Because of Aztec and Mayan influence there is obvious evidence of their impact in Mexico through its ancient ruins, temples, and monuments. There is a town steeped in the tradition that makes it comparable to a California gold rush town. That small town is Taxco de Alarcón, also referred to simply as Taxco. Taxco is found in the Mexican state of Guerrero. The “de Alarcon” in the town’s official name is in tribute to Juan Ruiz de Alarcon, a writer who is from this town.

This ancient town has a long association with silver, both the mining of the metal and the crafting of the metal into jewelry and silverware. The town’s reputation with silver, as well as the city’s picture perfect homes and landscapes have now made tourism the premier industry in this area. This comes as a welcome development as the remaining large-scale mining operation in the area is already decreasing its operations and will eventually be closing soon.

What is there to see in Taxco? There’s the Parish of Santa Prisca y San Sebastían, more popular as the Santa Prisca Church. The church stands out because the architecture is of the Baroque style, something not really popular in the small town. The church is made out of very beautiful pink stone is guarded by two towers that have elaborately-designed bell towers.

You may also visit the main plaza of the town, commonly known as the Zocalo, although its official name is “Plaza Borda.” There is also the Borda House or Casa Borda, a building that stands as the most important non-religious structure. It houses Casa de Cultural or the Cultural Center, where you can have a quick lesson in fine arts, sports, and languages. The surroundings of the plaza are a shopper’s delight with silver shops, bars, and restaurants. For an enriching cultural experience, don’t forget to visit the Museum of Viceregal Art and the William Spratling Museum.

When people think of Mexico’s historic past, it’s either they picture ruins of ancient civilizations from the Mayan, Aztec, or Olmec times, or they might be looking at Spanish influenced towns that have retained a distinctively colonial flavor. If you’re looking for the latter to spice up your vacation itinerary, then you are in luck! Mexico has a lot of colonial towns that invoke both luxurious and classic charms. A very good example is the town of San Miguel de Allende.

San Miguel de Allende is in the state of Guanajuato in Mexico. This historic town was established in 1542 and has attracted certain type of visitor when it comes to tourism – this town has become a haven for rich residents of the capital Mexico City residents and has been a go-to city for American and Canadian expatriates and retirees.

If you want to explore the wonders of this splendid place, it would be best to go there during the early summer months. The city is a co-host along with Guanajuato of the Expresión en Corto International Film Festival, Latin America’s most prestigious and largest film festival. The film festival has free admission to the public with over 400 films that run in 16 sites until 4 in the morning.

You may also want to visit the newly restored mural in fresco at the city’s Escuela Universitaria de Bellas Artes.This mural was painted by American artist Eleanor Coen, the first woman employee of the TGP (Taller de Grafica Popular). The mural shows women and children washing at a river.

Alas, there’s always time for shopping in this town. Shopping in San Miguel de Allende is a dream for shopaholic – Mexican handicrafts, art galleries, boutiques and shops specializing in furniture and home decor are all available for your shopping pleasure!

In the field of the world’s most famous places, the UNESCO is an institution renowned for giving recognition to the most authentic and important sites. The distinction of being a UNESCO World heritage Site is something that almost every country in the world wants their spots to have. Having a UNESCO World Heritage Site merit is a sure sign of approval that would sure attract visitors, history fans, archeological nuts, and photography enthusiasts. The UNESCO World Heritage Site honor has been given to a number of places in Mexico. This historically and culturally-rich country has been blessed with places that show off the glorious remains of the past. Palenque is one of them.

Palenque used to be a Mayan city state located in southern Mexico. This Mayan city was established in the 7th century. The decline of the Mayan civilization got the city into ruins, and it was absorbed into the lush jungles. In the 20th century there have been efforts to excavate and restore the area, thus attracting visitors but has been excavated and restored and is now a famous archaeological site attracting thousands of visitors. Palenque contains a number of the finest sculpture, architecture, sculpture, and bas-relief carvings produced during the Mayan period.

