Things to Do in Monterrey

Build in the early 1980s, this popular town square is a hub for commerce and the fourth-largest plaza of its kind in the world. Impressive monuments line the pedestrian zone, including Faro del Comercio, which shoots green laser lights into the city sky each night.

Stationed just beyond the small mountain town of Garcia, about 30 kilometers outside of Monterrey, Parque Grustas de Garcia in Cumbres de Monterrey National Park is a popular destination among travelers to northern Mexico. The picturesque caves house 16 different chambers, including el salon de la luz, where natural light cascades down through the rock ceiling onto the cave floor below. Several other natural rock formations, like El Nacimiento (the Nativity) and La Torre China (the Chinese Tower) make for unique photo ops reminiscent of haunted deserts well below the surface of this spectacular park.

The scenic skyline of Cerro de la Silla (aka Saddle Mountain) in the rugged foothills of Cumbres de Monterrey is one of the main draws to this national park, but Cola de Caballo—also  known as Horse Tail waterfall—in another popular stop in this urban escape just outside Monterrey. Located in the town of Villa de Santiago in Nueva Leon, Cola de Caballo looks like the horse tail it’s named for and cascades some 130 feet into a crystal clear swimming hole that has become a favorite among travelers.