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What people love about mexico tours, most popular destinations in mexico, travel mexico your way, top operators in mexico, best places to start your mexico tour, discover mexico tours for every budget.

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Nadine Mexico travel expert at TourRadar

Mexico Yucatán Experience

“It was a trip of a lifetime. I had the most amazing time, I would highly recommend.” Beth, traveled in April 2024

• Explore the crystal Carribean sea via an island boat trip
• Chill out on the pristine, white sandy beaches of Cancun
• Dive into the culture at the ancient site of Chichen Itza

Authentic Central Mexico

• In-depth Cultural
• Walking Adventure
• Explore Mexico City with a local guide
• Tour Frida Kahlo's iconic home
• Discover ancient pyramids at Teotihuacan

Wonders of the Maya

“This tour was an excellent way of seeing the Wonders of the Maya. What was described in the tour guide happened.” Gregory Wake, traveled in January 2024

• Coach / Bus
• Admire Tulum's ruins beside turquoise waters
• Visit Uxmal and the Cacao Museum
• Discover Chichen Itza's ancient Maya ruins

Mexico Colonial Cities

“We saw beautiful cities and learned so much about Mexico. Everything was arranged for us, yet it was just the two of us, and we had the flexibility to explore on our own.” Beth Meyer-Frank, traveled in May 2024

• Educational
• Christmas & New Year
• See Guadalajara's top attractions
• Tour San Miguel de Allende's landmarks
• Explore the Basilica de Guadalupe complex

A Taste of Mexico City, City Break

“The tour is fantastic and amazing.” Voon Choy Chai, traveled in January 2024

• Sightseeing
• Tour Teotihuacan and the Basilica of Guadalupe
• Dine at Bellini with panoramic city views
• Visit the Frida Kahlo Museum in Coyoacan

Amazing Tour aroung Mexico Yucatan with the best ever Eva as a guide.

This tour was AMAZING. Daniel, our tour guide was extremely knowledgeable about all the Mayan sites we visited. He also did ALL THE WORK of securing admission tickets so that we did not have to wait in any long lines. Along the way, he took us to some wonderful & always delicious restaurants for lunch. He also advised us on good places to eat dinner in each of our hotel stays. What's more, he advised in several places to eat at the hotel since walking into the urban areas

We had a fantastic México Colonial Cities tour! We saw beautiful cities and learned so much about Mexico. Javier was our online tour operator/guide. He was always friendly and professional, and would text us our itinerary for the next day including our tour info, hotel, and our driver’s info. The hotels and tours were just what we would have chosen for ourselves. However, if you want a tour guide with you and you want to travel with a group of people throughout the tour, then this isn’t the tour for you. For my husband and I, it was perfect. Everything was arranged for us, yet it was just the two of us, and we had the flexibility to explore on our own restaurants and the cities during our free time. Javier was always available online if we had questions. For 4 of our walking tours, it was just the 2 of us and our guides - all the guides were great! We highly recommend this tour and will be traveling with Tour Radar again.

Central Mexico

Stroll into the vibrant markets of Mexico City, wander through the historic charm of Guanajuato, and uncover the ancient mysteries of the Teotihuacan pyramids. Savor authentic tacos in Puebla and immerse yourself in Frida Kahlo's art in Coyoacán.

Explore Yucatan’s crystal-clear cenotes, discover the ancient Mayan ruins of Chichen Itza, and wander Merida's vibrant streets. Indulge in local cuisine, explore wildlife-packed biosphere reserves, and chill on pristine beaches.

Pacific Coast Mexico

Relax on Puerto Vallarta's stunning beaches, surf in Sayulita, and explore the vibrant art scene in Mazatlán. Discover the natural beauty of Cabo San Lucas, visit Acapulco's historic sites, and enjoy fresh seafood along the scenic Pacific Coast.

Snap a photo of the Hollywood sign in Los Angeles, cycle the iconic Golden Gate Bridge in San Fransisco, or venture to the land of geysers and mountains in Yellowstone National Park. There's so much to discover in the Golden State.

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Find the perfect tour for your family, catering to all ages with over 289 family tours available in Mexico.

Fully Guided

Select from our extensive range of 289 fully guided tours to enjoy a worry-free experience through Mexico with our expert guides leading the way.

An Explorer tour in Mexico promises thrilling adventures and diverse landscapes. Mexico's vast and varied terrain offers great opportunities for hiking, biking, and discovering off-the-beaten-path destinations, ensuring an exhilarating and unforgettable journey.

