25 Unique Places to Visit and Things to Do in Mexico

In this blog post you can read about some of the most unique places to visit and things to do in Mexico. Many only visit the most popular spots in the country such as Cancun and Tulum, sip margaritas by the pool and only eat tacos. 

However, in reality, Mexico is a very versatile country filled with incredible traditions, ancient historical sites, colourful cities and towns, lush jungles, turquoise rivers, giant waterfalls, deep caves, mountains, volcanos, unique foods, drinks, flavours – the list could go on and on. 

For reference, we spent nearly 3 months in Mexico and during this time we managed to visit the following states: Jalisco, San Luis Potosi, Ciudad de Mexico, Oaxaca and Chiapas. 

If you’d like to see our adventures in the country then make sure to check out our Mexico Playlist on YouTube.

25 Unique Places to Visit and Activities to Do in Mexico

Mexico is a country that’s filled with some of the most one of a kind places on earth. Many only visit some of the most popular destinations in the country and mainly stick to the beach towns. However, below you can read about a mixture of unique places to see and activities you can do which include both cities and natural beauties. You might’ve heard about a few of these before but I’m also positive that there will be a handful that will surprise you. 

Note – This list doesn’t cover the whole of Mexico. These are only places from certain states that I have visited myself so far. Mexico is a huge country, therefore the number of unique places to visit will be too. My intention is to add further gems to this list as I visit more and more states of Mexico in the future.

Unique Places to Visit and Things to Do in the State of Jalisco

1. Visit the Birthplace of Tequila: Tequila

Let’s start the list of unique places in Mexico with something that many of you have heard about and likely tried before: the Mexican spirit Tequila.

However, what most people might not know is that there’s actually a town in the state of Jalisco called Santiago de Tequila which is the birthplace of the drink. In fact, both the town of Tequila and its surrounding area has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 

Tequila is actually made from the blue agave plant that is native to this part of Mexico. It is basically a variety of ‘mezcal’, a distilled beverage. The drink only received the name ‘Tequila’ in 1873 to differentiate it from ‘Mezcal’, a spirit that is produced in regions in the south of Mexico, such as Oaxaca.

Did you know? – All of the tequila in the world has to be produced in five specific regions of Mexico otherwise the spirit can’t be officially called tequila.

Tequila town is an excellent day trip if you’re visiting Guadalajara, the capital city of  Jalisco. There is plenty to see and do in this Magical Town even if you aren’t just there to sample the drink. You can check out all the sights in the town, visit a distillery to learn about the tequila making process and even hike to a beautiful waterfall through agave fields.

Click here to read about how to spend a day in Tequila.

2. Visit the Only Round Pyramids in the World: Los Guachimontones

I’m pretty sure that the impressive Teotihuacan pyramids in Mexico City or Chichen Itza, which is one of the 7 New Wonders of the World, are already on your bucket list. So, if you’re interested in visiting those pyramids, then I highly recommend adding a visit to the only round pyramids in the world to that bucket list too. 

Los Guachimontones is located about an hour’s drive to the west of Guadalajara just above the town of Teuchitlan. It is a sight of round pyramids that were constructed by the Teuchitlan culture approximately 2,000 years ago. During your visit you can see three pyramids on the site which – apart from one small pyramid in Mexico City – are considered the only round pyramids in the world. 

Did you know? – The site is actually part of the Tequila UNESCO World Heritage Site and was also included on the World Monuments Watch list of 100 Most Endangered Sites back in 2008.

Whilst some archaeological sites in Mexico get millions of visitors each year, at Los Guachimontones you’re guaranteed a quieter and more authentic experience.  

Opening Times – The site is only open from Tuesday to Sunday between 9AM and 5PM. 

Entry Fee – MX$30 per person. You can also hire a guide on site for an additional cost. 

Click here to read about how to spend a day at Los Guachimontones.

