“Insider: Hidden Places in Mexico for Digital Nomads”
Millions of tourists fly to the Riviera Maya each year. This, is in hopes of getting away from their everyday boring routines. Also in order to spend a week or two in paradise at one of many hidden places in Mexico. This is all-around great for everyone involved, tourists get to blow off steam, the local economy benefits, and everybody wins!
Sometimes foreigners appear to outnumber the locals, I’m looking at you downtown Playa Del Carmen lol. That’s great if you’re looking for an international Instagram lifestyle.
Maybe you have had enough of the all-inclusive resorts and hyper-touristy places. If so and are looking for a more authentic experience you may want to consider the following options.
Why Write A Hidden Places In Mexico List?
It’s surprising how little is known about the parts of Mexico that aren’t the Riviera Maya, Cabo, or Mexico City. While those places are amazing and deserve their fame, there’s many equally or even more impressive places to discover.
Large numbers of expats are moving to Mexico. Many with their eyes set on touristy places like Riviera Maya, Los Cabos, and Mexico City. But why limit your options to places made famous and popular thanks to Hollywood and Instagram?
I present to you places that I think have flown under the radar for way too long. Mexico is a huge country with a variety of landscapes, cities, and living experiences. Also, I chose to focus more on northern Mexico, why you ask? Because honestly it goes mostly ignored and these northern cities should be visited, explored, and enjoyed.
Hidden Places “Torreon”
Torreon is a mysteriously secret city in northern Mexico. Reminiscent of that cool cousin you’ve heard stories of but never actually met. A great city located in northern Mexico in the border state of Coahuila. Torreon is city famous for its Revolutionary history, cotton production, and local mining company Peñoles.
A couple hours away is the Zone of Silence in the neighboring state of Chihuahua. I think it adds to Torreon’s air of mystery and intrigue.
Torreon is connected to smaller cities Gomez Palacio and Lerdo to form the area known as “The Comarca Lagunera”. Similar to the Dallas metro area in Texas but in a smaller capacity.
Comarca Lagunera
The Comarca Lagunera is the 8th largest metropolitan area in Mexico. It is also close to other cities and attractions like Saltillo, Monterrey, and Durango city.
Metropolitan population is 1.5 million, offering big city amenities without the challenges of larger metros like Mexico City or Guadalajara.
Fun Facts of Torreon
- Torreon stands for “Big Tower”. This is why you will see various tower-like structures located throughout including a smaller replica of the Eifel Tower.
- If you crave French landmarks, explore northern Mexico.
- This area is famous for the Bolillo bread roll and you should totally enjoy a “lonche” sandwich.
- Gorditas are a northern Mexico specialty which are thick corn tortilla pockets. Similar to a pita bread except considerably smaller. Made from corn, stuffed with ground beef, potatoes in red salsa and nopales which are just cactus.
Nearby Attractions
Mapimi is a pueblo magico is about an hour away and has some interesting attractions nearby. The town itself is on the smaller side but you can enjoy the nice church, plaza, and some delicious gorditas. From Mapimi you visit the nearby Puente de Ojuelas, The Rosary Caves, and the Zone of Silence. The Zone of Silence which is worth checking out if you’re into the UFO culture.
Metro Area Attractions
Torreon boasts a city cable car reaching a hilltop with the Christ of the Noas. It happens to be the 3rd largest in the Americas.
Explore Arocena Museum, Main Plaza, Casa del Cerro, and Club Santos’ soccer stadium. Don’t miss charming Gomez Palacio and Lerdo towns nearby.
There’s also the shopping malls, restaurants and coffee shops. Other nearby attractions include sand dunes and Parras de la Fuente. Parras is a wine producing Pueblo Magico near Torreon and famous weekend getaway.
Rents are cheaper here than other major cities. You can rent a loft for as little as $500 per month. Utilities are average for Mexico and food will be the cheap or expensive depending on how often you eat out. Coworking spaces are available as well as coffee shops with WIFI.
Hidden places “Saltillo”
Another great off the beaten path city in northern Mexico is Saltillo. Which is also located in the state of Coahuila.
Location
Saltillo is located less than an hour of Monterrey and 2. 5 hours away from Torreon. It’s an elevated city in mindset and physical location. It sits at an elevation of 5,250 feet about an hour away from Monterrey and their international airport. Due to the high elevation, the best time to visit this culturally dense city is the spring and summer.
