Mexico is a popular country with travelers curious about South American life. It has an ancient history and beautiful nature which means there is plenty to see. Especially if you go backpacking in Mexico you will see the country as it really is. Choose your own route and be enchanted by all that Mexico has to offer.

Experience backpacking in Mexico

The great advantage of backpacking is experiencing real Mexican life. As a traveler, you are much closer to the locals than when you view the country as an average hotel tourist. In addition, you also easily connect with other backpackers. Even if you travel alone, you will never feel alone, and that while also learning about the country's culture and history. In fact, the various sights in Mexico are real historical attractions.

Discover the country's ancient peoples

Mexico is a very diverse travel destination. Especially for lovers of culture and history, there is much to discover. The remains of ancient cultures are still visible there. For example, visit the world-famous city of Cobá. Here you will find various ruins of the Mayan culture. In addition, there are more attractions in Mexico where the Maya play a role. For example, consider the temple Kukulkan, which has the shape of a pyramid. You will get a good idea of what the classic Mayan culture produced.

Just enjoy and relax

Although Mayan culture is important to Mexico, there is much more to see and do in this South American country. If you want to soak up even more culture, you can visit the capital city of Mexico City. Want to see some nature? Then El Pieco de Orizaba, the highest mountain in the country, is highly recommended. Finally, to completely unwind, Mexico has several beach resorts for true relaxation. Discover the variety of this beautiful country while backpacking.

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The architecture in Spain is very diverse, and so are the palaces. The Spanish palaces were all built in a different century and thus have a different architectural style.

Madrid

The Royal Palace of Madrid is one of the many famous buildings in Spain. The palace is not used as a residential palace, it is the working palace of the king. The palace is also used for official ceremonies. The palace in Madrid is the largest royal palace in Europe and has 3,418 rooms, 16 of which are open to the public. In the 9th century, the Islamic kingdom built a fortress that was expanded in the 16th century with the Alcázar. In 1734 the Alcázar was lost in a fire and this prompted King Philip V to build a new palace in 1755, this is the palace as it is found today in Madrid. There are 16 rooms open to visitors and a tour lasts 2 hours. Surrounding the palace are beautiful gardens that are also well worth a visit.

Granada

One of the most beautiful palaces in Spain is the Alhambra in Granada. The Alhambra is an Arab palace and was built by the Moors. The name Alhambra is translated from Arabic and it means "the red castle." The Alhambra consists of 4 buildings located on a hill 200 meters above the city, providing a magnificent view of Granada. The four buildings were all built in different centuries, including the Alcazaba, which has a courtroom and rooms for the women. The Alcazaba was built in the 11th century. Then the Palacio de Generalife was built in the 13th century; this was the summer residence of the rulers. In the 14th century Casa Real was built which was the royal palace of the rulers. Last after the reconquest from the Moors, the Palace of Charles V was built in the 15th century. In addition to these magnificent buildings, the Alhambra also features beautiful Moorish gardens.

Seville

The Alhambra is not the only magnificent palace in southern Spain. Seville is home to the magnificent Real Alcázar. Alcázar is the Spanish word for castle, which is exactly what it used to be. In the 11th century the fortress was expanded into a palace, and in the 16th century the palace was further expanded. Because the palace was expanded by the Christians in the 16th century, there are features of Mudejar architecture, which is a building style of the Christians with many influences from the Moors. The royal family stays at the Real Alcázar when they visit Seville. Besides the beautiful palace with its many patios, the Alcázar also has beautiful gardens built in different styles. You can find beautiful fountains and pavilions that make these gardens the ideal place to unwind when the temperature rises in the afternoon hours.

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Watching television is not as popular in Spain as it is in the Netherlands. Spaniards, thanks to the climate, mostly live outside and if the television is on at all, it is usually during dinner. Spaniards do not slouch on the couch in front of the television.

Until 1975, Franco's regime imposed strict censorship on the Spanish media. This caused few good films to come from Spain until then. In 1956, the television channel TVE came into being. TVE is similar to the Dutch NOS. Mostly documentaries, news lectures and sports were broadcast. Until 1974, all programs in Spain were in black and white. In 1977, all TV channels were in color.