When in Palenque, don’t miss visiting:
• The Palace, a set of buildings on a wide terrace. There are fine elegant sculptures and bas-relief carvings currently housed in the Palace. A tower four stories tall, is a must-see attraction.
• The Temple of Inscriptions houses the monument of the famous Mayan ruler Pakal. Beside the temple is a pyramid. The other set of temples, the Temple of the Cross, Temple of the Sun, and Temple of the Foliated Cross are also worth visiting.
• The museum that houses some of the relics found in the site.
• The God of Death bas-relief carving found in Structure XII.

Palenque is one of the famous Mayan ruins in Mexico. It is one of many well-loved Mesoamerican ruins, perhaps because it is the final resting place of one of Mayan civilization’s most popular rulers.

Mexico is the home to some of the most distinguished civilizations of the past – the Aztec and the Mayan. A lot of people want to visit places that allow them to relive the splendor of these cultures. One such place is Uxmal, a city belonging to the Mayan civilization in the Mexican state of Yucatan. This exotic sounding name is pronounced as “Oosh-mahl,” which is believed to be part of the old Mayan language which means “built three times.” These places in Uxmal are well preserved. In fact, it is one Mayan city where a visitor can get an idea of how the entire ceremonial center looked like in days past.

When in Uxmal, be sure to visit these places:
• The Governor’s Palace. This building is perched on a large platform and is a short but wide structure. It is considered to be Pre-Columbian Mesoamerica’s longest building.

• A former government palace in the Mayan era nicknamed by the Spanish as The Nunnery Quadrangle. This is the finest of Uxmal’s numerous quadrangles of long buildings. It has façades that contain elaborately carvings both inside and outside.

• The Adivino, which is also known as the Pyramid of the Dwarf or the Pyramid of the Magician. This pyramid structure is steeped with oval or elliptically shaped layers on its outside layers.

• There are a number of other monuments, temples, and other temples, with very animated names such as the House of the Doves, House of the Birds, House of the Turtles, South Temple, and Grand Pyramid.

• Check out the ancient pedestrian causeway linking Uxmal to the other ancient site of Kabah. Let ancient wisdom fascinate you!

When it comes to tourism, the images usually associated with Mexico are the pristine beaches of Cancun and the colorful town fiestas of the interior. What visitors usually forget is that Mexico has a long and ancient history that dates as far back as before Columbus arrived in the Americas. Ancient history buffs and those who enjoy places with character, as Mexico does, offers a wide array of places that can rival even the best of Rome and Greece. One of these places is Mitla.

Mitla is the name that has been given to a site of archaeological interest located in the town of San Pablo Villa de Mitla. This town is in the Mexican state of Oaxaca. It receives its acclaim for having a number of well-tended and intact Mesoamerican buildings from the Pre-Columbian era. Actually, unlike most towns with ancient structures, Mitla is a functioning town in the present-day. The town of San Pablo Villa de Mitla has a population of just almost 8,000 and is located about 45 km from the state capital. The people in Mitla speak a Zapotec language variant. The visitor attractions of pre-Hispanic buildings are found at the town’s north end. Stone mosaics adorn these buildings, which have been an inspiration for some if the world’s most famous artists, including Frank Lloyd Wright.

Aside from the impressive buildings, Mitla also houses a small museum full of ancient artifacts. There is also a small outdoor market on Saturdays, where visitors can also buy indigenous products. There are also a number of “palenques” in the area. These are manual producers of mezcal, a drink that is produced from the heart of the agave plant. Have a drink for that authentic ancient Mexican experience!

The reputation of Mexico as the usual American college student’s spring break destination may be justified. However, Mexico shouldn’t be known for the reason alone. True, world-class resorts and beaches adorn the coasts of Cancun and Acapulco, but there are also other attractions in this culturally- rich country. Ancient towns filled with Mayan and Aztec structures are sure to fascinate visitors interested in ancient civilizations. If you can’t get enough of these primeval attractions while in the city, make sure that you pay a visit to the Museo Nacional de Antropología or the National Museum of Anthropology.