Saltillo is a charming colonial city. With a metro population slightly smaller than Torreon and the Comarca Lagunera of slightly under 1 million.
Trips from Saltillo span short distances like Monterrey (under an hour). Also, San Miguel de Allende, is surprisingly just 6.5 hours away.
Cultural Attractions
Saltillo’s cultural richness is unparalleled, potentially boasting one of the highest concentrations of attractions, although measuring this remains uncertain. While that might be slightly exaggerated it truly is full of museums, plazas, and cathedrals.
Cultural attractions include the Bird Museum, The Museum of the Desert, Museum of Sarapes, and Revolutionary War Museum among others. Get deeper in your cultural feelings by visiting the Cathedral, The Government Palace, and the Alameda Zaragoza.
Saltillo, an industrial hub near the US, thrives in the automobile industry. The famous Saltillo tile, a terracotta marvel, originated here.
Also from here, are manually woven colorful sarapes.
Saltillo, often overlooked in northern Mexico, is a safe gem with colonial charm, universities, and diverse culture, making it unmissable.
Nearby Attractions
Due its proximity to Torreon, some of the same nearby day trips also apply to Saltillo like:
- Parras de La Fuente is 1.5 hours away and the Zona de Silencio. Pueblo Magico Arteaga is 15 min away.
- The Cola de Caballo Waterfall is a 2.5 hours drive.
- Cumbres National Park has tons of awesome hiking is under an hour away.
- Not to mention Huasteca Canyon which is a destination all on its own due to its stunning photo opportunities.
Coffee shops abound as well as plenty of Coworking spaces to give you enough options for office space options. Exactly what you would expect from a city in the hidden places list.
The cost of living is affordable for those earning US dollars or Euros. 2 bd 2 bath renting for around $850 per month for unfurnished apartments.
Hidden Places “San Luis Potosi”
SLP as it is known, sits at an elevation of 6,100 feet and is located 5 hours south of Saltillo. Also, it is strategically located between Monterrey, Guadalajara, and Mexico City. Its central location adds to its hidden places status.
While its also a state, most people refer to the city as SLP. The state of SLP is usually commonly known as the Huasteca Potosina, and it is enchanting!
Focusing on the city, it’s an off-the-beaten-path remote work hub, appealing for its international anonymity. As a digital nomad, exploring this unique destination is a compelling choice.
The Definition of Off-The_beaten Track
What makes it off the beaten track you ask? – Well, unless you’re Mexican or have been exposed to Mexican culture in some way, you’ve probably never heard of it.
Believe it or not, SLP at one point was the Capital of Mexico and it’s easy to see why. Its central location complicates access for adversaries, yet it facilitates easy travel to other Mexican destinations from there.
If it’s so amazing then why haven’t I heard about it?
This is a layered question requiring a deep layered answer. But mostly because most people come to Mexico for it’s beaches and it’s relaxing living. So it’s been able to fly under the radar and be an awesome place to live for those willing to move into the central plateau of Mexico. In a way, it’s a great that that it’s one of the hidden places.
Another reason is that its not a a likely tourist destination, and unless you are driving through you would have absolutely no reason to visit SLP. As the world changes, Mexico becomes an appealing migration choice. Explore SLP, and you’ll likely find it irresistibly inviting for a visit!
San Luis Potosi Metro
SLP metro population is at around 1.25 million making it the 12th largest in the country and was recently named the 3rd best place to live in all of Mexico.
You must visit the UNESCO World Heritage downtown area or “Centro Historico” as it is known. The Centro has 3 large plazas that make this downtown one of the most walkable cities in Mexico. Walking is one of the best ways to tour the hidden places in this list.
In addition to the plazas there are an infinite number of Museums to choose from, many have free days but fees to enter are usually super cheap compared to the US, anywhere from 1 to 10 bucks. Cathedrals, coffee shops, restaurants, and roof top bars round out some of the many attractions.
Digital Nomad Specific
In the city, Tangamanga I is the 2nd largest urban park after Bosque Chapultepec in Mexico City. It features sports, splash play, a movie theater, and a museum.
Choose from numerous coworking spaces or opt for coffee shops with free WiFi. Furnished 2 bd 2 bath rentals near downtown start at $700/month, given today’s exchange rate of $17 pesos to USD.
Overall cost of living is less than more touristy places like Riviera Maya, Puerto Vallarta and the trendy neighborhoods of Mexico City.
