Mexico has 35 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The country is home to 27 cultural sites, six natural sites and two areas that are considered both.
The sites span the country from historic centers such as Mexico City and Xochimilco, Puebla and Campeche to natural wonders in remote locales like the Archipelago de Revillagigedo and El Pinacate and Gran Desierto de Altar Biosphere Reserve. Famous sites in Mexico are also protected by UNESCO, including the pre-Hispanic cities of Chichen-Itza and the city of Teotihuacan.
Visiting some of these areas could take travelers far off the beaten path in Mexico. For example, the Archipelago de Revillagigedo, which was recently added to the UNESCO list, is situated off the coast, south of Cabo San Lucas. It is made up of the islands of Socorro, Clarion, San Benedicto and the Islote Roca Partida, and features a dramatic landscape of volcanic mountains and cliffs rising from the Pacific. While humans may just be falling for with the archipelago, humpback whales have loved it for years.
Another lesser-known area is El Pinacate and Gran Desierto de Altar Biosphere Reserve. The large, pristine desert region is located in the Mexican state of Sonora and home to otherworldly landscapes with large craters, beautiful dunes and colorful canyons and mountains. There are unique flora and fauna, and the desert is home to the Organ cactus and the Gila monster.
Reaching the region is easy from the U.S. In fact, visitors can drive to the area, crossing the border in Arizona.
The ancient Maya city and protected tropical forests of Calakmul in Campeche incorporates both natural wonders and tropical forests.
Located in Southern Mexico, the site includes the Maya city, Calakmul, which is located deep in the heart of the jungle. Visitors will see well-preserved structures of a city that was instrumental in the region for more than 12 centuries. The city is found in the Tierras Bajas tropical forest, which is part of a Mesoamerican biodiversity hotspot, the third largest in the world.
Visitors can stay in Calakmul where a number of affordable lodging options include eco retreats and resorts in the heart of the jungle.
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