NORTHERN MEXICO
The deserts and dunes of the north extend across the states of
Chihuahua, Coahuila, Sonora, Durango, Nuevo Leon, Tamaulipas and Zacatecas, where
maximum summer temperatures range between 32º C and 36º C (90º F and 97º F) and
winter lows drop below 0º C (32º F). The western and eastern mountain ranges of
the Sierra Madre stretch across the region as well.
Ideal for camping and photography, don’t miss out on the breathtaking
sights of the hot
springs in the Cuatro Cienegas desert in Coahuila.
In the state of Zacatecas, you can admire the
beautiful colonial buildings of the capital (also called Zacatecas)
from high above on a suspended cable car, which departs from city landmark
Cerro de La Bufa. There are also interesting archeological zones nearby such
as Alta Vista and La Quemada.
In the state of Chihuahua, you can visit the ruins of Paquime,
where some of the ancient constructions are five stories high. Also in Chihuahua, you can take an amazing ride on the
Chihuahua-Pacific railroad as it passes through the Copper Canyon region. Finally, don’t forget to check out the
traditional art of the Raramuri Indians, heirs of the
Tarahumara culture.
In the state of Sonora, ancient territory of the Yaqui
Indians, you’ll find the best beach resorts in northern Mexico: Guayamas, San Carlos, Bahia de Kino, and Puerto Penasco. You’ll also be able to admire the dunes of El Pinacate biosphere reserve and the adjacent Gran Desierto del Altar (the Altar Desert), recently declared UNESCO World Heritage sites.
Thanks to its barren desert landscape, the state of Durango has become a popular spot for film locations. Also in
Durango, you can camp in the mysterious Zona
del Silencio (The Zone of
Silence), a desert area where the atmosphere purportedly attracts meteorites
and blocks radio transmissions. Another state attraction is national park La Sierra de Organos, where you can
see some of nature’s most peculiar rock formations.
In the state of Nuevo Leon, you can visit business and industrial center Monterrey, home of the famous cabrito (roast goat-kid) dish.
The saddle-shaped Cerro de la Silla provides a backdrop to Mexico’s third largest city.
Meanwhile, in the state of Tamaulipas, you can
discover a wide variety of flora and fauna at El Cielo,
a biosphere reserve with four different ecosystems. You can also check out El Complejo Cueva Diablo, one of the
nation’s oldest archeological zones dating back 8,000 years.