SLP Selling Points
One of the best reasons to live in SLP for a few months or even permanently is because of all of the amazing attractions around it. Options include visiting:
La Huasteca Potosina – Besides deserving its own blog post due to all it has to offer, covers parts of San Luis Potosi as well as neighboring states of Hidalgo, Queretaro, Veracruz, Tamaulipas, and Guanajuato. In short the Huasteca Potosina is a surreal paradise landscape away from the ocean full of turquoise rivers and waterfalls, caves, canyons and natural swimming pools.
Stay in Ciudad Valle, Tamasopo, Aquisimon, El Naranjo, Xilitla and use them as a place to rest while you discover all of its surroundings since the beauty does not lie in the towns in this region. If you’re here for a week spend a couple days at each city exploring their nearby attractions. Book tours directly from your hotel or explore on your own with a car.
Most famous hidden places in Mexico? – Huasteca Potosina
Huasteca Potosina Major Attractions – Cascadas de Tamul, Micos, El Meco, El Salto, and Tamasopo. El Puente de Dios. and the Surrealist Garden of Edward James. Near Aquisimon you can visit El Sotana de Las Golondrina, El Sotana de las Huahuas, and the Cuevas de Mantetzulel.
Real de Catorce – An abandoned Pueblo Magico that sits in the mountains. A former mining town that got converted into a tourist destination.
Xilitla – Located in the Huasteca Potosina part of the state, it’s most famous for having the surrealist Edward James Garden. The garden is definitely worth visiting and many people spend the day here exploring the garden and usually revisiting their favorite parts.
Hidden “San Cristobal De Las Casas”
San Cristobal de las Casas or “San Cris” as it is known, is a Pueblo Magico located in the southern jungle of Mexico in the state of Chiapas. Sitting at 7,000 feet this Pueblo Magico is charming and it knows it. San Cris is the definition of off the beaten track. To me off the beaten track is as good as being on a hidden places list.
Its located deep in the south of Mexico, an hour away from a major airport. Its another one of those places that you visit as a destination or by passing through since it’s not really near many other cities.
A famous, almost mandatory, stop backpackers and expat, this town has all of the stereotypical handmade arts and crafts, cobblestone streets, colonial architecture, and delicious Mexican food you think of when you think of Mexican pueblos. Its a real life postcard for Mexican travel.
San Cristobal de las Casas
This charming city is often compared to San Miguel de Allende due to both sharing a lot of the same charm and personality. San Cris has a much more authentic Mexican feel whereas San Miguel might feel like almost like an American city due to the many foreigners calling it home.
The cost of living in San Cris is a major draw since its one of the cheapest places to live in Mexico. This is partly due to Chiapas being on of the poorer economic states in Mexico although I would say its richness in culture and beauty more than make up for it!
A studio can be rented for anywhere from $150 to $2k per month while all other expenses are also on the lower spectrum compared to the rets of Mexico.
There are many local markets to buy cheap groceries from. San Cris is truly a place where you can spend as little or as much as you want, which to me equals true freedom.
Things To Do
Things to do in the city include walking on its cobblestone streets, enjoying the architecture, drinking the local coffee which is world renown, and having some tasty street food. Check out the local churches, museums, walk down pedestrian streets, look at or purchase local arts and crafts, and they even offer a free walking tour of the city.
Though a little touristy as of late it still offers a low cost of living with an abundance of amenities like good food, elevated jungle living with numerous nearby attractions. For this reason it still remains on the hidden places list.
Attractions Near San Cristobal De Las Casas
Canyon del Sumidero – If you don’t venture out anywhere else at the very least visit here please, I promise you will not regret it. A stunning and simply amazing canyon that must be experiences either by boat, by hiking or both! While not one of the top 7 wonders of the world it is definitely one of Mexico’s top 7 wonders and rightfully so.
The canyon is part of the the National Park of the Canyon del Sumidero and covers a big part of the state. Comparable to the Grand Canyon in the US but each with their own unique characteristics that make them both wonders of the world.
It also has a point where it does a sharp turn somewhat similar to Horseshoe Bend in Arizona except it is located in a jungle with abundant wildlife like crocodiles, monkeys, a variety of different bird species, and even deer.
Book a Tour
It is recommended to book a tour since it guarantees you will see the most important parts of the attractions without the hassle of having to navigate to them on your own.
