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Some spots are just far enough from the main tourist corridors to be secluded, while others are so far off the beaten path that you’ll need to do some serious planning to find them. Other places are already very popular around the world, but have not yet caught on for American visitors. So check out our handy guide, put on your adventurer’s hat and ride off into the sunset toward your own little undiscovered spot of Mexico. Here’s to wanderlust!

--By Judy Jenner

While Arizona’s Grand Canyon may be the largest single canyon in the world, Mexico’s Copper Canyon, which is really a group of six distinct canyons, is significantly larger as a group. Copper Canyon (Barrancas del Cobre) is more difficult to reach than the easily-accessible grand dame of American national parks, but for intrepid travelers, it’s worth every mile. Located in the state of Chihuahua in Northern Mexico, Copper Canyon offers an excellent opportunity to experience yet another rather unknown Mexican treasure: the only operating passenger railroad, the Ferrocarril Chihuahua al Pacífico, which runs from Los Mochis (in the state of Sinaloa) to Chihuahua City. This gorgeous train ride – one of the most scenic in the Americas – is undoubtedly the best way to see the area, as you will pass through dozens of tunnels and over breathtaking bridges.  

The magnificent Copper Canyon is already an important semi-secret destination for hikers, but it remains off the grid for mainstream tourism. Creel, the area’s commercial and tourism hub, is a good place to base yourself to explore the region, which is home to the Tarahumara people, some of whom you might meet while they are selling their handicrafts in the mountain towns. Many of these relatively isolated people only speak their native Ráramuri, and their culture in the Sierra Tarahumara has remained largely unchanged for centuries. Divisadero and Posada Barrancas are two other good towns from which to access Copper Canyon. Tours can be arranged through knowledgeable guides and tour operators. While hikes range from easy to strenuous all-day trips to the bottom of the canyon, the area in general is better suited for serious hikers. While you could explore the area on your own, it’s best – and safest – to hire a local guide who knows these remote areas well.  You can fly into Los Mochis or Chihuahua City airports from the Southern U.S. If you don’t want to take the train twice, you can fly into Los Mochis and out of Chihuahua City or vice versa. If you are going in the summer months, be sure to book more than a month in advance. Infrastructure in the Sierra Tarahumara is somewhat limited – although there are hotels and modest eateries – so come prepared for an adventure, bring cash and good hiking boots.  Unlike the Grand Canyon, there’s no Denny’s 60 miles down the road from the Copper Canyon.

Southern Mexico, specifically, the state of Chiapas, is home to Cañón del Sumidero. Even though no incidents involving tourists have been reportedly recently, Chiapas has had some challenges with armed civilian groups in the past. Be sure to exercise caution if you go to Chiapas, and even though it might not seem very adventurous, it’s a good idea to hire a local tour company. Located roughly 65 miles from the state capital of Tuxtla Gutiérrez (which has an airport that handles mostly domestic flights), Cañón del Sumidero was formed 36 million years ago and measures 24 miles in length with spectacular vertical walls up to 3,500 feet. There are several lookout points along the highway, but the best way to see it is on a boat, where you will gain a true appreciation of the canyon’s immensity. It is a very economical way to enjoy this natural wonder, as two-hour rides cost around $10. For slightly more, you can spend the entire day floating on the Rio Grijavla. You can enjoy excellent fresh fish at many of the small restaurants that line the waterfront. If you want to spend the night, there are a few hotels in town, including the charming Hotel La Ceiba. Don’t miss the delicious tamale stands downtown.

Located further to the northeast, near the fantastic ruins of Palenque (read more under the archeological treasures tab), are the waterfalls of Agua Azul, where you can swim in a series of sparkling interconnected pools that are located in the middle of the jungle. Agua Azul is at its best in the dry season, from November through March.  Nearby, there are even more waterfalls at Misol-Há, which are just as spectacular. You can also swim in a pool created by a 100-foot cascade, and explore an underground pool that’s accessible via a cave. If you spend the night in nearby Ocosingo, you will experience a dark, starry night unlike anything you have ever seen closer to civilization. Ocosingo is located in one of the most beautiful valleys in the state, and it’s a great place to do some horseback riding.  Stay at the Hospedaje y Restaurante Esmeralda and grab lunch at El Desván.

