3 Best Sights in Mexico

Known as El Angel, this Corinthian column topped by a gilt angel is the city's most uplifting monument, built to celebrate the 100 anniversary of Mexico's War of Independence. Beneath the pedestal lie the remains of the principal heroes of the independence movement; an eternal flame burns in their honor. As you pass by, you may see one or more couples dressed in their wedding apparel, posing for pictures on the steps of the monument. Many couples stop off here before or after they get married, as a tribute to their own personal independence from their parents.

The bronze art deco dome of the monument commemorating Mexico's bloody, decade-long revolution, which began in 1910, gleams like a beacon at the end of Avenida Juárez, one of the Alameda's busiest thoroughfares. Take an elevator to the observation deck up top, which offers 360-degree views of the city, or admire the Oliverio Martinez sculptures that adorn the four corners of the monument from below. There's also a small café and museum devoted to the history of the Revolution accessible at an additional cost. Lit up nightly at 10 pm, the monument is a moving sight. At the base of the pillars lie the remains of important figures from 20th-century Mexican history, including those of Pancho Villa.

A globe-shape monument marks the spot where the Tropic of Cancer line (the northernmost circle of latitude at which the sun can be seen directly overhead on the summer solstice) crosses Baja California Sur. The line separates Earth’s temperate zone and the tropics. Of course, Baja is Baja, and you won’t detect any difference in climate no matter which side of the line you are on. The geographical milepost is easily seen from the highway, but it's worth getting out of the car to pop into the shops surrounding it, which offer arts and crafts from local communities. There are restrooms available (but bring your own toilet paper) and a nice ice-cream shop next door. Also, here is a beautiful shrine to the Virgin of Guadalupe, where Catholics will visit to light candles and pray. It is a stop on a local pilgrimage that takes place each year on the Dia de la Virgen (December 12) and ends in nearby Miraflores.