Things to do in Mexico
Mexico is as varied as it is magical. Whether charmed by the narrow, cobbled streets of San Cristobal de las Casas, stirring up bioluminescent plankton on a night-time swim, or dropping into Class V creeks in your kayak – Mexico reveals its adventure to those willing to venture off the resort.
Whitewater in Veracruz
Dario Lopez Vives at K360 in the town of Jalcomulco has been running the three stretches of river – the Pescados, Antigua, and Barranca Grande – for 15 years, and he specializes in teaching whitewater kayak skills. His giant smile and elegant skill have made him a popular guide and revered in the rafting world.
Mauricio Morales, a legend and pioneer in the Mexican whitewater world, has created a self-contained ecolodge across the way at Mexico Verde, where everything from leaves to gray water is recycled or composted.
On the other side of town, check out Rio y Montana and Okavango, and find out about the hike to the village of Chopilapa on your day off from the river.
And down to the ocean breezes…
Fly in and out of Veracruz City, a port city with a lively colonial downtown, complete with a traditional coffee drink from La Parroquia. The Costa Esmeralda north of the city offers a chance at a great sport with one of our favorite guides: Peppi Stunkel from Elemental Kite School. After dinner head out to the beach to assist on a turtle conservation project; patrols are needed nearly year round for multiple species of turtles that nest along the beaches of Costa Esmerelda.
Oaxacan Culture and Surfing
Once you are ready for old world charm, cobbled streets, markets glowing with intricate alebrijes, and the taste of authentic mole and mescal, head south to Oaxaca City. Tour the Santo Domingo church and the botanical gardens, then book a trip to the Sierra Norte and Pueblos Mancommunados with Expediciones Sierra Norte. Rent a bike, or a horse, or use your own two feet to explore the trails with a local guide. Your guide will tell you about every plant in the cloud forest, from leaves that have the taste and effect of aspirin (since you’re at nearly 8,000 feet you might try it to get rid of that altitude headache!) to plants that are sweet and lemony.
Surf
The flight from Oaxaca City to Puerto Escondido is breathtaking. In Puerto Escondido find Roxelle Perez Contreras and her husband at Bazar Puerto Excondido, who can teach you how to surf or boogie board. Try a surf lesson from the man legendary for surfing in a luchador mask – ask for Angel! - at Central Surf Shop. Here, you can try out paddleboarding as well and get to know the man who is coordinating a surf championship for handicapped surfers this spring.
At the end of the day, call Lalo Tours to take a night boat ride through a nearby lagoon, where a plunge in the water leaves you glowing—with bioluminescent plankton all around. As people swim away from the boat you’ll see only the glow around them in the water, radiant light speckling the calm waters.
Into the Wilds of Chiapas
Catch your next flight to Tuxtla Gutierrez, the capital city of Chiapas, and take a quick 30 minute cab over the mountain to San Cristobal de las Casas. At Na Bolom, spend the night and explore the anthropology museum’s many rooms and courtyards with artifacts curated by the Bloms, founders of Harvard’s Anthropology Department and the first documenters of the Lacandon culture preserved in the deep rainforest until the 1930s.
Driving south, and make your way to the Monte Azules Biosphere Reserve and locally run Las Guacamayas Ecolodge to float the Tzendales River and watch toucans cruise through the air. Crocodiles and eerie howler monkeys await you at Yaxchilan, an extensive archeological site tucked into a bend on the Usumascinta River.
But the coffee…
Our hearts took us to Argovia Finca Resort, where their passion for the best coffee aligned with ours. Fly into Tapachula where you’ll be met by the Ruta del Café Volkswagen. Wind your way up into the steep jungle. Bruno Giesemann’s family has owned the coffee plantation for 4 generations, and you’ll love touring his coffee production facility, eating beans off the trees, and harvesting flowers in his gardens. Take a horse or a mountain bike to any of the four surrounding fincas, and your gear will be shuttled there for you.
Most importantly, taste the signature Chiapas coffee, perfectly roasted to bring out its unique feature: the chocolatey aftertaste.
This article was written by the good folks at Travel Off the Radar.
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