--By Judy Jenner

There’s an island in the Mexican Caribbean that you have probably never heard of: Isla Holbox.  Located in the northern part of the Yucatán peninsula, Isla Holbox is only a few hours’ drive from the hustle and bustle of Cancún, but it feels light years away. This tiny fishing island, located in an ecological reserve, is for serious solitude-seekers, as nightlife is almost non-existent. Fishing and snorkeling is fantastic here, and the calm of the island is a significant part of its rustic, Caribbean appeal. Your best bet is to fly to Cancún international airport, take a bus to Chiquila (three hours) and the ferry to Holbox. If you want to go the luxurious route, you can board a small aircraft (Cessna) for a pricey flight from Cancún. Villas Paraíso al Mar is a small, gorgeous boutique hotel that’s been designed to blend in with its surroundings. The hotel has a good restaurant and two lively bars. Isla Holbox, inhabited by roughly 1,500 people, is a great place for kayaking, bird watching (including flamingos), taking an ecotour of the island, or for seeing crocodiles in their natural habitat at nearby Bird Island. The island’s sand-packed roads are best explored on bicycle. While several hotels accept credit cards, there’s no ATM on the island, so bring cash or traveler’s checks.

Oaxaca’s coast is a gold mine for travelers looking for deserted beaches – something of a last beach frontier that’s been a well-known secret to hard-core surfers for years. Oaxaca is a state (and city) located on the southern Pacific Coast, and it not as easy to get to as other destinations, although there are small airports in Puerto Escondido and Huatulco. A subsidiary of Mexicana airlines offers daily flights from Mexico City and Continental offers direct flights from Houston to Huatulco. Several regional carriers, including Aerotucán and AeroVega also fly from Oaxaca City to Puerto Escondido and Huatulco.

Comprised of nine main bays and tens of thousands of acres that compose a nature conservancy, Bahías de Huatulco (Huatulco for short), is one of the most unspoiled stretches of coastline in the country. Just 15 years ago, Huatulco was only home to two hotels. While that has changed substantially, what hasn’t changed is that there are a significant number of beaches in the area that you can call your own, including stretches of fine sand in the towns of Puerto Escondido, Puerto Ángel and Zipolite, among others. All these towns are located up the coast from Huatulco on the coastal Highway 200, and can be reached by inexpensive buses that run from Puerto Escondido to Huatulco. Carrying cash is your best bet in the area. While some of the larger hotels accept credit cards, most establishments don’t, and many smaller towns don’t have ATMs.

Puerto Escondido is the original resort town on the Oaxaca coast. It’s a lot more hippie and a lot less swanky than say, Acapulco or Ixtapa, which is evidenced by the laid-back atmosphere and absence of luxury hotels, although there are high-end accommodations to be found. This is a surfer’s paradise, especially the well-known Playa Zicatela, which is one of the premiere surfing beaches not only in Mexico, but in the world. High-profile international surfing competitions are held here every winter. Playa Carrizalillo is perhaps the most beautiful spot in the area, which is a high honor in this region. It is ideal for swimming and snorkeling and has clean, calm waters. There’s a good selection of open-air restaurants to be found on Playa Zicatela and on the main plaza and all of them serve basic and tasty dishes, focused mainly on fried fish. There are numerous good hotels in Puerto Escondido, including the charming Hotel Santa Fe, which resembles a village and Villas Carizalillo, where you will be able to take off your adventurer’s hat and spoil yourself with a private villa overlooking the beach.

Some 40 miles further south on Highway 200 is Zipolite, a true off-the-tourism-grid kind of a place, which has stubbornly hung on to its simple beginnings. It’s a rustic place (only occasional hot water) to relax, fish, and enjoy this piece of relatively undeveloped paradise. If you are looking for air-conditioned restaurants, you have come to the wrong place. Zipolite is also credit card-unfriendly, so bring pesos. While the water is beautiful, the currents are notoriously strong (as they are most everywhere in the region) so be very careful if you do decide to venture into the water, which is only recommended for strong swimmers. In the spirit of unspoiled nature, go visit the turtle conservatory Centro Mexicano de la Tortuga, where half of all turtle species come to lay their eggs.

--By Judy Jenner

San Miguel de Allende, located in the Mexican colonial heartland, in the central state of Guanajuato, has long been a favorite of expats from many countries, including the U.S. San Miguel is known for its gorgeous colonial buildings, excellent weather and thriving arts community. It’s situated some 150 miles from Mexico City, and is best reached by flying into the state capital of Guanajuato or into the smaller airport in León. It’s a city of cobblestone streets, ancient haciendas and tiny courtyards, well-known hospitality and picturesque plazas. Start your journey at the central Plaza Allende, which is surrounded by many of the town’s most important buildings.

