We were taught when to harvest agave, how to care for the soil, and how much we could ask of the forest. Today, that small-scale tradition exists alongside a global boom that has transformed mezcal into a major industry dominated by international brands. As mezcal has spread to bars around the world, so has its footprint on the land.
The intimate nature of small group travel strikes the perfect balance between structured guidance and personal freedom, allowing you to experience Costa Rica's wonders while connecting with like-minded adventurers. You'll gain access to local insights that guidebooks miss, share transportation costs, and enjoy the camaraderie of others who appreciate the same natural wonders you do.
At least that's the mood director Gianfranco Rosi evokes in his mesmerizing documentary Pompei: Below the Clouds, which won a Special Jury Prize at the Venice Film Festival last year and is finally being released theatrically in the U.S., ahead of a March 27 streaming premiere on Mubi. The apocalypse Rosi presents is not just the legendary one that destroyed the ancient Roman town of the film's title but an ongoing one that encompasses the calamities of our modern era as well as the rejuvenation that sometimes accompanies destruction.
Although Kansas has no active volcanoes, the region marks the southern reach of the Midcontinent Rift System, a massive tectonic event that nearly split North America apart in Earth's distant past. When magma forced its way through the crust during that period, it left behind hardened igneous rock and deep fractures that remain buried thousands of feet underground.
Before the 1970s, ancient Maya history was impenetrable. The civilization's grand ceremonial buildings and striking art, created in parts of Mesoamerica during the Classic Maya period (ad 150-900) had tantalized foreign visitors since the arrival of Spanish conquistadors in the sixteenth century. But no one, including several million twentieth-century speakers of Maya languages, could read the ancient Maya hieroglyphs.
A favorite of backpackers, outdoor adventurers, and national park wanderers alike, Cotopaxi is known for its deceptively spacious bags, outdoor gear, protective clothing, and colorful styles. I've spent my fair share of time trekking up and down the country with my own Cotopaxi bag ( Cotopaxi Allpa 35L Travel Pack), which has seen such sights as Acadia National Park and downtown Boston, and on a recent trip to Italy, my travel partner brought hers along the Amalfi Coast.
Researchers have detected rising temperatures, bubbling gases and unusual sulfur formations inside Mexico's El Chichón volcano, also known as Chichonal. The changes were recorded by scientists from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) during monitoring between June and December 2025. The volcano last erupted in 1982, killing at least 2,000 people in one of Mexico's deadliest volcanic disasters. Scientists observed elevated heat, shifting crater-lake chemistry, and gas emissions including hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide, which can be hazardous in high concentrations.
The Mexican Pizza has been a Taco Bell fan favorite since it was first introduced to the menu back in 1985 - though it went by a different name back then, the Pizzazz Pizza. In its current form at the fast food chain, this dish consists of two layers of crisp flour tortillas with refried beans and seasoned ground beef sandwiched in the middle, and "Mexican Pizza Sauce," melted cheese, and diced tomatoes on top.
The Andes Cordillera is full of incredible sights, unique ecosystems, and unforgettable experiences. I believe there's something here for everyone, from vibrant cities to towering volcanic peaks.
The government of Baja California Sur, home to popular tourism spots like Los Cabos, announced the Embrace It fee - a mandatory tax for visitors over 12 who stay in the country for more than 24 hours - in June. And now, as of January, the price has increased from 470 Mexican pesos (about $25) to 488 pesos (about $28).
Traveller check into hotels for easy access to historical Mayan sites and the cenotes beyond, with ambles through colourful squares and late, balmy nights digesting feasts over tequila tipples. Between cultural excursions and natural wonders, however, there's much to be said for the artisans in these parts. From crafted perfumes to handmade chocolates, these are the gifts and trinkets to make space for in your luggage.
In the small town of Chipaya, everything is dry. Only a few people walk along the sandy streets, and many houses look abandoned some secured with a padlock. The wind is so strong that it forces you to close your eyes. Chipaya lies on Bolivia's Altiplano, 35 miles from the Chilean border. The vast plateau, nearly 4,000 metres above sea level, feels almost empty of people and animals, its solitude framed by snow-capped volcanoes. It raises the question: can anybody possibly live here?
Archaeologists in Mexico have uncovered a 1,400-year-old tomb in the Central Valleys of Oaxaca that had been lost to history. The stone structure, built by the Zapotec culture, known as Be'ena'a, or 'The Cloud People', is adorned with sculptures, murals and carved symbols that suggest ritual significance. The Zapotec believed their ancestors descended from the clouds and that, in death, their souls returned to the heavens as spirits.
BackcountryFor most skiers, "all-inclusive" means a lift ticket and a buffet. Forrest Schmidt means something very different: a hot titanium stove in a tipi, filet mignon next to a steaming hot spring, and ancient araucaria trees holding cold smoke over a perfectly set skintrack. Schmidt, a 44-year-old "East Coast kid" from rural New York, runs APEX Andes (Andes Puro Exploraciones) out of Malalcahuello in Chile's Araucanía region. His guide service is small by design with
Quintana Roo is consistently Mexico's most-visited state. Travelers flock here for blue waters rich in snorkeling and dive sites, powder-soft sands, ancient Maya cities cocooned by jungle, and a proliferation of rowdy bars, clubs, and all-inclusive resorts. But as millions of sun-hungry travelers pack their bags for Cancun, Playa del Carmen, and Tulum this winter, remember there are still pockets of secluded paradise to be found and cherished along Mexico's Caribbean coastline.
Make no mistake: tackling Mexico's Baja Divide trail isn't for everyone. It's a strenuous, lengthy journey along graded dirt backroads and rough, sandy tracks. Covering more than 1,700 miles, the route starts in San Diego, California, and ends in La Paz, Mexico, connecting the Pacific Ocean with the Sea of Cortez. If you're familiar with the Baja California peninsula, though, you're well aware that this part of the country is rich in natural beauty.
Spirits brand Clase Azul México will soon open a brand-new home in the city's Polanco area on Feb. 17, offering guided tastings, rotating art installations, private events, and more. The new address, dubbed "Casa de Los Leones," or House of the Lions, was built in a historic mansion where original elements like stained glassed windows were preserved, juxtaposed with contemporary design.
