The most important event in Mexico’s tourism, Tianguis Turistico, continues to grow as expectations in terms of buyers and attendance have exceeded and broken record the past two years. Being held for the first time in Puebla, the 38th edition Tianguis Turistico was the largest in terms of countries represented — with over 42 present. For the 25,000+ attendees, events, parties, lunches, and tours were held all around the city. Puebla dazzled and delighted its visitors during the four day event showing off their cultural and historical highlights that warrants the recognition to be named a  UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Here are some of the places highlighted in Puebla during Tianguis Turistico:

Civic Center Cinco de Mayo
The Puebla Convention Center is located on the foothills of the Cerro Los Fuertes de Loreto y Guadalupe, which is where the Battle of Puebla on May 5 (Cinco de Mayo) took place back in 1862. Today, the Civic Center Cinco de Mayo remains as a place of major importance in the history of Mexico and is commemorated by memorial monuments, the old fort structures Fuerte de Loreto and Fuerte de Guadalupe,  and interactive museums of military history and talavera.

Centro Historico
The Historic Centre of Puebla, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1987, preserves over 2,500 monuments distributed across 391 blocks making Puebla the city with the largest number of monuments in the Americas. In the Historic Centre of Puebla, colorful, colonial architecture dominates and is strewn with unique cathedrals and churches, world-renowned gastronomy, bazaars and artisans.

Museo Nacional de los Ferrocarriles
An important piece of history, the Ferrocariles Mexicanos (Mexican Railway) Train Station was close to being demolished in the 1970s but was rescued for its declaration as cultural heritage. It later turned into a museum that today demonstrates the importance of its construction and locomotive engines that helped the development of the railway system in Mexico.

La Purificadora
Located in the Historical Center of Puebla, La Purificadora has converted from a late 19th-century factory once used to purify water for the production of ice to a trendy, boutique hotel. The hotel offers one of the best views of Puebla, overlooking San Francisco Church and beautiful gardens.

Cholula (Archaeological Site)
A newly recognized Pueblo Magico (Magical Town), Cholula is best known for its grand pyramid on which rests the large yellow church, Iglesia de los Remedios with a dramatic backdrop of the Popocatépetl Volcano. The pyramid, which is the largest pyramid in the world, is made up of sever overlaid pyramids built over a six century period. Today, the archaeological site includes ruins, tunnels, and a museum.

 El Mural de los Poblanos
Puebla is home to some of the most popular dishes in Mexican gastronomy and El Mural de los Poblanos restaurant is where you can find the some of these traditional Poblano treats. The house specialties are cemitas, chile relleno, and five kinds of mole all served up in an authentic and elegant way. They also have a wide selection of mezcales and tequila, mexican wines and cooking classes and workshops.

All photos taken from www.puebla.travel

Puebla is gearing up for the 38th Edition of the Tianguis Turistico — Mexico’s most important travel trade show. The fair will be held from March 17th to March 20th at the Exhibition Center in the state’s capital,  providing a unique business arena where domestic and international purchasers are able to meet with over 500 Mexican tourism service providers.

For 36 years, Tianguis Turistico had been held in Acapulco before deciding to become a traveling tourism fair, making its first stop in 2012 at the beach destination of Puerto Vallarta.  Puebla will be the first colonial destination of the Tianguis Turistico Mexico. While last year had a record-breaking attendance of 1,400 buyers and 7,500 attendees, this year Mexico is expecting to exceed that number with 1,500 buyers from 33 countries. Puebla was chosen as this year’s host because of it abundance of cultural and historical significance. In fact, the city of Puebla was named a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1987. Puebla commented that it will be a proud host and as part of preparations for Tianguis’ activities, the city has invested more than 300 million pesos in infrastructure.

If you are unfamiliar with Puebla, it has exquisite architecture which can be seen in its many churches and convents and it is also where some of the popular dishes of Mexican cuisine come from –such as chiles en nogada (a colorful blend of poblano peppers topped with a creamy walnut sauce and pomegranate seeds) and mole poblano. Puebla also is proudly home to seven Pueblos Magicos — recognized ‘Magical Towns’ that imbue certain characteristics and experiences through architecture, traditions, customs, music, gastronomy, festivities and handcrafts.

If you’re planning to attend this travel fair or visit Puebla for any reason, give Journey Mexico a call.  Matteo, Rene, and Jessica, will be representing Journey Mexico at this year’s Tianguis. If you would like to make an appointment, please email them.

