From desert to dreams.

Cactus flourish as the sun bakes the rocky, harsh and impressive mountain desert landscape. The car wants to race down the seemingly endless hills as we make a significant dive from 1850 metres above sea level to the capital of the impressive la Hausteca, Cuidad Valles, situated at about 80 odd metres.

"The morning sun rises over one of the many La Hausteca mountain ranges."

Almost as if someone had flicked life support back on, we passed another peak and suddenly vibrant plant life beamed. Bright emerald lit up the mountainside and provided a striking contrast to the cloudless sky above.

La Hausteca, a geographical and cultural region found on the west coast of Mexico, spans a number of it’s 31 states. Ancient civilisations came and went throughout Mexico’s rich history, and it is believed the Haustec’s are what remain of the Mayan expansion north of El Tajin. Encouragingly, Indigenous communities can still be found in this area to date.

Adding to the rich heritage of this region, modern conflicting theorems exist, indicating that the Mayan calendar was in fact created not far from Cuidad Valles.

"The afternoon sun breaks through the dense canopy of the La Hausteca rainforest."

As the bitumen snakes beside an imposing mountain range that traces the sky all the way to the horizon, I am captivated by the towering limestone faces that punctuate the dense tropical rainforest that runs uninterrupted to the side of the road we are travelling on. Some parts of these forests are virgin or semi-virgin and the hot and humid climate provides vital habitat for a range of animals including parrots, macaws, spider monkeys, owls, eagles, toucans, raccoons and jaguars.

The canopy of the forest tries hard to mask what is hiding beneath, but heavy flowing turquoise-blue rivers that host countless towering waterfalls draw world reverence. Deep pits that could swallow a New York skyscraper whole, litter the mountainous forest.

It’s time to get busy living. Time for the adventure to begin.

- Ryan