Unexplored Mexico: Off the Beaten Path

Cancun, the Riviera Maya, Puerto Vallarta and Cabo San Lucas might be some of the most popular and recognizable destinations in Mexico, but there are plenty of lesser-known options located close to these locales that are just far enough off the beaten path to show visitors what the real Mexico is all about.

In fact, these parts of Mexico are home to some of the world’s most impressive ancient Mayan ruins, traditional villages and other “secrets” that are just waiting to be discovered. Here, we’ve broken down the need-to-know info from Travel Weekly’s latest rundown of Mexico’s best culturally rich, historical and diverse places to explore.

Puerto Vallarta

The local villages of San Pancho and Sayulita are both located just north of Puerto Vallarta, making an excellent choice for a fun, easy day trip that allows visitors to experience authentic Mexican heritage at its finest.

San Pancho (also known as San Francisco!) is a best described as a quaint village that is nestled between the Sierra Madre Mountains and the lush jungle near Mexico’s pristine Pacific Coast. Technically the town is part of a region known as the Riviera Nayarit, but it lies only two hours north of Puerto Vallarta and most of the trip is via a modern, four-lane highway.

Sayulita is even closer to Puerto Vallarta, at only around 40 minutes via a modern two-lane highway, and offers fresh seafood, world class surfing, a variety of open-air eateries and jungle tours, to name only a few of the many activities available here. Overlooking the Pacific Ocean’s Bay of Banderas, the town is also an excellent place for whale watching from Nov. through January, and also offers world-class sport fishing. But perhaps the most unique thing about Sayulita is the opportunity to purchase handcrafted wares from the local indigenous culture, including some of the best Huichol art available in all of Mexico.

Cancun & Riviera Maya

Just south of Cancun and Playa del Carmen in the heart of Mexico’s Riviera Maya, visitors can experience one of the world’s most breathtaking Mayan archaeological sites. Here, a substantial pyramid and ancient fortress stands sentry on a cliff overlooking the Caribbean Sea, while the still smallish (yet quickly growing) nearby town of Tulum offers a unique eco-chic vibe that is quickly becoming popular among international jetsetters.

“Cancun not only is a wonderful destination, but also can be a hub of distribution to spread international tourists throughout the region,” shared Rodolfo Lopez Negrete, CEO of the Mexican Tourism Board. “It’s an area that has cultural attributes comparable to China, Egypt and Greece.”

Puerto Morelos is another hidden gem located just south of Cancun in the Riviera Maya. Here, visitors will enjoy perusing the Mexican handicrafts found at the local market, while just north of Cancun, Isla Holbox (which translates to mean ‘Black Hole’) and Isla Mujeres (Isle of Women), offer ideal choices for travelers who are craving a more laid-back getaway.

Cabo San Lucas

The town of Todos los Santos lies just under one hour from the bustling resort town of Cabo San Lucas, and a few miles from the Pacific Coast on the Baja Peninsula. The town is known for its internationally recognized fine art scene, excellent surfing and fine colonial architecture. Todos Los Santos is also one of Mexico’s coveted “Pueblo Magicos” or “Magic Towns,” which are selected in part for their commitment to retaining historic and artistic integrity.

Los Barilles is another quiet little town, situated just 45 minutes north of the international airport in Cabo. Its close proximity makes this an excellent choice for a day trip and will offer visitors the chance to experience a slower pace of life along Cabo’s East Cape. Here, the region’s landscape will show travelers amazing diversity, including the rocky Pacific Coast, deserts, flat sandy beaches, ancient mango groves and a wide (sometimes wild!) variety of other exotic plants and animals.

Have you ever ventured off the beaten path in Mexico? If so, share your experiences in the comments section below!

Cancun, the Riviera Maya, Puerto Vallarta and Cabo San Lucas might be some of the most popular and recognizable destinations in Mexico, but there are . . .