It’s not too late to catch the April Journey Mexico Newsletter where our headline story highlights the fairs & festivals going on in Mexico. The spotlight section features Puebla, where you can also follow and share pictures, posts & video all month long on our facebook!  Our Travel Promotion highlights Hacienda Tres Rios and Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit. Ands always, you will also find the latest news of hotel & industry updates, and latest news from Journey Mexico including upcoming travel dates through April.

You can view the newsletter in its entirety here>>

In addition to sunny beaches, hidden cenotes and mysterious ruins, Mexico offers an amazing number of traditional culinary food choices that delight even the most adventurous palates. If you’re a dedicated foodie, why not take advantage of one of Journey Mexico’s Culinary Tours in Mexico? These excursions are designed to immerse you in Mexican culture, expose you to the culinary delights of this friendly land, teach you a few new cooking skills and create fond memories that you will cherish for a lifetime!

In honor of the upcoming La Feria De Puebla, we are highlighting Journey Mexico’s “A Taste of Puebla Culinary Trip.” If you schedule your excursion between the dates of April 13 and May 13 of this year, you can attend the Puebla Fair 2012 in addition to experiencing all that our customized itinerary has to offer.

La Feria De Puebla
Every year, more than a million exhibitors and visitors descend on quaint Puebla for this exciting event. During the course of an entire month, attendees enjoy the rich culture of this land including regional food, traditional drinks, arts and crafts exhibits, live performances and more.

A Taste of Puebla Culinary Trip
This organized tour is designed to allow you to fully explore the culinary opportunities of Puebla. In addition to simply enjoying these tasty dishes, you’ll learn traditional cooking methods from local chefs so that you can create your own Mexican masterpieces for friends and family back home.

The Taste of Puebla Culinary Trip is a well-rounded experience that includes visits to some of the most beautiful and historically significant sites surrounding Puebla. This is the perfect vacation choice for anyone who loves food, culture and history!

The highlights of this trip include:

• Take a private tour of the colonial buildings and historic churches located in Puebla’s historic city center.
• See the best that UNESCO has to offer on your guided tour of Puebla’s world heritage city.
• Take the Introduction to Pueblan Cuisine cooking course at Meson Sacristia. This class will teach you how to make salsa verde and roja, chalupas, arroz con leche and more.
• Enjoy breakfast, lunch and dinner at some of Puebla’s most interesting traditional venues.

This winning combination is one of the most enjoyable ways to learn more about the culture of friendly Mexico! Best of all, you’ll acquire new culinary skills that you will use for a lifetime.

Spring is a great time to travel, and Mexico is closer than you think. Although temperatures are excellent throughout the year, spring is exceptional in most destinations. Here are 5 top luxury Mexico vacations for this spring:

Cabo San Lucas
Cabo San Lucas, located in Baja California, is famous for whale watching, sea kayaking and coastal hiking. For the most luxurious accommodations, we recommend Hotel Las Ventanas, a 5-star venue in Cabo San Lucas. This upscale resort is all about pampering! Relax in front of your suite’s terra cotta fireplace, renew your soul in our world-class spa or savor the gourmet cuisine in one of the on-site eateries. The Hotel Las Ventanas is a Mexican paradise nestled between the ocean and the desert.

Riviera Maya
Located on the historic Yucatan Peninsula, you can experience the best of the old and new when you stay at the Hotel Rosewood Mayakoba on the Riviera Maya. Surrounded by the lush jungle with white Caribbean beaches at your doorstep, this luxury resort is the perfect mixture of natural beauty and sophisticated refinement. Here are a few things you can do during your stay:

• View the ancient Mayan ruins including Edzna, Chichen Itza and Coba.
• Float the peaceful waters at Celestun, an innovative eco-reserve.
• Explore Valladolid, a beautiful colonial town.
• Bask in the glory of the Mexican sun and cool off in the bright-turquoise Caribbean waters!

Mexico City
One of the largest and most industrious cities in the world, Mexico City offers the perfect mix of modern sophistication and old-world tradition. During your stay, you’ll discover some of the finest dining and shopping in the world as well a variety of cultural sites like the Catedral Metropolitana, Palacio Nacional and Teotihuacan. If you’re looking for a great place to stay, we recommend the Gran Hotel Ciudad de Mexico. In addition to a luxurious room and world-class service, this hotel has a spectacular view of Mexico City’s Historic Centre!

