Small Towns Versus Large Cities in Mexico: An Argument for the Former
When tourists vacation in Mexico they usually go to Cancun or Cozumel, Cabo or maybe Mexico City (that Day of the Dead scene in that James Bond movie did make it look cool). Sometimes though, it's really nice to go somewhere really obscure. There’s something about ‘Tourist coldspots’ that is actually quite special.
While some may argue that there are just more things to do in a big city, I would argue that small towns allow you the opportunity to really experience local culture on a deeper level.
While there are many different options to choose from, here are 12 things you can do in almost any Mexican small town that make for a great vacation:
(*As someone who is not a big drinker you will notice that ‘drink tequila’ is not on the list)
1. You can enjoy being the only tourist in town:
I recently visited friends in the town of Los Mochis Mexico, and being possibly the only tourist in town made me feel really special. As the only girl around with green eyes, I got a fair amount of attention. I felt like a Kardashian and no one in my family even had to make a sex tape!
The lack of tourists also meant that there were no lines, no annoying people posing in all of the cliched ways I’ve vented about before, with all of the confidence (or arrogance) of a supermodel (with all of 300 Instagram followers) in front of everything worth seeing (hashtag: “#model”). It was wonderful!
2. You can have the beach to yourself (Well, if the town you visit is near the beach).
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| Lucas and I |
3. Visit the town square
Towns usually have town squares. We went one night to the one in Los Mochis for churros and it was quite the experience. There was live music, a warm breeze and a market. Maybe it was just a novelty for me because I come from a big city where you can’t walk around at night but there was something so warm and magical about this experience.
4. Eat the street food
Who doesn’t love Mexican food? People who don’t have souls, and don’t like music, and do maths on weekends for fun, that’s who! It’s probably even more bad for you, inexpensive and delicious if you buy it on the side of the road. Oh, and more ‘authentic’ too!
5. Count Oxxos
An Oxxo is like a Mexican seven eleven. There are so many of them that you can turn it into your own version of punch-buggy. Although, that might be too easy. There are probably about three Oxxos in walking distance of each Oxxo. If one doesn’t have what you’re looking for, just try the one across the street.
6. Visit the cemetery
Yes, I know I got flashed in one once but I still think it’s a good idea. How people honour their dead is fascinating!
7. Visit the churches
I learnt lots about Mexican catholicism and its saints. I now know all about the Virgin of Guadalupe, Santa Muerte, and San Antonio (I even took a little statue of him home with me as a souvenir but I don’t hang him upside down in my cupboard like Mexican moms who want husbands for their daughters do).
8. You can frolic in the public park
Towns usually have parks. Parks are good for frolicking. |
| Jardin Botanico Benjamin Francis Johnston |
This will give you, not only a good overview of the natural flora and possibly some fauna, but if you enjoy people watching as much as I do, it will provide you with a view of what the locals are like.
Not only are you likely to get your steps in, but you never know who you’re going to meet!
9. Experience live music and culture
Whether it’s gatecrashing the neighbour’s Mothers' Day party to appreciate the 12 piece mariachi band who have to serenade them from the pavement because the yard is too small for the whole band to fit in it, or going to the local cafe to enjoy the world’s most underrated acoustic rock duo while sipping on the world’s most decadent milkshake, live music seems to be valued in Mexican culture far more than it is in my own. You will experience some somewhere and it’s awesome!
These days it is a museum and it’s full of insightful information about all sorts of interesting things like this:
And this:
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| Rocksferry at the Artisanal Cafe (#imwiththeband) |
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| Take that, pancreas! |
10. Play Mexican LoterÃa
Mexican LoterÃa is essentially bingo but with pictures instead of numbers. Not only might you win some money (or get rid of that pesky small change that weighs down your purse), but you will greatly improve your vocabulary with useful words like:
- Chiquihuite: It's like a basket
- Chalupa: The picture is of a lady in a canoe, usually referred to as ‘Sharon’ in our games. (Because I used to live on a ship.)
- And, the so not politically correct, potentially offensive, actually quite racist ‘negrito’. (Basically a little black man.)
11. Find some street art
Any town (in any country) trying to attract tourists, has some street art (normally with the town’s name included in it). If you create something ‘Instagramable’ tourists will promote you for you.
See!
