Mexico’s Copper Canyon is a land of expansive vistas, crumbling mule trails and endlessly convoluted mountain scenery. Comprised of six monumental canyons and a labyrinthine network of some 200 gorges, you can’t do much better for sheer size, scope and geological grandeur. These images were snapped at various locations: the mountain-town of Creel, the look-out of Divisadero, the rocky road to Batopilas and others.
The state of Guerrero, central Mexico, is punctuated by miles and miles of incandescent coastline. Home to the quintessential pleasure resort of Acapulco, it is one of Mexico’s most touristic states, and yet it is also one of its poorest. Rugged topography means many parts of the region are secluded from the outside world. These images were snapped between two of the region’s best known tourist attractions: Acapulco and Taxco.
Mexico’s north is a lesser visited land of sprawling cattle ranches and endless expansive vistas. Tempered by harsh deserts and mountains, el Norte has always been a wild and uncompromising destination, as well as an historic bastion of political resistance. These images were snapped at various locations: Chihuahua City, the Copper Canyon, Hidalgo del Parral, Alamos and others.
Frederick Catherwood was the first 19th century artist to record the splendours of some of the most inaccessible Central American ruins. His images, published in books that changed the way academics viewed the region’s indigenous peoples, were created under appalling conditions. They remain some of the most vibrant and beautiful illustrations of the ancient Mexican world ever rendered…
This map was generated using googlemaps. The blue markers indicate points of interest – click on one to generate a photo and a set of internal links related to that destination.
San Cristóbal de las Casas is one of Mexico’s most beautiful and popular cities. Nestled in the mountains of Chiapas and replete with fantastic colonial architecture, San Cristóbal is a focal point for surrounding Mayan communities. Learn more in this guide.
Some years ago I thought I’d be a man and go watch a bullfight in Guadalajara, Mexico. I had always been inspired by Hemmingway’s depictions of this heroic Spanish tradition and longed to witness it for myself…
Tequila, central Mexico, is the hallowed birth place of the same-named severe and intoxicating liquor. During a visit to a local distillery I learned about the production process and had a tipple. Do you know your tequila anejo from your tequila reposado? If not, read on.
The Mayan village of San Juan Chamula is a bastion of archaic philosophy and pre-Hispanic lore. Here the old gods are alive and well, merely clothed in the robes of saints. The Maya are a cunning bunch, I realised, to have avoided assimilation for so many centuries.
The Aztec transformation from humble nomadic warriors into one of Mesoamerica’s most complex civilisations is a story as fantastic as it is legendary. This comprehensive feature explores traces the rise of Mexico’s last great imperial force.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
0 Comments