3. Spend a Day at the Largest Freshwater Lake in Mexico: Lake Chapala

Located approximately 45km southeast of Guadalajara at the border between the states of Jalisco and Michoacan is Mexico’s largest freshwater lake. 

Situated at 1,524m above sea level, Lake Chapala covers an area of about 1,100 sq km. The 80km long and 12.5km wide lake is actually pretty shallow with a maximum depth of 10.5m. The lake also has three small islands, namely: Isla de los Alacranes, Isla Mezcala and La Isla Menor. 

The beautiful lake has a backdrop of many mountains and sierras creating a picture perfect location for its visitors. There’s a lot to see and do around the lake, however some of the most popular towns to visit are Chapala, Ajijic and Jocotepec. In these towns you can enjoy watching traditional dancers, admire beautiful murals, take a stroll along the Malecons and of course finish your day by watching the sunset. 

Click here to read about how to spend a day at Lake Chapala.

4. Watch the Dance of the Flyers, an Ancient Mesoamerican Tradition

A unique tradition you should witness whilst in Mexico is called Danza de los Voladores or the Dance of the Flyers. It’s considered one of the most representative dances in the country and something you don’t want to miss out on.

If you didn’t know it is an ancient Mesoamerican tradition to connect with the gods. During the ritual five dancers dance around then climb a 30m tall pole. At the end four of the five participants launch themselves off the platform, tied with ropes around one leg and descend to the ground headfirst. The fifth stays on top of the pole, dancing and playing a flute and drum. 

Good to Know – Before the flyers jump off the pole, the leader will walk around and collect some tips. Therefore, make sure to have some small change on you that you can give.

Nowadays you’ll find the Dance of the Flyers performed at many touristic sites. We witnessed it in the town of Chapala which is the oldest and most populated of the villages along the shore of Lake Chapala known as Lakeside. 

5. Visit the Mystical Las Piedrotas in Tapalpa

Located just outside of the town of Tapalpa in Jalisco state are probably the most mysterious boulders you can visit.

Las Piedrotas are a group of massive rock formations located in cow fields. What’s interesting about this site is that the origin of these rocks are still unconfirmed and nobody really knows how they ended up there. According to one of the most popular theories these massive monolithic rocks are meteorites that fell thousands of years ago. However, this is only one of many hypotheses about these stones. For this reason this area is also known as the Valley of Enigmas. 

The town of Tapalpa itself is a beautiful place you can’t miss visiting. With its traditional buildings with white facades and red roofs, Tapalpa looks unlike any other town I’ve seen in Jalisco.

Click here to read about how to spend a day in Tapalpa.

6. Hike in the Smaller Version of the Grand Canyon: Barranca de Huentitan

Located just to the northeast of the municipality of Guadalajara is the beautiful Huentitan Canyon, also known as Oblatos Canyon. This canyon definitely offers a natural paradise if you want to get away from the noisy city but don’t want to drive for hours for a little peace and quiet.

It is a 1,137 hectare, roughly 600m deep canyon that was carved by the Río Grande de Santiago. Due to its structure, it’s often said to be a smaller version of the Grand Canyon and the Cobre Canyon in the north of Mexico. 

During your hike, you will be able to experience various types of vegetation such as Tropical, Deciduous, and Riparian forest vegetation and secondary vegetation. For this reason, it is considered a biogeographic corridor and it was also declared as a Protected Natural Area in 1997. 

Click here to read a detailed guide on hiking the Barranca de Huentitan.

7. Visit Mexico’s Magical Towns (Pueblo Magicos)

Pueblo Magico or ‘Magical Town’ is an initiative to promote towns and villages around Mexico that are unique and offer their visitors special experiences such as natural beauty, traditions, history or different cuisines.

The programme was originally launched back in 2001. It is led by Mexico’s Secretariat of Tourism but also supported by other federal agencies. Its main aim is to increase tourism in smaller and rural areas, which increases employment opportunities for its citizens and contributes to the economies of entire regions. 

