Central Mexican Highlands

The Bajío colonial city belt across seven states including Jalisco and Michoacán, combining silver-mining towns, the homeland of tequila and Day of the Dead traditions.

Scope: Following the seven-region travel division of Mexico, the Central Highlands cover seven states: Jalisco, Michoacán, Guanajuato, Querétaro, Aguascalientes, Zacatecas and San Luis Potosí. At its core is the colonial city belt known as the Bajío. Highlights: Guanajuato is a World Heritage Site for its colorful houses, streets that run through underground tunnels and its silver-mining history, while San Miguel de Allende has a pink Gothic parish church and a strong artistic atmosphere. Zacatecas, Querétaro and Morelia are also World Heritage historic cities. Guadalajara, in Jalisco, is the birthplace of mariachi and tequila culture, and the agave landscape near the town of Tequila is a World Heritage Site. Michoacán has the Day of the Dead on Lake Pátzcuaro and the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve. In the Huasteca region of San Luis Potosí you will find turquoise waterfalls and Xilitla, a surrealist garden. Classic itineraries: From Mexico City via Querétaro, San Miguel, and Guanajuato to Guadalajara takes about 7–10 days; in winter you can add Morelia and the monarch butterfly reserve. Getting there and around: Guadalajara, León (Bajío), Querétaro and Morelia have airports, and comfortable luxury intercity coaches make travel between cities easy. Notes: Most cities sit at 1,500–2,500 m, with big day–night temperature swings. Parts of Michoacán and some other states carry security risks, so check the latest advisories before traveling.

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