Seven incredible off-the-beaten-path experiences in Mexico

You could centre your entire travels around Mexico’s street food and be satisfied with your journey, sitting on a plastic stool, devouring a taco, quesadilla and gordita (in one delicious sitting) from a street vendor.

There’s no shortage of eateries on every corner, with many getting creative in their setups, cooking up feasts on hot plates placed on shopping trolleys or tricycles. The ingenuity is admirable and it’s certainly a sight to behold. In other words, exploring Mexico is like embarking on an eat-a-thon, and you might find yourself returning home a few kilos heavier.

Across the country you’ll want to sink your teeth into all the volcanoes, beaches, waterfalls and esteemed Magic Towns. You’ll be enamoured by the colour not only in the architecture, but in the wonderful sense of community and hospitality that you’ll experience as a visitor.

Here are some of my favourite experiences to inspire your next adventure:

1. Wander through a botanic garden with a twist

Toluca’s Cosmovitral is quite unlike anything you’ve ever seen before considering it appears like someone’s dropped a botanic garden inside a church. With 71 stained-glass windows and 28 colour varieties, visitors can get up close and personal with over 500 species of plants, mostly native to Mexico. Front and centre you’ll encounter the Sun Man piece, portraying the evolution of the universe, alongside a kaleidoscope of ceiling glass that creates an ever changing ambience depending on how the light enters at various times of the day.

The Cosmovitral was initially built as a market and then later converted into a 3,500 square metre site, and designed by Tolucan artist, Leopoldo Flores. With the help of some 60 artisans, the glass was imported with material from Japan, Belgium, Italy and France.

‍2. Discover the enchanting silver town in Real de Catorce

Real de Catorce's rustic ambience, swinging saloon doors, and warm hospitality offer plenty in town for a visitor. In fact, just getting to this old mining town will have you glued to the window, passing through the dimly lit and claustrophobic Ogarrio Tunnel (a subterranean passage stretching 2.3km long) where its limited width allows for the entry of only one direction of traffic at a time.

The true magic of Real de Catorce exists when you step on the hiking trails leading out onto the surrounding cacti-dotted desert landscapes. We highly recommend trekking out to the ghost town of Pueblo Fantasma, and for those who prefer horseback adventures, the 4-hour return to Cerro del Quemado.

The region is also known for its peyote – a squishy hallucinogenic cactus. Those who consume this cactus can go on a ‘trip’ lasting anywhere up to 12 hours. For the local indigenous population, it’s an important part of their ceremonies and used as a way to connect with ones ancestors.

‍3. Chase waterfalls in Roberto Barrios

When visiting Chiapas – aka the waterfall state, you’ll want to bring your cozies because it boasts some of the most unforgettable swimming holes in the country. The turquoise waters of Roberto Barrios offers a bounty of cascading waterfalls (many of which you can slide down) in the middle of a jungle and surrounded by infinity pools. Better yet, when you’re done swimming you can perch yourself on the rocks in between the five-waterfall system to dry off and sunbathe. Reaching Roberto Barrios is reasonably straightforward, with infrequently run colectivos (local buses) from Palenque. However, it's usually best arranged through a share-taxi.