As of December 2020, there are 132 Pueblo Magicos within Mexico. Some states have more of these towns than others. In the State of Jalisco for example you can visit 9 Pueblo Magicos. Click here for the official list of Pueblo Magicos, so you can incorporate a few into your itinerary.

Unique Places to Visit and Things to Do in the State of San Luis Potosi

8. Visit the Huasteca Potosina Region in Mexico

If you’d like to visit unique places where you’ll be constantly asking yourself ‘is this Mexico?’ then you have to plan a visit to the Huasteca Potosina Region.

It is located within the state of San Luis Potosi and it’s also part of the much bigger ‘La Huasteca’ area. This bigger region includes parts of the states of Tamaulipas, Veracruz, Puebla, Hidalgo, Queretaro and Guanajuato. It is basically the area where the Huastec people once lived. 

With over 2,000 species of plants, La Huasteca is definitely one of the most bio-diverse regions in the country. 

Here you can swim in the most turquoise blue waters, see impressive waterfalls cascading into rivers or do something more adventurous like paddling, cliff jumping or rappelling. This region in Mexico has everything and more that you’d want for an unforgettable adventure. 

Click here to read about how to visit the Huasteca Potosina Region. 

9. Get Lost in Edward James’ Surrealist Garden (Las Pozas)

There’s something entirely special tucked away in the charming town of Xilitla in the mountainous parts of the La Huasteca region in San Luis Potosi called Las Pozas.

Las Pozas is a surrealist garden created by Edward James, a British poet who was passionate about surrealism. Las Pozas means ‘the Pools’ and the 80 acre garden features both natural and artificial pools that were created from waters that meander through the property. In addition, as you walk through the site, you’ll see about 30 different concrete structures. These include giant sculptures, concrete flowers, pagodas, staircases and doors that lead to nowhere. A walk through the garden will definitely make you feel like you’ve stepped into a different world.

Although slowly gaining more and more attention, Edward James’ Surrealist Garden is still only visited by a handful of foreign tourists. 

Entry fee – 125 MXN + 25 MXN for Spanish tour and 50 MXN for English tour

Click here to read about how to spend two days in Xilitla.

10. Sit at the Edge of the Largest Cave Shaft in the World: Sotano de las Golondrinas

How does sitting at the edge of the largest cave shaft in the world whilst witnessing thousands of birds leaving or entering the cave sound? To me it sounds like a unique experience that you wouldn’t want to miss when in Mexico.

Located to the northwest of Xilitla in San Luis Potosi state is an open-air pit cave called the Cave of Swallows. With a 370m drop from its highest side it’s also the second deepest pit in Mexico.

It’s Spanish name means ‘Basement of Swallows’ because of the many birds that live in the cave walls. Interestingly, these birds are actually white-collared swifts and green parrots with no swallows living there.

The reason you should visit the cave shaft is to witness these birds emerging or returning to their nest. Therefore, you should either come here very early in the morning or in the evening. It is a truly magical spectacle to witness.

For a bit more of an adrenaline rush, you can actually sit at the edge of the pit and peek into the cave with a safety rope tied around your waist. I guarantee you’ll never forget this experience.

Unique Places to Visit and Things to Do in the State of Oaxaca

11. Visit One of Only Two Petrified Waterfalls in the World: Hierve el Agua

Located about 70km to the east of Oaxaca City is a special place called Hierve el Agua. It is a set of natural rock formations that look like waterfalls from a distance. However, these are actually petrified waterfalls which are formed by a small amount of fresh water springs that are oversaturated with calcium carbonate and other minerals. 

What makes this place one of the most unique places to visit in Mexico is that this is actually one of only two petrified waterfalls in the world. The other one of its kind is the famous Pamukkale in Turkey.

The site has two of these waterfall-like rock formations called ‘Cascada Chica’ and ‘Cascada Grande’ that you can admire from different angles. Both of them have taken thousands of years to form. 

Click here for a step-by-step guide on how to get to Hierve el Agua.

