In order to ease the exploration of Mexico, the country has been
divided into six tourist regions offering a distinctive set of activities.
Northern Mexico, vibrant desert landscapes.
Wide plains with an arid climate, spanned by two
mountain ranges, the Sierra Madre Occidental and the Sierra Madre Oriental,
with the great ChihuahuaDesert in between, are
the distinctive features of this territory. Inhabited at one time by
hunter-gatherers, the region is currently home for 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 Paquimé culture are
strikingly original and of excellent quality. Examples of both can be seen in
the archaeological zone of Paquimé and the on-site
museum. Other distinctive features of the northern region include El Pinacate Biosphere Region, the Copper Canyon, famous for
its spectacular waterfall and microclimates, the Sierra de Durango, the CuatroCiénagas Nature Reserve in
Coahuila, the mining and farming villages in the
south of Chihuahua, the city of Álamos in Sonora, the
fertile Valle del Fuerte in Sinaloa
and the city of Zacatecas. Another noteworthy city is
Monterrey in
Nuevo León, a thriving, modern city that in many ways
exemplifies the culture of the north.