The Spanish way of watching television is very different from the Dutch way. Where the Dutch often watch television on the couch after dinner, Spaniards mainly watch television during dinner. This is why most televisions in Spanish households can be found in the dining room or kitchen.

Spanish films

Spanish films are a reflection of Spanish culture, diverse, raw and passionate. Abre los ojos is considered the most successful Spanish film. Made in 1997, this film is about the beautiful man, Cesar who lives in Madrid. Because of his outward appearance, he gets enough attention from women, much to the jealousy of his girlfriend. This jealousy has caused his girlfriend to cause a car accident in which Cesar gets disfigured in his face. This accident changes his whole life and this film is about Cesar's search for a new love.

Penélope Cruz

One of the leading roles in Abre los ojos is played by Penélope Cruz. She also played the same role in the American film adaptation Vanilla Sky. She is one of Spain's most famous actresses of all time. Before studying theater in New York, Penélope Cruz studied ballet in Madrid. To this day, Penélope Cruz is one of Hollywood's most famous actresses and, among other things, has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Penélope is married to Javier Bardem, also a celebrated Spanish actor. Among other awards, he received an oscar for his role in No country for old men, in which he plays a cold-blooded hitman.

Antonio Banderas

Finally, we must not forget Antonio Banderas! Who doesn't know him? He has sidns 2005 star on the Hollywood walk of Fame and he is known, among other things, for his role in Spy Kids, but really broke through in America with his role in Philadelphia in 1993. After his breakthrough in America, he played in many films. His most famous role he played in the movie The Mask of Zorro in which he plays Zorro. This puts him, along with Penélope Cruz and Javier Bardem, at the top of the Spanish film industry!

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Marbella - the pearl of the Costa del Sol

Marbella is a well-known seaside resort in Andalucía, southern Spain. Marbella has more than 140,000 inhabitants, making it the second largest city in the province of Malaga. Marbella is mostly known for its jet set and the many celebrities who visit the city every year.

Marbella is located in the autonomous region of Andalusia between Gibraltar and Málaga. Marbella is easily reached by car or by bus from the airport of Málaga which is located about 50 km away. With an average daily temperature of 18.7 degrees Celsius per year and its 320 days of sunshine per year, the Costa del Sol, the Sunshine Coast, is an excellent destination to visit all year round. This is also one of the main reasons that many Spaniards and other Europeans have a vacation home in Marbella.

With its pleasant temperature and many days of sunshine, Marbella is a good place to play sports such as golf or tennis. Marbella has as many as 10 golf courses, and every year the WTA women's tennis tournament is held in Marbella.

The name Marbella means "beautiful sea" and derives from the name the Moors gave the city, Marbil-la. In the city you can still find many things from the time of the Moors. For example, the Moors built a castle and walled the city. Parts of this fortification wall are still present. The old part of town consists of small narrow streets where the real Spanish atmosphere can be found.

Puerto Banus

The new part of Marbella is mostly known for its glitz and glamour, jet set and the many celebrities who visit the city every year. Puerto Banús is the most prestigious pleasure port in the Mediterranean. Many celebrities or Middle Eastern leaders have their boats here, including the king of Saudi Arabia. Near Puerto Banús is also the famous Boulevard of Fame, this boulevard has the same idea as the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Parks in Marbella

The new and old parts of the city also have many parks and gardens. Located in the center of the city is Parque Arroyo de la Represa. This park includes several sports fields, two ponds and the Bonsai Museum. Parque de la Alameda is a park very popular with locals. People come here for a walk and events and markets are regularly held in this park. In addition to the parks, in the area of Marbella, just outside the city you can also find a botanical garden, Jardin botanico el Angel. This botanical garden has been one of the oldest botanical gardens in Spain since the 18th century. 

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The Spanish costas have been one of the most popular vacation destinations for years. The Spanish coast is very diverse and therefore has much to offer. Where in the North of Spain the coast is rugged and has a very green hinterland, the costas in the Southeast of Spain consist mostly of white sandy beaches and clear blue seawater.

