Extreme Adventures In Mexico

Mexico is most well known for its beautiful beaches. The glitzy resorts of Cancun and Cozumel offer a wide range of sporting activities. Extreme adventurers though tend to prefer travelling to lesser known places, avoiding the crowds and getting to experience the countries natural treasures while partaking in their favorite adventure sport. Mexico has some fantastic adventure destinations where you can enjoy a variety of activities. Here’s a brief outline of some of the places and activities on offer:

Rock Climbing

El Protrero Chico is a craggy limestone outcrop located just northwest of Monterrey. It’ll take about an hour to drive there by road and at the base of the crag is a climbers’ lodge and campsite where you can settle in for your stay. There are more than 600 bolted sport routes of varying grades. The advantage of this is that the routes are seldom crowded. As a local sport, rock climbing has not really taken off yet in Mexico and most of the climbers visiting El Protreto Chico are from the U.S., Canada and Europe. The limestone rocks provide an interesting assortment of spires, crags and ridges. Because the routes are bolted, beginner climbers can have as much fun as more advanced climbers. There are routes to challenge all levels and abilities of climbers. The friendly atmosphere at the lodge means that after a day of hard climbing you can chill and mingle with the other visitors to the crags.

Hiking and Canyoneering

Hiking is sometimes thought of as a more sedate sport; however, with the wild and challenging terrain in some parts of Mexico it can easily be classified as an extreme adventure sport, especially when it is combined with canyoneering. The Barranca del Cobre, or Copper Canyon as it is more commonly known, is one of the largest and deepest canyon systems in the world. The unusual rock formations, stunning vistas and extreme temperatures make this a premiere adventure sport destination. Exciting hiking and canyoneering tours can be booked through professional operators.

Visiting the Mayan ruins is an opportunity to hike through some of Mexico’s most beautiful rainforest reserves. Guided tours provide history on the special cultural sites and en route you can see a wide variety of birds and other forest creatures.

Oaxaca is another area known for its spectacular hiking routes. The Northern Sierra Mountains are reputed to be one of the most well preserved natural regions in Mexico. The trails traverse through rainforests and take in spectacular views. Rapelling is also offered and makes a nice addition to any hiking trip to the area.

Mountain Biking

If you are looking for some moderate trails, there are some superb routes just inland of the famous Yucatan coastline. Tours range from short day trips to longer multiday trips taking you to explore some of the Mayan ruins and other historical sites and places of interest. For hardcore mountain bikers, the gateway to Mexico’s best mountain biking region is the town of Chihuahua. From here, hundreds of miles of trails cross through the Copper Canyon area. Terrain varies from steep rocky ascents and descents to slick Moab-style climbs. Some guides that have worked in the region for more than 10 years say there are still so many unexplored routes. Their biggest problem when planning tours is deciding which routes to go on because there are simply too many to choose from.

Kiteboarding

Kiteboarding is a skill that takes some time to master but once most people have got it right they become hooked. With Mexico’s beautiful beaches, it’s no wonder that kiteboarders from around the world flock to areas such as Cancun, Merida, Tulum and Isla Blanca. The great surf, good winds and warm tropical water make it a kitesurfer’s paradise. Combine that with the vibrant beachfront lifestyle and it’s sure to be an awesome vacation.

Whitewater Rafting

There are many fantastic rivers for whitewater rafting in Mexico. You can do a single day or multi-day rafting trip riding the rapids of several rivers and visiting some interesting cultural sites in between. Near Mexico City, there is the Rio Fios with class III rapids; from there, you can move on to Xalapa where you can raft the Rio Antigua and the Rio Actopan which have both class III & IV rapids. The Santa Maria River in the northeastern part of Mexico also offers class III multi-day rafting trips. The river flows through an area known for its natural springs and beautiful waterfalls and the nearby towns have interesting markets well worth visiting.

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