Tell people you’re headed to Mexico and you’ll likely be warned to be careful, to reconsider, or even encouraged not to go at all. However, after living and working in Mexico for the past five months, I am happy to report that the country remains a warm, welcoming, and, with the exception of a few cartel hotspots, a safe place to visit.
But don’t just take my word for it. Follow the lead of more than 600 travel professionals (myself included), representing some 50 countries, who gathered recently (October 16-20, 2011) in San Cristobal de las Casas, a quaint colonial-era mountain town in the highlands of Chiapas, Mexico, for the industry’s most important annual event, the 2011 Adventure Travel World Summit*.
In place of fear-inspiring headlines, greeting us in Chiapas and across the country, were hospitable locals, colorful colonial-era cities, culturally-rich indigenous communities, lush tropical rainforests, cloud-cloaked mountain ranges, deep river canyons, cattle-dotted ranch lands, and pristine coastal plains.
For those ready to journey beyond the headlines and discover the real Mexico, here are eight hand-picked adventures from trusted adventure outfitters.
Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".
America’s Newest International Crossing
The 2000 mile border the United States shares with Mexico has dramatically increased focus on security in recent years. One adverse impact of this increased security is that bottlenecks are created at the border in the distribution pipeline of products and travelers between the two countries. Enter the much anticipated Anzalduas International Bridge set to open in October 2009 and connecting Mission, Texas (part of the larger McAllen MSA), to Reynosa, Mexico.
“Anzalduas will be the newest and one of largest border crossings in the country, and will directly increase traffic flow for industrial, retail, commercial travelers and tourists,” said Pat Townsend Jr., CEO of the Mission Economic Development Authority.
“This is a very unique international area and we have to keep the traffic flowing,” said Townsend. Businesses and commerce here is booming, and the Anzalduas Bridge is going to help spur even more growth to the area.
Source: Mission Economic Development Authority
Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".