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Beyond the Beach ChairsTourists to Mexico Want AdventureMexico Provides the Perfect Natural Surroundings to Appease Thrill-Seeking Tourists While relaxing by the beach with a frosty drink will always remain a popular vacation activity, tourists are increasingly seeking hands-on vacations involving adventure-seeking. Whether the activities are land-based, sea-based or in the air, Mexico’s unspoiled natural surroundings, diverse geography and breathtaking scenery offer endless possibilities. From exploring the Copper Canyon in Chihuahua to water rafting in Veracruz, adventure tourism in Mexico takes many forms to suit every taste and budget. Most tour operators offer a variety of options, from half-day trips to longer packages featuring a combination of activities. There are also activities to meet the needs of people of all physical and mental conditions: from the somewhat fearful and sedentary traveler to the physically-fit tourist seeking an experience that is truly extreme in nature. Amtave (www.amtave.org) offers a complete list of adventure tourism activities and tour operators. Some highlights follow: Mountain Climbing and RappellingAin’t no mountain high enough, you say? Then you haven’t tried the volcanoes in Puebla. Not for the weak, the Peak of Orizaba (also known as Citlaltépetl) is North America’s third-highest, soaring 5,745 meters high above the colonial city of Puebla. Only the most advanced hikers make it to the Jamapa Glacier and Espolón de Oro. Three-day hikes starting out at Piedra Grande Refuge are the most common. Other popular volcanoes for climbing are the Iztaccíhuatl, also known as the “sleeping maiden” as it resembles a reclining figure with curves, and the Nevado de Toluca, a snow-capped volcano near Mexico City. Visit: www.amtave.org. Apart from shimmying up volcanoes, other popular climbing destinations are Copper Canyon in Chihuahua, the Sierra Norte in Oaxaca State and the Sierra Madre Oriental in Nuevo León State near Monterrey. Ain’t no Canyon low Enough
For the competitive, Chihuahua State hosts the Transglobal Adventure Competition and an annual Adventure Tourism Festival where athletes compete for cash prizes in several sports including sand-boarding, marathons and mountain-biking. If the competition doesn’t take your breath away, the lush scenery will. Visit www.chihuahua.gob.mx/turismoweb, and www.otadventures.com. Hiking and BackpackingThe mild climate and rocky mountains of the central Mexican state of Guanajuato makes it a popular destination for hiking and backpacking. Just fifteen minutes from the capital city of Guanajuato is the Las Palomas recreational zone and wildlife preserve, an important area of biodiversity and an ideal place for naturalists and birdwatchers. Trained guides employed by the preserve and who are experts in the areas of botany, bird migration and the area’s flora and fauna provide a variety of tours, while there are also facilities for mountain-biking and camping. Visit www.aventuravertical.com, www.villazardoni.com.mx. CyclingCycling is a wonderful way to get to know Mexico, and Mexico offers everything from short visits to archeological sites to hard-core mountain biking/camping combinations. The beautiful bay, lush scenery and rain forests around the Pacific resort city of Puerto Vallarta, for example, provide the ideal setting for the ultimate mountain biking experience. Bike Mex [tel. (011- 52) 322- 223-1680] offers biking tours at all levels of the surrounding countryside, with visits to waterfalls, ranches, hot springs and quaint towns. They even offer tours to out-of-the-way-villages such as Yelapa, located in the Bay of Bandera’s southernmost cove, accessible only by boat or bike. Visit www.vallarta-adventures.com. For cyclists who prefer paved roads, Rosarito and Ensenada on the Baja California Peninsula host an annual bike ride every spring and fall, this year to take place April 17 and September 25. The “Rosarito Ensenada Bike Ride” is one of the largest and longest-running cycling events in the world, whose 50-mile course offers breathtaking views of the Pacific coastline. Nearly a half-million people of all ages and abilities have completed the course’s cycling competition. Visit www.RosaritoEnsenada.com. On HorsebackMexico boasts countless parks, wildlife reserves and beaches where horses are available for organized tours or for rent. Longer organized calvagades are common in the states of Sonora, Jalisco and Veracruz, just to name a few. Chihuahua State also hosts an annual weeklong scenic cavalgade for the entire family (IX Villista Cavalgade) from the city of Chihuahua to Hidalgo del Parral, covering more than 136 miles. Visit: www.mexicohorse.com. Taking FlightWhat better way to see Mexico than with a bird’s eye view. Paragliding has become overwhelmingly popular in Mexico, with Mexicans and foreigners alike flocking to places like Valle de Bravo in Mexico State and