Mexico
My trip to Mexico took me into the heart of the Aztec Empire, to see the well preserved ruins of a massive pyramid, snorkeling in warm azure blue waters, sport fishing off scenic islands, and Into a giant cave to eat at an incredible restaurant!
GETTING THERE
Mexico has several popular entry points, among them Mexico City, Cabo San Lucas, Cancun, and Puerto Valletta. Direct flights arrive from across the USA and South America. I flew into Mexico City and Cabo.
AMAZING EXCURSIONS
Mexico City had old world and new world charm, with ancient ruins, ornate Spanish Colonial architecture and high-tech modern buildings. Small restaurants and street food vendors lined the roads, serving up authentic tacos, tamales and enchiladas. Most of it infused with aromatic cilantro, fresh avocado, and tasty salsas.
I traveled to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Teotihuacan, about an hour north of Mexico City. There were several large stone pyramids, built a thousand years before the Aztecs and it’s unclear by whom. But the Aztec Empire occupied the site during their realm and used the pyramids as temples. The largest was the Pyramid of the Sun, more than 200 feet high and I’m told it’s one of the tallest pyramids outside Egypt. Nearby was the smaller but still incredible Pyramid of the Moon. There was a museum at the archeological site too and various vendors all around the ruins selling souvenirs and Mexican silver.
Not far away was a famous restaurant, inside a giant cave, called La Gruta. Candles illuminated the cave and it was a unique dining experience. Some of the unusual items on the menu included grasshoppers, ant larvae, and caterpillars... but I opted for chips with 3 different salsas, and traditional Mexican sopes, which had a crushed corn base, with savory chicken, veggies, cheese and salsa.
I flew to Cabo San Lucas, a vibrant beach city at the tip of Mexico’s Baja Peninsula. A long white sand beach hugged the shore, lined with high-end resorts, lively bars, and restaurants serving delicious food. It’s hard not to have fun here and it’s a very popular spot for college students during spring break. There were distinctive Rock formations at the end of the sapphire blue bay. I took a boat trip out there to snorkel in the warm water and hang out on the hidden beaches.
Ensenada and Rosarito Beach were further up the Baja Peninsula, closer to the California border. Ensenada was popular for sport fishing and bar hopping! I went out on the bay fishing near some rocky islands and it’s the only time of my life I’ve caught multiple fish! Rosorito Beach, just an hour north, was a beach town with lobster restaurants, packed bars, and plenty of water sports like parasailing and surfing. Many people just drive over the California border to this fun seaside enclave.
Mexico is a very large country and there was so much more I didn’t get to see. I met people who snorkeled shipwrecks in Cozumel, swam in natural cenote pools in Cancun, explored Mayan ruins, and hiked to waterfalls in Puerto Valletta. I look forward to another trip to Mexico to do these things and more!
