10 Heritage Sites to Visit in Mexico

Mexico has more than 30 World Heritage Sites recognized by UNESCO, among which are fascinating cultural and natural sites that make this country one of the favorite destinations for visitors worldwide. But these are the top 10 sites that no traveler should miss on their visit to Mexico.

Mexico City's Historical Center is the largest in Latin America, with nearly 1,500 buildings, including temples, museums, hotels, shops, galleries, theaters, and cultural spaces.

This emblematic ancient Mayan city, besides being a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, celebrates more than 15 years of being named one of the world's new wonders. This archeological site is considered one of the most important in the world compared to the ruins of Egypt.

The Temple of Kukulkan is an architectural piece that marks a before and after in the history of the world thanks to its invaluable cultural contribution to humanity. The city, which can be visited, has three main buildings: the stepped pyramid called Castillo, El Caracol, and the Temple of the Warriors.

Few places in the world have a gastronomic, artistic, and historical richness as great as the city of Oaxaca, founded in 1486 and integrated into Spain in 1532. Before the arrival of the Spaniards, the region of Oaxaca lived a time of splendor in the artistic and cultural fields that, after the Spanish conquest, was mixed with European traditions making the city a beautiful destination.

Like many cities in Mexico, Guanajuato has a rich cultural heritage in buildings, monuments, and customs that have made it recognized as a world heritage site. This city was founded in 1557 and developed thanks to the mining industry during the Spanish Colony.

Built on top of a hill in the 16th century, Morelia is a beautiful town that combines colonial and pre-Hispanic art. The architectural history of Morelia can be seen in its more than 200 historic buildings, which makes it one of the most impressive sites in Mexico. Its Historical Center has more than 1,113 buildings classified as architectural monuments, built in pink stone from mines in the region in Renaissance, Baroque and Neoclassical styles.

The unique architectural feature of Morelia is that many of the city's courtyards do not have columns or vertical supports, which gives a sense of amplitude and dynamism. In addition, the baroque finishes make this city one of the most representative of the Spanish colonial period.

This place lived its period of splendor between the 6th and 8th centuries and was the most important of the Mayan civilization. The elegance and technical quality of its constructions, as well as the delicacy of the reliefs sculpted with mythological themes, make it unique in history and represent the best example of the contribution of Mayan culture to humanity.

The site, located in the middle of a lush rainforest northeast of Chiapas, has impressive constructions of unique architecture and an important series of ancient sculptures representing deities of Mayan culture. Its imposing Temple of Inscriptions, the Palace, the Aqueduct, the Temple of the Lion and the Count, as well as the Ball Game, among others, stand out.

This extraordinary place is located in the middle of the mountains with lots of vegetation about 62 miles from Mexico City. This area, which has several microclimates and numerous endemic flora and fauna, hosts millions of Monarch Butterflies from North America to nest.

The Mayan word Sian Ka'an means "origin of the sky." A perfect name for this extraordinary destination located on the Yucatan Peninsula's eastern coast. This biosphere reserve has a massive ecosystem of tropical forests, mangroves, and a vast marine area crossed by an impressive reef barrier.

This fantastic site is home to many flora and fauna, such as more than 300 species of birds and many terrestrial vertebrates characteristic of the region, such as jaguar, tapir, manatee, and peccary, among others. In addition, Sian Ka'an has a freshwater underground river system that interconnects with the cenotes of the Yucatan Peninsula.