6 Lesser Known Destinations In Mexico To Avoid Crowd This Summer
Are you looking for the lesser known destinations in Mexico to avoid crowd this summer?
Summer holidays in Mexico frequently draw large crowds to major tourist locations such as Cancun, Playa del Carmen, and Tulum.
While these destinations have beautiful beaches, exciting nightlife, and magnificent resorts, they may also be very congested during peak season.
Related Read: Non-Touristy But Beautiful Cities And Towns In Mexico
If you’re looking for a more private and off-the-beaten-path vacation, Mexico provides a plethora of lesser-known places that provide tranquillity, natural beauty, and a rich cultural legacy.
In this post, we will look at some of Mexico’s hidden jewels that are ideal for avoiding crowds this summer.
Things you'll find in this article
6 Lesser Known Destinations In Mexico To Avoid Crowd This Summer
Related Read:
- Famous Landmarks In Mexico
- Safest Cities To Visit In Mexico
- Best Colonial Towns In Mexico.
- Best Castles To Visit In Mexico
1. Bacalar
Alternative to: Tulum
Tulum, Mexico’s most renowned beachfront Mayan ruins, appealing to both history aficionados and sea lovers. Tulum has some of Mexico’s greatest hotels, ranging from tiny boutique hotels to health retreats and all-inclusive resorts.
Bacalar will allow you to avoid the throng while continuing to enjoy the Mexican summer. Bacalar is renowned as the Lake of Seven Colors and its magnificent blue waters plus lush green surroundings make it an outdoor lover’s paradise.
Discover secret cenotes as well as mangroves by boat, paddle a kayak, or paddleboard on the lake. Bacalar’s laid-back ambiance and fewer visitors make it a great backdrop for a relaxing summer escape.
Popular Things to Do in Bacalar
- Bacalar Lagoon – Bacalar’s most valuable feature is the Lake of Seven Colors. The title of the lagoon comes from the hues of the water, ranging from bright greens to dark blues.
- Cenote Azul – This cenote is fed by a submerged spring, making it ideal for a cool plunge after a scorching day. The primary entrance is a restaurant.
- Mayan Ruins of Kohunlich – The bustling historical Mayan site of Kohunlich is approximately an hour away from Bacalar. Around 1000 years ago, the metropolis was at its peak. The Temple containing the Masks is being restored.
- Kayak – Spending time on the Lagoon offers one of the greatest ways to discover it. On a standing paddleboard or kayak, get off the usual route to find your favorite locations.
- Bird Island – Lots of birds travel to what is referred to as Bird Island as the daylight sets over Bacalar Lagoon. While bird lovers will enjoy the chance to learn about and recognize species, the experience is out of this world.
To book this tour click here.
Hotel Recommendation
Mi Kasa Tu Kasa Bacalar by Nah Hotels
Mi Kasa Tu Kasa Bacalar in Bacalar offers a garden, patio, restaurant, as well as bar. The 4-star hotel includes a swimming pool outside and air-conditioned accommodations with free WiFi and private bathrooms.
The hotel provides room service, a front desk that is open around the clock, and tour arrangements for visitors. The price begins at $157.
2. Zacatecas
Alternative to: San Miguel de Allende
San Miguel de Allende is recognized to be one of the best locations in Mexico to study Spanish, and there are several options for residences where you can reside with an indigenous household and practice your language abilities.
This dynamic city has a mild temperature, a thriving arts scene, and a stunning church at its heart.
Want to visit Mexico’s historical and religious structures without crowds? Colonial Zacatecas, Mexico’s second-highest city, provides an opportunity to travel back in time via spectacular architecture.
It has several civic and religious structures from the colonial period, notably the cathedral that occupies the town center and is regarded as one of Mexico’s most exquisite masterpieces of Churrigueresque architecture.
Popular Things to Do in Zacatecas
- Museo Rafael Coronel – This intriguing museum is located in a historic Ex-Convento de San Francisco, giving a contribution to its artistic appeal.
● Tirolesa 840 Zacatecas – This intriguing location is a hotspot for interesting outdoor activities. It is most known for the thrilling zip-lining experience.
