Advertisement

Narcos star Diego Luna on the tiny Mexican town he calls 'the most relaxing place on Earth'

Something of an expert on Mexico's hidden treasures - 2018 WireImage
Something of an expert on Mexico's hidden treasures - 2018 WireImage

As the new Narcos: Mexico series begins, the Mexican actor recalls his most memorable travels around the world. 

I always look for the quietest corner on the planet

....where I can just be still for awhile, if I’m going on holiday on my own.  But if I’m with my children, it is all about exploring new places and entertaining them.

The most unique sunsets

…can be seen in Tulum on the Caribbean coast. Last summer, I took my son and daughter on holiday for just over a week to Punta Mita, a fishing village on the Riviera Nayarit, in Mexico, before we went to Tulum.

There’s a different energy and wildness

...about the Pacific coast of Mexico. Everyone’s usually all about the Caribbean coast when it comes to Mexico, but I really love the beaches along the Pacific Ocean.

I cross the border between Mexico and the US often

…usually two or three times a month. My children live in Mexico City so I travel back and forth to wherever my work takes me. I regularly visit California and New York City for work.

Downtown Mexico City at twilight - Credit: Osmany Torres Martín/Torresigner
Downtown Mexico City at twilight Credit: Osmany Torres Martín/Torresigner

My favourite city in the world

...has to be Mexico City. Every time I go back I realise how lucky I am to be in such an incredible, bustling and vibrant city.

It is essential to sit and stare

...contemplatively at the sea. It is the perfect antidote to the craziness of Mexico City.

I felt lost in the middle of nature

...in the Rocky Mountains of Canada in Calgary, one of my favourite filming locations. I was there for my first big film project outside of Mexico and we stayed in Banff. The forest, lakes and wildlife there were amazing. I was also recently in Toronto for more film work.

The Canadian Rockies
The Canadian Rockies

I love snow

I learned to ski quite late in life, as an adult during my third visit to the Sundance Festival. Since then I’ve been to ski every winter.

It felt like I was on Mars

...when I visited Jordan for work. I really enjoyed filming there, it was a fantastic experience.

Petra, Jordan - Credit: PocholoCalapre/PocholoCalapre
Petra, Jordan Credit: PocholoCalapre/PocholoCalapre

I fell in love with Berlin

...when I was there to film Berlin, I Love You. I truly ended up loving it for its inclusiveness and diversity. Buenos Aires is also one of my favourite places.

My earliest memory of travelling abroad

...was visiting England with my father when I was very young. I remember the plane was very smokey, because smoking was allowed on planes back then. We went to London and then to the countryside where my grandparents lived. I remember being shocked that people drove on the other side of the road. I also recognised myself in my relatives’ faces.

This tiny town is the most relaxing place on Earth

Tepoztlán, a small town in the state of Morelos, is where I go to relax and chill out.  It has been my bolthole since I was a child, as my father had a house there. Whenever I’m doing theatre in Mexico City, I like to escape there for a few days while I’m in town. The area has a strong community feel. You can hike up a mountain to explore this small pyramid complex - El Tepozteco - an archaeological site in Morelos. 

Tepoztlán, a small town in the state of Morelos in Mexico - Credit: Getty
Tepoztlán, a small town in the state of Morelos in Mexico Credit: Getty

We were two real men travelling

My best holiday ever was a trip I took with my father when I was seven years old to North Mexico. It was the first trip where I felt like we were two grown men on a journey together. I’ve had some great holidays with my own children there too now.

I love Baja California

...for its amazing diversity in culture and landscape. It’s also great for scuba diving and sailing. This northern part of Mexico is among my favourite parts of the country.

Oaxaca has an untouched feel

I also love visiting Oaxaca, in central Mexico. It hasn’t been developed extensively and is so full of personality with a great food scene. You can also visit the ruins around the city and of course there’s the fantastic Pacific coastline to explore.

The Santa Ana Zegache church in Oaxaca - Credit: This content is subject to copyright./Dermot Conlan
The Santa Ana Zegache church in Oaxaca Credit: This content is subject to copyright./Dermot Conlan

My most transformative travel experience

….was a trip to the Maldives. After a bit of snorkelling and paddle-boarding, I went to the Parley Ocean School and learned about how much plastic pollution is in the ocean. It was shocking. We also went to an uninhabited island that was already being ruined by plastic pollution from the ocean.

I felt like a different person

...when I returned to Mexico. That trip changed the way I relate to the sea completely. I really want to shout it out that we have to do something about this plastic problem.

Snorkelling in the Maldives at the Vilamendhoo island resort
Snorkelling in the Maldives

Narcos: Mexico, the new crime drama series starring Diego Luna, is availabe on Netflix from today. 

Interview by Roz Lewis