Alamos Become a Travel Agent Near Me

Overview

Introduction

Located in the Sierra Madre foothills of Southern Sonora, the colonial city of Alamos, in northern Mexico, has arrived on the tourism scene. Originally among Mexico's richest silver cities, Alamos became a ghost town after mine depletion, droughts, Indian uprisings and the 1910 Revolution. Since World War II, Alamos has slowly gained popularity with tourists as American artists and retirees began settling there.

Today, Alamos is composed largely of expatriates, with a total population of around 13,000 people. New mines have opened, and the 17th-century jail has been refurbished as a cultural center. Highways are being improved, and several franchise businesses have moved to Alamos. There are 188 colonial structures bearing National Historic Monument designation peppering the desert town, and Alamos hopes to become a UNESCO World Heritage Site. There is a thriving artisan community specializing in ceramics, masonry, tile and ironwork, and bird-watching is attracting more visitors.

Alamos can be reached by a 12-hour bus trip from Tucson or Phoenix, and the Ciudad Obregon airport is a 90-minute cab ride away.

Overview

Introduction

Los Alamos, 55 mi/90 km north of Albuquerque, is where Robert Oppenheimer convened the team of scientists that first developed and tested the atomic bomb. In the years since, the town has become the center of the nation's nuclear-arms program.

Today, the Los Alamos National Laboratory maintains a fully operational plutonium plant, and weapons research continues. The National Laboratory's Bradbury Science Museum traces the development of the bomb, which was as political as it was scientific.

If living in the nuclear age makes you nervous, visit to nearby Bandelier National Monument, where you'll find the ruins of an Ancestral Puebloan community from the 1000s (including petroglyphs and cliff dwellings).

Start at the visitors center, which has a brief slide show on the national monument. Then follow the easy walking trail past some of the cliff dwellings and petroglyphs. If you're up for the climb, be sure to see the kiva at Ceremonial Cave (you reach it by a series of four ladders—those with a fear of heights should skip it).

There's also an extensive system of trails—the one leading to the mysterious Shrine of the Stone Lions is a must visit. There's another section of the monument at Tsankawi, about 11 mi/18 km north of the main entrance. It's a prehistoric village at the top of a mesa with a great view of the countryside. You'll have to follow a sometimes-precarious clifftop trail and negotiate more ladders to get there. Outdoor lovers can enjoy extensive backcountry hiking opportunities in the park.

Los Alamos is also the beginning of a nice daylong loop along Highways 4 and 44 (you can end the trip in Albuquerque or Santa Fe, if you wish). It passes the giant caldera of the Valles Caldera National Preserve (with its ancient volcanic formations) and the Spanish mission, pueblo ruins and hot springs at Jemez Springs. Jemez Pueblo is 12 mi/20 km south of Jemez Springs. Another option is to take Highway 126 off Highway 4. It crosses some beautiful but rugged terrain along dirt roads and eventually emerges at the town of Cuba. This route is best accomplished in a vehicle with high ground clearance, but don't attempt it in any kind of vehicle if rain is threatening: The road turns into a quagmire when wet.

Overview

Introduction

Surrounded by sunny, idyllic beaches, the town of Palamos is located in a large bay along Spain's Costa Brava. The town began as a tiny fishing village in the 13th century, and the area is still famous for its prawns and fishing fleets. The Fishing Museum is worth a visit to better understand Palamos' deep connection to fishing.

In addition to its still thriving port, the town has an elegant yachting marina and promenade-lined beach, while close by a further range of swimming areas ranges from tiny pebbly coves like Cala Margarida to wide sandy bays like La Fosca. Regular cruceros (small ferry boats) provide a sort of aquatic bus service to other towns up and down the coast in summer.

Although it's a popular tourist town, Palamos has managed to preserve much of its original character and atmosphere, while also having a slightly cosmopolitan air. Shops here offers a wide range of both national and international goods, and the town's center boasts a fine Gothic church, Santa Maria, whose original medieval portal is still preserved today.

Location

Shore Excursions