10 Natural Wonders of Mexico – Places in Mexico

Mexico is famous not only for its magnificent beaches, ancient pyramids or colonial culture. Many of the natural attractions of Mexico can be safely called a miracle, they amaze the imagination with their natural beauty and unusualness. Some of Mexico's natural wonders have been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and you won't find anything like it in any other country in the world.

Hidden beach in the Marieta Islands

The Marieta Islands archipelago is located off the coast of the Riviera Nayarit in the Mexican state of Jalisco. The archipelago consists of two large islands, one of which is home to the Hidden Beach (Playa Escondida), also known as the Beach of Love.

The beach is a cavity in volcanic rock, similar to a crater. The only way to get to this heavenly place — swim through a tunnel in the rocks. More than 90 species of birds live here, and while inside, you can watch thousands of seagulls overhead through the covered top. Hidden Beach was declared a national park and world heritage site by UNESCO in 2005. Consequently, access to the beach is limited; permission and the hiring of an authorized tour operator are required.

Cave of Swallows

The underground karst cave Sótano de las Golondrinas is located in the Mexican state of San Luis Potosi. The cave has the shape of a bottle (expands downward), the depth reaches 380 meters. Many swifts and parrots live inside, and every morning at 5:30 the birds begin to synchronously leave the cave, climbing up in a spiral.

The cave is difficult to access; a narrow pedestrian path and a dirt road lead to it, which only off-road vehicles can drive on. Moreover, the air inside the cave is quite stuffy, and being inside without special equipment is dangerous to your health. The descent into the cave takes about 20 minutes with climbing equipment and about 10 seconds with a skydive. The climb to the top takes about two hours and requires good mountaineering and physical training.

Tamul waterfall

This is another of the natural wonders of the state of San Luis Potosi and one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Mexico. Cascada de Tamul emerges from the Gallinas River; The height from which the water falls is 105 meters. There is an observation deck at the top of the waterfall, and there is also the opportunity to go down to its foot.

You can get to the waterfall by boat from the town of Tanchachin or on foot, leaving the vehicle a kilometer upstream. The waterfall is attractive not only for its height, but also because it has crystal clear turquoise water.

Best time to visit — from July to October, when the water level in the river drops.

Revilla Gijedo Archipelago

Archipiélago Revillagigedo is located in the sea towards the Mexican state of Colima. It includes 4 islands: Socorro, famous for its Everman volcano, Clarion, which is a biosphere reserve, San Benedicto, where you can swim with humpback whales from November to March, and Roca Partida, where you can dive and watch whale sharks.

The archipelago was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2016.

El Pinacate and the Great Altar Desert

El Pinacate and Gran Desierto de Altar, a natural reserve and UNESCO World Heritage Site, is located in the state of Sonora. The name «Pinacate» comes from Nahuatl languages and refers to a species of beetle endemic to this desert. NASA used this site to train astronauts before the first flight to the Moon.

In the reserve there is a high concentration of volcanic craters, some of which are even allowed to be climbed. In addition, more than 540 species of plants, 40 species of mammals, 200 species of birds, 40 species of reptiles, and many amphibians and freshwater fish are found here.

Copper Canyon

The name of the canyon, Barrancas del Cobre, comes from the copper shade of its rocks. The canyon is located in the state of Chihuahua, in the Sierra Tarahumara mountain range. The canyon is estimated from six separate canyons. The canyons were formed more than 20 million years ago by six rivers that flow into the western Sierra Tarahumara. All six rivers converge at the Rio Fuerte and empty into the Gulf of California.

For centuries this place has been the home of the Rarámuri people, and it is possible to visit their dwellings and learn about their culture, as well as the caves that once served as their shelter.

Among the main canyons: Urique, the deepest canyon in Mexico (1879 m); Sinforosa, on the slopes of which the Rosalinda and San Ignacio waterfalls are located; Batopilas, where some of the most traditional Rarámuri communities live; Candamena, where Piedra Bolada and Basasahic are located, the two highest waterfalls in Mexico, and the El Gigante cliff with a height of 885 m; Huapoca, home to the archaeological sites of the Paquime and Chinipas cultures.

Sumidero Canyon

Sumidero Canyon (Cañón del Sumidero) is located in the national park of the same name, 45 minutes from Tuxtla Gutierrez, the capital of Chiapas. The canyon walls are almost vertical and rise up to a thousand meters above the bed of the Grijalva River. The canyon fault formed approximately 12 - 15 million years ago.

The rich coastal tropical vegetation is home to spider monkeys, jaguars and ocelfromas, and there are many crocodiles in the river. Above the canyon there are several cm-water platforms, one — at an altitude of 1200 m. Boat excursions usually offer a 32 km route to the Chicoasen plaza.

Finger of God

El Dedo de Dios is located on Maruata Beach, on the coast of Michoacan. There are very intense strong waves here, which have formed a geological shape that seems to point into the sky. Magnificent landscapes, cliffs and caves against the backdrop of deep blue waters add to the romance of this place.

From July to March, black turtles come to the beach to lay eggs. Here, in addition to this, you are allowed to simply walk, ride a boat or ride horses.

Maruata Beach has been a biosphere reserve since 1986 and a favorite destination for ecotourism lovers.

Cascades of boiling water

Hierve El Agua are located 70 km east of Oaxaca in the Sierra Mix and Sierra Norte de Oaxaca mountain ranges. The high-mineral water runoff created three petrified, almost white waterfalls. Two of them have vertical walls, and the third, called the Amphitheater or Chica Cascade, is horizontal. The highest waterfall is 60 meters.

The Amphitheater has two large artificial swimming pools, as well as several smaller pools. One of the artificial pools is located on the very edge of the cliff. You can only see formations like this in one other place in the world, in Pamukal, Türkiye.

To access the cascades, tourists are charged an entrance fee twice, once on the road and once at the park entrance.

Pink lakes of Las Coloradas

The Rio Lagartos Nature Reserve on the Yucatan Peninsula is one of the most striking natural attractions of the Caribbean coast of Mexico. Here you can take a fascinating boat tour along the bay among the mangroves, watch large flocks of flamingos up close, see crocodiles in their natural environment and even take mud baths made of the purest white clay.

But the most striking natural attraction is the Las Coloradas lagoons with pink water. Lagoons are artificial bodies of water used for salt extraction. The pink color is determined by the high concentration of salt and the differentiation of microorganisms.