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Mexico is a vast country incredibly rich in culture. Between the resort-lined Caribbean Coast and its central highlands dotted with centuries-old, historic cities, to say its tourist offer is diverse would be a gross understatement.

If you’re planning your next trip south of the border, but the Cancun-style, all-inclusive beach getaway no longer floats your boat, there are numerous other off-path spots that are arguably more authentic, not to say cheaper and uncrowded, to choose from.

This spring, you can fly nonstop from the United States to 4 of these hidden gems, including a laid-back coastal town recently voted one of the safest in Mexico:

La Paz

In case you’re wondering which town that might be, it’s the aptly-named La Paz, the far-from-bustling, definitely-not-hectic, mid-size capital of Baja California Sur, a state best known for the jam-packed resort strip that is Los Cabos.

Despite serving as an administrative center, La Paz feels far more quaint than your average state capital.

Its palm tree-lined malecón is peppered with waterfront eateries and bars, and an elegant 19th-century cathedral towers above a lush Velasco Garden.

It is, as the name indicates, very peaceful, and somewhere to unwind in a rustic, boutique hotel while going for beachside strolls and dinners at the Mexican restaurant down the street––and on top of that, it’s incredibly safe:

27.9% of locals feel their city has high enough safety levels, and compared to other crime-ridden municipalities straddling the Sea of Cortez, tourists are hardly ever victims of pickpocketing or gang-related violence here.

Fly Nonstop To La Paz (LAP) From:

0-2 flights every Monday, Friday, and Saturday with Alaska Airlines

Aguascalientes

Now, if you’re looking to get inspired and marvel at the kind of beautiful architecture one would typically have to cross the Atlantic to find, look no further than Aguascalientes, a historic settlement in the (often overlooked) central hills of Mexico.

Its old center is a colorful maze of Iberian-style,brightly painted facades and churches. Walking around, it will feel like crossing a time portal into romantic eras past, from Nuestra Señora de la Asunción Cathedral to the ornate 17th-century Government Palace.

If you speak a little Spanish and you haven’t guessed already, Aguascalientes carries its name due to its high concentration of natural hot springs, where you can relax after a long day of exploring, most notably Ojocaliente:

A recreational complex with origins that can be traced back to 1831, when the first thermal baths were established in the area, it is a popular attraction due to its many pools, filled with warm, bubbling waters, and affordable masseur service, starting from around $20 for the hour.

Fly Nonstop To La Paz (LAP) From:

2 flights per day with United Airlines

1-2 flights per day with American Airlines

0-1 flights every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday with Volaris

0-1 flights every Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, and Friday with Volaris

Puerto Escondido

Not so much of a ‘Hidden Port’ anymore, Puerto Escondido has risen quickly in popularity in recent years as a growing number of Americans have started to look for alternatives to what’s become an overpriced, all-too-congested Riviera Maya.

A small surfer and backpacker community on the Pacific Coast of Oaxaca, the atmosphere here is a lot less pretentious and much more chill than in Tulum, and for once, treating yourself to an upscale beachfront stay won’t break the bank:

Mantra Hotel Boutique, 100 meters from Zicatela, a stretch of sand bordered by tall palm trees and thatch-roofed bars, has overnight stays from $161, and over in Carrizalillo, a cove sheltered by towering cliffs, the rustic La Hacienda will set you back by $110-a-night.

Accommodation is not the only thing that’s affordable around here: cocktails at bars are between $6-8, sitting down in a local restaurant to enjoy some homegrown chicken soaked in Oaxacan mole will cost $7-8, and even the taxi tariff is cheap, averaging $3 per ride.

Fly Nonstop To Puerto Escondido (PXM) From:

Once a week every Saturday with United Airlines

*New route starting from April 5, 2025

Queretaro

We’ll be topping it off today with yet another unsung cultural treasure of Mexico and a storybook that wouldn’t look out of place in Southern Spain somewhere, with its plethora of Baroque shrines and sandstone edifices that have barely seen the passing of the centuries.

Think a pink-washed Santa Rosa de Viterbo Church, a nearby, more ocher-leaning San Francisco, or even Querétaro Regional Museum, a compilation of pre-Columbian and Hispanic art currently housed in a former church-convent.

Don’t forget about the Spanish-era Aqueduct, 74 arches long, or the restored 18th-century mansion Casa de la Zacatecana: there is so much to see and do in the UNESCO-protected colonial heart of the city that you could spend an entire week here and never exhaust your options.

Now, if you fancy doing something truly offbeat, you should take a day trip to Bernal, a small, colorful town only an hour from Queretaro, filled with family-run wine and cheese towns, backed by Peña de Bernal, the third largest monolith in the world.

Fly Nonstop To Queretaro (QRO) From:

3-4 flights per day with United Airlines or VivaAerobus

2-3 flights per day with American Airlines

0-1 flight every Monday and Friday with VivaAerobus

1 flight every day with Aeromexico

0-1 flight every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday with Aeromexico

0-1 flight every Friday with Volaris

1-7 flights every Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday with Volaris (weekly frequency may vary)

Vinicius Costa

Vini, our senior lead writer at Travel Off Path, has over 60+ countries under his belt (and currently weaving tales from Paris!), and a knack for turning off-the-beaten-path experiences into informative stories that will have you packing your bags.

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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com

Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.

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