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Known as the "City of Palms", Colima was founded in 1527 as Villa San Sebastián de Colima. It is a interesting city with some beautiful colonial architecture and monuments. Downtown Colima is made up of three Plazas lined up over 8 blocks. The main plaza has some government offices, the main church, shops, restaurants and the Hotel Ceballos. The next smaller plaza behind the church is more "the peoples park" where old guys sit, shoes get shined, etc. The third and largest plaza has more shops and hotels including Hotel Merced. One main street from the carretera into Colima empties into a corner of this last plaza.
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Michoacán is unique and one-of-a-kind, the perfect fusion of Natural Beauty, Picturesque Towns, Art and Culture. To travel to Michoacán is to take a trip through the extraordinary history, culture and folklore of México. To journey to Michoacán is to discover and learn what is the soul of México.
Michoacán, a land of mountains and lakes, gave birth to the invincible Purépecha Empire that dominated almost the entire center of this country. The archaeological remains guard the footsteps of time. The indigenous villages along the shores of Lake Pátzcuaro, the Meseta ("Plateau") Purépecha, the marshlands around Zacapu and the Cañada de los Once Pueblos ("The Gorge of the Eleven Towns") have preserved the traditions and language of the invincible empire. Not only a multiplicity of landscapes, Michoacán is also a cultural hegemony, where, in addition to the Purèpechas, indigenous groups such as the neighboring Mazahuas and Otomies in the eastern region and the Náhuatl along the coast, offer a wealth of traditions, fairs, fiestas, customs, music, dance, handicrafts, cuisine and architecture. And while the characteristic towns have maintained their indigenous legacies, the attractive cities of Pátzcuaro and Morelia have preserved their colonial heritage.
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Cities: Chichén Itzá, Yucatán, México
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Located deep within the jungles of Yucatán, 193km (120 miles) west of Cancún, lies Chichén Itzá, one of the most impressive sites of the mysterious Mayan civilization. Chichén Itzá was the site of countless human sacrifices and flourished until about the year 1200, when it was suddenly abandoned. Today, the old road between Cancún and Mérida cuts through the middle of the site, creating two separate ruins, Chichén Viejo and Chichén Nuevo, which together form the most intact ruins from the Mayan period. Highlights at the complex, which covers an area of approximately 15 sq km (6 sq miles), include the Kukulcán Pyramid (also known as the Castle), the Ball Court (the largest Mayan ball court ever discovered), the Thousand Columns and the Tzompantli.
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Cities: Michoacán, México
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Michoacán de Ocampo (From michamacuan, Nahuatl for "the place of the fishermen") is one of the 31 constituent states of Mexico. It borders the states of Colima and Jalisco to the west, Guanajuato and Querétaro to the north, México to the east, Guerrero to the south-east, and the Pacific Ocean to the south.
Michoacán has an area of 59,864 square km (23,113.62 square miles). In 2003 the population was estimated at 4,047,500 people. Its state capital is the city of Morelia (previously known as Valladolid).
Michoacán also contains the cities of Apatzingán, Hidalgo, Jacona, Jiquilpan, La Piedad, Lázaro Cárdenas, Los Reyes, Paracho, Pátzcuaro, Aquila, Coalcoman, Puruándiro, Sahuayo, Uruapan, Zacapú, Zamora, and Zitácuaro. The state's pre-Columbian sites include the ruins of Tzintzuntzan, Ihautzio, and Tingambato.
The area around Angangueo in northeast Michoacán is famous for the beautiful monarch butterflies that spend the winter in the surrounding mountains.
On September 19, 1985, an earthquake measuring approximately 8.0 on the Richter scale struck Michoacán and inflicted severe damage on Mexico City. Estimates of the number of dead range from 6,500 to 30,000.
In the State of Michoacan the climate varies much from place to place depending on variables such as, the altitude above sea level, ground relief and prevailing winds. The climatic conditions prevailing here are: tropical with summer rains with an average temperature of 28ºC in the hot land and on the coast; mild with summer rains with an average temperature of 22ºC in the central part of the state; dry-warm temperatures with scarce rain in the summer in the lower part of the state and in the Balsas river; depression with mild rainfall all year long and a drier winter season in the higher central part northwest of the state; and very cold to freezing weather in Angangueo and Zituacaro.
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Cities: Lake Chapala, Jalisco, Mexico
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Lake Chapala (Spanish: Lago de Chapala) is Mexico's largest freshwater lake.