12. Eat Your Way Through the Culinary Capital of Mexico: Oaxaca City

You probably know that Mexican food is officially considered a cultural heritage of humanity by UNESCO. Whilst you can enjoy traditional and delicious Mexican dishes anywhere in the country, there’s one city in particular that stands out with its cuisine: Oaxaca. The city is often called the ‘Culinary Capital of Mexico’ for a very good reason. 

In Oaxaca, you can try dishes such as moles, tlayudas, memelas and tetelas that you will be unlikely to be able to try anywhere else in the country. For this reason I highly encourage you to take advantage of the offers and try as many dishes as you possibly can.

In case you’re not fully convinced then make sure to watch the Oaxaca Street Food episode of the popular Netflix show called Street Food: Latin America. I bet you’ll also want to eat your way through the city after that.

If you really love food then go on a street food tour or book in for a cooking class.

Click here to read about the best things to do in the city of Oaxaca.

13. Try Mezcal in the City of Oaxaca

Oaxaca isn’t just the culinary capital of Mexico, but it’s also home to Mezcal which is a spirit made from various types of agave.

Make sure not to confuse it with Tequila, which is a type of mezcal but can only be made from the blue agave plant. Basically, all tequilas are mezcals, but not all mezcals are tequilas. Mezcal is also supposed to be drunk slowly accompanied by different types of salts and citrus fruits. 

Therefore, eating your way through Oaxaca wouldn’t be complete without tasting some of the traditional fermented drink. 

14. Release Baby Sea Turtles in Puerto Escondido

Another cool thing you can do in Mexico is releasing baby sea turtles into the ocean. 

Turtle conservation is huge in the pacific coast town of Puerto Escondido and volunteers are constantly monitoring the beaches around the town. Unfortunately poachers are constantly looking for eggs at night and sell them to people who are still consuming them. Vive Mar workers try to prevent this by patrolling the beaches and collecting eggs so they can hatch safely. There are many turtles hatching every day that need to be released into the ocean the same day. For this reason you can release one baby turtle at Playa Bachoco every day at 5PM.

Cost – 100MXN per sea turtle.

Read about how to spend a week in Puerto Escondido.

15. Swim with Bioluminescent Plankton in Puerto Escondido

The crazy phenomenon of bioluminescence can only be experienced in certain parts of the world. If you’re in Mexico you can enjoy this unique natural phenomena in five different places across the country. How amazing is that?

Two out of the five places are actually just outside of Puerto Escondido in the state of Oaxaca. One is only a 20-minute ride away from the town centre called Laguna de Manialtepec. The other one is a little further – about an hour away – called Parque Nacional Lagunas de Chacahua.

Swimming with bioluminescent plankton will be an experience you’ll never forget. Every time you touch the water or move in it, the plankton shine and you’ll feel like you’re covered in glitter. It couldn’t get any closer to feeling like you’re in Avatar.

Unique Places to Visit and Things to Do in Mexico City

16. Spend a Day at the Oldest and Largest Urban Park in Latin America: Chapultepec Park

If you’re in Mexico City you can’t miss touring around one of the most visited urban parks in the world: Bosque Chapultepec. In fact, it is actually the oldest and largest urban park in Latin America. 

The park is almost double the size of the well-known Central Park in New York City. It is so big that it’s divided into three big sections. Sections 1 and 2 are the most visited ones mainly because most of the attractions are concentrated in these two areas. The third section is a natural wooded area with wildlife.

Chapultepec Park isn’t just a cultural and social park, but also an important ecological oasis. The park is basically considered the ‘lungs’ of Mexico City. 

Opening Times – The first section of the park is closed on Mondays for maintenance. It’s open for the rest of the week between 5AM and 8PM. The second section of the park is open every day 24/7.

Click here to read about how to spend a day in Chapultepec Park.

