Colonial Morelia is Michoacán's handsome capital

The lush, fertile central highlands west of Mexico City are well worthy of exploration for those in search of indigenous Mexican culture.

Colonial Morelia is a handsome capital indeed, but it's the countryside of the state of Michoacán where the magic lies.

Copper Canyon's so-called "Valley of Mushrooms"

Linking the dry desert interior of northern Mexico to its coast, the route traverses some truly spectacular scenery as it wends its way (along 655km, over 36 bridges and through 87 tunnels, fact fans) through some of the 20-plus canyons of the Sierra Tarahumara, of which Copper Canyon (Barranca del Cobre) is one.