It is centered around 20°20′N 103°00′W, 45 km southeast of Guadalajara, Jalisco, and stands on the border between the states of Jalisco and Michoacán, at 1,524 meters above sea level. Its approximate dimensions are 80 km from east to west and 18 km from north to south, and it covers a total of some 1100 square km. It is a shallow lake, with a mean depth of 4.5 meters and a maximum of 10.5.
It is fed by the Río Lerma, Río Zula, Río Huaracha, and Río Duero rivers, and drained by the Río Santiago. The lake also contains two small islands.
Lake Chapala is shrinking in size due to over-exploitation of its waters and of the surrounding land. The over-exploitation of this lake has been a result of Guadalajara's growing demand for fresh water. The water level drop has uncovered political issues that had been hidden for many years. Its fast decay has raised concern in the surrounding areas and in the scientific community. It was the Global Nature Fund's "Threatened Lake of the Year" in 2004. In 2004 and 2005, however, there were reports that water levels in Lake Chapala had risen dramatically. This has led to an even bigger problem as there are gigantic 'islands' of seaweed that at times cover most of the lake.
In recent years, because of the benign prevailing climate and attractive scenery, a numerous colony of retirees, including many from the United States and Canada, has established itself on the lake's shore, particularly in the town of Ajijic, Jalisco, located just west of the city of Chapala.
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As one of the most historic places in Mexico, Chiapas is a state with a rich cultural heritage, an indigenous past and present, and a true enchantment that is the result of its people maintaining their past while making way for the future. Named for the Nahuatl words "Chia" (a seed used to create a regional drink) and "apan," or river, the city's name literally means "In the river of chia."
A region whose pre-Hispanic influences include Maya, Toltec, and Olmec, Chiapas is a state rich in natural resources and beauty. It's known for its fine wood, lush jungles, lake and river fishing that yields bass, lobster, and shrimp, as well as production of coffee, corn, cotton, and bananas, to name a few. It's also responsible for one third of the crude oil extracted in Mexico. Indeed, Chiapas has everything nature has to offer—plentiful rivers, hills, volcanoes and impenetrable jungles, as well as hundreds of lakes and waterfalls and impressive flora and fauna.
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Cities: History of San Miguel de Allende
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San Miguel de Allende is a small city located in the state of Guanajuato, in Mexico's mountainous bajío region. The bajío (low place) is actually about 2000 m (6560 ft) above sea level, but it is a relatively flat region surrounded by mountains; it is a part of the Mexican altiplano. San Miguel serves as the administrative seat for the surrounding municipality of Allende, Guanajuato.
The city was founded in 1542 by a Franciscan monk as San Miguel El Grande. It was an important stop over on the Antiguo Camino Real, part of the silver route from Zacatecas, Zacatecas.
The town featured prominently in the Mexican War of Independence. General Ignacio Allende, one of San Miguel's native sons, was a leading player in the war against Spain for independence. Allende, captured in battle and beheaded, is a national hero. San Miguel el Grande renamed itself "San Miguel de Allende" in 1826 in honor of his actions.
By 1900, San Miguel de Allende was in danger of becoming a ghost town. Declared a national historic monument in 1926 by the Mexican government, development in the historic district is restricted in order to preserve the town's colonial character.
In the 1950s, San Miguel de Allende became a destination known for its beautiful colonial architecture and its thermal springs. After World War II San Miguel began to revive as a tourist attraction as many demobilized United States GIs discovered that their education grants stretched further in Mexico at the U.S.-accredited art schools, the privately-owned Instituto Allende, founded in 1950, and the Bellas Artes, a nationally chartered school.
Famous worldwide for its mild climate, thermal springs and colonial era architecture, San Miguel de Allende has attracted a large community of foreign residents.
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Cities: Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico
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Upheld by many as the most Mexican of Mexican cities, Guadalajara indeed serves its visitors an ample supply of original cuisine, music, libations, festivities and even clothing. From mariachis to charreadas, tequila to sombreros, this city is a leader in culture, arts, tradition and business in Mexico.
But beneath the tourist-friendly surface of Guadalajara lies a rich history of tribal peoples, revolution, and cultural and urban development. A modern, complex city of two million people has emerged from the contributions of its manifold influences. Today Guadalajara is the thriving business, industrial and technological hub of western Mexico.
History
Guadalajara was founded in 1542 by a small group of Spanish settlers, led by Captain Oñate, who were looking for the ideal home near water and without too much interference from local indigenous tribes. After three failed attempts at other locations, the final settlement, and current Guadalajara, was clearly the right choice.
The city's population expanded and it quickly became one of the most important cities in Mexico. In 1810, Miguel Hidalgo set up a short lived, but important, revolutionary government in the city shortly before his execution. The city also played a major role in the War of the Reform in the late 1850s.