Puebla

If your mouth waters at the thought of authentic Mexican cuisine, Puebla is the perfect destination for your next trip south of the border!  In addition to sampling the local fare, you can learn to make some of these dishes by taking the Mexican Cooking Course at Meson Sacristia.  If you’re planning a visit to this 2012 internationally recognized destination, we recommend the Hotel La Purificadora. This boutique hotel, once a water-purification plant, was renovated by legendary Mexican architect Ricardo Legorreta.

Guanajuato
Visit the heart of Mexico to learn more about this country’s past. Discover the colonial architecture, learn more about famous Mexican artists and view one of the world’s biggest silver mines. While you’re visiting Guanajuato, stay at the Quinta Las Acacias, an exclusive, four-diamond hotel with just 17 opulent rooms. The décor is a mixture of classic European styles mixed with traditional Mexican craftsmanship.

These top luxury Mexico vacations are considered safe for travel by the US Department of State, so come and enjoy!

#MexicoToday: Every year, Lonley Planet publishes a ‘Best in Travel’ guide and ranks the top 10 countries, regions and cities to visit for the coming year. For 2012 Readers’ Choice,  Puebla, Mexico was named among one top 10 cities to visit.

Drawing on the knowledge, passion and miles travelled by Lonely Planet’s staff, authors and online community, they present a year’s worth of travel inspiration to take travelers of the ordinary and into some unforgettable experiences. Hot off the press, Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel 2012 had one difference in their decision process this year– they wanted to hear what the travelers of the world think will be 2012’s hottest destinations.  After hundreds of nominations for cities and countries and regions,  we are proud to see that Puebla, Mexico made the Top 10, alongside destinations such as Barcelona, Iceland, Rio de Janeiro, Istanbul and Bangkok.

Puebla, a charming colonial city with a UNESCO acknowledged Historic City center,  was recently reported one of the the Top 5 Safest Place to Travel in Mexico in the San Francisco Chronicle. It is a city known for it’s twin volcanoes, site of the Cinco de Mayo battle, great poblano gastronomy,  historic buildings and a wealth of archaeological sites. Combine this with it’s on-going  festivals and traditions, it is no wonder that Puebla draws in plenty of tourists each year to merit it’s Top 10 status among some of the grandest cities in the world.

Not convinced yet? Check out the website All About Puebla as it further examines all the attention Puebla has been getting lately, including recognition from National Geographic and The New York Times  who picked Puebla as one of its 45 places to go in 2012.

Start browsing our Puebla itineraries here and start planning your trip to one of 2012′s must visit cities.

Day 2 was a bit of a transit day as we made our way from Mexico City to Oaxaca, some 290 miles south/west. We did make two stops along the way, however, before we settled into our luxury coach for the 4 hour drive to Oaxaca.

Spanish Church Atop Tlachihualtepetl Pyramid

Our first stop was in Cholula to view Tlachihualtepetl, the Great Pyramid of Cholula, which is the largest archeological pyramid in the world (yes, bigger than all the pyramids of Egypt!). It may not be as well known to the world because of the fact that it is still buried under vegetation. When the Spanish conquered the area, they built a giant church atop the pyramid and allowed the pyramid to be covered with grass and weeds. Unfortunately, we didn’t have time to actually explore the pyramid and cathedral, but just seeing it in person was impressive.

Restuarants on the Zocala in Peubla

After Cholula, we continued on to the city of Puebla, with which I was most impressed. The city’s architecture consists of both Renaissance and Mexican Baroque buildings and structures, many of which are painted in bright blues, reds, and yellows. Puebla has a beautiful zocalo, or town square, surrounded by restaurants and charming cafes. On one side of the square is a cathedral that has the tallest bell tower in Mexico!

The Cathedral on the Zocalo of Puebla

We visited another church in Cholula that was radiant with golden intricacies before doing a site-inspection of Mesones Sacristia, which was a really interesting hotel with a lush courtyard. Before heading off to Oaxaca, we completed one last site-inspection at La Purificadora hotel, another of the Grupo Habita.

Lunch at the Purificadora Hotel

Purifacadora Hotel was amazing. The building used to be an old water purification factory, hence the name, and has since been converted into a massive boutique hotel that defines chic luxury. We had lunch at one of the gigantic wooden tables (made from beams found in the factory) before making our journey south. Stay tuned for three days of reporting from Oaxaca!

Go to Day 3 >>