● Mina El Eden – This location, referred to as the El Eden Mine, makes up one of the city’s primary attractions. Discover the mine’s interior by taking an underground train journey through it, learning about its past at the on-the-spot museum, and appreciating where men and women labored ceaselessly back then.
● Ex Templo de San Agustín – Despite the fact that its formerly spectacular main façade has been demolished and substituted with a blank white wall, the sacred site is still a sight to behold.
● Fernando Calderon Theater – Each week, this playhouse serves as the town’s premier entertainment venue, hosting a variety of fascinating shows and stage acts.
Hotel Recommendation
Emporio Zacatecas
The Emporio Zacatecas is conveniently located in the city’s cultural, recreational, and economic districts.
Explore the Eden Mine, take a cable vehicle up Bufa Mountain, or pay a visit to one of the surrounding museums. The starting price is $116.
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3. Campeche
Alternative to: Merida
Mérida’s rich culture is evident at every step. Paseo de Montejo is lined with white stone homes, and colorful Sunday markets offer a sense of old-world Mexico.
Those seeking Mayan ruins also have in luck; several ancient sites of archaeological interest, especially the famous Chichén Itzá, are only 75 miles away.
Campeche is a less busy city brimming with Colonial grandeur, true Mexican charm, and incredible peacefulness.
Visitors will be greeted with spectacular defensive walls, cobblestone streets, baroque cathedrals, and several museums detailing the city’s rich past.
Popular Things to Do in Campeche
● Museo Arqueologico De Campeche – The museum is split into themed sections, with items from all across Campeche on exhibit. You learn about the many Maya styles, their everyday life in the ancient metropolis, and who was in command.
● Sunset from the Malecon – The Malecon is an excellent site to watch the sunset since the weather is pleasant and the views of the Gulf of Mexico are spectacular.
● Fuerte de San Miguel – At the Fuerte de San Miguel, there is currently a tiny archeology museum in which one can see a few inscriptions and other remnants from the Calakmul as well as Becan archeological sites.
● TRAM tour – This entertaining tour takes tourists through Campeche and shows them several of the city’s historical attractions while a skilled guide gives some fascinating facts regarding its past and culture.
● Edzna Maya Site – Edzná, a main archaeological site nestled by beautiful green vegetation about 50 kilometers from Campeche’s city center, is one of the state’s hidden gems.
To book this tour click here.
Hotel Recommendation
Castelmar Hotel
This colonial-style hotel within Campeche’s historic city center is housed in a renovated 1800s structure. It has an outdoor pool and sundeck, as well as complimentary WiFi. The cost begins at $65.
4. Puerto Escondido
Alternative to: Yelapa
Yelapa is a little fishing village that formerly drew famous actors and singers who sought refuge in this Mexican paradise.
Puerto Escondido, a peaceful fishing community buried away on the Pacific coast of Oaxaca, is similarly off the beaten path, with the exception of surfers.
Waves may rise to 30 feet from May through July. Regardless of whether you don’t surf, the beach is the focus of the experience, but you’ll discover true Mexican culture and a lively outdoor food market.
Popular Things to Do in Puerto Escondido
● Bioluminescence Tour – It’s a memory that can only be had at specific times of each year when the circumstances are ideal. A peculiar alchemy of tides and water temperature attracts dinoflagellate plankton towards Laguna Manialtepec during this uncommon event.
● Dolphin Watching – Hundreds of dolphins may be seen along the coast of Puerto Escondido, just a few kilometers from the shore.
● Sport Fishing – During certain seasons, you may capture some enormous fish in Puerto Escondido. You may schedule a fishing excursion when you get to Puerto Escondido at any of the several tour operator locations.
● Release a Baby Turtle – Visitors at Playa Bacocho have the opportunity to let go of a turtle into the ocean. This initiative is managed by a conservation group, and all you need to do is appear at the beach at 5 p.m. every day.
● Snorkeling – This catamaran and snorkel tour out to Huatulco Bay is the finest option. You’ll be accompanied by a trained guide and have a high possibility of sighting turtles and other marine species.
To book this tour click here.
Hotel Recommendation
Punta Zicatela Hotel
Punta Zicatela Hotel is located in Puerto Escondido, just steps from Zicatela Beach, and features a garden, private parking that is free, and a bar. The hotel has an indoor pool as well as a front desk that is open around the clock and complimentary WiFi. The cost begins at $126.
