Quintana Roo, Oaxaca and Jalisco are the states Mexicans most want to travel to once the coronavirus pandemic ends, according to a study by an online travel agency.
The portal booking.com surveyed 1,200 Mexican adults and found that 62% of respondents intend to take a vacation after the conclusion of the pandemic, whenever that might be.
Just over four in five – 81% – of those who intend to travel said they would prefer to vacation in Mexico rather than abroad.
Quintana Roo, Oaxaca and Jalisco were the most desirable destinations among those polled but booking.com didn’t reveal the percentage of respondents that hoped to travel to each state.
Quintana Roo is famous for its white sand beaches, turquoise Caribbean sea and year-round warm climate, and is home to popular tourist destinations such as Cancún, Playa del Carmen, Tulum, Cozumel, Isla Mujeres, Isla Holbox and Bacalar.
Booking.com noted that there are also lesser-known tourism gems in the state such as Xcacel-Xcacelito, a natural protected area 20 kilometers north of Tulum, and Aktun Ha, a cenote, or natural sinkhole, near Tulum that is perfect for snorkeling.
In Oaxaca, walking around the historic center of the state capital, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is a delight, booking.com said, noting that one can observe Mexican and Oaxacan traditions and be reminded of the importance of “our roots.”
Oaxaca city was named best city in the world last year by readers of Travel + Leisure magazine, perhaps making it even more attractive in the eyes of some would-be Mexican travelers.
Monte Albán, a Zapotec archaeological site near the capital that is also UNESCO-listed, is another top attraction in Oaxaca, while Hierve el Agua, a site that includes natural rock pools and a petrified waterfall, is an easy day trip from Oaxaca city.
Booking.com also recommended a visit to the town of Mitla – which includes an archaeological site – “where the caves with rock paintings and the legacy of the first sedentary farmers will win anyone over.”
Oaxaca is also a popular destination for its beaches in Pacific coast towns such as Puerto Escondido, a surfing mecca, and Huatulco, which has a national park with numerous bays.
It’s not hard to see why many Mexicans would like to take a vacation in Jalisco. The state is home to Guadalajara, Mexico’s second largest city and a culinary hub, the birthplace of tequila, the resort city of Puerto Vallarta and scenic Lake Chapala, around which numerous towns and villages are dotted.
Jalisco “is a state with a little bit of everything,” booking.com said, noting that along with Nayarit it is “one of the guardians of the huichol or Wixátari community whose arts and crafts are made from beads” and capture the attention of tourists who can’t avoid taking a piece home.
Mexico News Daily
