40 Off the beaten path places in Mexico you MUST visit someday

San Pancho is becoming a mecca for yogis. Visit this quiet beach town and you likely won't want to leave.

You may not have heard about it, but Mexico has a booming wine-making industry and Guadalupe Valley doesn't have much to envy its sister region in California.

The capital of the Yucatán state is surprisingly unexplored by tourists, but its colonial charm is something to be experienced.

Isla Mujeres gets the bulk of the tourists coming out of the Cancun region, but Holbox Island has quite a distinct and untamed feel. It's the perfect getaway!

The UNESCO World Heritage site has gotten a ton of attention in the last few years, but it still remains quite untouched and protected, and ripe for visitors who want to enjoy vibrant colors, wonderful architecture and stunning cobblestone streets.

An old silver mining city, Zacatecas bolsters wonderful colonial architecture, plus one of the most impressive cathedrals in the country.

Sitting in the heart of the Tarahumara Mountains, the Copper Canyon is much larger than the Grand Canyon in the U.S., but being formed by six confluencing rivers, it resembles an impressive green prairie seen from up top. However, if you happen to venture to the depths of the canyon, you may encounter some of the last remains of Mexico's indigenous tribes still untouched by the progress of the last century.

An UNESCO-preserved natural gem, Espiritu Santo Island is probably the closest to the Galapagos Islands this side of the equator.

Chiapas has gotten lots of bad press in the last 30 years, mostly because of the Zapatista uprising in the mid-90s, but it's a stunning natural paradise, with lush vegetation, imposing waterfalls and striking colonial-era architecture.

Recognized and protected by UNESCO, Puebla is regarded as the urban center with the most catholic churches in the world. Its beautiful cobblestone roads and tree-lined streets will make your heart melt.

Surfers and artists alike love the quaint vibe of Todos Santos, only one hour North of Los Cabos, and just a short flight from Southern California.

Just 45 minutes south of tourist-ridden Puerto Vallarta, you can find Yelapa Beach. Mostly untouched for the last half-century, it's the perfect place to simply relax and enjoy time passing you by.

The mind of English Artist Edward James brings us an unimaginable array of structures of biblical proportions in a truly virgin strip of the Mexican jungle.

Just 45 minutes outside Guadalajara we can find the town of Tequila, where the agave plant gets processed into Mexico's world-renowned elixir. It's a wonderfully quaint nook in the Mexican countryside, where you can really get away… or celebrate with the best bottle of José Cuervo.

In the last decade, Mexico has reaped the benefits of the hype created around surfing tourism, and Puerto Escondido may very well be the spot that started it all.

In the Oaxaca province, 70 miles east of Puerto Escondido, Huatulco is a dream come true for eco-tourism enthusiasts, with tons of ecologically sustainable attractions and more than 36 picture-perfect beaches.

Boasting some of the same natural attractions as its neighboring San Pancho, Sayulita is now swarming with tourists from all over the world, so more than a quiet fishing village it may now be compared to overdeveloped Cancun, although still retaining much of its character.

Morelia, in the state of Michoacan, is home to the only indigenous tribe never conquered by the Aztecs, something the locals are very proud of. The city's architecture is astonishing, and the the surrounding villages are dedicated to typical Mexican crafts like furniture, textiles and pottery, making this a must-see location for any tourist visiting the country.

Only two hours outside Mexico's capital city, Ixtapan de la Sal is a quiet spa town where two rivers and a natural spring have turned this location into a favorite to those urban dwellers looking for a quick weekend getaway.

Few places in Mexico can reveal more of Pre-Hispanic civilizations than Tlaxcala. Just a few hours from Mexico City, rest some of the most important details of the country's history, from an archeological point of view.

Casa Madero, in Parras de la Fuente, is the oldest continuously operating winery in Mexico, and one of the main attractions in northern Baja California. When you visit, don't miss the chance to also walk into El Santo Madero, the striking cathedral built atop a volcano that overlooks the town.

Visitors of Real de Catorce, in San Luis Potosi, end up bewildered by the jaw-dropping site. It's a real-life ghost town, with century-old buildings that literally make this town a must-see.

La Paz was bound to be the next Acapulco, but it's quickly becoming something more keen to Cancun or Puerto Vallarta. Its natural beauty still remains untouched for the most part, but that sure won't last much longer. Go while you can still experience it in its rawest state.

If you love museums, churches and outdoor markets, then you need to trek south to San Cristobal de las Casas and take in all of its wonderful Spanish colonialism feel.

Cozumel is just a few miles away from Cancun, and there's no shortage of daily cruise ships headed its way, but don't let that deter you. If you like diving, few spots in the northern hemisphere will be better than this one.

Yes, Ixtapa is overdeveloped, but you cannot beat the wonderful cliff-hanging resorts offering breathtaking views of the Mexican Pacific coast.

Only six miles away from its sister city, Zihuatanejo has everything to offer that Ixtapa does not: boutique hotels, a charming fishing village and port, and pristine virgin beaches.

Get lost in the capital city of Oaxaca state and enjoy the wonderful mix of Spanish colonial era architecture and the omnipresent Zapotec culture.

Near San Pancho and Sayulita lies this beautifully preserved natural beach, home to some of the world's best surfers.

Bacalar sits in Quintana Roo, and its calm waters attract all kinds of water sports fans, who find the peace and quiet of this small town addictive. Bacalar's government has continuously stood up against big developers in order to preserve its natural beauty, which has made this location a well-known destination for rebels from around the globe.

Campeche is land of fighters, as its inhabitants spent a good chunk of the 17th century fighting off pirates. The city was fortified because of this, which has left us a strikingly beautiful architectural wonder.

The history that lives on in this place makes it a true must any time you are anywhere near Mexico City.

Nothing wrong with progress, but you may want to catch Manzanillo before it's completely transformed. The surrounding areas of this beautiful shipping village are complete with inactive volcanoes, banana plantations and mouth-watering ceviche shacks.

This outstanding visual gem is home to one of the top art festivals in Latin America, making it a culture-junkie's paradise.

If you are looking to get away from it all, Cuastecomates is the place for you. It's only 40 minutes from Manzanillo, but it has only one hotel resort on the bay and not much to do other than enjoy the beautiful sunsets and relax on the beach.

While many tend to skip Queretaro in favor of neighboring San Miguel de Allende, the city's history alone should pull hordes of tourists to its streets. The town is considered one of the birthplaces of the independent Mexican state as well as the convention that produced the country's constitution.

Rich in history, Cuernavaca was home to Hernan Cortez's summer palace, to which he used to retreat after battle. Today, it has a huge pull with students from all over the world looking to learn Spanish.

Enjoy the wonderful views and beaches of the Nayarit Riviera, but at half the prices of Puerto Vallarta. An escape for budget-minded families, Rincón de Guayabitos has quickly become a staple of Mexican tourism.

Travelers who find themselves in Yucatan usually stay near the coast, but if you are more of an adventurer, make the trek about two hours inland and discover beautiful Valladolid. It's home to some of the world's best cenotes, but in town you can experience real Mayan cuisine and culture.

Paracho is home to more than 2,000 luthiers making guitars by hand daily. You can visit their shops and see how this beautiful craft brings to life some of the best guitars in the world.