Choose from over 289 cultural tours and explore historical sites, local traditions and immerse yourself in the vibrant culture of Mexico.

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"This was an epic organized adventure

TruTravels is an expert in:

Culture Trip is an expert in:

"The tour was perfect! Very blessed to have Saul and Luis as our guides. They were very professional, knowledgeable, respectful. We felt very safe and they were so passionate of the culture and heritage, I am deeply touched. Thank you for presenting this beautiful heritage. So glad to have meet you both. The hotels chosen are all clean and in good location. We have no issues. Again thanks to Saul and Luis, locals treated us very kindly. The tour is also very packed so we covered a lot in just 3 days. So thankful for our guides who drove hours to bring us safely to sites. There were only 2 couples and we had a lot of space and comfort in the van. Great drivers too, usually I get car sick but not with them. I will recommend this tour.

Destination Services Mexico is an expert in:

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• Itineraries between 3 days and 24 days
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Generating impact every step of the way

Meet local communities, foster job opportunities, boost the local economy and help restore the environment.

“Being able to receive visitors is of utmost importance for us as it leads to the creation of employment opportunities and promotes the development of the areas where the tourist attractions are located. Moreover, it provides a great chance for individuals to come together, share experiences, and learn about different perspectives.”

“Thanks to the partnership between Rutopía and the ecotourism project "Mujeres Milenarias" in El Almacén, Oaxaca, this destination has welcomed more than 100 visitors to date, providing a source of income for local families to reinvest in the project's development and allocate funds towards the restoration of their ecosystems.”

Therefore, we comply with the highest standards of sustainability, social impact, environment, transparency and legality. At Rutopía, we assume a commitment to continuous improvement.

Mexico awaits. Experience the magic

Travel over mexico with rutopía, why travelers love rutopía.

Personalized experience

Everything is customizable to fit your needs, so you can have the trip of your dreams. Let us show you the true magic of Mexico.

Seamless trips

Hand over the planning to us and just enjoy your time. Our experienced travel planners at Rutopía will ensure a smooth trip.

Personalized 
 ‍ by a local expert

Take a moment to envision waking up to freshly made tortillas from places like Oaxaca and indulging in the authentic flavors of local Mexico. Our trusted travel experts will show you the most beautiful Mexican sites, giving you privileged access to unknown yet breathtaking places around the country.

The uncommon Mexico is here

Delivering memorable moments and positively impacting others is who we are. We open the heart of Mexico to you, providing local trips by local people.

Unique lodgings & activities

Hotels, glamping cabins, or somewhere in between? You choose what fits you best! Oh, and while you’re at it, have a taste of Mexico’s finest tequila from places like Jalisco.

Safe trips guaranteed

safe at every point of your journey while enjoying beautiful locations such as Chiapas and Puebla alongside your personal guide.

How can indigenous and rural communities in Mexico benefit from their rich biodiversity and culture while preserving and regenerating it and creating dignified job opportunities? This was the question posed by Sebastián Muñoz and Emiliano Iturriaga in 2017, after months of collaborating on a participatory design project with these communities. The answer is through alternative, regenerative, sustainable, community-based and ecological methods; in other words, impact tourism.

And that's how Rutopía was born, as a social enterprise whose mission is to regenerate nature and culture through tourism. In 2019, it was awarded the most prestigious prize in Social Entrepreneurship: the Hult Prize, granted by the United Nations and personally presented by Bill Clinton.

Rutopía is the first tourism company in Mexico to be certified by the B Corp label. It was recognized by Forbes Mexico in 2021, and in August 2022, Rutopía was selected as the tourism promise by CNET (Information public until September 2022). It also received the Iberoamerican Award for Social and Sustainable Tourism in 2023.

Meet our travel experts

A common concern that a visitor experiences is how well the product or service will be supported. Introducing the team eases fears while showing confidence.

French-born living in Mexico, with 12 years of experience in tourism, specializing in crafting off-the-beaten-path adventures in Mexico. With a deep passion for exploration and a profound love for the country. She takes travelers on a journey beyond the typical tourist hotspots. Her unique itineraries unveil the hidden gems of Mexico, showcasing its lesser-known archaeological wonders, secluded natural wonders, and vibrant local cultures.

French-born living in Mexico, she’ll help you embark on a one-of-a-kind adventure, uncovering the treasures of Mexico that often go unnoticed by conventional travelers. Get ready to embrace the magic of Mexico in a whole new light, with a passionate travel specialist who knows how to make your journey truly unforgettable.

