Mexicans call it “El Norte.” It is the vast region that stretches from the rugged Pacific Coast of Baja California to the Gulf of Mexico’s low lands. It is here you will find a couple of the closest neighbors to the United State – the states of Sonora and Chihuahua. The land is made up of rolling plains, mineral rich mountains and deserts. This makes for a unique and fascinating contrast as it melds with the coastal resorts on the Sea of Cortez.

Several locations in the state of Sonora (just over the border from Arizona) offer some easy beach options. Puerto Peñasco (better known as Rocky Point) is located at the northern tip of the Sea of Cortez and is less than five hours from Phoenix by car. Rocky Point’s recent growth serves visitors well and it is destined to hold its own amongst the competition of some southern neighbors like Kino Bay and Guaymas/San Carlos.

Bahía de Kino (Kino Bay) is one of the state’s oldest tourist destinations and could become the resort of the future. Lack of notable resorts has left it virtually undiscovered by visitors, but Kino is a find with lovely white sand beaches and calm blue waters framed by traditional desert landscape. With direct air service, the Guaymas/San Carlos area has become quite popular as well. Guaymas is one of Mexico’s finest natural harbors hemmed in by tall buttes and breathtaking desert. Just north and east, scenic San Carlos is making waves as beautiful desert-by-the-sea destination with spectacular opportunities for water sports, especially scuba diving and snorkeling (water temperatures hover around 80 degrees most of the year).

The northern state of Chihuahua is the largest in Mexico, but sparsely populated with only 3 million people. What it doesn’t have in population, it makes up for in natural wonder. Chihuahua is home to the Barrancas del Cobre, better known as the Copper Canyon. It is actually a series of seven canyons, four of them larger and deeper than our Grand Canyon. This colorful area has always drawn the attention of hard core backpackers and hikers, but these days it’s the “train ride in the sky” that gets the most attention. The Chihuahua al Pacifico Railroad carries passengers from sea level to over 7,200 feet through the staggering beauty of the canyons. The railroad line took over 90 years to and $100 million to complete and is considered one of the great engineering feats of the 20th century. Over the course of the journey through Copper Canyon, the train passes through 86 tunnels and glides over 39 bridges and trestles, some of which are a mile above the canyon floor! The best time to plan a trip is between September and December after the rains have allowed the lush landscape to blossom with color. If you wait until spring, the land becomes quite dry and you may be disappointed by the lack of vegetation and greenery.

The 880-mile long Baja Peninsula is divided into two Mexican states – Baja California Norte (north) and Baja California Sur (south). The landscape varies from fog-moistened valleys in the north (home to Mexico’s finest vineyards. And yes, they do have great wine!) to southern arid deserts complete with exotic cacti and plenty of hot, dry weather patterns. On one side of the Baja is, of course, the Pacific Ocean, and on the other lies the magnificent Sea of Cortez. More than 850 species of marine life make their home in its temperate waters making it a year-round fishing utopia. In fact, this sea is said to be the greatest fish trap in the Western Hemisphere. The Baja is also a world renowned spot for whale watching as its surrounding waters are the winter home and breeding ground of the Gray Whale.

It all begins in Tijuana, just south of San Diego. A crowded and bustling border town, more U.S. tourists visit here than any other foreign country in the world. Heading south, along the very safe Tran peninsular Highway 1, you will find the beach towns of Rosarito and Ensenada, both of which have become popular “hang outs” for Southern California weekenders. On the eastern side of the peninsula is San Felipe, quickly making its mark as the northern Baja’s hottest fishing resort. Loreto, a little-known beach town midway down the peninsula, is a fantastic discovery and notorious for great scuba diving and unspoiled beaches. The capital city of Baja Sur is the picturesque La Paz. This alluring city has maintained its rustic charm and authenticity despite an influx of tourism. Nonetheless, the king of the Baja is the infamous Los Cabos. Los Cabos (the Capes) is the dual destination of San Jose Del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas. Because of a gringo friendly atmosphere, easy air access, perfect year-round weather, golf, nightlife and water sports, “Cabo” has become a major Mexican resort with a distinctly north-of-the-border attitude.

In terms of surface area, Mexico is the 13th largest country in the world with an enormous mixture of peoples and traditions. It has the world’s fourth largest number of World Heritage Sites (20). These sites, considered by the United Nations Educational and Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to be “of outstanding universal value,” range from perfectly preserved colonial cities and Mayan ruins to the whale sanctuaries of the Baja and the 16th Century monasteries on the slopes of the Popocatepetl volcano. And… Mexico is one of the world’s five richest countries in terms of biological diversity. It is a mosaic of ecosystems consisting of deserts in the north, pine forests and snow-capped mountains in the middle, and tropical jungle in the south. With over 6,000 miles of coastline, it is one of the most varied natural landscapes on earth.

There are now over 18 million acres of ecological preserves, including 44 national parks, 24 biosphere reserves, 111 protected areas, and a substantial number of national marine parks. For nature lovers the options are endless. A few of the standouts are the astonishing Monarch Butterfly sanctuary in Michoacán, the Copper Canyon in Chihuahua (a series on interlocking canyons some deeper than the Grand Canyon!), white-water rafting in Veracruz, and mountain climbing near Mexico City. (* Two towering ranges run through eastern and western Mexico. The central plateau between the two is the third highest populated region in the world behind Bolivia and Tibet. A series of volcanoes stand along this plateau and five of them stand taller than any in the continental United States.)

When you get to know the cities, you’ll find them nothing short of astounding as well. After the conquest of the Aztec Empire in 1521, Mexico was the richest and most prized possession for the Spanish Empire. For 300 years Spain not only ruled Mexico, but also worked diligently to model in the image of its European homeland. The result: a Latin country dominated by European ideas, architecture, monuments and art. The modern day Mexico has more standing legacies to this Spanish colonial era than any other country in the world. (In fact, Spanish Catholics built 12,000 churches in Mexico during that time!) This incredible heritage can be experienced in literally hundreds of cities, towns and villages throughout the country. Each is magical, charming and fascinating.

This is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to understanding all Mexico has to offer, but to begin with, let’s take a look at the part of Mexico most Americans find fairly familiar.