Sometimes brightly coloured walls are exciting enough. El Fuerte - with its Spanish colonial architecture and its brightly coloured edifices - is a perfect location to shoot your next album cover!
It's like street art but abstract!
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| See! |
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| It's like street art but abstract! |
12. Pose with an abundance of letter signs
In Mexico, they absolutely love letter signs. You will find one anywhere. (Don’t photograph the one at the airport though - you’ll get shouted at for that.) I suspect that if a town has a greater number of occupants than the number of letters in its name, it is entitled to a letter sign. Topolobampo just made the cut off!
(This is the one at the airport. Don't photograph this one)
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| (This is the one at the airport. Don't photograph this one) |
13. And finally, you can crash a wedding
The Small Towns I Visited on my Recent Trip:
Los Mochis
If you google Los Mochis, the first google search result that comes up is a store in the UK. The small town in Mexico of the same name only ranks second. That’s how small it is. With a population of less than 400 000 people, it is hardly a bustling metropolis but it is warm and oddly charming in its own way.
Honestly, I never would have visited this town if not for the fact that close friends of mine live there, but having been there, I can admit that I enjoyed myself.
If you’re looking for a quiet holiday destination away from the crowds, a small town like Los Mochis might really appeal to you. And since over-tourism is the latest four-letter word, this way you can have a nice vacation without being made to feel guilty or unwelcome about your presence there. I was there for two weeks and we never ran out of things to do or sights to see.
Highlights include:
The Beach:
The water is not exactly that beautiful teal colour associated with the Caribbean but it’s warm. What more do you want?
The Jardin Botanico Benjamin Francis Johnston
(The town's botanical gardens)
Here you may also see some fun features like:
Duck and iguana unlikely animal friends:
Cactus gardens
And even other strange ‘public art’. - At least that’s what I’m calling it.
These local landmarks:
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| (Sorry, it's a bit pixelated.) |
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| (Significantly less popular than her Brazilian son) |
Mary is located at the top of a hill overlooking a main road into the city. This area provides a lookout point from where you can see most (or maybe all) of the town.
Rocksferry
When in Los Mochis, be sure to check out the local music act Rocksferry. Check their Facebook or Instagram to find out the details of their latest gig. You won't be disappointed!
The palm trees
The slogan for Los Mochis is "Donde las palmas tocan el cielo" which means "where the palm trees touch the sky." The palm trees here are quite something. Until you have a neck ache from gazing up at the tops of some crazy high palm trees, you haven't been to Los Mochis.
Topolobampo
(Yes, that’s even more fun to say than ‘Guadalajara’, and ‘Guadalajara’ is fun to say!)
Topolobampo is hard to describe except to say that it looks more like Europe than Mexico. Beautiful little homes line the hillsides overlooking the port area, while fishing boats line the waterside. It is scenic AF.
Highlights include:
The lookout point
On a hill overlooking the scenic town is a lookout point and a great place to stop for a picture on your way into town.
Boat Tours
In Topolobampo you can also go on a boat tour (for a fraction of what it would cost in America or the Caribbean) and see dolphins, LOTS of dolphins. You may even get to see one poop!
El Fuerte:
The nearby town of El Fuerte dates back to 1563.
Highlights:
The fort
Judging from the town's name, you have probably guessed that there is a fort here.
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| El Fuerte's 'fuerte' |
And this:
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| Yup, that's a video machine. Just in case I needed help feeling old. |
The animal sanctuary
The town is also home to an animal sanctuary where you can feed Bambi:
The town is also home to an animal sanctuary where you can feed Bambi:
Zoro’s birthplace
El Fuerte is also the site of the Hotel Posada del Hidalgo, the birthplace of Diego de la Vega. The hotel claims that he moved to California and while defending the poor against Spanish rule, he became the person upon which the legend of Zorro was based.
El Fuerte is also the site of the Hotel Posada del Hidalgo, the birthplace of Diego de la Vega. The hotel claims that he moved to California and while defending the poor against Spanish rule, he became the person upon which the legend of Zorro was based.
How to choose which town to visit:
If you’re not sure which Mexican small towns to visit (and you don’t have wonderful friends who live in one) you can always look for one considered a ‘pueblo mágico’ (a magical town). The Mexican tourism board assigns this title to towns that they feel are worthy of it (like El Fuerte).
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Rodrigo at a market in Los Mochis |
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