8 great reasons to visit Mexico

Is there a major city in the world that doesn’t have a Mexican restaurant? Every region brings its own distinct traditions. Mexican food is both brilliant and unique — easily the best in Latin America, and possibly in all the Americas. I can’t say enough about the freshness, flavors, diversity, and quality of Mexican food. From roadside stands to Michelin-starred restaurants, Mexico is home to some great eats. And there’s a sophisticated Mexican cuisine that soars above the tacos and enchiladas most of us know.

Sayulita is my recommendation for the world’s best shrimp burrito. And when in Mexico City you need to eat at Dulce Patria and Anatol. Try it next time you’re there.

From the Aztec and Mayan temples to the colonial traditions and the modern art of people like Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo, it is a deep and fascinating well. The textiles are beautifully hand-woven and the people here use clothes and patterns as a form of communication. Chiapas isn’t one of Mexico’s most traveled areas, and there’s plenty of opportunity to explore beneath the surface. Most people think of Mexico as the land of margaritas and maracas, but it has one of the richest cultures in the new world.

Mexico City is built over the remains of the legendary Aztec city of Tenochtitlan. In 1978, maintenance men from a local electrical company were doing routine excavation work to the north-east of the Zocalo. What they discovered was a huge stone disc (3.25 metres in diameter) engraved with the dismembered figure of Coyolxauhqui, the Aztec moon goddess. Subsequent archaeological digs have unearthed more than 7000 objects and part of the enormous Templo Mayor, an important religious structure in Tenochtitlan. Also, Thousands of pyramids dot its landscape, with the most famous near Tulum and Mexico City. You need to visit the pyramids of Teotihuacan and Guachimontones. To begin to comprehend the knowledge and vision it took to construct these will take your breath away.

It seems that Mexicans rarely drink Coronas with lime (a Western affectation) but they rarely turn down good tequila. Lesser known internationally is tequila’s relative, mezcal, derived from the maguey plant and possessing a strong smoky flavour. Dedicated mezcal bars known as mezcalerias are a growing trend in Mexico City and Condesa’s La Botica leads the pack, with an underground vibe featuring tin tables and handwritten menus on pieces of cardboard. I’m a huge fan of these truly Mexican spirits. And it takes a trip to Jalisco and Oaxaca to begin to understand the depth and variety of flavor that tequila and mezcal afford. Shake off your awful memories of getting drunk on Cuervo as a teenager and begin to explore the quality of real 100% agave-made tequila. You’ll leave the hangover at home.

Trust me, I have contacts all over the world, and I have met a lot of people, but nobody is so kind and accepting as the Mexican people. The level of friendliness of the Mexican people is among the highest in the world. Everywhere you go someone will be willing to lend a helping hand. Here is one of my favorite photos, which captures the amazing spirit of the Mexican people.

Mexican society enjoys a vast array of music genres, showing the diversity of Mexican culture. Traditional music includes mariachi, banda, norteño, ranchera and corridos. Mexico has the largest media industry in Latin America, producing Mexican artists who are famous in Central and South America and parts of Europe, especially Spain.From mariachi to modern rock, Mexico pulses with infectious tunes. Head to Guadalajara to spend time in the place that calls mariachi home. Or when you’re in Mexico City, take a trip to Plaza Garibaldi. If modern is more your style, download some of Mana’s best tracks.

A short cut to the spirit of a place is through its markets. Go where the locals go and get a sense of what it feels like to live and eat like a Mexican urbanite. Hit the Sonora market for ceramics, and Ciudadela on Balderas Avenue for Mexican arts and crafts. Other markets at San Juan, Jamaica and La Merced are also worth a visit. Unless you are a sicario (trained assassin) able to defend yourself, stay away from the labyrinthine market at Tepito.

If people talk about Chapultepec Park, they actually mean the forest. Coming in at 686 hectares, this green haven is much the same as New York’s Central Park: without it, the city would be all but uninhabitable. It’s easy to pass hours just strolling the paths with chilli-coated papaya from the ubiquitous food stalls but Chapultepec actually holds a wealth of museums and even the city zoo. Its crown is the lofty Chapultepec Castle, in the centre of the park on top of “grasshopper hill”. The castle once housed Emperor Maximilian I — before the Mexicans decided that monarchy wasn’t for them, executing him and declaring a republic.

Those were the 8 great reasons Mexico is worth visiting. There are more, but you should discovered it by yourself.