Mexico is truly a unique land with a strange and interesting natural geography. This makes it home to some of the most unusual, exciting, and of course, photogenic sights anywhere in the world.
However, before you pack your bags, get a Mexico tourist card, and head to the airport, it’s a good idea to create a clear plan of where you want to head to. Mexico is a large country and it’s not always easy to see absolutely everything in one trip.
To help out, this article looks at some of the best places to prioritize when you land in Central America. Discover the 5 most amazing and strange sights to visit in Mexico below.
Grutas Tolantongo Hot Springs
Mexico is a geologically active country and is home to many hot springs. However, none are quite like the Grutas Tolantongo.
There are beautiful rustic pools built into the cliffs and hot spring rivers to explore and swim in. It’s the perfect place to relax and unwind whilst taking in the country’s unique natural make-up.
Where is It?
Grutas Tolantongo is found in San Cristóbal Municipality of Cardonal, Hidalgo. It is approximately 4 hours from Mexico City the country’s capital.
How to Get There?
There are a few different shuttle services operating from Mexico City to the Grutas. It’s even possible to take one directly from the international airport, as well as from the city’s Northern bus terminal.
Alternatively, you can drive to the Grutas by car via the Mexico-Pachuca highway.
How Much Does it Cost to Get In?
It’s not very expensive to get into the Grutas. It’ll only cost 150 pesos (about $7.50) and you can even stay in the adjacent hotels for around 1000 pesos (about $50) per night to make the most of the park.
Suytun Cenote
Ok now, Suytun is one of 6,000 cenotes found around its region, so what makes it special? Well, this particular underground pool has a couple of unique features going for it.
First of all, it has a small walkway leading to the center of the cenote. This allows you to stand in the center and really take it all in.
However, what makes this particular pool really spectacular is the way light enters the cave. This streams in at certain times of the day to create heavenly beams of light that you have to see to believe.
Where is It?
Valladolid, Yucatan in South East Mexico about 150km west of Cancun and Playa del Carmen.
How to Get There?
Suytun cenote is easily accessible from Cancun or Playa Del Carmen by bus or car. It is also often a stop-off destination on tours to Chichen Itza and the Mayan riviera.
How Much Does it Cost to Get In?
The entry fee to the cenote is about 150 pesos ($7.50). If you want to swim in the pool you’ll need a life jacket which can be rented for 30 pesos ($1.50).
Quetzalcoatl Snake Hotel
Quetzalcoatl is an Aztec god who takes the form of a feathered serpent. This imposing deity has been immortalized in almost unbelievable architectural form as a snake-like hotel, twisting through the Mexican countryside.
The area the hotel is built on is full of caves, small lakes, and mini ravines, which incorporate the building designs and add to the charm of this uniquely offbeat site.
Where is It?
The snake hotel is in a secluded location just a short distance north of Mexico City in Naucalpan de Juárez.
How to Get There?
The condos on the site can be booked via Airbnb. Whilst, Naucalpan is not far from Mexico City, making it easy to arrive within a couple of hours by bus, train, taxi, or car.
How Much Does it Cost to Get In?
Rooms and condos in the hotel start at around $227 per night.
La Isla De Las Muñecas (The Island of the Dolls)
A slightly creepier sight to see in Mexico is the haunting Isla de las Muñecas. This was created by its former owner and caretaker Don Julian Santana Barrera.
It was said that Julian was inspired to create this unusual shrine after being haunted by the spirit of a girl who drowned nearby. He hung old dolls that had been thrown away to try and calm the spirit as a mark of respect.
This story is hard to prove but it certainly adds an eerie touch to this already creepy island. The legend has also increased its appeal to tourists who flock to see the unique destination for themselves.
Where is It?
The island is 28 miles south of Mexico City along the canals of Xochimilco.
How to Get There?
There is easy access to the Xochimilco neighborhood by train, bus, taxi, or rental car from Mexico.
How Much Does it Cost to Get In?
You’ll need to take a boat trip or ferry ride along the Xochimilco canals. This will cost about 200 pesos ($10) for a 2-3 hour tour. To enter the island itself also costs around 40 pesos ($2.50) per person.
Las Pozas Surrealist Garden
Edward James was a British surrealist artist, who created a truly unique garden filled with oddities set amongst the lush green nature of Mexico. His creation of the unusual labyrinth really is a sight to behold.
The gardens at Las Pozas blur the border of reality itself with weird and wonderful sculptures amongst the jungle-like surroundings of the setting. These can be climbed and explored by the visitors, although due to safety concerns for younger children visitors under the age of 12 may not enter the gardens.
Where is It?
The gardens are accessible via Xilitla, a small mountain village in the region of San Luis Potosi. This is about 280 miles from Mexico City.
How to Get There?
Las Pozas is about 8 hours drive away from Mexico City by car. You can also take a bus from the capital to Xilita directly or via Santiago de Querétaro.
How Much Does it Cost to Get In?
It costs 100 pesos ($5) to enter the gardens for adults and 50 ($2.50) pesos for adults over 65.