Highlights
Mariachi Festival
Guadalajara holds its world famous Mariachi Festival. Musicians come from around the world to listen, audition, compete, perform, and ultimately to win over the hearts of their listeners. Performances take place on the street, in plazas, in minor venues, and fine theaters. Teatro Degollado will show the most classical of the performers, while other clubs feature auditions, soloists, and different styles of Mariachi.
What to see
Listed below are just some highlights of things to see in Guadalajara.
Cathedral
Guadalajara's cathedral encompasses a variety of architectural styles that have come together to form a spectacular structure spanning an entire city block. It was constructed between 1558 and 1618, and the interior wasn't finished until many years later. The two distinctive towers were erected in 1848, replacing the originals that were destroyed in an earthquake in 1818. Inside you'll see a variety of architectural styles, murals, altars and vaults, all making a visit worthwhile. Take a look at La Asunción de la Virgen if you have a chance.
Cabañas Cultural Instituto
This cultural and art gallery has had quite a colorful past. Built in 1810 by Spanish architect Manuel Tolsá, it was an orphanage for 150 years housing up to 3000 children, and also served as an insane asylum and a jail. In the mid-1900s José Clemente Orozco filled the main chapel with 40 intense frescos throughout the building. One of his most famous murals, "Man of Fire", was painted in 1938-9 and looks down from the central cupola of the chapel.
Rotonda de los Hombres Ilustres
In a pleasant, green park just north of the cathedral (Av. 16 de Septiembre, Zona Centro) is the Rotonda de Los Hombres Ilustres, or Circle of Illustrious Men. These marble columns were built in 1952, and are surrounded by 19 bronze statues of Guadalajara's favorite men of the arts, science and literature, and under the rotunda are the urns of 98 men - all of whom made the city a better place through improvements in arts, science, education, human rights, law and politics.
The statues include dedications to the lawyer Ignacio Vallarta, the scientist Leonardo Oliva, the poet Enrique González Martinez, the composer Clemente Aguirre, the architect Jacobo Gálvez, the General Manuel M. Dieguez and the painter José Clemente Orozco.
Teatro Degollado
In between the cathedral and Plaza Tapatía sits Teatro Degollado, a neoclassical structure built in the mid 1800s. Inside you'll see a mural by Gerardo Suárez based on "The Divine Comedy" by Dante. Many of the Mariachi concerts will take place in this theater, featuring some of the most famous performers in the world.
Ballet Folclórico
Possibly the finest dance company of its kind in Mexico, the Ballet Folclórico de la Universidad de Guadalajara performs traditional Mexican and Jalisco dances at Teatro Degollado. Based at the University of Guadalajara, this group has performed around the world for four decades.
Parque Agua Azul
Close to the city center, Parque Agua Azul, or Blue Water Park, is a perfect retreat from the hustle and bustle. Surrounded by gardens, trees and flowers, the park is popular for morning exercisers and walkers. There is an aviary, paths, a restaurant, soccer fields and a beautiful seasonal orchid collection.
While you are in the area, Museo de Arqueologia del Occidente de Mexico (across Independencia) has a fine collection of pottery from neighboring states, as well as an assortment of other pre-Hispanic artifacts.
Zoo
The Guadalajara Zoo (Paseo del Zoologico, 600) is an easy drive, bus or taxi ride north on Calz. Independencia. The Zoo is dedicated to education, preservation, local ecology and the family. A walk through the well-designed zoo takes you by organized exhibits of a large variety of animals, as well as special presentations. There is also a tram ride that covers the whole park.
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Cities: Aguascalientes, Mexico
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A state overflowing with natural beauty and, as its name implies, a wealth of thermal baths, Aguascalientes is one of Mexico's true gems. Located in the heart of the colonial heartland, Aguascaliente's roots trace back to the sixteenth century when Indians, soldiers, monks, ranchers, traders and adventures paved the way for what is now a culmination of culture, history and a local color defined by its character and gregarious nature. April marks the arrival of the San Marcos Fair, when thousands of people descend upon the city of Aguascalientes for three weeks of traditional Mexican fun and fiesta.
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Cities: Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico
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Founded in the 16-th century and named after the Spanish Viceroy Count Monterrey, the city of Monterrey is the most important city in the north of Mexico and an industrial and economic powerhouse.
Monterrey is Mexico’s third largest city; it's not one of those laid back towns with colonial architecture you've seen in the movies. It's vibrant and full of life. The Gran Plaza of Monterrey is the center for the state government of Nuevo León. The Plaza’s modern buildings, gardens, and monuments are a reflection of the city that has fully embraced the spirit of modern industrialism.
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