Mexico's UNESCO World Heritage Sites

From my home base in the central highlands of Michoacan, next month I will be traveling to the state of Oaxaca in the South Pacific region of Mexico where as part of a birding/nature/cultural/culinary tour, I will be spending considerable time at the UNESCO's “cultural” World Heritage Site of the historic city centre of  Oaxaca and the archaeological site of Monte Alban (said to be a prime birding location, also!). Then less than two months later, I will be off to the Yucatan Peninsula region, not to bask in the expensive, er I mean expansive white sands of Cancun but rather to enjoy the natural environment of the Riviera Maya, especially at the “natural” World Heritage Site of Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve, Quintana Roo where I hope to see upwards of 80 species of birds and various species of amphibians, reptiles, insects, and mammals. Overall, in the five years that I have been living in Mexico, I have positively experienced ten of the country’s World Heritage Sites.

Out of 936 World Heritage Sites worldwide, Mexico has 31, four “natural” ones and twenty-seven “cultural” ones. Mexico ranks first in the Americas in the number of sites. With those 31 sites within its territory, Mexico ranks sixth worldwide only behind Italy (47), Spain (43), China (41) France (37), and Germany (36). Befitting Mexico's diverse and complex history, twelve of the cultural sites reflect the country's indigenous/pre-Hispanic heritage while fifteen represent the colonial period (note: two of the sites included above are from both pre-Hispanic and colonial times-two others, not included above, are illustrative of 20th century design and architecture).

Using the excellent Unesco World Heritage Centre Website as a reference, the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) “seeks to encourage the identification, protection and preservation of cultural and natural heritage around the world considered to be of outstanding value to humanity.” “Cultural heritage refers to monuments, groups of buildings, and sites with historical, aesthetic, archaeological, scientific, ethnological or anthropological value. Natural heritage refers to outstanding physical, biological and geological formations, habitats of threatened species of animals and plants and areas with scientific, conservation or aesthetic value. “

In 1978, the first 12 international sites were ascribed onto the World Heritage List. To be included on that list, countries must first sign the World Heritage Convention (1972) pledging to protect their natural and cultural heritage. Upon signing, they may then submit nominations of sites that are within their territory. For a site to be accepted, it must have “outstanding universal value” and satisfy at least one out of ten selection criteria which are regularly revised. The key word is UNIVERSAL as in theory and practice all of the sites belong to everyone on the planet regardless of where one may actually reside.

The following is a chronological listing of Mexico’s WORLD HERITAGE SITES, including the state(s) that they are located in and the year that they were inscribed onto the list:

-Pre-Hispanic City and National Park of Palenque, Chiapas-1987
-Historic Centre of Puebla, Puebla-1987
-Historic Centre of Mexico City (Federal District) and Xochimilco-1987
-Sian Ka’an, Quintana Roo-1987
-Historic Centre of Oaxaca, Oaxaca and Archaeological Site of Monte Alban-1987
-Pre-Hispanic City of Teotihuacan, State of Mexico-1987
-Pre-Hispanic City of Chichen-Itza, Yucatan State, 1988
-Historic Town Of Guanajuato, Guanajuato and Adjacent Mines-1988
-Historic Centre of Morelia, Michoacan-1991
-El Tajin, Pre-Hispanic City, Veracruz-1992
-Rock Paintings of the Sierra de San Francisco, Baja California-1993
-Historic Centre of Zacatecas, Zacatecas-1993
-Whale Sanctuary of El Vizcaino, Baja California-1993
-Earliest 16th-Century Monasteries on the Slopes of Popocatepetl, States of
Morelos, Puebla, and Mexico-1994
-Historic Monuments Zone of Queretaro, Queretaro-1996
-Pre-Hispanic town of Uxmal, State of Yucatan-1996
-Hospicio Cabanas, Guadalajara, Jalisco-1997
-Historic Monuments Zone of Tlacotalpan, Veracruz-1998
-Archaeological Zone of Paquime, Chihuahua-1998
-Archaeological Monuments Zone of Xochicalco, Morelos-1999
-Historic Fortified Town of Campeche, Campeche-1999
-Ancient Maya City of Calakmul, Campeche-2002
-Franciscan Missions in the Sierra Gorda of Queretaro-2003
-Luis Barragon House and Studio, Mexico City (Federal District)-2004
-Islands and Protected Areas of the Gulf of California, Baja California, Baja
California Sur, Sinaloa-2005
-Agave Landscape and ancient Industrial Facilities of Tequila, Jalisco-2006
-Central University City Campus of the Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico
(UNAM, Mexico City (Federal District)-2007
-Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve, Michoacan-2008
-Protective Town of San Miguel and the Sanctuary of Jesus de Nazareno de Antotonilco, Guanajuato-2008
-Prehistoric Caves of Yagul and Mitla in the Central Valley of Oaxaca-2010
-Camino Real de Tierra Adentro, State of Mexico, Queretaro, Guanajuato, Jalisco, San Luis Potosi, Aguascalientes, Zacatecas, Durango, Chihuahua (also includes in the U.S., Texas and New Mexico)-2010

Reflecting the wealth, magnificence, grandieur, and diversity of Mexico’s cultural and natural heritage, I have never been to one of its World Heritage Sites that I did not enjoy immensely (discounting, of course, those beyond persistently pesky souvenir vendors at the sprawling, awe-inspiring, and sublime pre-Hispanic city of Teotihuacan outside of Mexico City). So far, hopefully not being provincial, my favorite cultural site has been the majestic “pink” colonial core of Morelia in my adopted home state, Michoacan. No excuses in terms of time and logistics not to put on my “natural must see list,” I shall plan to go to Michoacan’s world famous butterfly sanctuary. If I can spend 32 plus hours one way by bus to experience the wonders of Sian Ka’an, I can somehow manage to go see those marvelous migrating monarchs, a mere four or so hours from where I live!