The Spanish word for coast is Costa. For years, the Spanish costas have been one of the most popular beach destinations in Europe. The coast of the Spanish peninsula is a whopping 4964 kilometers long. Portugal's location on the Iberian Peninsula has caused the Spanish coastline to be divided into two parts. One is the southeast coast of Spain, most of which faces the Mediterranean Sea. The southeast coast is also divided into 12 costas. The second part of the Spanish coastline is located on the north side of Spain on the Atlantic Ocean, this part is divided into 6 costas.

Costa Brava

In the far north of Spain lies the Costa Brava. Costa Brava also means the "rugged, wild coast. This costa is about 200 km long and is a popular vacation destination especially with young vacationers. South of the Costa Brava in Catalonia is the Costa Dorada and consists mostly of well-known seaside resorts and small fishing villages. The Costa del Azahar is located on what means the 'Orange Blossom Coast', is 120 km long and owes its name to the many orange fields in the area

Further south is the Costa de Valencia and the Costa Blanca. The main city on the Costa de Valencia is Valencia, this along with Barcelona is one of the few cities that have a city beach. The Costa Blanca is a 250 km coastline located south of Valencia and is best known for its beautiful bays with white sandy beaches. This costa gets its name from the many almond trees that grow in this region. Even further south we encounter the Costa Calida, "the warm coast." This region is also home to the largest natural pool in the world, "Mar Menor.

One of the costas not yet overrun with mass tourism is the Costa Tropical. This costa owes its name to the many tropical fruits that grow here. The Costa Tropical is located in southern Andalusia and is a paradise for peace seekers, nature lovers and because of the clear water also for diving enthusiasts.

Costa del Sol

South of this tropical paradise is the Costa del Sol. This costa is very popular with tourists and here you will find many busy places often used by winter visitors. The Costa del Sol characterizes itself by its beautiful beaches, warm weather and wide boulevards. Besides the busy places, there are also fishing villages.

Thus, on the southern coast of Spain one finds many winter destinations. In contrast, for those who like active beach vacations, the Costa Verde is an ideal destination. Located in northern Spain on the Atlantic Ocean, Costa Verde has extensive beaches interspersed with rocks and cliffs that extend into the sea. Because this region also experiences occasional showers in summer, there is plenty of greenery. In the immediate vicinity of the Costa Verde are some beautiful cities and also the mountain peaks of the Picos de Europa. Therefore, the Costa Verde is the ideal destination for hikers, climbers or cyclists who want a great diversity of nature at their fingertips.

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The Maya

The Maya lived in an area what is now southeast Mexico (Yucatan) to parts of what is now Belize, Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador, among others.

One of the wonders of the world

1.2 Million tourists visit the ruins of Chichen Itza every year. Chichen Itza is ideal as a day trip from one of the many resorts in the area such as Playa del Carmen. Chichen Itza was founded between 600 and 900 AD by the Mayans. However, it was not until the 10th century AD that the city became important to the Maya. From then on, Chichen Itza was one of the most important Mayan cities. In 1850, the city was discovered by archaeologists. Since 1988, the city has been listed on UNESCO's World Heritage List. On July 7, 2007, El Castillo, located in Chichen Itza was listed as one of the wonders of the world.

El Castillo is the most famous Mayan monument in the world. El Castillo is a pyramid that is also a calendar, the Mayan calendar. The pyramid consists of 18 levels, these levels equal the 18 months that make up a year. The number of steps of the pyramid, together with the upper platform makes a total number of 365, which represents the number of days per year in the Mayan calendar. Finally, the pyramid has a total of 52 separate planes on the sides of the pyramid, which equals the number of years in a century in the Mayan calendar. El Castillo is 30 meters high, unfortunately it is no longer possible for the public to climb the pyramid.

In addition to its function as a calendar, the pyramid has another wonderful effect. On March 21 and September 21, the beginning of spring and autumn, the position of the sun creates a beautiful shadow play. The position of the sun and thus its shadow makes it appear as if a 34-meter-long snake climbs up the pyramid's steps, and slides back down the other side of the pyramid. This phenomenon attracts hundreds of visitors from all over the world every year.