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5. Costa Maya
Alternative to: Playa del Carmen
Playa del Carmen boasts a thriving culinary industry, with restaurants selling everything from delectable tacos to sushi and freshly cooked seafood, in addition to hipper bar culture.
Furthermore, this Riviera Maya resort entices visitors with its beautiful white sand beaches and breathtaking coastline views.
Except for a few spots like Costa Maya, many portions of Quintana Roo are regularly overrun by visitors as one of Mexico’s most popular tourist attractions.
Despite its proximity to Chetumal, the state capital, this little town retains the laid-back characteristics that make a trip here seem so peaceful.
Beautiful Caribbean beaches, lively retail malls, lodgings, and a variety of other amenities are available at Costa Maya. Water sports like fishing, scuba diving, swimming, and riding a cruise are very popular here.
Popular Things to Do in Costa Maya
● Historic Mayan Ruins – Extend your exploration past Puerto Costa Maya to the majority of popular Mayan sites in the vicinity. The Chacchoben Ruins, a miniature civilization with temples, stairs, and a huge ceremonial center, date back over 3,000 years.
● Mahahual – On a day excursion to Mahahual, a little fishing hamlet with the powder-white dunes of Tulum without the tourists, you may live like a native.
● Scuba Dive – A dip in the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef represents one of the best activities to do in Costa Maya, whether you’re a first-time diver or a seasoned pro.
● ATV at the Mexican Jungle – On an ATV journey, you can turn the outdoors into a personal jungle gym. The rough, verdant jungles of Mexico are ideal for exploring by all-terrain vehicle. Begin in Costa Maya before venturing off-road along the shore.
● Swim With Dolphins – Dolphins swim freely around the Yucatan Peninsula’s shore, but there are also specific dolphin facilities at Costa Maya, not far from its largest port.
To book this tour click here.
Hotel Recommendation
Matan Kaan
The Matan Ka’an Hotel is an ideal location for sports and enjoyment of the gorgeous beach and reef. It contains various Mexican-style outdoor spaces, featuring a pool and a body of water with fish plus turtles. The cost begins at $58.
6. Morelia
Alternative to: Puebla
Puebla is located around 80 miles southeast of Mexico City and is rich in colonial architecture and cathedrals, but its biggest draws are its gorgeous Talavera ceramics, ancient forts and museums, and sweet and spicy food.
Morelia, situated in the state of Michoacan, is another of Mexico’s most stunning colonial cities. It is inhabited solely by indigenous people who were not subjugated by the Aztecs.
Morelia, the state capital, proudly shows its Indian heritage among grand pink quarry stone colonial structures. It is also surrounded by communities dedicated to a specific craft sector, such as instruments for music, textiles, home furnishings, copper, and ceramics.
Popular Things to Do in Morelia
- Centro Historico – Walking around the city’s fifteen plazas and admiring the 249 pink minerals Spanish colonial structures in the old center is one of the most lovely things to do in Morelia.
- Michoacan Regional Museum – The Michoacan Regional Museum is one of the oldest in Mexico’s National Institute of History and Anthropology network of museums.
The structure itself is worth viewing in addition to the displays about history, pre-Hispanic relics, and art. - Morelia’s Cathedral – Arrive early in the zocalo to locate a good place to watch this light, fireworks, and sound spectacular organized by the same firm that illuminates up the Eiffel Tower.
- Alley of Romance – The mood is certainly lovely among the tight alley’s stone walls and trickling waterfalls. Pink flowers flourish between magnificent colonial mansions, lanterns dangle, and poems are engraved on the walls.
- Gazpacho Moreliano – Gazpacho is one of Morelia’s culinary icons, and sampling it is one of the finest things you can do in Morelia on a sunny day. It’s a fruity concoction with a dash of spice and salt.
To book this tour click here.
Hotel Recommendation
Best Western PLUS Gran Hotel Morelia
The hotel is located near the Morelia Convention Centre and provides excellent rooms with free WiFi. The property, which is surrounded by tropical gardens, also boasts excellent tennis courts, a fitness center, a warmed outdoor pool, as well as two Executive Floors. The cost begins at $76.
