Mexico

Mexico is one of the most diverse countries in Latin America — and one of the most rewarding to explore. Centuries of ancient civilizations layered upon one another have produced a country of stunning cultural, culinary, and geographic variety. From the white-sand beaches of the Caribbean and the mystical cenotes of the Yucatán Peninsula to the lush waterfalls of Chiapas, Mexico's landscapes are as varied as its people.

And then there's Oaxaca. Tucked into Mexico's southern highlands with a stretch of wild Pacific coastline, Oaxaca is widely considered the country's cultural heartland. Inhabited since 11,000 BC, it is the birthplace of corn and squash, the home of mezcal, and the site of Monte Albán, one of the best-preserved pre-Hispanic archaeological sites in the Americas, its temples left remarkably intact long after the Spanish conquest. Oaxaca is equally celebrated for its extraordinary artisan traditions: the painted wood carvings known as alebrijes, lustrous black clay pottery, and hand-woven wool rugs are just a few expressions of a creative heritage unlike anywhere else in Mexico. It is also a serious food destination: Oaxacan cuisine is recognized the world over for its complex moles, tlayudas, and fresh-market ingredients that reflect the region's extraordinary biodiversity.