25 Natural Wonders in Mexico You Should See in this Lifetime

Lake Chapala is Mexico’s largest freshwater lake and is a sacred location for the Huichol Indians of Mexico’s southwest. The scale of the place is pretty awe-inspiring, and is best seen on a boat tour. The namesake town on the north shores of the lake is charming, particularly the boardwalk and piers, and makes for a lovely day trip from Guadalajara.

These petrified waterfalls and mineral pools in the state of Oaxaca are believed to have restorative qualities and are a popular destination for hikers. The route to the pools is moderately challenging and should take 4-5 hours. The views make it more than worth your while, but you could always pay a driver to take you straight to the best bit!

Copper Canyon is actually a group of six canyons in Mexico’s northern state of Chihuahua. It was named after the coppery-green hues of the canyons and is a designated Unesco World Heritage Site. The whole thing is actually larger – and much greener – than the Grand Canyon, but you’ll find that this place is far less touristy.

A former site of government bomb tests, the Marietas Islands are now protected territory and home to abundant marine life, making it a magical place to book boat tours and snorkel excursions. Above the water’s surface isn’t bad either, though, and a trip to the aptly named Hidden Beach, or Playa Escondido, is an absolute must.

Sumidero Canyon was formed at around the same time as the United States’ Grand Canyon, and is one of the Chiapas’ most popular tourist destinations. The best way to see it is from the water, where the truly epic scale of the towering cliff faces are a stirring sight. As you float down the heart of the canyon, dwarfed by the scale of Sumidero, you’ll feel almost as if you’re entering a brave new world.

The entire state of Quintana Roo is known for its beautiful and brilliant cenotes, or sinkholes, created by the collapse of limestone rock.The result is a natural pool of bright, crystal clear water, usually surrounded by overgrown greenery draping across the edges of the sinkhole. It really is like something out of a fairytale, and takes wild swimming to a whole new level.

Nope, you’re not looking at a shot from the Barbie movie. This is a real image of a small fishing village in the state of Yucatán. Las Coloradas draws tourists with its incredibly pink lake and salt flats that are still in production. You can even keep the pink theme going in the bordering Ria Lagartos Biosphere Reserve, home to a flock of flamingos.

This thin stretch of ocean between Baja California and Mexico’s mainland is home to an incredibly rich and diverse ecosystem of marine plants and animals, including bull sharks. Explore the gulf by boat or go island-hopping to discover the rich diversity of migratory bird species that also call this region home.

The ancient lake bed of the Valley of Mexico is still alive in the form of floating “chinampas” or island farms – one of the most distinct agricultural systems in the world. The Aztecs built it, but to this day the floating gardens of Xochimilco remain one of Mexico City’s most enjoyed attractions. The only way to see the Unesco World Heritage Site properly is on a traditional trajinera boat.

Not only the home to a pyramid dedicated to the god of pulque– an ancient alcoholic agave wine – Tepozteco also has a reputation for being a location where extraterrestrial activity is rumoured to occur. The surrounding landscape is mountainous and overgrown, so whether you believe in martians or not, these ancient ruins certainly do look otherworldly.

One of Mexico’s most well-preserved ecosystems with incredible marine life, birds, reptiles and amphibians, and is home to the elusive black jackrabbit. It’s a place where desert meets the sea, flora flourishes and little hidden beaches emerge. Get around the island – and up close to its inhabitants – by hiking, snorkelling and kayaking around the place, before nestling up for night at a glamping camp.

One of Mexico’s many ancient volcanoes, Nevado de Toluca is home to two beautiful lagoons, named after the sun and the moon, created by the volcano’s melting snow. It’s the fourth tallest mountain in Mexico and makes for a brilliant hiking region, although you better come prepared if you wish to summit the 4,680m peak.

This national park is home to another two volcanoes, and numbers two and three on the list of Mexico’s tallest peaks. Popocatépetl (5,426m) and Iztaccíhuatl (5,230m) are two of Mexico’s most famous volcanoes. While the former is still active and the latter dormant, they share a creation myth that invokes a passionate love story.