17. Tour Around the Only True Castle in North America: Chapultepec Castle

Located in Mexico City is the only true castle in North America called Chapultepec Castle. A visit to this castle is a must if you’d like to see unique places in Mexico.

It was constructed in 1785 but it only became the residence of Emperor Maximilian I and his wife Empress Carlota in 1864. Since 1939 Chapultepec Castle has been home to the National History Museum. 

Without doubt the castle offers some amazing views of Mexico City. You’ll be able to appreciate the size of Chapultepec Park from there and will also have a fantastic view of Reforma Avenue and the Historic Centre of the city. The interior of the castle is no less impressive, so make sure to take your time touring around this incredible building.

Entry Fee – Entry fee is 80MXN per person. 

Opening Times – The castle is open from Tuesday to Sunday between 9AM and 5PM. It is closed on Mondays.

18. Walk Around One of the World’s Largest Public Squares: Constitution Square

At 57,600 square metres, Mexico City’s central square or Zocalo is one of the world’s largest public squares. It used to be the city’s main market area until Emperor Maximilian I banned merchants and created a Parisian-style park in 1860. 

After the Mexican Revolution, the square was cleared and it’s now home to a giant Mexican flag. Today, the plaza is often used for concerts, performance arts and when we visited in December it was home to a massive Christmas fair with an ice-skating rink. 

Click here to read about the best things to do in Mexico City’s Historic Centre.

19. Watch the Sunset from the Tallest Triumphal Arch in the World: Monumento a la Revolucion

Monumento a la Revolucion is a monument commemorating the Mexican Revolution. At 67m tall, it’s the tallest triumphal arch in the world which definitely makes it a unique place to visit. Although it’s an impressive building to look at from the outside, make sure to actually visit inside, because there’s a lot more to see.

The monument functions as a mausoleum for some of the most famous revolutionary figures. It also houses an exhibition and art gallery and the National Museum of the Revolution. In addition, there’s a cool glass elevator which runs up and down the building to an observation deck offering great views of Mexico City. You can also order a drink or food here and stay up as long as you wish. 

Opening Times: Monday to Thursday 12PM to 8PM, Friday and Saturday 12PM to 9PM and Sunday 11AM to 8PM. 

Entry Fee: 120MXN

Click here for the best views in Mexico City.

20. Find Quirky Metro Stops in Mexico City

There are so many cities around the world that are known for their quirky metro stations. Mexico City’s underground stations are no exception which makes visiting them a one of a kind thing to do in the city.

During our time in the city we definitely came across some interesting themes such as the jungle and a space tunnel. Auditorio Metro Station was particularly special because the whole station is dedicated to the United Kingdom. Yes, we saw the iconic ‘Underground’ sign, red telephone boxes and other British memorabilia. They even had a poster of our beloved Peak District National Park, where we live.

If you want to do something different to the top attractions in Mexico City then make sure to use the metro as often as possible.

21. Take a Trajinera Boat Ride Through Xochimilco Canals

If you’re after something different to do whilst in Mexico City, then head over to Xochimilco district located to the south of the Historic Centre. 

Xochimilco is best known for its 170km’s of canals which you can explore by embarking on one of the colourful gondola-like boats called trajineras. The canal used to connect most of the settlements located in the Valley of Mexico. From pre-Hispanic times until the 20th century the extensive lake and canal system was used to transport goods. However, in the early colonial period some of the lakes were drained. The canals then further dried out due to the pumping of the underground aquifers. This resulted in only the canals in Xochimilco remaining. To save the remaining canals they were declared a World Heritage Site in 1987.

Today you can rent one of these colourful trajineras and ride various distances along the canals. Boat drivers normally offer a minimum of a one hour tour up to a 5 hour ride. Whilst it’s getting more and more popular with both locals and tourists, I think it’s still quite a unique thing to do in Mexico.

Cost of boat ride – Depends on length of tour, but normally between 500MXN and 2500MXN per boat plus tips.

