Each year more and more people are getting away from traditional sightseeing vacations and opting for vacations that include some adventure. Mexico is a great place for adventurers of all shapes and sizes.

For those who enjoy a little history with their adventure, exploring Mayan ruins is a great way to spend a vacation. A large amount of Mayan ruins are just a hop, skip, and a jump away from Cancun. Chichen Itza and Tulum are two great places to see Mayan ruins as much reconstruction of the ruins have kept them in better condition. However, Coba allows visitors to see up to 80 square miles of Mayan ruins which make for some beautiful views.

Many people enjoy more hands on adventure vacations. There are many things to do in Mexico that fit this group of travelers needs. For those traveling on the Baja side of Mexico, sea kayaking is a must-do (first image to the left). This is great for those who would love to kayak along sea cliffs and explore little caves and secret canyons. Those who are traveling near the Gulf side of Mexico can enjoy the Veracruz River (second image to the left) by way of rafting. The Veracruz River passes by two different sets of ruins. There are also

some small rapids on the river, which are considered quite tame for those who regularly go rafting, but still add fun to the equation.

Those who have found themselves visiting Mexico City may enjoy hiking one of the nearby volcano of Ixtaccihuatl. Many hikers enjoyed the twin volcanoes of Popocatepetl and

Ixtaccihuatl, but recently Popocatepetl became an active volcano and is now closed to hikers. Climbing Ixtaccihuatl isn’t for the amateur hiker, however. It can be windy and is often below freezing.

Those who have never been to Mexico have little knowledge of how it is a gem hidden in the rough. There are literally thousands of things to see and do in Mexico and these things are enjoyable for people of all ages.

For those who enjoy taking the scenic route to wherever they go, there is a lot to be enjoyed in Mexico. There are the beautiful snow-capped volcanoes of Popocatépetl (first image) and Nevado de Toluca. Those who enjoy snorkeling and scuba diving may be shocked to hear that many actually do so in the craters of these volcanoes. There are also many historic sites to see such as Mitla (second image), which are ancient ruins constructed by the Zapotec civilization around 200 AD. Nearby to the ruins there is a large tree which may well be older than the ruins themselves. There is also the Copper Canyon railway (third image) which is one of the most beautiful and scenic train trips that tourists can take. Those who enjoy scenery such as canyons and rivers will find themselves finding both on this trip. For those with a little bit of cowboy in them, there are ranches that are open for tourists to visit and to enjoy horseback riding. Some ranches also offer tequila tasting as a way to cap off the evening.

Those who enjoy the beach scene will be quickly spoiled in Mexico. Mexico is known for some of the most beautiful beaches in the world including Cabos San Lucas (image to the left) and Cozumel. Beaches are very lively places in Mexico thus thousands of American tourists find themselves at Mexican beaches each year. Mexico is also known for its fine arts. Many people flock to Mexico City’s Palace of fine arts to see many cultural dances and ballets.

One of the best ways of traveling around Mexico is by bus. There are many different sights there are to see throughout Mexico that can’t really be seen by train and those who drive themselves often miss things themselves. Traveling by bus also allows those traveling Mexico to meet other travelers.

There are different types of buses in Mexico and each one offers something different. Each one has their own price range as well, so it’s important for traveler’s to know what type of bus they’d like to travel on before embarking on a long trip in one. The nicest buses have comfortable reclining seats and often have snacks or drinks for their customers to enjoy on long trips. Some also have televisions and provide headphones so that passengers can enjoy a movie while they travel. There are also “Segunda Clase” buses that are something like an American school buses with slightly more comfort. However, these buses don’t reserve seats and when they get full there is often standing room only. Standing room only is great for those who are traveling a short distance, but those who are taking a longer ride will likely not enjoy the bus trip.

Travelers can literally get to anywhere in Mexico by bus as almost every town has at least one bus stop. Larger cities obviously have numerous bus stops. It’s easy for anyone to find a bus from downtown Mexico City to Cancun or even to La Paz (which is one really long, but scenic bus trip.) Also, buses of course can take tourists over short distances such as from one side of Mexico City to the other and this can be done for a very low cost. This is great for those who don’t wish to rent a car in Mexico or those who enjoy travel on a budget.

Anyone traveling to Mexico will likely have some tequila at one point on their trip as this is the national drink of Mexico. However, many people do not know much about tequila — where it comes from or how it’s made. Tequila, made from the agave plant, was first developed by the Spanish near Tequila, Mexico. The Toltec Indians would make candy from the plants’ sugars. The Spanish saw this and decided to use the plants’ sugars to make alcohol. This led to the creation of the drink. The first tequila factory was opened in 1600. For many years, the Toltec Indians tried to get the town of Tequila back in many uprisings which started in 1541, but they didn’t succeed until 1810 about 270 years later.

Tourists who visit this region are greeting by an expanse of blue agave leaves. Many distilleries in the area give tours and allow tourists to try the drink. Those tourists who are lucky enough to visit during harvest season may catch a glimpse of the agave plants being harvested and prepared for tequila making. To do this, workers remove the leaves from the plant to leave behind the large agave pinas which are then processed. The juice from the creamy, white core of the agave plant is the juice used to make tequila. The average worker can only harvest about 200 plants a day as the process is tedious and the weather is often hot. One plant can make about five bottles of tequila. Because most agave is grown in this area and because of the agave plant’s size, not as much tequila is made as one would think. Anyone traveling to Mexico will likely have some tequila at one point on their trip as this is the national drink of Mexico. Whether traveling, playing online casino games, or dancing, Tequila is an all time favorite. The supply of tequila is limited leading to the high cost of tequila on the international market. The amount of tequila actually made doesn’t meet the demand which makes the drink even more special.

Puerto Vallarta, located on the west coast of Mexico in the state of Jalisco, attracts many visitors in the United States looking to find the place with perfect weather. Puerto Vallarto has much to offer its visitors with cobblestone streets, the beautiful Pacific ocean, the Sierra Madre mountains, exciting culture, and vibrant nightlife. Despite the recent surge in tourists, Puerto Vallarta has kept its Mexican charm making it a great place for tourists to have a fun, luxurious vacation and still experience real Mexico.

Those who enjoy water sports will not be disappointed as the Banderas Bay offers much in the way of water sports. This bay, one of the deepest bays in the world, offers swimming, snorkeling, diving, fishing and more. This area is known for its diving and is one of the best places in Mexico to go scuba diving as there are many underwater caves nearby that divers can explore. Many villas on the beach offer snorkeling and scuba diving lessons for those who are interested. Many people also rent kayaks and go kayaking to the nearby islands to explore many of the tropical ecosystems and secret beaches the area offers. The area is also known for its eco-tours and zip lines. Anyone interested in eco-tours will never find themselves bored in Puerto Vallarta. The Banderas Bay, being the second largest bay in North America, offers a lot in the way of boating. Sailing is popular here and many tourists find themselves on a sailboat enjoying the sun or learning how to sail. Kite surfing and para sailing are also popular here.

Other outdoor activities include exploring what the Sierra Madre has to offer. By way of the Sierra Madre mountains, tourists can experience the Mexican outback and see the many plants and animals in this sub-tropical location. Many tours will take visitors out here to allow them to experience this beautiful area. Some of these tours will also take tourists to local villages, too.