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Baja Peninsula - It was many years before the Baja California Peninsula, bounded by the United States to the north, by the Pacific Ocean to the west and by the Sea of Cort's in the east, eventually appeared on both Mexico and the world's tourist map. A tour from north to south of its 1,300 km length, through its arid landscape and dry climate, is full of surprises. On the border lies Tijuana, a first-rate tourist resort that receives hundreds of thousands of visitors annually. Traditional attractions include its bullfights and racecourse, as well as Rosarito beach with its cliffs, ideal for diving and fishing, and the Port of Ensenada, which has gradually become the cultural capital of the state of Baja California. The south reflects all the stages in the state's history, ranging from the cave paintings in the Sierra de San Francisco produced by the hunter-gatherers and the Jesuit missions, such as those in San Javier and Loreto to the tourist complex at Los Cabos and the city of La Paz, an ideal spot for a day's fishing, observing whales or organizing yacht, boat or kayak trips to a nearby islands with some of the most beautiful beaches in Mexico.

Central Mexico - Visitors to the central region of Mexico will experience the richness of a land that stretches from the South Sierra Madre to the north limit of the high tableland at huastecas that contains a wide range of climates and landscapes shaped by their height, geographical location and the amount of rainfall they receive. This was a key area in the pre-Hispanic world, since the main city in the Mexica empire was set in the heart of this region, and it was here that major battles were fought between the conquistadors and the Indian peoples. Moreover, the 16th century saw a massive wave of evangelization that would not only change the inhabitants' faith but was also responsible for the construction of new towns and villages on the vestiges of the past, changing the shape of the land forever.

Pacific Coast - Nature has undoubtedly been extremely generous in the Pacific Coast, from Sinaloa to Oaxaca. Visitors to Sinaloa can spend the night in Mazatl'n, with its luxury tourist facilities, visit the estuaries where shrimp are cultivated or camp on deserted beaches. Nayarit is ideal for nature lovers while Colima has a gorgeous city, Manzanillo, with superb beaches. Jalisco is famous for its Costa Alegre, with areas reserved for deluxe tourism, while the city of Guadalajara combines modernity, elegance and beauty. Finally, there is Oaxaca, with its beautiful coast and traditional mountain and valley towns, elegant monasteries and majestic capital, the jewel in the region's crown. It is one of the most frequently visited cities in Mexico, due to its archaeological and colonial monuments, its folklore, gastronomy and rich history.

The Gulf and the South - A special feature of this coastal strip of the gulf comprising Tabasco, Veracruz and Chiapas is the fertility of its land, which still bears traces of what were once complex forests and green landscapes. No less interesting is the fact that it was the site of great civilizations, such as the Olmecs in the coastal region and the Mayans in the uneven territory of Chiapas, together with other major cultures such as the Huastecs and the Totonacs in Veracruz. An important site in the history of Mexico and the gateway for the conquistador Hern'n Cort's, the Gulf Coast has survived several battles, and is now being extensively developed due to the existence of a large industrial center as well as the fact that it is Mexico's major oil producer.

The North - Wide plains with an arid climate, spanned by two mountain ranges, the Sierra Madre Occidental and the Sierra Madre Oriental, with the great Chihuahua Desert in between, are the distinctive features of this territory. Inhabited since time immemorial by hunter-gatherers, the Tarahumara in Chihuahua, the Yaquis in Sonora and the Huicholes in Zacatecas, the north of Mexico has attracted both missionaries and travelers since the 16th century. The architecture and ceramics of the Paquim' culture are strikingly original and of excellent quality. Examples of both can be seen in the archaeological zone of Paquim' and the on-site museum. Other distinctive features of the northern region include the El Pinacate Biosphere Region, the Copper Canyon, famous for its spectacular waterfall and microclimates, the Sierra de Durango, the Cuatro Ci'nagas Nature Reserve in Coahuila, the mining and farming villages in the south of Chihuahua, the city of 'lamos in Sonora, the fertile Valle del Fuerte in Sinaloa and the city of Zacatecas. Another noteworthy city is Monterrey in Nuevo Le'n, a thriving, modern city that in many ways exemplifies the culture of the north.

Yucatan Peninsula - By the 19th century, Yucat'n was already world-renowned for its archaeological treasures and for the War of the Castes, waged during the second half of that century. The archaeological findings in the area have been extremely important events and most of the tourists that come to Mexico take the opportunity of visiting Chich'n Itz' and Uxmal, perfect examples of the development achieved by the Mayans in that region. The lowlands of Yucat'n, consisting of a plate of limestone rock, have many other attractions, such as the limestone sinkholes and warm beaches with fine white sand, such as Canc'n and the Riviera Maya that few would wish to miss. Those interested in exploring the colonial era will find beautiful examples in Campeche and M'rida. Its warm climate, friendly people and sophisticated cuisine make this an extremely attractive resort

Source: - Mexico Tourism Board

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