Mexico Guide
The Bajío
Rugged and scattered with superb ancient towns, the twisting hills and beautiful, fertile valleys of the Bajío spread across Mexico's central highlands almost from coast to coast and as far south as the capital. This has long been the most heavily populated part of the country, providing much of the silver and grain that supported Mexico throughout the years of Spanish rule. As the country's colonial heartland, the legacy of Spanish architecture remains at its most impressive here, in meticulously crafted towns that – at their cores at least – have changed little over the centuries, while the surrounding land has been consistently developed, both agriculturally and industrially.
Highlights
1 Real de Catorce Good hotels, excellent Italian meals and desert scenery make this semi-ghost-town perfect for relaxing extended stays.
2 Zacatecas A glorious former silver town located high up in the northern deserts, packed with great museums and blessed with lively nightlife.
3 La Mina Club Zacatecas's top nightclub, located deep in an old silver mine.
4 Guanajuato A fascinating university town studded with fine museums and bustling with streetlife.
5 San Miguel de Allende Gorgeous colonial town with beautiful hotels and great food: Mexico's most appealing gringo enclave.
6 La Gruta Mineral hot springs in verdant surroundings just beyond the edge of San Miguel de Allende.
7 Las Pozas A captivating jungle "village" of surreal sculpture and wacky buildings.