Mexico

Zacatecas reached the height of its prosperity in the 16th and 17th centuries. Founded in 1546 after the discovery of a rich silver lode and built on the steep slopes of a narrow valley, the town has breathtaking views along with many historic buildings, both religious and civil.

Campeche is a typical example of a harbor town from the Spanish colonial period in the New World. The historic center has kept its outer walls and system of fortifications, designed to defend this Caribbean port against attacks from the sea.

The Historic Monuments Zone of Querétaro is located in Querétaro City, in central Mexico. It is an exceptional example of a colonial town whose layout symbolizes its multi-ethnic population. It is also endowed with a wealth of outstanding buildings, notably from the 17th and 18th centuries.

Tlacotalpan, a Spanish colonial river port on the Gulf Coast of Mexico, was founded in the mid-16th century. It has preserved its original urban fabric to a remarkable degree; with wide streets, colonnaded houses in a profusion of styles and colors as well as public spaces and gardens.

Founded by the Spanish in the early 16th century, Guanajuato became the world's leading silver extraction center in the 18th century. The town's fine Baroque and neoclassical buildings, resulting from the prosperity of the mines, have influenced buildings throughout central Mexico.

The Hospicio Cabañas, located in Guadalajara, was built at the beginning of the 19th century to provide care and shelter for the disadvantaged. This remarkable complex, which incorporates several unusual features designed specifically to meet the needs of its occupants, was unique for its time.

Huatulco National Park, also known as Bahias de Huatulco National Park, is a National Park of Oaxaca, Mexico. Also a Biosphere Reserve, it is located in the Sierra Madre del Sur physiographic province, characterized by bays, cliffs, rocky escarpments, and lowland jungle.

Situated off the southeast coast of Mexico, the Isla Cozumel Biosphere Reserve incorporates two Ramsar sites: Arrecifes de Cozumel National Park and Manglares y Humedales del Norte de Isla Cozumel, encompassing richly diverse marine and terrestrial ecosystems.

The Gulf of California in northwestern Mexico was once famously dubbed the "Aquarium of the World." The striking natural beauty of the Sea of Cortez, formed by rugged islands with high cliffs and sandy beaches, contrasts with the brilliant reflection from the desert and the surrounding turquoise waters.

The Islas del Golfo de California Biosphere Reserve, with its over 240 islands, is located in northwestern Mexico between the rocky and arid peninsula of Baja California, the vast Sonoran Desert and the abundant mangroves of Sinaloa.