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Discovering Cantona: Impressive Ruins of an Ancient City in Puebla
One of the most extensive archaeological sites in Mexico lies in the northeast of the Puebla state, close to the border to Veracruz: Cantona. And it might well be the site with the most ball game courts: Archaeologists have found 27 so far, more than in any other Mesoamerican site. This pre-Hispanic city was once one of the most extensive of its time. At its peak, it was home to over 90.000 people who lived here in 7500 housing units. Nowadays, you can climb many of its pyramids and temples, walk the cobbled streets, and enjoy the peace and quiet as the site is little visited. You might even have…
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Essential Packing List for Mexico – 27 Items You Should Not Forget to Pack
Want to know what should be part of your essential packing list for Mexico? Let’s have a look at what you should keep in mind when preparing for your vacation. When you arrive at your destination, you don’t want to have to do emergency shopping because you forgot important things. Rather spend your time at the beach or in the city doing some sightseeing! To be well prepared, here’s an overview of what you should have in your suitcase from a local guide. Sun Protection It doesn’t matter if you’ve booked a beach vacation or a city tour: The sun can be pretty unforgiving in most parts of Mexico. The…
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9 Best Things to Do in Chipilo
An Italian enclave in the heart of Mexico: Who would expect to hear Venetian, an Italian dialect, spoken in the heart of Mexico? In Chipilo you can hear it, and you’ll also find Italian delicacies produced in the region. The history of this village is interesting: It was founded in 1882 by a dozen families from Venetia in Italy who arrived here being promised fertile lands by the Mexican government. As this promise didn’t hold, the pilgrims switched to producing dairy and meat products. Today, Chipilo de Francisco Javier Mina, which is the full name of this small town, also produces high-quality furniture. In the streets, you can find trattorias,…
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Best Options for Staying Connected in Mexico
When traveling through Mexico, you want to make sure you’re staying connected to the internet via your mobile phone. A good wifi connection is crucial for navigation and communication, be it with friends and family at home or new acquaintances. While there are many places with free Wifi (airports, cafes, restaurants, hotels, and Airbnb), it’s still safer and often faster when you have to be available all the time. This overview covers various ways to stay connected in Mexico, including using an Airalo eSIM card, a Telcel SIM card, other SIM card options, and the availability of free WiFi. Telcel SIM Card If your phone is unlocked, you can just…
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9 Best Things to Do in Tehuacán
The Cradle of Corn, pyramids, and a famous goat dish: Admittedly, it’s easy to overlook Tehuacán as it doesn’t belong to the popular Magical Towns (Pueblos Mágicos) that attract masses of tourists. And the pyramids in the old part of the city are less known and you have to know how to reach them (see my tips on how to get to the pyramids). Actually, we were only traveling through on our way to the cactus forests in Zapotitlán Salinas. But luckily we decided to spend the time in between the changing of buses to explore the city a bit more. About Corn and Presidents You might not believe it,…
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7 Best Things to Do in Zapotitlán Salinas
Cactus forests, salt mines, and insects for breakfast: Zapotitlán Salinas lies in the biosphere reserve Tehuacán-Cuicatlán, the home of many endemic cactuses. Its position inside a triangle of mountain ranges blocks the precipitation of the seas and makes this area so dry and hot that not much can grow. Additionally, the ground is salty as it once used to be at the bottom of the sea. There are even salty springs that are the reason for the salt mines you can find here. Thus also the full name of the town – Zapotitlán Salinas (salinas means salt mines). With roughly 2,700 inhabitants, Zapotitlán Salinas is small and can be explored…
