Things to Do in Mexico

Tucked away in the sandy scrubland of Baja California you’ll find Los Cabos’ only professional equestrian center, Cuadra San Francisco. A five-star horse ranch and stable yard, this is where visitors the world over come to live out their horse-filled fantasies of exploring the beautiful Baja countryside. This horseback riding ranch is sure to bring out your inner cowboy. Ride over the beach at low tide, or explore the desert sagebrush while learning about Los Cabos’ flora and fauna - all while having a quintessential Cabo moment. Known for their “dancing horses,” if you find time to visit Cuadra San Francisco, you won’t be disappointed - this is Cabo’s preeminent stable ranch.

Across from the Guadalajara Cathedral, the Teatro Degollado looms in stony, neoclassical glory. Corinthian columns form a massive portico topped with a marble relief of Apollo and the nine muses. The length of the building’s rear wall is adorned with a stylish sculptural depiction of Guadalajara’s history; a fountain runs along the base.

The inside is even more over-the- top, with five tiers of gilded balconies and a ceiling frescoed with scenes from Dante’s Divine Comedy. A red-and-gold color scheme is augmented with frippery, including a fearsome golden eagle above the stage. The eagle holds a chain in its beak: as legend has it, the theater will stand until the day the golden eagle drops its chain.

The theater was completed in 1866, at the height of Mexico’s great theatrical renaissance. Today the lavishly appointed building is home to classically Guadalajaran institutions, including International Mariachi competitions, the Philharmonic Orchestra of Jalisco, the Ballet Folklorico of the University of Guadalajara, and the Guadalajara City Ballet, as well as traveling performances and limited run shows.

The Lighthouse of port city Mazatlan has been shining since 1879, guiding ships coming up the Sea of Cortez. It can be seen 30 nautical miles away. For tourists, the main reason to come here is to see the divers. From a high platform, young men sometimes make daring high dives for assembled crowds for tips.

You can hike up to the lighthouse itself though to take in the view of the port and entering ships—mostly shrimp boats, plus an occasional cruise ship. Because it sits on a high hill, it’s reportedly the highest lighthouse in the Americas, as 523 feet above the high tide line.

The relatively flat trails, lush countryside, well-kept picnic areas and crystal clear waters of the 100-meter El Chiflon Waterfall offer travelers in search of a city escape a natural wonderland in which to relax and unwind. Visitors can wander pathways to four different levels of El Chiflon—each more impressive than the last—and look out over vast landscapes while listening to the sounds of thundering waters. And while lower level trails prove an easy walk, be advised they do become steeper. Intrepid travelers can zip line past the lower falls, while less adventurous visitors can swim in the cool blue rivers. 

Spiked with spindly spires and decorated with fine stonework, the Templo Expiatorio is one of Guadalajara’s iconic churches and a striking example of neogothic style. The first stone was laid in 1897 and construction was completed in the 1930s. Inside, the ambiance is dreamy. Graceful multilayered arches frame an altar backlit by massive stained glass windows and crowned with a giant yet simple gold chandelier. Beams of colored light cast by the stained glass cut through smoke and dust motes, and the air smells of incense, candles, and flowers.