One of the largest underground cave systems in the world, the Grutas de Cacahuamilpa are visited by thousands of spelunkers and rappellers each year. The caverns are epic in scale and intricately embellished by sharply protruding stalactites and stalagmites. Take a guided tour to ensure you don’t miss out on the coolest nooks and crannies this historic cave complex is hiding.

The Tamul waterfall of San Lui Potosi is one of Mexico’s largest waterfalls, at 105m high. You can hike to the top of the waterfall for amazing views of the surrounding area, but the falls are at their most impressive as you take the traditional method of paddling up Tampaon River on wooden canoes. If you only have time to do one, we recommend the latter.

Calakmul is a jungle reserve on the edge of Mexico’s border with Guatemala – home to the Maya ruins of Calakmul and is one of the country’s largest protected natural areas. The ancient city of Calakmul was one of the largest and most important Mayan cities for centuries, and today is protected by Unesco and stands as one of the most fascinating places to understand more about Mayan culture.

The basaltic prisms of Hidalgo are polygonal columns of basalt rock between thirty and fifty meters high created by ancient lava flows. Found just a two hour drive from Mexico City, this natural wonder offers the chance to see a unique side to Mexican geology. Something you’d more likely expect to see in Iceland!

Each year millions of Monarch butterflies make their way to the Rosario Sanctuary in Michoacán, their final resting place after their long migration from the north. This sanctuary is just a few hours away from the capital, and is best visited from November to March. Come by from mid January to late February to see the butterflies are there most actively fluttering best.

Potrero Chico is a famed location for rock climbing in North America, with some peaks reaching 610m and featuring stunning views from the top. The geology is similar to that of Texas and New Mexico, and has attracted world class climbers for decades thanks to its variety of routes and solid limestone surfaces.

Hundreds of mummies were discovered in Guanajuato in the late 1800s and early 1900s. The mummification process occurred naturally, due to the state’s soil content and dry climate. Today they are housed in a museum that displays a large collection of mummified corpses ranging from 1870 to 1958. It is quite an extraordinary sight, although not for the faint hearted, especially if you’ve watched a few too many zombie movies.

One of the largest monoliths in the world (over 400m), the Peña de Bernal is said to have mystical powers and is the scene of various pilgrimages throughout the year. The charming pueblo magico town of Bernal sits pretty in its shadow, and is easily accessible from Santiago de Querétaro. You can hike up the monolith by paying a small entrance fee, although if you wish to reach the peak you’ll need to have a guide with you.

With its 150 endemic plants and animals and their unique adaptability to the ecosystem, scientists believe that the Cuatro Ciénegas Biosphere might hold the key to life on Mars. It’s beautiful, crystal clear pools are fed by underground water rising from beneath the arid landscape, earning it the nickname of “Desert Aquarium”.

Millions of fireflies mate during the months of June, July and early August in this forest sanctuary that is open to visitors. Despite it being summertime in Mexico, you will need to warm clothes to fight off the evening chill, but make sure you aren’t wearing fluorescent clothing, avoid using insect repellent and stick to the designated paths to avoid stamping all over these magical little creatures!

The highest mountain in Mexico, at a whopping 5,636m, Pico de Orizaba is also known by its indigenous name, Citlaltépetl, which means “Star Mountain.” It’s also the world’s fourth tallest volcanic summit and, although it lays dormant, Star Mountain is not yet extinct. Reaching the summit requires a challenging hike, although this is not a bad place to encounter your first high-altitude climb. Our tip is to commit to reaching the peak at sunrise, when the sun casts spectacular shadows across the surrounding plains of Puebla and Veracruz.

An newly protected natural area with unique flora and fauna, Isla de Venados (or Deer Island) lies right off the coast of one of Mexico’s most popular beach destinations – Mazatlan. It is a hot spot for all kinds of outdoor activities, from hiking to birdwatching, kayaking and snorkelling. It takes around an hour to get to the island from the mainland, and usually costs around 25 pesos to make the trip.