The MNA is the national museum of Mexico. It is the main attraction of Mexico City’s Chapultepec Park, in the streets of Paseo de la Reforma and Calle Mahatma Gandhi. You will find yourself be amazed by the artifacts of archaeological and anthropological significance that the museum hosts. Relics of the country’s pre-Columbian heritage are proudly displayed, examples of which are the Piedra del Sol and the statue of Xochipilli which dates as far back as 16th century.

It would take more than a day to marvel at each of the museum’s 23 exhibit rooms spread over almost 8 hectares of prime city center land. The museum has been opened since 1964 and has since then hosted Mexico’s most noteworthy exhibits such as Olmec giant stone heads, the stone of the Sun, Mayan civilization treasures, Chichen Itza’s Sacred Cenote, and ethnological exhibits of rural Mexican life. A model of the layout for the former Aztec capital named Tenochtitlan, where part of the modern-day Mexico City now stands, is also housed in the museum.

Visiting exhibits have also been hosted by the museum, mainly focusing on the great civilizations of the past. Persia, Egypt, Greece, Spain, and China have been the subjects of past visiting exhibits. Try visiting and you might have the chance to view one of them.

For people who think that Mexico is just for non-stop partying and stretches of luxurious beach and vacation resorts, think again! History nuts, “relic hunters,” and visitors, who just want a more culturally rich experience, rejoice! Mexico will certainly not disappoint you! Mexico is also home to a rich and ancient history, with some of the remains of ancient kingdoms still well-preserved and intact. One of these sites is Calakmul. This area is the site of one of the largest ancient cities by the Mayan civilization that has ever uncovered. This site is located in the Mexican state of Campeche, in the Calakmul Biosphere Reserve which has an area of 1,800,000 acres. Calakmul is surrounded by a jungle region and is only 30 kilometers from Mexico’s border with Guatemala.

Calakmul is a popular destination for those who want a lot of history and culture because there are a lot of structures in this Maya region. Moreover, most of these structures have been recovered intact. Calakmul has 117 obelisks, which represents representing rulers and their wives in paired sets. This figure is the largest obelisk count in the region. The bad news is, these carved obelisks were made out of soft limestone, and the weather, wear and tear has eroded most of them beyond interpretation.

Murals are also present in Calakmul. These Calakmul murals are a bit different from the others found in ancient Maya sites, as the latter depict activities of the elite class. In the Calakmul mural, market scenes are depicted, where people are seen preparing or consuming products such as tobacco, tamale, and atole, while vendors are selling needles and textiles. There are glyphs in the murals which are supposed to describe the activities. There are also ceramic remains with interesting designs in the area, which will sure fascinate archeological fans.

The sun, the sand, and the sea – these are just some of the common things any beach-loving vacationer wants in his or her dream destination. In Mexico, there’s one place that definitely gives you those three elements with a special Latin twist – Acapulco. This city that is filled with world-class resorts is just 300 kilometers from Mexico City and is the largest city in the state of Guerrero.

During the last century, Acapulco started its popularity as a tourist destination when it was included in holiday cruise packages during the weekends from the United States, the inner cities of Mexico, and countries in South America. Due to its increased popularity, it began to compete with the country’s premier beach destination, Cancun. Decreased and discounted airfares have also contributed to the increase of tourists in the city, particularly Americans. It has drawn so much popularity in the mid-20th century that it has been referenced in pop culture, for example in Frank Sinatra’s song “Come Fly with Me.”

Nowadays, aside from Cancun, Acapulco has also been a constant featured destination for numerous cruise ship packages touring in the Pacific Ocean. It is a particularly favorite destination for the younger set of American tourists who find the city an ideal locale for their spring break escapades. Many of them have already grown tired of Cancun, so thirst for new and more exciting experiences have lead them to Acapulco.

