Recently, Oliver Smith, collaborator of The Telegraph, published the list of twenty-one reasons to visit México, and here it is:
1. It’s the “aquarium of the world”
Jacques Cousteau gave this moniker to the Sea of Cortez, off the coast of Baja California, and “it has an almost legendary status among divers and marine naturalists,” according to Telegraph Travel’s Tim Ecott.
He adds: “Some 900 fish species and 32 types of marine mammal gather to feed and breed here. Massive blooms of plankton mean that even elusive blue whales are seen here, along with the gnarled humpbacks and grey whales that sound and breach in the bay, to the delight of whale-watching parties.”
There’s a diving haven off the coast of Baja California (Photo: LEONARDO GONZALEZ/LEONARDO GONZALEZ)
2. There are more Mayan ruins than you can shake a stick at
Among the best are Chichen Itza, the crowning glory of which is the towering temple of El Castillo; Tulum, with its idyllic coastal location; Palenque, unknown to Europeans until the late 18th century; and Uxmal, a former capital that was once home to 25,000 people.
3. You can watch a parade of the walking dead
The best thing about SPECTRE, the most recent outing for James Bond, was undoubtedly the opening sequence, with Mexico’s Day of the Dead (Día de Muertos) celebrations providing the striking backdrop.
Nobel Prize-winning writer Octavio Paz wrote that, while death remains taboo around the world, “the Mexican frequents it, mocks it, caresses it, sleeps with it, entertains it, it is one of his favourite playthings and his most enduring love.” To join in the curious annual event, held in November, consider a tour with Steppes Travel (0843 778 9926; steppestravel.com).
Day of the Dead celebrations (Photo: Jan Sochor)
Source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/
