México City
Unembraceable, captivating and cosmopolitan; it wouldn't be an excess to say that the third biggest city of the planet has it all. Doubtless, it's the mandatory departure point to know the real México. Founded on 1325, before the arrival of the Spanish conquerors, this is the oldest metropolis of the continent; since then, it hasn't stopped reinventing itself. In its neighborhoods we find vanguard with tradition: the viceregal magnificence of the Historic Downtown, the bohemian happiness of Coyoacán, the high design of "la Roma" and "la Condesa" or the architectonic blunting of Reforma. Its museums exhibit the main history and art collections of the country and they cover from the most remote of the pre-Hispanic age to the last tendencies of the contemporary art. The variety in events and shows that it offers is infinite, same as the plurality of its night life, its shopping, its people; Anyway, mentioning everything that México City offers is as vast as its size.
Teotihuacan
Twenty minutes north from México City, the jewel of the archeological zones of the center of México is found: Teotihuacan. Abandoned for more than one millennium, this important pre-Hispanic metropolis could accommodate 200,000 inhabitants and has an extension of 22 sq km. At its time it was the sixth biggest city in the world. During more than one thousand years, it governed a vast empire up to Northern Arizona and Southern Guatemala. Currently, some of the city neighborhoods and the ceremonial areas are conserved, occupied by religious and administrative buildings with an extension of 2 km of the “Calzada de los Muertos”. When the Aztecs arrived to this city, it was abandoned and not believing it had been built by humans, they supposed the Gods had created it. That's why it is named Teotihuacan: city of Gods.
Sierra Gorda's Missions
Within the state of Querétaro, approximately three hours from the capital city, the Sierra Gorda Biosphere Reserve is found. During the 18th century, the last baroque constructions in the world were built here. Wrapped-up by the mountain range's fog and the exuberant vegetation, the five Franciscan Missions reamain. They have been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Jalpan, Tilaco, Landa, Concá and Tancoyol have a particular story to tell in each one of its façades, unmistakable samples of the indigenous baroque. Besides, the Sierra Gorda is a paradisiac site for ecotourism and for gastronomic and visual enchantment; there's culture, nature and history in this hidden corner of the world.
Guanajuato
Five hours North from México City, and following the route of the colonial cities, we find the miners city of Guanajuato. Traced as a labyrinth, Guanajuato has bridges, tunnels, balconies and alleys where folklore and numerous legends still live. Declared a World Heritage Patrimony, Guanajuato was founded due to the discovery of a rich vein of silver during the 16th century. At this time it was one of the wealthiest Viceroyal cities and it played a fundamental role for the Mexican Independence.
Xochimilco
At the beginning, México City was an island in the center of a big lake. Its streets used to be under water canals, daily life depended on the transportation that numerous canoes offered, in which people and merchandises were moved through the city and on to firm land. Nowadays, the urban expansion has occupied the place of the lake, but there are still some vestiges from the old way of life in a neighborhood at the south of the city. For a long time Xochimilco has been one of the favorite tourist destinations, due to its folkloric and familiar environment. Aboard the colorful canoes, known as “trajineras”, visitors spend their evenings navigating through the canals, listening to Mexican music performed by mariachis riding in other canoes, or trying a variety of typical dishes, offered from the shipments, too.
Querétaro
Two hours North from México City, we find the first stop on the colonial citie's route. Santiago de Querétaro, being the third most important city during the Viceroyalty, is nowadays one of the favorite places to rest in the center of México. Its Historic Downtown was declared World Heritage Site by UNESCO, due to its historic relevance and the insuperable sample of baroque architecture that its mansions, houses and temples offer. It was here where Mexican Independence started. Surrounding the city you can visit, besides the Magic Town of Bernal and its incredible monolith, the picturesque town of Tequisquiapan, the nearby vineyards and the antique haciendas.
San Miguel de Allende
San Miguel de Allende is located only three hours North from México City. It's a small and fascinating town, famous for its hospitality and colonial architecture. It was declared Magic Town and recently was named a World Heritage Site. It offers a wide range of high quality hotels and restaurants. Its downtown offers cafes, galleries and theaters, besides a wide nightlife. The Jazz Festival, the Camara Festival and the Sanmiguelada (inspired on the San Fermín Pamplona party in Spain) take place here.
Michoacán
Approximately five hours Northeast from México City, we find a state so big and varied that traveling it would mean an experience full of astonishment. Its size is such, that during a great part of the Viceroyalty it was governed separately by the New Galicia Kingdom. It's an open door to México's West coast, one of the most diverse and particular regions of the country; it has two World Heritages. The capital's Historic Downtown, Morelia, is a majestic space of stone pit with Viceregal buildings from the 16th to the 19th centuries. The Monarch Butterfly Santuary, located East from the capital, is a forest that each fall colors itself with orange on the annual migration of millions of butterflies. Besides, Michoacán has endless picturesque towns, including the Magic Town of Pátzcuaro and a coast fringe full of magnificent virgin beaches.
Other Destinations
Within the route of the real México, you can visit the exuberant Huasteca Potosina, a region of the Sierra Madre Oriental full of amazing landscapes with waterfalls, caves, rivers and a wide ecotourism offer. Zacatecas, in the limit of the North Mexican desert, is a miners city with incredible panoramics of its Viceregal architecture scattered through its valleys and hills. In the Pacific coasts, and less than five hours away, we find Ixtapa, a coast paradise with a big hotel and service infrastructure to enjoy its beaches and nightlife.
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