Tucked away in the highlands of Pinal de Amoles, Querétaro, El Cedral is one of the most special and lesser-known natural areas in the Sierra Gorda Biosphere Reserve. This quiet, forested valley is one of the very few places in the Sierra Gorda where you can reliably and easily find ajolotes, also known as axolotls (Ambystoma species), living in the wild—something that has become increasingly rare throughout Mexico.

Hidden in the lush mountains of San Luis Potosí, the Sótano de las Golondrinas is one of the most spectacular natural formations in the world. This massive open sinkhole drops vertically into the earth and is famous for the daily flight of thousands of birds that spiral in and out of its depths. Visiting the Sótano is a powerful experience—one that combines geology, wildlife, and a sense of scale that is difficult to grasp until you stand at the edge.

Hidden deep in the jungle of the Huasteca Potosina, the Pozas of Sir Edward James, also known as Las Pozas, are one of the most unique and surreal places in Mexico. Located just outside the town of Xilitla, San Luis Potosí, this extraordinary site blends tropical forest, natural pools, waterfalls, and towering concrete sculptures into a dreamlike landscape unlike anywhere else.

Created by the British poet and patron of the Surrealist movement Sir Edward James, Las Pozas feels less like a garden and more like stepping into an unfinished dream.