Choosing the right tour is also important and don’t be misled by tours that don’t visit all of the key points of the park.
The key points of interest are the boat tour, the various river overlooks, and the Pueblo Magico of Chiapa de Corzo which serves as a starting point to the tour.
Chiapas de Corzo – Just outside the capital city of Tuxtla Gutierrez, this beautiful colonial town serves as the entry point to the El Canyon del Sumidero but offers its own attractions like a beautiful main plaza, an eight-arch fountain, the Santo Domingo ex-convent, a nearby waterfall, and ancient ruins. What makes this town one of the hidden places in Mexico, most people visiting the Canyon del Sumidero will for sure pass through here at some point.
Palenque Ruins – This is an all day trip but its worth it if you’re not planning on continuing your travel east. A tour guide will pick you up early in the morning and you will visit Agua Azul, Misol-Ha, and of course the Palenque ruins. It is recommended to break this trip into 2 days but it can be done in one day as well.
Montebello Lakes and Chiflon Waterfalls – Another long day but worthwhile day trip is visiting this amazing collection of lakes and the Chiflon waterfalls.
Hidden “Bacalar”
Bacalar holds a special place in my heart since this is where we had one of our best excursions while living in Playa del Carmen a few years ago including at one point a magical double sun halo. Most importantly, Bacalar is as hidden places as hidden places get!
It’s location puts it close enough to amenities but far enough away where you can take a short or long sabbatical away form the rest of civilization.
Bacalar is another one of those places known by national and rarely heard of to foreigners and thanks to social media that is soon changing.
Location
Bacalar is located in the Yucatan Peninsula, a few hours south of Tulum, which itself sits a few hours south of Cancun and it’s international airport. You’d be hard-pressed to find any businesses that aren’t family owned and or local.
It sits on one of the most beautiful fresh water lakes in Mexico which is known as Bacalar, The Lagoon of Seven Colors. It is a Pueblo Magico sitting just inland from the Caribbean and under an hour from its closest city of Chetumal.
Its a quiet, charming town with plenty of dining options around town. Wake up early to watch the sunrise while paddle boarding or take part in a yoga class followed by an authentic savory Mexican breakfast and coffee. Expect most of the fun to revolve around the lagoon since this is the biggest attraction for Bacalar.
Coworking / WIFI
There’s one Coworking space south of the town but as an up and coming international travel destination look for more to open up as the demand rises. You will find plenty of coffee shops with WIFI to choose from for working.
Otherwise, your furnished rental should include WIFI and if you decide to rent long term will be responsible for getting internet service with the local telecom company.
Rentals are above-average for Mexico but lower than Tulum or Playa del Carmen. I personally would stay here a month and no more than two months but if you do expect utilities to be on par for Mexico.
Some accommodation websites show monthly rentals for from anywhere from $550 to thousands USD for a entire place to yourself.
Ill be writing a post about my amazing day trip here from Playa del Carmen and that’s coming soon!
Nearby Attractions
Chetumal – If your missing some city action your best option form Bacalar is Chetumal. Take a walk on the boardwalk, visit the zoo, or the Museums of Mayan Culture. Visit the duty-free zone and do some shopping or enjoy the beautiful Mahahual beach.
Cenotes – Visit nearby cenotes like Cenote Azul, Cenote Xul-ha, and Cenote Cocalitos.
Ruins – Visit the San Felipe Fort right in the middle of downtown Bacalar. Ruins of Kohunlich and Dzibanche Ruins are also nearby.
Honestly, Bacalar is a place I would spend the most amount of time in without really venturing out unless I was really feeling restless. In my opinion Bacalar is a place to get away, reset, and let your inner battery recharge to 100% before continuing your travels or heading back home.
Conclusion
Hopefully you took some value from my post and you left with knowledge or a perspective you didn’t have prior to reading. I’m open to your opinions and facts as to why or why not you agree with this list of hidden places in Mexico or if you would add any other hidden places to this list.
I honestly wanted to keep this list to only 5 because I tend to make my posts really long lol, but I could easily add 5 more off the beaten track places for digital nomads to discover and stay for a month or a year.
Wherever you end up choosing be sure to do extensive research through various sources, first hand sources are best and online sources being second best but more easily attainable. Research whatever destination you are thinking about moving to and read blogs and also official websites and most importantly remember to live an elevated life.
Happy Travels!
