It is with immeasurable excitement that I announce yet another one of my travel dreams is coming to fruition this year…
I’m going to Mexico!!!
While I have technically already been to Mexico, well, let’s just say it wasn’t the most cultural experience. The tequila was strong and the memories blurry, and I knew one day Mexico would be due for some proper exploration that would really do it justice; I just didn’t know when that would be.
While Mexico has a reputation of fulfilling every spring breaker’s wildest dreams, there’s actually a lot more to explore in Mexico. It’s a great destination for adventure seekers and nature lovers. From mountain hiking to scuba diving and swimming with sharks, to Mayan ruins, you can literally find it all in Mexico.
In recent years, Mexico has climbed its way back onto my list of priorities, earning itself a spot among my top destinations to visit in 2016. Maybe I had a moment of clairvoyance when penning that list; maybe I manifested my own destiny? Either way, it’s happening just as I had hoped, and I couldn’t be happier.
What I’m most looking forward to, besides the many metric tons of Mexican food that will be consumed, is perhaps the chance to show anyone who might have doubts about traveling to Mexico that it’s far from a scary place. With any luck, I can even convince some Trump supporters out there that building a wall at the border is not only the dumbest thing to be suggested in the history of American presidential campaigns, but it would also be a great hindrance to the exchange of culture, language, cuisines, compassion, and tolerance that the United States so desperately needs.
But I digress.
Allow me to explain in greater detail just what my trip will entail; it will be a first for me in many ways and an experience I’m excited to share with you as it unfolds.
Discovering Mexico with Cantimplora Travel
Unlike most of my travels, my trip to Mexico will be primarily undertaken as part of a group tour with a new company called Cantimplora Travel. The group size is small (capped at 12 travelers), the routes are far from the well-beaten path, they understand the importance of eco-friendly practices and social and cultural responsibility, they give back to local communities, and they even provide their own professional photographer to capture your journey.
Sounds amazing, right? Let’s dive in a little deeper.
Of the many aspects of this company that attracted me to it in the first place, the one I want to discuss first is their goal of helping you discover Mexico like a local. If you’ve been with me for awhile now, you know that slow travel is my preference and that one of the reasons for this is it gives me a better opportunity to understand the rhythm of local life. I like to see and experience a destination as a local would, without being distracted by the attractions put in place for tourists’ enjoyment.
Even though this trip isn’t necessarily what I would deem slow, traveling with Mexican locals, I hope, will allow me to know Mexico better than I might while traveling on my own while at the same time introducing me to places I would be hard pressed to find myself. To use a few examples from Cantimplora’s website, we’ll visit local indigenous markets, a traditional mezcal distillery, and a secret village in the Sierra Madre range. But I’ll go over the itinerary in more detail in a moment.
Another aspect that struck me as noteworthy was their commitment to giving back to the local community. I’d be lying if I told you that worrying over the social impact of travel and tourism hasn’t led me to some sleepless nights. There’s no clear answer to whether tourism is a detriment or a benefit to local communities (it can swing either way, really, and tour operators definitely play a determining role in this) but I do appreciate when a tour company brings business directly to local artisans and small business owners in a way that’s both ethical and culturally sensitive. These are the people who stand to benefit the most from tourism and are all too often the ones left short-handed instead. When traveling with Cantimplora Travel, we’ll be lodging in locally-owned boutique hotels, tasting mezcal under the tutelage of a local artisan, and even learning the artistic process behind indigenous creations.
Lastly, as a blogger, there have been so many moments during my travels when I should have been enjoying the experience but was preoccupied with capturing it instead. My instinct has become to keep my camera glued to my eyeball so as not to miss the perfect shot, and while I may end up with a pretty image, I lose out in other ways; seeing things with my own eyes is just one of them. Traveling with a professional photographer will allow me to really focus on the moment at hand without the added pressure of documenting every last detail to share here. Don’t get me wrong, my photography gear is coming with me, but I will leave most of the heavy lifting to Cantimplora’s photographer. I’m also looking forward to having more time available to get to know my fellow travelers, a group I’m sure to become close with over the course of the 8-day tour.
The Route: Oaxaca to the Pacific Coast
At present, Cantimplora offers two very distinct itineraries. One begins on the fabled white sand beaches of Tulum and travels southward along the Caribbean coast; the other begins in the historic colonial city of Oaxaca and traverses the Sierra Madre range before arriving at Mexico’s rugged Pacific coast. I’ll be experiencing the latter; here are a few highlights of our itinerary:
Day 1:
- Get lost in the charming colonial streets of Oaxaca
- Enjoy a welcome dinner full of indigenous traditions while getting to know fellow travelers
Day 2:
- Discover Mitla, a unique archeological site covered in engraved stone tiles
Day 3:
- Venture to Hierve el Agua, a collection of petrified mineral waterfalls and freshwater springs
Day 4:
- Enjoy sunset from a log cabin perched atop the Sierra Madre range
Day 5:
- Frolic in the waves of Zipolite, a favorite local surfing spot on the Pacific coast
Day 6:
- Ride the waves of the Pacific after a surf lesson
Day 7:
- Enjoy the open sea on a boat trip and admire the local sea life while swimming and snorkeling
- Celebrate your final night with fellow travelers over a farewell dinner
Day 8:
- Morning yoga session before saying goodbye to the Pacific
This is only a small sampling of the activities we’ll be partaking in on this tour; you can read the full Oaxaca/Pacific itinerary here. It should be mentioned that the activities listed are subject to change. Additionally, with such a small group of travelers, tour leaders do their best to personalize the experience in any way they can. You will notice the itineraries are not detailed down to the minute, meaning there will be room for spontaneity and improvisation. As someone who is used to solo travel and having full control over my days, this is something I greatly appreciate in a group tour!
This tour departs Apri 23rd and concludes on April 30th; the one-month countdown has begun! Since I’ll be in New York until the 22nd, I’m flying to Mexico City directly from there.
I look forward to sharing my own personal experience on this tour and introducing you to a new side of Mexico, as well as a new way of traveling! Cantimplora provides a small set of images to their travelers each day which I will be sharing on Facebook and Instagram throughout the tour, so be sure to follow along! After the tour has concluded, I’ll be provided with my own personalized set of 150 professional images. I can’t underscore this enough–this photo package is an INCREDIBLE value! It certainly helps set Cantimplora apart from most other tour companies out there. No selfie sticks required here, friends.
I can’t wait to discover Mexico with Cantimplora Travel! I hope you come along for the ride.
Have you been to Mexico? Which part did you enjoy the most? Any tips for me?
All images courtesy of Cantimplora Travel