22. See Mexican Axolotls in the Xochimilco Canals

Have you heard about Axolotls before? If so, then it’s probably because they are such unique creatures on our planet.

They have the ability to regenerate lost body parts and can also accept transplants from other individuals and restore them too. In addition, they don’t undergo typical metamorphosis but rather they keep their youthful appearance.

Today Mexican axolotls only exist in the wild in the canals of Xochimilco in Mexico City. They used to live in many of the lakes underlying today’s Mexico City. However, these lakes were drained in the colonial period. Due to both urbanisation and water pollution their population decreased to only about 50 to 1000 adults over the years. For this reason they have been listed as critically endangered in the wild. 

Of course, today there’s a massive effort to save them. Scientists are working together with farmers to create floating islands called chinampas. These are made of water plants, logs, and lake mud and apparently help to filter the polluted water. 

In addition, some tour companies offer boat tours along the Xochimilco canals and offer tourists a chance to see these creatures. The money from the tours is then going to support axolotl conservation efforts.  

23. Watch One of Mexico’s Most Active Volcanoes Smoking: Popocatepetl

Another unique place to visit in Mexico is called Iztaccíhuatl–Popocatépetl National Park, also known as Izta-Popo Zoquiapan National Park. 

Located on the border of three states – Mexico, Puebla and Morelos – the park covers nearly 100,000 acres. This makes it the tenth-largest national park in Mexico. It is home to over a hundred mountains, including Mexico’s second and third highest peaks: Popocatepetl and Iztaccihuatl volcanoes. The two snow-capped volcanoes are definitely the park’s main attractions.

At 5,426m Popocatepetl (‘Smoking Mountain’) is actually the second highest point in Mexico. It is actually a very active and dangerous volcano that’s constantly monitored by scientists. Their aim is to record past eruptions and impacted areas in order to understand, prepare and mitigate future risks. Whilst nobody knows exactly when a potential eruption could occur, many suggest that there will be one at some point in the future. 

For this reason climbing Popocatepetl is prohibited. However, you can still enjoy watching it smoking from many viewpoints within the park. Watching an active volcano smoking this close definitely makes it a unique experience. 

Click here for a detailed guide to hiking in Izta-Popo National Park.

Unique Places to Visit and Things to Do in the State of Chiapas

24. See Multi-Coloured Lakes in Lagunas de Montebello National Park

The next unique place you should visit in Mexico is Lagunas de Montebello National Park. Montebello Lakes are home to 59 multi-coloured lakes in a pine forest. The lakes vary in colour due to the different minerals. On a clear and sunny day you can witness hues of green, blue or even reds and purples. However, only about 15 of the lakes are accessible by car or foot. 

You can do many fun outdoor activities in the area such as hiking, swimming, kayaking or go on a fun small wooden boat ride.

It was actually the first national park in Chiapas State. Since 2009 it’s been designated as a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO. 

25. Hop Between the Mexico-Guatemala Border

How does standing between two countries sound? Sounds like a pretty cool experience to me.

Lagunas de Montebello in Chiapas state is located literally at the border between Mexico and Guatemala. One of the lakes is actually called Lago International because the border runs across it. If you visit the National Park, you can have the chance to hop between Mexico and Guatemala.

As you walk up to the border from Mexico you’ll see a lot of vendors selling Mexican themed souvenirs and food. Once you cross the border, you can look around for some Guatemalan goods before hopping back to Mexico again.

Whilst it’s a pretty touristy activity, I think it’s quite unique that you can just hop over to Guatemala without needing your passport or a visa. 

Click here for the best day trips from San Cristobal de las Casas.

Final Thoughts on Unique Things to Do in Mexico

As you can see there are many unique places to visit in Mexico and my list only includes a few states which means that there are many more special sites to see across the country.

Have you been to any of the above places or tried any of the activities before? If not then which of these would you want to put on your bucket list? Don’t forget to leave any of your suggestions that you think would make a unique experience in Mexico, so I can add that to my bucket list for a future visit to the country.