Manzanillo

Standing at the foot of Mexico's fiery Colima Volcano-one of North America's most temperamental geological divas-you'll quickly comprehend why ancient civilizations once fervently offered sacrifices just to keep it calm. A guided tour here is half-adventure, half-insanity, as you hike carefully monitored trails with a mix of reverential awe and mild suspicion that your guide might just be downplaying the volcano's moody disposition to keep you calm. Aim for the early morning hours when the sunrise bathes the smoking crater in celestial hues, and the volcano's tantrums (typically quieter at dawn) haven't ramped up yet. Book your visit at least a week in advance, since volcano-watching, like tequila tasting, is something of a national pastime. Budget around $50-$75-cheap enough to justify the existential thrill-and bring water, snacks, sturdy boots, sunscreen, and your wittiest fatalistic jokes. Is hiking an active volcano reckless? Perhaps. But when you're back home recounting your stories, you'll relish every horrified gasp and impressed nod from friends imagining your daring brush with geological glory.

Think you've seen all the ancient Mexican ruins you need after obligatory selfies at Teotihuacan? Think again, amigo-La Campana Archaeological Site in Villa de Álvarez is a sleeper hit, a pre-Columbian gem lounging casually beneath the radar as tourists stampede elsewhere. Stroll these quietly impressive plazas and ceremonial mounds just after breakfast (arriving early to dodge the bovine midday heat) and you'll find yourself pleasantly alone amid whispering stones that once hummed with life from around 600 to 900 AD. Pack cash (a crisp hundred pesos or two will cover you, plus tacos later), sunscreen, and shoes sturdy enough to navigate terrain that hasn't met pavement since before Cortes crashed the party. Booking months ahead here is utterly unnecessary-this isn't Cancun, and that's exactly the charm. And while the body count of beheaded sacrifice victims at La Campana might not rival that of Aztec temples, the subtle mysteries baked into these western Mexican ruins make it worth every peso, sweat drop, and curious mosquito bite-if only because your dinner party stories will have the delightful aroma of something genuinely obscure, historical, and just slightly dangerous.

Golf at Isla Navidad is the Mexican sporting equivalent of ordering the chef's tasting menu at a seaside taco shack-you suspect it's a bit extravagant, but once you swing your first drive into that shimmering coastal horizon, you can't help but savor every deliciously absurd moment. Nestled along the cliff-lined shores of Isla Navidad, this lush, palm-studded course was designed to humble even seasoned players, with fairways draped like emerald carpets over dramatic coves and ocean views so distractingly beautiful, they're practically cheating. Tee off early in the morning to avoid the blazing midday sun and wandering iguanas seeking refuge, and book at least a week ahead to snag prime slots. Expect greens fees around $150-200 USD (not exactly street taco pricing, but less than the chiropractor's adjustment you'll likely need afterward), and pack sunscreen, extra golf balls, and your camera, lest your friends at home doubt your tall tales of conquering-or spectacularly failing-hole 13. Even if you end the round down a dozen balls and up an unholy score, you'll have earned the unbeatable story of teeing off against a Pacific backdrop, proving that sometimes, life's most memorable moments happen when you're laughing at yourself, tequila optional.