Sonora puts Mexico among the world’s top culinary destinations, according to National Geographic

Amid deserts, mountains, and ancient agave traditions, the Mexican state of Sonora was included by National Geographic in its prestigious Best of the World 2026 list, which recognizes some of the planet’s most extraordinary destinations to travel, explore, and eat.

The international publication specifically highlights the resurgence of bacanora, an artisanal agave spirit deeply tied to Sonoran cultural identity that is now driving new tourism and culinary routes in northern Mexico.

“In a little-explored corner of the Sierra Madre Occidental in eastern Sonora, the revival of an agave spirit once banned is transforming the quiet cattle-ranching towns of Bacanora,” National Geographic wrote in its special 2026 destinations edition.

The magazine describes bacanora as an ancestral drink rooted in the Indigenous Ópata culture, whose communities produced agave-based beverages long before the arrival of the Spanish.

For centuries, Sonoran families used it at weddings, baptisms, and community celebrations until then-Governor Plutarco Elías Calles banned its production in 1915, considering it a threat to public morality.

The ban forced entire generations to produce bacanora clandestinely in remote mountainous areas of Sonora, where the drink survived for nearly 80 years as a symbol of cultural resistance.

National Geographic highlights that the spirit is now experiencing a new era thanks to artisanal producers and tourism projects seeking to preserve its essence amid concerns over possible mass industrialization.

The publication places special attention on the emerging “Ruta del Bacanora,” a tourism circuit promoted by producers, community organizations, and binational groups connecting towns such as Arivechi, Sahuaripa, Bacanora, and Ures.

Through the route, visitors can tour traditional vinatas, walk through agave fields, observe century-old distillation processes, and taste different varieties of the spirit directly at its place of origin.

“For those new to the world of mezcal, bacanora is an excellent introduction,” the magazine notes.

“Unlike most mezcals, it is made from a single type of agave with no additives, resulting in a smoother spirit with notes of candied agave and an earthy minerality unique to the arid foothills.”

The publication also warns about a proposal to expand Bacanora’s Denomination of Origin beyond eastern Sonora, an initiative that has generated concern among traditional producers over the possible loss of artisanal methods and cultural authenticity.

Beyond the drink itself, National Geographic describes Sonora as one of Mexico’s richest and least explored culinary venues.

The magazine points to Hermosillo as the gateway to a region renowned for the quality of its beef, its seafood from the Gulf of California, and a cuisine deeply shaped by the desert and ranching traditions.

Sonora also has one of Mexico’s most important cattle industries and is widely recognized for its carne asada cuts, considered among the country’s finest.

The inclusion in Best of the World 2026 places Sonora alongside international destinations selected by National Geographic for their cultural importance, authenticity, and tourism potential.

The magazine’s annual list often strongly influences global travel and gastronomic trends, particularly among international travelers seeking cultural and culinary experiences beyond traditional tourist routes.

The recognition also comes at a key moment for Mexican tourism as the country prepares to welcome millions of international visitors ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

In this context, Sonora aims to position itself not only as a destination for nature and adventure, but also as one of Latin America’s emerging culinary references, where the desert, agave, and family traditions tell stories that survive in every glass of bacanora.

Mexican Press Agency