It’s Mexico, amigos

Sun, salsa and a lot more awaits you on gorgeous shores of Mexico. And If you’re planning to make that one trip this year, there’s plenty of other things too...

From the Mayan temples to Spanish cathedrals and the deserts of Baja California, Mexico is mesmerising. A walk across Mexico City, the Western world’s biggest sprawl is like walking down from colonial suburbs that transforms into 21st-century glass and steel downtown. It may have been a stunning lake valley: 2,240m above sea level, held in the palm of 11 volcanoes — some active, some sleeping, some dead — but now it’s a stunning city, with all but a corner of the lake system drained.

I started out inside the metropolitan area and realised that there’s still a sense of the city growing up as I move towards the centre. Looking around I see unique Mexican spirit reflected in everything. Spaniards brought a lot of change, but Mexicans chose what to keep, and weaved it seamlessly into their custom. It’s as if nobody conquered here — but were themselves absorbed and conquered by Mexico.

The traffic is crazy in the country (you surely won’t miss being in India in that sense) but the mood remains bright and vibrant throughout your travel. Traffic fumes are mixed with passing food smells from stalls and cafes; you can withstand the first six, then you start browsing through them until you have to stop. The country is blessed with some of the rarest species of cacti and wildlife that can be found nowhere in any other part of the world, so don’t forget to take your cameras, amigos.

On Gulf of Mexico, are sandy beaches where one can snorkel, enjoy their cerveza, taco and some sumptuous authentic seafood. I went to Baja California as the official photographer for the Baja Rally and became the first Indian to ever get to shoot any international race as an official photographer.

You can take a bus to Chapultepec in the morning and walk to Castillo de Chapultepec after getting dropped. The Oaxaca coast, mainly the Puerto Escondido and Zipolite have beautiful beaches. Peninsula of Yucatan has a fused Mayan culture and world class diving and snorkeling sites at Cancun and Cozumel. Tour of the national parks set in the deserts with brimming wildlife species give you thrills. Archaeological sites are plentiful in places such as Teotihuacan, Palenque, Monte Alban, Chichen Itza and El Tajin.

Take a daytrip from Mexico City to Teotihuacán, where one can visit the Ciudadela, the statues of Tláloc (rain god) and the snake god. Climb the Pirámide del Sol (Temple of the Sun) where you can get a great view of the Pirámide de la Luna (Tempel of the Moon). You can also walk up to the Avenida de los Muertes (Avenue of the Dead) to the Pirámide de la Luna (Tempel of the Moon) if you have any stamina left.

Take a bus to Puebla and find a room, it’s simple. You don’t have to pre-book. There you can visit or simply take a walk along the Reforma to the Zócalo where one can visit the cathedral in Herreresque. The country is blessed with some amazing beer, wines, rums and tequilas. There are also plenty of street shopping options. Spicy Mexican cuisine is famous needless to say, but go easy on Habanero salsa — it’s really, really hot. Corn, potatoes, fish and chicken along with exotic fruits form the specialties and are part of all regional dishes. You can even take some Mexican culinary training in the countryside of Veracruz.

Nishant Verma is a National Geographic Moment Awards nominated photographer and the official photographer of Baja Rally. His travels fuel his passion for pictures