Veracruz, Mexico in $290s-$310s RT

Welcome to Mexico, sin turistas.

While spots like Cancún and Cabo are lovely and easy to visit, their tourism-centric infrastructure doesn't suit everyone. So if you long for seaside cabanas and lively nightlife, but don't mind leaving resort life in the rearview mirror, give this underrated Mexican state a chance!

Heroica Veracruz is the oldest Spanish-settled city in the country. In fact, this town is so old that its founder is literally Hernán Cortés. This is truly a destination for history buffs — reminders of the conquistadors, the Aztecs, and the conflicts between them can be found all over the area. 

Or maybe you prefer your ruins a little more ancient and mysterious? Head to El Tajín! This site was first occupied over 7,000 years ago, predating the Aztecs by millennia. Over the centuries, inhabitants built at least 150 structures, but here's the kicker — no one knows who they were. Whatever culture lived in those walls was forgotten well before Cortés set foot in Mexico, but you can still wander through them today.

So how's that for "off the beaten path" adventures? :-)