Lake Chapala, Mexico’s largest lake and just an hour’s drive south of Guadalajara in Jalisco State, to enjoy the country’s lush scenery from above. Visit www.parapente.com and www.amtave.org. For heights without the risk, peaceful air travel is still possible through hot air balloon tours such as those offered by Globo Aventura in Tenancingo, in Mexico State. The three-hour tour includes breathtaking views of the Tenancingo Valley and an in-air champagne toast followed by an invigorating mountain bike tour. Visit www.globoaventura.com. Get Your Feet WetVeracruz State, which borders the Gulf of Mexico, is the ideal destination for whitewater rafting. With more than 40 rivers, including the popular Río Actopan and Río Antigua, Veracruz offers Class II and Class IV rapids with ominous names like “Doors to Hell”. Most tour operators combine rafting with camping, hiking, visits to quaint towns and dips in nearby hot springs. Visit www.eccosports.com, or www.rioymontana.com. A great way to experience Mexico’s exotic marine life is through sea kayaking. Kayaking outfitters offer kayaking/camping adventures out of Loreto and La Paz on the Sea of Cortez (located on the eastern side of the Baja Peninsula) where tourists can get up close and personal with finback and blue whales, dolphins, sea lions and exotic fish. Apart from paddling among islands, additional activities include snorkeling and hiking up scenic canyons offering breathtaking panoramas. Visit www.bajawild.com and www.kuyima.com. Other great places to kayak include the Mayan canals in the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve, a 1.3 million-acre wildlife paradise in the Riviera Maya; the mangroves of Lake Sontecomapan, the Isla de Monos (Monkey Island) and Laguna Escondida (Hidden Lagoon) in Veracruz; and the Balsas River in Michoacán. Visit www.alltournative.com. Puerta Vallarta, with its ocean and jungle, is a paradise for kayakers and trekkers. Packs of humpback whales can also be spotted just outside Puerto Vallarta’s Bahia de las Banderas. Visit www.vallartawhales.com and www.ecotoursvallarta.com. Mexico also boasts countless destinations for diving. Top spots include Los Cabos on the southern tip of the Baja Peninsula, as well as Loreto and La Paz, located on Sea of Cortez and famous the world over for its biodiversity. Referred to by French oceanographer Jacques Cousteau as "The World's Aquarium", the waters that make up the Sea of Cortez are teeming with blue, black and striped marlin, sailfish, dorado, sea lions, blue fin whales, hammerhead sharks, moray eels and tropical fish. Other top diving spots include the Yucatán Peninsula, surrounded by the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea; Cozumel, Mexico’s largest island just off the coast of the Yucatán Peninsula, renowned for its underwater clarity and home to the second longest reef in the world; Isla Mujeres, a smaller island to the north of the Isla de Cancún; and the Yucatán Peninsula, whose cenotes (sinkholes) are increasingly favored by divers. For more information, visit www.ecotravelmexico.com, www.ecoyuc.com, and www.ecoparaiso.com. Adventure, Without Breaking a SweatStrenuous activities aren’t for everyone. For those who like adventure without the physical stuff, Mexico offers an interesting variety of activities. El Chepe is a 400-mile train ride between Chihuahua City and Los Mochis in Sinaloa State on the Sea of Cortez, offering breathtaking scenery past rivers and lakes from the coast into the deep chasms of Copper Canyon in Chihuahua State. The train climbs as high as 8,000 feet above sea level and passes over 37 bridges and through 86 tunnels, stopping in tiny towns on the rims of majestic canyons. Trips include overnight stays in the towns and walking tours. Visit www.chihuahuanexp.com. About the Mexico Tourism BoardThe Mexico Tourism Board (MTB) brings together the resources of federal and state governments, municipalities and private companies to promote Mexico's tourism attractions and destinations internationally. Created in 1999, the MTB is Mexico’s tourism promotion agency, and its participants include members of both the private and public sectors. The MTB has offices throughout North America, Europe, Japan and Latin America. Photo courtesy of Cancun Conventions & Visitors Bureau Edited by Dave Shultz |
TM
Canyoneering (also known as “canyoning”) involves
traveling down narrow waterways in canyons by rappelling, jumping, scaling
slippery surfaces, swimming… and praying. The sport, which started
approximately nine years ago in Europe, has quickly gained momentum the
world over, and Mexico features several ideal spots to practice it. These
include Copper Canyon in the Sierra Madre Occidental mountain range in
Chihuahua, and Matacanes Canyon and Potrero Chico Canyon in the Sierra Madre
Oriental Mountains in Monterrey, Nuevo León. Excursions vary from day-trips
to week-long adventures. For more information, contact 1-800-235-2438 or
visit,
