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 Travel & Outdoors | January 2008 
Adventure Guide to Mexico
 Bonnie Tsui - NYTimes
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| | Click on the icons above to learn about some of Mexico's lesser-known adventure experiences. (NYTimes) | | |
Beyond the sunbathers, cervezas and spring break debauchery so conspicuously on display in Cancún and Cozumel, Mexico offers a lesser-known adventure experience — the kind that is found deep in the jungle or near small fishing villages and offshore reefs.
The same country that possesses one of the world’s most polluted capital cities also ranks as one of the richest in species diversity. Twenty-two biosphere reserves and nearly 50 national parks offer hiking and wildlife-watching opportunities; mountain chains and interior canyons are chockfull of biking trails; fertile warm-water upwellings attract pods of whales and glittering fish.
Adventurous tourists — particularly those focused on a specific outdoor sport or activity — have much to discover along the coast and on the country’s ruggedly varied interior terrain.
Almost by definition, some of these unexplored gems are in remote areas, so travelers will need to be vigilant about safety. That’s where knowledgeable outfitters are key — they can take you to little-touristed places where you’ll feel comfortable exploring the backcountry forests and secluded beaches that you might not visit alone.
Regions like Chiapas and Oaxaca, while still extricating their reputations from recent political unrest, have become more stable. Before you book, consult the United States State Department for travel advisories. Click the icons below for more info.
 Surfing: Sayulita - This small coastal fishing village 30 minutes north of Puerto Vallarta has lately achieved the perfect mix of lively beachfront bars, surf camps and terra-cotta architectural charm — all, most importantly, with easy access to numerous breaks ideal for beginners and for intermediates looking to sharpen their technique.
 Rock Climbing: El Potrero Chico - About an hour northwest of Monterrey, a craggy limestone outcrop named El Potrero Chico has been quietly attracting rock climbers from around the world. What makes the area unusual is the sheer variety of the 600-plus bolted routes — all within easy access of a campground and lodge at the base of the rock.
 Deep-Sea Fishing: Cabo San Lucas - In 1940, John Steinbeck embarked on an expedition to the Sea of Cortez to catalog marine life along Cabo’s rocky, undeveloped coastline, and found it “ferocious with life.” Though the town of Cabo San Lucas is now known as a luxury golf destination, it first earned its reputation through its prized access to waters teeming with fish.
 Mountain Biking: Copper Canyon - An eight-hour drive from El Paso, Tex., the town of Creel in the state of Chihuahua is the gateway to Mexico’s thriving mountain and road biking scene; every July, it plays host to a major national cycling festival and race series. From this base, at an elevation of 7,600 feet, you’ll find that Copper’s ins and outs are well suited to two-wheeled exploration.
 Snorkeling with Whale Sharks: Isla Holbox - Forty miles northwest of the party port of Cancún is little-known Isla Holbox, a narrow spit of white sand some 25 miles long, situated in the Gulf of Mexico. From June through September, the island’s offshore waters are the site of a large congregation of whale sharks, who come here to feed on seasonal plankton blooms.
 Bird Watching: Chiapas - In the Lacandón rain forest, the Montes Azules Biosphere Reserve — designated in 1979 as the first biosphere reserve in Mexico — protects more than 1,200 square miles, home to a whopping number of bird species (close to 350, which comprises nearly a third of the country’s total), at least 3,400 plant species and more than 100 species of mammals.
 Hiking: The Sierra Norte - The Sierra Norte is one of the most biologically diverse mountain systems in Mexico, blanketing an area of about 6,500 square miles in the northern part of Oaxaca state. Much of the biological richness of the Sierra Norte is found in its mountainous cloud forests, long isolated because of their steep slopes and high altitudes.
Bonnie Tsui is editor of “A Leaky Tent Is a Piece of Paradise” (Sierra Club), a collection of essays on the outdoors. |
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