Mexico, Central America & Southwest USA Travel
The south of France between Avignon and the Mediterranean offers a different kind of travel from the rest of this site — but the slow-travel philosophy is the same. Village markets, cooking with wild herbs, the Camargue wetlands and events like the Gypsy festival at Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer make this region worth exploring at a walking pace. … Read more
Palmyra is a small town on the Erie Canal in upstate New York, significant in American history for two reasons: the canal that transformed commerce in the early republic, and the birthplace of the Mormon movement. Joseph Smith grew up here, and the Hill Cumorah where he reported finding the golden plates is just outside … Read more
Yellowstone is the original national park and still one of the best places in North America for watching large wildlife in the open. Bison, elk, wolves, grizzly bears, moose — all visible from the road or short hikes, particularly in the Lamar Valley and Hayden Valley. Add in geysers, hot springs and a landscape shaped … Read more
Moab is the base camp for Arches National Park and Canyonlands, sitting on the Colorado River in southeastern Utah. Red rock country — sandstone arches, canyon rims, mesa tops, and more mountain bike trails than you can ride in a month. Arches National Park Over 2,000 natural stone arches in one park. Delicate Arch is … Read more
Tucson is the gateway to Mexico by bus and the best city in the Southwest for someone who likes desert hiking, Mexican food (the real kind, not Tex-Mex), and museums that go beyond the usual. It sits in the Sonoran desert surrounded by saguaro cactus forests, mountain ranges and Native American history. Saguaro National Park … Read more
The Chepe train, Creel, Batopilas and the Tarahumara canyons of Chihuahua — how to reach and explore one of Mexico’s wildest landscapes.
Cancun is the main bus hub for the Yucatan peninsula. ADO runs from the downtown bus terminal to every major destination in the region. If you are bypassing the hotel zone and heading to Playa del Carmen, Tulum, Valladolid, Merida or anywhere else on the peninsula, the bus terminal is your first stop. From the … Read more
Aguascalientes is known for one thing above all others: the Feria Nacional de San Marcos, which runs for three weeks in April and May and is one of the biggest fairs in Mexico. Outside of fair season, it is a pleasant but quiet colonial city on the highway between Guadalajara and Zacatecas, with good food … Read more
Merida is the capital of Yucatan state and the cultural center of the peninsula. Founded in 1542 on top of the Maya city of T’ho, it has a well-preserved colonial center, excellent food (Yucatecan cuisine is distinct from the rest of Mexico), and works as a base for visiting Chichen Itza, Uxmal and the Puuc … Read more
San Cristobal de las Casas sits at 2,100 meters in the Chiapas highlands and feels like a different country from the hot lowlands below. Cool nights, pine forests on the surrounding hills, a colonial center with amber shops and indigenous markets. The Tzotzil and Tzeltal Maya communities in the surrounding villages maintain traditions that predate … Read more