as well as churches that combine Roman Catholicism with pagan beliefs.
Mexican cuisine is extremely complex, and rarely authentically replicated at the many Mexican restaurants that have opened up around the world. The more familiar staples include tortillas, salsa, tacos and tamales, all made with fresh, local ingredients, whilst seafood is the main attraction along coastal areas. One of Mexico’s most intricate sauces is mole, and can contain more than 100 different ingredients and take three days to prepare! In terms of other local produce, look out for nopales, succulent leaves from the prickly pear cactus, as well as wild mushrooms, squash blossoms, and the whole array of fantastically flavored exotic fruits. Mexico is also the birthplace of tequila, as well as mezcal, which is similar but only distilled once, unlike the three distillation processes that tequila requires. Kahlua is also a world-famous coffee liquor from Mexico.
When it comes to the cities of Mexico, the streets are always buzzing with activity, and there is plenty for visitors to do. Each city has their own nightlife areas, and they all attract many international music acts, as well as Latin stars. For live traditional music, seek out a mariachi band, brass and string ensembles that perform lively renditions of traditional ballads. If you prefer seeking out dance clubs and drinking halls, keep in mind that these don’t really get going until well past midnight.
Mexico also has plenty of full day excursions to keep you busy, and one of the most popular ones is a visit to Cascada El Chiflon, the highest and most powerful waterfall in Mexico, tumbling 120 meters down an almost-vertical limestone cliff. Xcaret, an eco-archaeological park in the Riviera Maya, is also worth a visit, and the maze of underground rivers where Mayans used to prepare for ceremonial rites is truly breathtaking. From sipping on a cocktail at a seaside resort to exploring the vibrant metropolis of Mexico City, Mexico is one of the few countries around the world that you could never tire of.