Estado de México

The Estado de México is the most populous state in the country—with more than 17 million inhabitants—and completely surrounds Mexico City to the north, west, and south. This position makes it the transitional territory between the megalopolis and the countryside: Teotihuacán, Mexico's most visited archaeological zone, belongs administratively to the Estado de México, not to the capital.

Valle de Bravo, nestled in the mountains of the southern state on an artificial lake, is the favorite weekend escape for capitalinos: whitewashed colonial houses, waterfront restaurants, artisan shops, and water sports combine in a combination that rarely disappoints. Paragliding and free flying over Valle de Bravo's lake is one of the most exhilarating experiences in central Mexico.

The Nevado de Toluca, an inactive volcano at 4,558 meters in altitude, is Mexico's fourth-highest volcano and one of the few in the world where you can drive to the crater's edge to see its interior lagoons. Toluca, the capital—Mexico's highest city at 2,600 m—features a historic center with arcaded portals and the Cosmovitral, a leaded-glass art nouveau jewel spanning 7,000 square meters.

Malinalco, with its monolithic temple carved from living rock, and Tepotzotlán, with its Churrigueresque church considered Mexico's most ornate, are two archaeological and historical stops that merit their own detour from Mexico City.