She takes great pride in her Mexican heritage and possesses an unbridled passion for travel. With the privilege of having visited 25 different countries, her recent four-year focus has been on uncovering and revealing the concealed gems within her beloved Mexico. Her personal interests are deeply rooted in learning about the ancient history and culture of her homeland, serving as a way to connect with her heritage. Her ideal travel experiences encompass a harmonious blend of outdoor adventures, be it in the mountains or by the beach, coupled with the exploration of cities and towns rich in cultural treasures.

A proud Mexican hailing from the small city of Tlaxcala. Over the past four years, she has been dedicated to exploring the diverse landscapes of Mexico and has developed a profound appreciation for the authentic Mexico she has come to adore. It's a Mexico brimming with culture, natural wonders, and warm-hearted people. What sets her apart is her commitment to traveling with a positive impact and forging meaningful connections. Karen is eager to share her wealth of experiences and knowledge to assist you in crafting an authentic journey through Mexico that reflects her passion and values.

Daniela has always felt a great fascination for exploring the world since she was a young. She has a strong passion for traveling, and for the past few years, she has been living in Mérida, a city that has allowed her to explore the wonderful Yucatan Peninsula with its natural and cultural marvels. As a travel specialist, Daniela is dedicated to meticulously planning completely personalized travel itineraries, enabling travelers to discover Mexico in an authentic way, ensuring unforgettable experiences.

A French-born but Mexican at heart, and she will be your local specialist for your trip. "Mucho gusto!" as they say here! Since living in Mexico, she has had the opportunity to explore magical villages, local customs, sandy beaches, and has fallen in love with its aromas and colors. What a joy to know that you have chosen to discover the diverse ancestral culture of this multifaceted country!

Proudly Mexican and having immersed himself in the heart of Mexico's diverse regions, he curates experiences that allow you to venture off the tourist trail and discover the authentic essence of the country. From exploring ancient ruins tucked away in remote jungles to savoring the rich tapestry of Mexican cuisine in local markets, his alternative routes promise a deeper, more meaningful connection to Mexico's beauty and heritage.

Mexican who holds a deep love for travel, values environmental awareness, and seeks to glean knowledge from diverse global cultures. He firmly endorses travel as a means of fostering positive personal growth and development. Recognizing that his homeland ranks among the world's top tourist destinations, he’s dedicated to ensuring that every visitor enjoys the most exceptional experience possible.

French-born living in Mexico who enjoys sharing his passion for this wonderful country with you through its various aspects: its archaeological temples, numerous museums, nature outings by the sea or in the jungle, the diversity of its cuisine, and the richness of the local communities with whom we are fortunate to work.

Residing in Cancun, he has had the privilege of embarking on comprehensive tours of the Yucatan Peninsula, as well as exploring portions of Chiapas and Mexico City. With over fifteen years of global travel and work experience, his heart was captured by Mexico a few years ago. As a seasoned travel consultant, he excels in crafting custom itineraries for some of the world's most exclusive destinations, with a particular expertise in this fantastic country. Andrea is here to provide his expertise and support for travelers' needs.

A French-born and an adoptive Mexican. She’ll be glad to introduce you to this fabulous country, Mexico, its beaches, its must-visit archaeological sites, its cuisine, and the various local communities with which she collaborates. Living in Playa del Carmen, she has had the opportunity to travel all around the Yucatan Peninsula and also to visit parts of Chiapas, Oaxaca, and Mexico City. She enjoys engaging with locals, getting lost in villages, and discovering the best restaurants!

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For those who don't like to manage logistics like hotels, rental cars, activities. And above all, to have someone who speaks fluent French that we can reach at any time for the unexpected... You are in the right place! Thank you to Chloe for the preparation of our trip, to Melina our Ariadne's thread and Teresa for her welcome and help at the arrival and departure. A big thank you to Enrique and Blanca from Nuevo-Durango for their welcome, their smiles, their family, a lot of emotions at the time to leave you. Thanks to Mémo for your teaching of Mexican customs (Sian Ka'an) The Yucatan is a magnificent region. And the population is very pleasant. Only downside Holbox... Too much dust, too much smell of fuel oil, too much tourist. I will keep in memory these wonderful moments!