Follow Us On Google News | Get Our Newsletter



Trending News on PVDN

  • puerto-vallarta-rainfall-hurricane-flossie-july-2025Puerto Vallarta braces for torrential rains as Hurricane Flossie gains strength Puerto Vallarta faces a high risk of flooding as Hurricane Flossie intensifies in the Pacific. Torrential rains and overwhelmed drainage systems pose major challenges for the city. Puerto Vallarta, a city wedged between the Sierra Madre mountains and the Pacific Ocean, is no stranger to dramatic weather shifts—but this summer, the skies are testing the…
  • raw-sewage-playa-los-muertos-puerto-vallartaMore Raw Sewage Dumping at Playa Los Muertos Appear to Come From Local Hotel Business owners in Puerto Vallarta are demanding action after raw sewage was discovered leaking onto Playa Los Muertos, raising public health and tourism concerns. A raw sewage leak at Playa Los Muertos in Puerto Vallarta has sparked outrage among local tourist service providers and business owners, who say the contamination is driving away visitors and…
  • hurricane-flossie-strengthens-july-1-2025Hurricane Flossie will bring tropical storm conditions to parts of Guerrero, Michoacán, Colima, and Jalisco Hurricane Flossie intensifies off Mexico's Pacific coast with winds near 90 mph. Heavy rain, flooding, and tropical storm conditions expected in parts of Guerrero, Michoacán, Colima, and Jalisco. Hurricane Flossie continued to intensify early Tuesday morning as it moved west-northwestward off the coast of southwestern Mexico, prompting tropical storm warnings and watches across multiple states.…
  • tropical-storm-flossie-hurricane-mexico-pacific-coastTropical Storm Flossie to Strengthen into Hurricane as It Tracks Along Mexico’s Pacific Coast Tropical Storm Flossie is expected to become a Category 2 hurricane by July 2 as it moves parallel to Mexico’s Pacific coast, bringing dangerous rainfall, wind, and surf. Tropical Storm Flossie is on the verge of forming from Tropical Depression Six-E and is forecast to strengthen rapidly into a hurricane as it parallels Mexico’s southwestern…
  • tropical-storm-flossie-strengthens-mexico-june-2025Tropical Storm Flossie Strengthens Off Mexico’s Pacific Coast, Could Become Hurricane by Tuesday Tropical Storm Flossie gains strength off southwestern Mexico, with hurricane status possible by Tuesday. Storm warnings issued from Punta San Telmo to Playa Perula. Tropical Storm Flossie continues to gain strength off Mexico’s Pacific coastline, prompting tropical storm warnings and watches across several southwestern states. According to the National Hurricane Center (NHC), Flossie is expected…
  • oregon-murder-fugitive-extradited-puerto-vallartaFugitive Wanted for 2008 Oregon Homicide Captured in Puerto Vallarta and Extradited to U.S. Jesús Rodríguez Borrayo, a fugitive for 17 years, was extradited from Mexico to Oregon for his role in a 2008 drive-by shooting that left one dead. He was located in Puerto Vallarta. A man wanted for murder and other violent crimes in the United States for nearly two decades has been extradited after being found…
  • tropical-storm-flossie-mexico-coast-rain-surf-alertCabo Corrientes under tropical storm watch as Flossie expected to Bring Heavy Rain and Dangerous Surf to Southwestern Mexico Tropical Storm Flossie is forecast to strengthen and may impact Mexico's southwest coast from Zihuatanejo to Cabo Corrientes with heavy rain, flooding, and hazardous surf early this week. Tropical Storm Flossie is expected to deliver heavy rains, gusty winds, and dangerous surf conditions to Mexico’s southwestern coast in the coming days, prompting authorities to issue…
  • cabo-corrientes-warning-canceled-hurricane-flossieCabo Corrientes Spared as Hurricane Flossie Warning Lifted, But Pacific Coast Still at Risk Cabo Corrientes no longer under tropical storm watch as Hurricane Flossie nears Mexico's Pacific coast, with dangerous winds and heavy rains threatening Michoacán, Colima, and Jalisco. The tropical storm watch for Cabo Corrientes was officially canceled Tuesday, offering a measure of relief for the scenic coastal town as Hurricane Flossie continues to churn off Mexico’s…
  • cancun-2025-sargassum-beaches-and-activitiesSargassum won’t ruin your Cancun vacation, there are plenty of clean beaches and tourist activities As the 2025 sargassum season continues through September, visitors to Cancun can still enjoy clear beaches like Playa Delfines and Playa Caracol. As the 2025 sargassum season intensifies across Quintana Roo, tourists are finding it more difficult to enjoy the region’s iconic white-sand beaches without encountering the unsightly brown seaweed. While the influx of sargassum…
  • cancun-beach-cleanup-sargassumMassive Beach Cleanup to Combat Sargassum in Cancun After a week of the Cancun’s tourism department denying sargassum existed and insisting media photos were fakes, over 600 public servants and volunteers joined the first simultaneous beach cleanup. In a bold step toward environmental preservation and tourism sustainability, Cancun's Municipal President Ana Paty Peralta led the city’s first simultaneous beach cleanup effort this week.…
Scroll to Top