Visitors are sure to find pleasure in the city’s splendid beaches. They can go island-hopping to Roqueta, which is usually reached by motor boats that have a glass bottom, allowing passengers to see through the bottom of the sea! As Acapulco is a beach destination, water sports facilities are top-class. If you want the glitziest accommodation, the area you would want to explore id the Acapulco Diamante (Diamond Acapulco) zone. Adventure seekers can also go to the La Quebrada Cliffs and watch the world-famous La Quebrada Cliff Divers perform dangerous dives in wild tides and shallow water. When it comes to nightlife, Acapulco also offers the best with clubs such as Classico, Palladium, and Alebrije, Latin America’s largest club.

When it comes to natural attractions, Mexico is a haven. Natural wonders abound in this country, and one of them is the Barranca del Cobre, or Copper Canyon in English. The Copper Canyon, located in the state of Chihuahua in Mexico, is a group of six canyons joined together in the Sierra Tarahumara range. Visitors would be surprised to find out that this system of canyons is actually bigger (actually, at least four times larger) than what is considered to be the world’s most breathtaking collection of canyons – the Grand Canyon in the United States. The Copper Canyon was formed in Sierra Tarahumara’s western portion by six rivers which drain in that area. The six rivers merge into the Rio Fuerte and empty into the Cortez Sea. This system of canyons got its name from its walls, which were a copper/green color.

There are two types of weather in the canyon – the mountainous regions have an alpine climate that has moderate temperatures from October until November and March until April. Be amazed by the lush species of pine and the colors of wildflowers the blossom here. Meanwhile, the canyon’s bottom regions have subtropical weather, which means it is rainy there the whole year except from April through June, when it is very warm. You can see huge fig and palm plantations in this area.

There are so many things to do in Copper Canyon. Aside from having your breath taken away by the panoramic view of the canyon, you can also make an event out of getting to the canyons. You may hike, dirt bike, drive, and even go horseback riding when exploring the canyon. Of course, if you’re most of the luxurious type who just wants to take kin the beauty of the view, you can take the train. Along the rail path, you can see a lot of Tarahumara Indians selling indigenous wares and foodstuff.

Chichen was founded by the Maya civilization in 400 AD and it is located in the north central, north of Yucatan Peninsula now called Mexico. Chichen has a history that is 1500 years old and is located 75 miles from Merida. It is said to have been the main regional point for different ceremonies. During the earlier days & time, it was governed by priests. Chichen means “At the mouth of the well of Itza”. The word Chi stands for ‘mouth’, Chen for ‘well’ and Itza for ‘the Itza tribe’. The main belief is that people were thrown from the top as a sacrifice to make their god happy and the ones who could survive were the ones who were believed to be seers.

The site predominantly contains many buildings of stone in various stages of thier preservation and has been stored properly. The site is built in different architectural styles. It has a very clear cultural mix and difference of the Mayan and non Mayan civilization. The Chichen site has in total three divisions: the north, central & and the south group. Where one group is in the Toltec style and the other gives an idea about the early period and the old Chichen culture. Since this is the most famous Mayan Pyramids, it has been thoroughly researched by private agencies. Not really.

It is now a federal property and it is maintained by the Mexico’s nation Institute of Anthropology and History. The best time for site seeing is either early morning or late in the afternoon.

Pictures & Photos

Main Temple at Chichen Itza
Photo by: Celso Flores

Mayan Architect at Chichen Itza
Photo by: Esparta

Temple of the Warriors (Templo de los Guerreros)
Photo by: Wikipedia

Diagonal Shot of Chichen Itza
Photo by: Eɳcɑɳto

Columns in the Temple of a Thousand Warriors
Photo by: Wikipedia

Details of the Warriors Temple Showing Chac Mool at Chichen Itza
Photo by: Wikipedia

Ruins at Chichen Itza
Photo by: Esparta

El Caracol (Observatory Temple)
Photo by: Wikipedia

Temple of Jaguars
Photo by: exfordy