Sea, ocean, mountains, canyons, and jungle make Mexico an adventurer's paradise. And when describing adventures in Mexico, travelers tend to toss around a lot of superlatives. It's not surprising: The country's unique geography offers up tons of opportunities. Here are some of our favorites:

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Up Next: Whale-Sharks

The world's largest fish (it can reach 60 feet long with a 5-foot-wide mouth), the whale-shark, may look like Jaws, but it's entirely harmless -- it feeds on plankton, not flesh. And Holbox Island, northwest of Cancun, is the perfect place to jump in the water and go snorkeling with them. Don't expect luxury on Holbox -- it's still undeveloped, and cars aren't allowed. All of that, of course, makes it ripe for adventure; in addition to the whale-shark, the waters are full of dolphins. Best from May to September.

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Up Next: Cenote Diving

The deeper you go inside these freshwater-filled limestone sinkholes, the more you'll discover. Divers can't help but love cenotes, because the water is crystal clear. The sinkholes often lead to underground caves, so while some operators offer snorkeling expeditions, diving is the most exciting way to explore. And the area around Tulum is a cenote diver's paradise, with the two longest underwater cave systems known on earth. Just pick your tour operator carefully -- cave diving is a tricky sport, even for experienced divers.

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Up Next: Hike Oaxaca

Walking the Mexican countryside is the best way to get up close to its gorgeous nature and friendly people. Hiking the Mixteca and Apoala Canyon outside Oaxaca City allows you to pass through the falls of Cascaded Cola de la Serpiente and swim in freshwater pools. Or lace up your boots and take on the 14,000-foot summit of Volcan Nevado de Toluca -- you'll be rewarded with a view out over its crater lakes. Another great hike: Piedra Larga, where rock formations and alpine forests give way to views of the Oaxacan Sierra Norte.

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Up Next: Copper Canyon

Four times larger than the Grand Canyon, Copper Canyon cuts its way through the Sierra Madres in breathtaking fashion. Copper is actually a series of six canyons, covering 25,000 square miles of the state of Chihuahua -- a narrow, verdant fissure in the earth. Travelers can trace the route on the Chihuahua al Pacifico Railroad, which snakes from the Pacific Ocean into the heart of the canyons (at around 8,000 feet) and over to Chihuahua City. The 14-hour trip makes seven stops, with hotels along the way and the opportunity to explore.

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Up Next: Whale Watching

Watching a whale breach the waters of the Pacific, flashing its massive tail before disappearing, is a heart-pounding affair. And year-round, the waters of Baja offer up some of the world's best whale watching. California grays make their way from Alaska in order to winter in these waters from January to March. Also, finback whales live full-time in the Sea of Cortez. The main place to see whales is called Scammon's Lagoon, but they also show up in Laguna San Ignacio as well as Bahia Magdalena, close to Loreto.

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