Mexico Travel Forum

Do you have any suggestions for an authentic experience this summer in MX? I've travelled MX quite a bit, but this time am going w/ non-traveller 30yr old son - he would like something authentic, in AUGUST!!!, and we have about 7 days, from California. Ruins and markets and authentic communities would be great. Could be anywhere in MX, but I know the mt. towns will be cooler. Thx for your input! (-:

Hi surfgirl,

I would recommend my adopted hometown of Guanajuato, at least for the start of your trip. It is a lovely colonial town with lots of interesting museums and churches. It is also conveniently located to other colonial towns such as San Miguel de Allende, Dolores Hidalgo, Morelia, and San Luis Potosí.

August is still the rainy season, so you should bring an umbrella and/or a hooded raincoat or jacket. It doesn't rain all day or every day, but there can be some torrential downpours.

Feel free to ask questions about Guanajuato and the surrounding area. I've lived in Guanajuato for the past five years and have visited most of the colonial cities in central Mexico (except Morelia...and it's next on the list).

Have a great trip!

Cindi

I second Guanajuato and surrounding area. San Miguel also has a lively nightlife, especially if you like Jazz. I highly recommend Los Pozos, a mining town that was once abandoned, plus the surrounding abandoned Haciendas, which are a fascinating glimpse into the past. We have not been to Queretaro, which is about 40 minutes from San Miguel, but have been told by many locals that it's a beautiful place to visit.

Also, you should consider Patzcuaro in Michoacan,which has plenty of small villages nearby that concentrate on crafts, such as Santa Clara del Cobre, which has it's focus on hand-forged copper. It is on the shores of Lake Patzcuaro, where you can take boats to the village on the island and see fishermen with their butterfly nets. Also, Paracutin, a volcano, is not too far away and you can hike or ride a mule up to the top of the Volcano. Lake Zirahuen is a side trip to one of the few lakes in Mexico that is thriving in it's natural state.

San Cristobal de las Casas is a good choice as well; the ruins of Palenque, are not too far away, plus you can visit the Indian villages of San Juan Chamula and Zincantan. The stunning Sumidero Canyon is a good day trip, plus you can go to the Montabello Lakes, near the Guatemala border, which are famous for their rich, deep, colors.

It'll all be "authentic," so don't worry about that part. Some people travel to go back in time while others want to see the nation as it lives today. Each has a different perspective. My advice is that you fly to whichever entry point is less expensive for you, and go from there. For someone who's a first-time visitor, Mexico City is hard to beat. You could make a day-trip or two from Mexico City - to, say, Tlaxcala or Malinalco, etc.