Mexico is an amazing country with diverse cities and landscapes. When people usually think of Mexico they think of Mayan ruins or the beaches. But lets not forget about the Aztecs, and there are a variety of other interesting cities that are overlooked like Oaxaca, Guanajuato, Mexico City and Guadalajara. Most Canadians go to Cancun, Puerto Vallarta or Playa del Carmen where many things are Americanized. But there are many other things to do including eating the actual authentic Mexican food, not the Tex-Mex cuisine.
In no particular order, here are Mexico’s must dos:
Go to Mexico City
Everyone knows about Mexico City, but most people don’t go there, they usually go to one of Mexico’s many beach destinations. But don’t overlook Mexico City, the bustling city has a vibrant atmosphere and amazing food scene. There are tons of markets to check out, museums, Aztec history and cool restaurants and bars. My next few must dos revolve around visiting the city of 22 million people.
Visit a Pulquería
Pulque is a drink that was once thought of as a drink of the working class and poor. After a hard day at work, the working class would visit a Pulquería because Pulque was cheaper. But hey, just because it’s cheap doesn’t mean it isn’t good. Anytime you can save money while travelling is great, and Pulque has an amazing taste. Pulque is made from fermented Agave which is also used for Tequila and has an aromatic flavor and thick consistency. You can get classic Pulque or try one of the many different flavours the Pulquería offers. There are a number of Pulquerías in Mexico City and we even visited one in Guanajuato too. The Pulquerías have an authentic feel and a cool blue collar vibe. The Pulquería we went to in Mexico city was really cool and was called Pulquería las Duelistas.
Eat Pastor
I’ve always loved tacos, but when I travelled to Mexico, and specifically Mexico City, I began to love them even more. That in part was due to Tacos al Pastor. Tacos al Pastor originated in the 1930’s in Mexico City and were introduced by Lebanese immigrants who combined the idea of Shawarma and tacos. The marinated pork is cooked for hours on a long trompo, or metal stick, and will be cut from the stick as it is served to you. The tacos are topped with onions, cilantro and flavored with pineapple. These were my favorite tacos in all of Mexico and you should even try them in a “Gringa” which is an authentic Mexican Quesadilla.
Visit Teotihuacan
When you think of historical ruins in Mexico, you typically think of Chichen Itza which are Mayan pyramids and temples, but don’t sleep on Teotihuacan, the Aztec pyramids outside of Mexico City. There is plenty of Aztec ruins in Mexico City; and after checking these ruins out head outside the city and visit Teotihuacan. At one point, Teotihuacan was the largest city in the Americas and it was considered the first advanced civilization in North America. It was likely the heart of Aztec civilization and has a number of pyramids and temples you can climb. The Pyramid of the Moon and the Pyramid of the Sun are main pyramids and the view from the top of The Pyramid of the Sun is phenomenal. As you wander the ruins, you will notice the native cacti to the region lining the former city and there are also plenty of vendors selling unique souvenirs.
Visit Tequila Town
Tequila Town is just outside of Guadalajara and was one of my favorite places in Mexico. To get to Tequila Town, you will probably take a bus or drive from Guadalajara. When you think of Mexico, you often think of Tequila, so you need to visit the city where Tequila was invented. When you get there, walk around and explore the typical Mexican restaurants and vendors. Marvel at the typical Mexican architecture and grab a tequila while you’re at it. Then go and do a Tequila tour where you can try the raw Tequila and then some of the best tasting finished Tequila you will try.
Visit a Cenote
If you are going to Mexico, I’m pretty sure you’ve heard of Cenotes, but I can emphasize enough, if you are in the Yucatán Peninsula, you must go to at least one Cenote. Cenotes are natural pits, usually in the jungle, caused by the collapse of limestone, exposing groundwater. Swimming in warm water, within a cave, in the jungle feels surreal. What makes Cenotes even cooler are that some of them have an abundance of biodiversity. In Gran Cenote, one of the best-known Cenotes, located just outside of Playa del Carmen, you will find an abundance of turtles swimming and bats flying above your head when you swim into the cave. The water is warm and crystal clear and the experience is amazing. Yes, Gran Cenote is packed, but it is surprisingly larger than you expect and lots of room to swim around and take photos. We also went to a nice Cenote in the middle of the jungle in Tulum. It was beautiful, peaceful and relaxing.
Have a Mojito at Batey Mojito & Guarapo Bar
Speaking of the Tulum, if you are there, one night you must head down to Batey Mojito & Guarapo Bar. The bar is world famous and the mojitos are excellent. The atmosphere down Calle Centauro Sur is fun and can get wild, and so is the atmosphere in the iconic mojito bar. The décor is cool and there is often a live band there. Have a few different mojitos, listen to the music, soak up the atmosphere, then head on down to the next place in Tulum.
Have a Michelada
I first got my taste of a Michelada in Colombia… it wasn’t very good. So, I was hesitant to spend some money on another one in Mexico, but I listened to my friends and tried one at the main beach in Manzanillo. One turned into many. Micheladas were much different and much better in Mexico. Micheladas are beer, clamato juice, a variety of spices and lime. Everyone thinks of Mexico for Corona and Tequila, but Micheladas are right up there too. They are refreshing, tasty and a great drink on the beach.
Eat Tacos on the side of the road
And finally, play Russian roulette with your ass and try tacos from a sketchy food stand or truck on the side of the road. We did this a lot in Mexico, and surprisingly, I never got sick. These tacos are some of the best and the cheapest in Mexico. And nothing is more Mexican than standing around, on the side of the road in the scorching heat with a few tacos in your hand. Plus there are usually a wide variety of salsas ranging from mild to muy picante. One of the best roadside tacos we got was on the way out of Tulum from a guy with a cooler, cooker and umbrella attached to a trailer pulled by his bike. There were definitely no food standards followed, but the tacos were cheap, delicious and I survived to live another day.
Note: I don't have any pictures from the last two, just one picture of us with a michelada in hand in Manzanillo
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