San Miguel is a great city for strolling, walking into churches, exploring grand eighteenth century mansions, and enjoying the interesting culture that is part colonial charm and part modern-day Mexican life, with a fresh perspective offered by expats. The city is located at high altitude, so be prepared for some fatigue. Visit the Bellas Artes cloister, the Public Library (Biblioteca pública), Instituto Allende, the Gothic La Parroquia, the church Iglesia de San Francisco, and the vast botanical garden El Charco del Ingenio. A good lodging option is the boutique El Quetzal, located only a few blocks from the main plaza. For delectable Mexican comfort food in an open-air setting, head to the very inexpensive El Rinconcito.

Guanajuato’s eponymous state capital gets less international attention than San Miguel. This makes for fewer crowds and better availability of hotel rooms during the high season. Named a World Heritage Site by UNESO in the late ’80s, Guanajuato is a beautiful town of cobblestone streets, winding roads on steep hills, cozy plazas with outdoor cafés, and a mazelike grid of streets, which are best explored on foot.

Almost every street corner could serve as backdrop for a movie, so you might need another memory card for your camera. Formerly one of the country’s silver mining meccas, Guanajuato has retained its colonial charm and is host to Mexico’s most important performing arts festival, the International Cervantino Festival, which is held every October. Start your sightseeing day with a ride on the funicular to the top of the hill to the El Pípila statue, from where you will have a great bird’s eye view of the city. While exploring downtown, don’t miss the colorful church Basílica Colegiata de Nuestra Señora de Guanajuato, Museo Casa Diego Rivera (where famed Mexican muralist Diego Rivera was born) or the Museo de las Momias. In this mummy museum, which is not for the faint of heart, you’ll come face-to-face with mummified human cadavers, which are in excellent condition thanks to the area’s unique soil composition.

For a truly presidential experience, stay at Hotel Refugio Casa Colorado, home to a former Mexican president. México Lindo y Sabroso is a bit hard to find, but it’s a charming Mexican restaurant with the beautiful courtyard that you have seen in travel magazines.

--Por Judy Jenner

Many archeological sites are conveniently located close to major cities (see our archeology section in the travel by interest section), but there are just as many that are not.

To get to Palenque, which is a well-known archeological site just off the main beaten path, you will still have to do some planning. Located in the southern state of Chiapas, Palenque is not easily reached from Cancún, but you can get there by flying to Villahermosa (which is mainly a domestic hub) in the neighboring state of Tabasco and taking a cab (which will set you back about $80) to Palenque or hiring a tour company.  Uncovered in the 1840s, Palenque is a fantastic world of Mayan culture in the jungle. It’s perhaps the most spectacular of the Mayan ruins, more so than the more easily accessible Chichén Itzá and Uxmal. Palenque’s main structures are from the Middle and Late Classic period (AD 300 -1000). Some of the archaeological highlights in Palenque include intricately detailed relief sculptures, elaborate glyphs, and gorgeously shaped stone and ceramics.

From a photographer’s point of view, Palenque is truly worth getting up early for, when mist surrounds the grey structures on the lush, green background. Some of the most noteworthy buildings in Palenque are the Temple of the Skull, Inscription Temple (where you can enter the depths of the temple via narrow stairs – stay away if you are claustrophobic – to view the king’s tomb), the Palace, Temple XIII and Río Otulum, an aqueduct. If you have time, take a short hike to arrive at Group C, where you will see remains of opulent buildings. The Group of the Bats has underground corridors that you can explore. Palenque is enormous, so don’t try to see it all in one day. If you only have one afternoon, focus on the structures around the Palace. Good multilingual guides can take you on informative tours through the area. There are several lodging options in the town of Palenque, but if you want to be as close as possible to the ruins, stay at in a bungalow at Chan Kah, and wind down on a rocking chair on your porch. A great place for lunch or dinner is the appropriately named Maya, Palenque’s oldest restaurant.

For Mayan ruins that are truly off the beaten path (Translation: you probably won’t find them unless you hire a guide), head to Bonampak, home to some of the best Mayan murals ever found. They are located roughly 100 miles from Palenque, and you can take a bus or hire a tour company. The Temple of the Paintings offers a rich collection of murals in vivid primary colors. Bonampak has only been “discovered” by intrepid travelers in the last two decades, so infrastructure is fairly limited. Depending on your type of transportation, you will have to hike the last two miles, so bring your boots. Your best bet to exploring Bonampak is to talk to a tour company in Palenque and hire a guide. If you want even more adventure, you can reach the ruins of Yaxchilán by bus and a one-hour boat ride, which will take you close to the border with Guatemala. Make arrangements through tour operators in Palenque.

--By Judy Jenner