Furthermore, there are many other monuments in Chichen Itza. For example, there is the largest ball court in the Mayan world. There are also several temples present including the temple of tables, the temple of warriors and the temple of jaguars. You can also find an observatory called El Caracol. This observatory was used by the Maya to make astronomical observations through the slots in the roof of the dome.

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Spaniards love lotteries, and there are dozens of lotteries to mention. Spain has several daily, weekly, monthly and annual lotteries. Also, "the fattest" lottery in the world is a Spanish lottery! Every Christmas, the Loteria Nacional has the biggest jackpot in the world. This special Christmas draw is called "El Gordo," meaning "the fat one" or "the fat one. It is not remarkable when the prize money of this lottery reaches up to 66 billion euros!

Let's start with the cheapest lottery in Spain. This is the Bonoloto, the draw takes place Monday through Wednesday and on Friday. Lottery tickets can be bought from €0.59 cents per day. However, one can also buy a lottery ticket valid for the whole week, which costs €2.37. The prize money can reach up to 66 million euros. However, this prize money is divided among all Bonoloto draws that take place in the same week.

In Spain, you can also play EuroMillions, which is a European lottery in which several international lotteries work together into one big lottery. The EuroMillions draw is every Tuesday and Friday. The big advantage of this lottery is that the prize money from all the countries is added together, giving you a huge jackpot. Also, if the top prize does not fall, then this amount is added to the jackpot of the following draw.

The Loteria Nacional is a lottery in Spain similar to the Staatsloterij in the Netherlands. It is a state lottery and therefore tax-free. There are several variants of this lottery. One is the "El Gordo de la Primitiva," which is a weekly lottery. Also in this lottery, the prize money can reach up to 66 million euros. However, the tickets for this lottery are a bit more expensive than the Bonoloto. Lottery tickets are sold in 10 parts, each part is called a "décimo. Each décimo costs €20 and a whole lot costs €200. The prize money is therefore divided among the 10 winning lots. Many Spanish groups of friends or families therefore buy a whole lot together to reduce the cost and in this way the money is divided within the circle of friends or family.

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Spanish bullfights

Pamplona is a city located in northern Spain and is the capital of the province of Navarre. The city was founded by the Romans and is best known for its bull runs and bullfighting. It is also an important city on the pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostella.

The San Fermín fiestas

Bull runs in Pamplona take place during Las fiestas de San Fermín. This fiesta is held in honor of the patron saint San Fermín. The San Fermín fiestas used to take place in October, but due to the often bad weather, the fiestas were moved to the month of July. One of the most famous parts of the San Fermín fiestas San Fermín fiestas are the running of the bulls.

Every morning 'encierros' take place, which are bull runs where people run in front of the bulls. Bull runs originated because in the past the bulls had to be moved from the stables to the bullring, so they ran through the streets of the city. The distance from the stables to the bullring is a street 900 meters long that is very narrow in some places. In 8 days, 48 bulls are let loose in the streets, so per day this is 6 bulls. Along the route there are two rows of fences. The first row is for the riders who want to get out of the way of the bulls or for the riders who are injured, and the second row is for the spectators. Behind the first row are also the emergency workers in case medical attention is needed.

When the bulls are released from their stalls, one flare is fired. A second flare is then fired when all the bulls are in the street. The bull run lasts no more than a few minutes, but due to the adrenaline in the spectators and riders, it seems to last much longer. How dangerous these runs are depends on the number of participants; if there are many riders participating, there is little room for the bulls to get out of the way. Once all the bulls are in the arena, a third flare is agreed upon. Finally, a fourth flare is fired when all the bulls are in their stalls.
Daily bull runs are concluded with a bullfight. After the bull runs, a 'corrida' takes place every day at 6:30 pm.

Photo by www.environmentalgraffiti.com

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Spain is best known for its many varieties of sangría. But Spain has more to offer than just sangría. For example, Spain is the third largest wine country by area in the world. Besides sangría, Spain also produces many red and white wines and cava, drinks that are also becoming increasingly popular in the Netherlands.

