Mexico may be everyone’s favorite destination for beautiful Caribbean beaches and world-class resorts, but as anyone who’s dared venture deeper into the country’s heartland will be able to attest, the true cultural wealth lies elsewhere, away from the glitz and glam of the coast.
Other than boasting sugar-white sands and turquoise seas, America’s southern neighbor is littered with centuries-old cities, founded by the Spaniards at the time of their arrival to the New World, and that have remained largely preserved ever since.
Lucky for the culture-hungry American, they’re just as easily accessible as Cancun, Tulum and the like, with 4 cultural gems of the sort hosting nonstop flights this winter:
San Luis Potosí
Located in central Mexico, thousands of miles away from the tourist-packed Yucatan Peninsula, San Luis Potosí is a laid-back historic city best known for its colonial-era center, which comprises a beautiful Plaza de Armas (Spanish-style), a towering cathedral, and colorful flea markets.
Other noteworthy sites in town include the Baroque Templo de San Francisco and the expansive Tangamanga Park, perfect for taking refuge during the city’s peak-hour traffic. It encompasses a verdant botanical garden and a zoo.
If you’re here for the local History, delectable eats and postcard views, we suggest you book this city tour of Downtown San Luis Potosí, including stops in all of the most popular photo spots, and valuable tips from your local guide on where to find the best street tacos in town, for only $20.56.
Direct Flights Available From:
- Houston, Texas (IAH)
2 flights per day every day with United Airlines
- Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas (DFW)
1 flight per day every day with American Airlines
Veracruz
Who said that, in order to soak up authentic Mexican culture, you need to forfeit your much-needed beach escapade?
Veracruz offers both, having served as a thriving trading hub lining the Gulf of Mexico since the 16th century, with an immense architectural wealth to back it:
It is one of a handful of coastal cities in the New World to have retained their European fortifications––Fortaleza de San Juan de Ulúa, now a museum offering a breathtaking panorama of the harbor––and a virtually-unchanged Zócalo (Main Square), dominated by a whitewashed cathedral.
Ready for some unwinding at the beach?
Take a kayak and snorkeling tour to Sacrificios Island, where unruffled beaches and the teal-colored waters of the Gulf await, as well as pre-Columbian ruins, to the tune of a grand total of $53.
Direct Flights Available From:
- Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas (DFW)
1 flight per day every day with American Airlines
- Houston, Texas (IAH)
1 flight per day every day
Puebla
Home to one of the most landmark-packed historic centers in Mexico, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site at that, Puebla is one of the top destinations for tourists to immerse themselves in the country’s rich colonial past:
From the Renaissance-inspired Puebla Cathedral, to an elegant Palacio Municipal, built at the height of the Spanish era, still housing the city government, and every ornate chapel and signorial mansion in between, it feels essentially frozen in time––in the best possible way.
Other than its manmade wonders, Puebla is often remembered for its cuisine: one of Mexico’s most iconic concoctions originated here, namely chiles en nogada, shredded meat-stuffed peppers topped with a walnut sauce and sprinkled with pomegranate.
Direct Flights Available From:
- Houston, Texas (IAH)
1 flight per day every day with American Airlines
Oaxaca City
The capital and largest city of the eponymous state, Oaxaca is just Spain-coded through and through: picture pedestrian-friendly streets lined with timeless facades, plazas bordered by souvenir shops and traditional restaurants, and a prominent stone-built cathedral.
With its gilded altar and impressive religious art, Puebla Cathedral is one of the most ancient in the mainland Americas.
Its groundbreaking took place in 1575–the English would only find their first colony in the now-United States three decades later!
Though it isn’t colonial, predating the arrival of Europeans by at least over 2,000 years, Monte Albán is not to be missed on a visit to Puebla, either: located some 6 miles outside town, this UNESCO World Heritage Site features temples, a large step pyramid and an intact ball court.
Direct Flights Available From:
- Houston, Texas (IAH)
1 flight per day every day with United Airlines
- Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas (DFW)
1 flight per day every day with American Airlines
- Los Angeles, California (LAX)
1 flight per day every Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Friday with Volaris
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