As our world gets smaller and smaller thanks to mobile technology and social media, tourists are starting to look harder to find "off the beaten path" destinations. Mexico offers many popular beaches and hot spots, however its hidden gems are often forgotten or ignored.

Probably one of the most popular beaches in Mexico is Acapulco. This tourist resort hub became popular in the 1950s as the place where Hollywood and millionaires vacationed. More recently, Acapulco has been a favourite beach vacation spot for families and students on spring or winter break. With average temperatures in the high 20s to low 30s, Acapulco offers a welcome getaway from harsh Canadian winters. Of course, the white sand beaches and crystal clear blue waters don’t hurt either. But Acapulco is more than just beaches and water activities. There’s the hopping night life with world-renowned clubs and hotel bars and shopping malls to delight even the pickiest of souvenir collectors.

Just outside of Acapulco, is a cliff by the name of La Quebrada. Tourists and locals come regularly to watch the La Quebrada Cliff Divers who jump five times daily from 45 metres (150 feet) into the sea below. Divers have to time their dives precisely to avoid catching an incoming wave and being injured or killed. The last show of the day, done at 10:30pm, is probably the most exciting with the divers holding torches as they plunge into the water. Viewers can enjoy a "dining and seating” package from Hotel El Mirador on the upper balcony of its La Perla restaurant.

A little more off the beaten path, visitors can find the smaller town of Taxco, known as the silver Mecca of Mexico. High quality silver jewellery can be found at nearly every corner and locally made textiles are also available readily. Tourists can browse the local silver markets while enjoying local delicacies of jumiles, a small insect eaten live in a tortilla with salsa and avocado slices. A day in Taxco won’t be complete without a cable car ride from Hotel Monte Taxco. The ride allows you to view the entire city and surrounding beautiful natural scenes from up high. Just outside of this charming city, visitors can explore a network of underground caves at Grutas de Cacahuamilpa National Park. Grutas de Cacahuamilpa is one of the largest cave systems in the world and is great for spelunking. Visitors can explore 20 underground areas with rock formations of all sorts of different shapes and sizes. A small salon even has a grave for an Englishman and his, both of whom died of starvation while exploring the caves.

A short trip to the south west of Taxco brings visitors to the port of Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo. Ixtapa is a modern port, while Zihuatanejo is a historic, picturesque port town. On the beaches of both ports, visitors can take part in a local initiative to conserve the Hawksbill turtle and Olive Ridley sea turtle. From May to October, turtles return to these beaches to lay their eggs. Locals and visitors are trained to "catch” the eggs and place them in incubators while monitoring them. Once the turtles are old enough, volunteers release them onto the beach and watch them scamper towards the waters. This is definitely an experience not to be missed.