Jalisco has the fourth-largest deposits of obsidian in the world. The ancient rulers of the Teuchitlan Nation, which dominated western Mexico for about 800 years, found that the very purest obsidian could be found in two large deposits: La Joya and El Pedernal.

While hiking along the Angostura Interpretive Trail—located seven kilometers north of Lake Chapala—I came upon a flat rock about the size and height of a low table.

For an up-close-and-personal turtle experience, you can’t beat the aptly named Playa de las Tortugas, located 21 kilometers due south of San Blas, in the state of Nayarit.

On our first visit to San Blas, we went on a panga ride down the Estuario San Cristobal, where we spotted all manner of birds and other wildlife.

Having lived in Mexico for many years, I have come to believe that the word “ley” has a very different meaning here from the concept of “law” I grew up with as a child.

Cancún is a planned city, developed by entrepreneurs as an alternative to Acapulco.