First-hand stories of Mexico: Where Nomads Go
Photo © Getty/Orbon Alija
Mexican culture doesn’t stop at margaritas and mariachi. With more than 60 different indigenous groups, global influences from Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, and civilizations that date back thousands of years, it’s a colorful and diverse place that can’t be easily defined. From rowdy, weeks-long fiestas to elegant colonial churches, ancient Maya temples and craft-brewing hipsters, Mexico offers endless variety.
In World Nomads’ latest guide, Mexico: Where Nomads Go, 8 travel writers share their first-hand accounts of the extraordinary things they discovered in Mexico.
- “Mexican food is infinitely more complex than the familiar export version of beans and cheese. In Oaxaca alone, there are eight regions differentiated by climate, customs, and ingredients. And Oaxaca is just one of the 31 United Mexican States, each with its own distinctive culture and food.” - Kendall Hill
- “The crunch of my footsteps on the loose, alabaster gravel of el Sacbe, the ancient “white road,” is the only sound I can hear against the constant buzz of insects. I ask myself for the 10th time, “How on earth I am the only person at these ruins?” It’s 3 pm on a Saturday and, aside from the group of children leaving as I arrived, I have not seen another visitor.” - Chelsea Gregory
- “In the southwestern corner of Mexico, a third gender (
muxe ) has been a fact of Zapotec life since pre-Colonial times. The following week, I drove with Elena to Juchitán to see the fabled town for myself. I found it in high spirits. Preparations were underway for four-day vela, a celebration of all thingsmuxe , which is equal parts jamboree, pageant, and Mass.” – Joseph Furey - “I wasn’t sure what to expect when we pulled into Huamantla, Tlaxcala. It looked, after all, like pretty much every other small, unassuming Mexican village I’d visited. But in mid-August each year, Huamantla comes alive after dark in a way I’ve yet to see elsewhere. We were there for The Night Nobody Sleeps, an annual celebration during which locals pour onto the streets, decorating Huamantla with intricate, vibrant sawdust ‘carpets’ (or
tapetes ).” – Lauren Cocking - “While traveling in Mexico City, I heard about a woman named Ruth Lechuga who was the world’s authority on Mexican folk art and had an astonishing collection of 10,000 objects in her apartment. I knew I had to see her.” -Maxine Rose Schur
- “If you’re considering travel to Central Mexico, you’ve almost certainly added San Miguel de Allende to your itinerary. It’s a great little town – but allow me to make the case for Guanajuato, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and hidden gem tucked away in San Miguel’s shadow. It’s largely devoid of the crowds of international tourists you’ll find in other, more popular Mexican cities, yet still packed with a full slate of interesting opportunities ripe for exploration.” – Dan Pierson
- “Xcalak (pronounced ish-ca-lack) is so underrated, it’s hardly even fair to say it’s rated at all. A town of 400 permanent residents, Xcalak is located on the southern border with Belize. This is a completely off-the-grid kind of place that forces visitors to disconnect for a while (no cell service!). I truly feel like I’m at the end of the world. And I am, at least, at the end of the highway.” – Sara Walton
- “The gray whale swims slowly toward our boat, her baby following closely the 50ft-long (15m-long) mother floats over to our boat and stops, her nose partially underneath us. Leaning over the gunwale, I reach out and pet her head. Soon the baby noses his way over, wanting some love too. Usually, petting or otherwise touching wild animals are to be strictly avoided, but here the whales themselves seek it out.” - Johanna Read
These encounters in full and many more are available through WorldNomads.
World Nomads has 22 travel guides covering Iceland to Thailand, Australia to Argentina, but Mexico – Where Nomads Go is a departure from the usual format. Travel writers all over the world share their first-hand experiences of visiting Mexico, bringing to life the things they’ve seen, heard, tasted and felt.
Download “Mexico: Where Nomads Go” now.
Travel insurance
Travel to Mexico does not come without risk and we encourage you to take precautions to ensure your safety. The US State Department lists Mexico as a Level 2 risk for the country overall advising “exercise increased caution” (the same as the UK and South Africa). Some parts of the country have Level 3 “reconsider your need to travel” and even Level 4 “Do not travel” advisories. Read the advice here. Be aware that travel contrary to official advice is likely to impact your travel insurance coverage.
All of the information we provide about travel insurance is a brief summary only. It does not take into account your personal needs and does not include all terms, conditions, limitations, exclusions and termination provisions of the travel insurance plans described. Coverage may not be available for residents of all countries, states or provinces. Please carefully read the policy wording available at worldnomads.com for a full description of coverage.
No Comments