The most famous drink coming from Spain is sangría. Everyone who has been on vacation to Spain has had a glass of sangría. The origins of sangría can be traced back to the 18th century. The British brought a drink called "sangaree" to Spain. There they consumed this drink with food, and to make it less strong for the children, a carbonated beverage was added. However, the adults wanted the drink stronger, so liqueur or brandy was added.

Sangria recipes

Several sangría recipes can be found. Sangría can be made to anyone's taste. However, the main ingredients for traditional sangria are red wine, carbonated liquor, fruit juice and fruits. There is also a white version of sangria, it consists of carbonated water, fruits, a liqueur of your choice or even vodka for those who love it. In Catalonia, white sangría is also often made with cava as the main ingredient. Sangría is tastiest if you make it several hours or even a day in advance and refrigerate it. This allows the flavors to mix well. After the sangria comes out of the refrigerator, ice cubes are added and the sangría is served in a transparent decanter with a wooden spoon in it to remove the fruit from the bottom.

Spanish wine

Sangría is not the only popular drink in Spain. Red wine is also very popular. The Romans began making wine, however, by the end of the Roman era, Spanish wines were declining. In the Middle Ages, monks began making new wine. However, lack of knowledge caused mainly red wines to be made. However, it wasn't until the end of the 19th century that Spain became internationally known for its red table wines.

Cava

In the last century, cava has become increasingly well known. Cava is also known as the Spanish version of French Champagne. Cava is an effervescent white wine produced in Catalonia. There are 7 categories; brut nature, extra brut, brut, extra seco, semi seco and dulce, in order from very dry to sweet. According to connoisseurs, brut nature is the highest quality variety, as it is the purest form of cava. The recognized cava can be identified by the cork, where a four pointed star can be found.

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Cuzco, a sacred city in the Inca Empire

Cuzco, located in Peru on the west coast of South America. Located 3360 meters above sea level, Cuzco is the oldest city in the western hemisphere. Until the Spanish conquered Cuzco in the 16th century, it was an important city in the Inca Empire. Until the 16th century, Cuzco was the Inca capital of Tawantinsuyu. Since 1983, the old center of Cuzco has been on UNESCO's World Heritage List.

Cuzco is by no means the largest city in Peru. Cuzco has more than 300,000 inhabitants. The name Cuzco derives from the word "Quechua" which means navel, the navel of the world. Cuzco is also called the imperial city. From the 13th century, the Incas lived around Cuzco. Cuzco was the Inca capital of their empire. The Incas lived in Peru until the 16th century. The Inca empire expanded from northern Argentina to southern Colombia.

Cuzco is home to many attractions from the Inca Empire. For example, Plaza de Armas was the main square of the city. On this square you can find a beautiful cathedral and 2 churches, including Iglesia de Triunfo, the oldest church in Cuzco. The twelve-sided stone the Monastery of Santa Domingo and the Tambomachey are other important sights in Cuzco. Tambomachey is made of limestone and built by the Incas. In the Inca Empire, it had a religious function with water and earth. Today, water still flows through the Tambomachey. On June 24, the biggest festival of the year takes place in Cuzco, the Inti Raymi festival, the Feast of the Sun. This celebration includes many traditions and ceremonies from the Inca Empire.

The Inca trail

Near Cuzco lies the Sacred Valley. The Sacred Valley is ideal for a day trip from Cuzco. Besides being a beautiful setting for various activities, the Valley is also home to the remains of Inca villages. Also the Inca trail can be found here. The Inca Trail is a 33 kilometer trek that takes about four days to complete. It is the most famous hike in South America and is also in the top 5 hikes worldwide. The Inca trail was built by the Incas in the Sacred Valley. The Inca trail leads to Machu Picchu located just over 100km from Cuzco. Although Cuzco was the capital of the Inca Empire, today Machu Picchu is considered the most important city of the Inca Empire. When the Spanish conquered Peru in the 16th century, Machu Picchu was never found. This ensures that everything is the same as before, making it now one of the most important cities from the Inca Empire. The remains from the Inca Empire provide the most important information about how the Incas lived. The Incas could not write well, so apart from the remains from the Inca Empire, how the Incas lived is still a mystery.

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