Discovering wonderful and surprising sites, Mayan communities with an unforgettable welcome, breathtaking landscapes, a very pleasant climate in the middle of March...and smiling people! A big thank you to Rutopia and his team for the elaboration of this ideal circuit, alternating nature, city life, simplicity and comfort. Thanks to Mélina for the follow-up during our trip. We don't speak Spanish well enough, and we appreciated having a French-speaking contact person who could be reached if necessary. We still have a lot to discover and hope to come back very soon, and with Rutopia without hesitation!

The trip was perfectly organized, we were always exclusive or in very small groups and had freedom to do our own activities. All accommodations were fantastic and sustainable, the food almost always local and very good, we could always fill our Rutopia water bottles and travel as plastic free as possible. We were met at the airport and had assistance getting a rental car. After that, we traveled independently but had our fixed dates and reservations with Rutopia. It was the perfect mix!

We were traveling as a group of friends with nothing organized. We like to improvise and be able to find alternative plans to the conventional tourist routes. We arrived in Puerto Escondido - Mexico's paradise - and started looking for options. A Mexican friend recommended us to contact Rutopia and we did. We explained our way of traveling - which they quickly understood - and in a few hours they came to us with a perfect selection of activities. We chose one of them and the next day we found ourselves galloping through beautiful hills, crossing a small lagoon in canoes, bathing on an unspoiled beach at sunset and sipping freshly picked coconuts with some mezcal. We had dinner in the only hut on the beach, eating fish that had been caught that day from the lagoon. Then we went to see the luminescence of the placton with paddle canoes until we were surprised by one of the biggest and reddest moons I have ever seen in my life. We ended up sleeping in bamboo huts a few meters from the waves. There were no more than 5 huts on the miles of beach that we could see. And at ALL times with an exquisite treatment - sympathy, kindness and attention. This is just one of the plans we booked with Rutopia, which definitely changed the course of our trip. Without a doubt, I would repeat this experience in any place I would like to visit in Mexico. Viva Mexico!

We have worked with Rutopia for several tours in Mexico in the Yucatán and Chiapas and we have never been disappointed. Authentic experiences, with locals, in magical places and off the beaten tourist track. Our contact Marisol was always super available and responsive, understanding and anticipating our desires. And she speaks very good French. I highly recommend Rutopia!

I traveled to Chiapas for an ecotourism experience with Rutopia and I liked it very much, the team responds very quickly to all questions and accompany the traveler throughout the experience, I missed my flight and they were very flexible to accommodate the entire itinerary, My destination was the lakes of Tziscao, where I was received by Neri with his family in very nice cabins next to a lake with incredible views and a magnificent tranquility, with them you make experiences of beekeeping and coffee and tours to nearby lakes, Montebello is a must! 100% recommended.

We had an amazing trip excellent organized by Jorge and supervised by Melina from Rutopia. We spent 10 days in Mexico, starting in Ciudad de Mexico where we visited the amazing Teotihuacan and then we flew to Yucatan for the amazing sites of Chichen Itza, Uxmal, Ek Balam, Tulum, Merida, Valladolid and the great Island Holbox. The trip was perfectly organized, the hotels were very good, and the guides were carefully chosen. We highly recommend Rutopia and especially Jorge! Leer menos

We had a wonderful time. We started out in Mexico City with a 2 day tour filled with museums, food, and beautiful sights. We then went on to Cholula to experience the culture in a smaller town, see a local market, and eat traditional food. We finished the tour in a small town called Cuetzalan, where most people speak an indigenous language. All of our guides were great. Thank you for a memorable vacation!

Tom and I knew we wanted to go to Mexico. We knew we wanted a little bit of culture, some wildlife, and maybe a splash in the ocean. That's it. With the vague and minimal information we gave them, Rutopia was able to put together a perfect trip for us. We had a flawless itinerary. It's so clear that Rutopia really cares about the communities (animals and humans) in Mexico. Everything we did and everywhere we stayed felt like they were helping us experience Mexico as authentically and respectfully as possible. It's almost impossible to pick a highlight, but top of the list has to be the day we shared with Enrique, a Mayan host who was unbelievably generous with us. He shared the community gardens, including history and background about the families that live in Nuevo Durango and other nearby communities. He showed us the neighborhood cenotes, Punta Laguna, Uma Nojoch Keej (a wildlife reserve), and more. We picked and prepared the plants as Enrique and his wife Blanca showed us the best way to cook them (and rescued us when we were pricked by the nopales!). We saw howler monkeys and spider monkeys in the wild which was very cool. That had to be the very best day, but every day was amazing. Sian Ka'an reserve was lovely, the Mayan ruins were spectacular, the snorkeling in Puerto Morelos was fabulous, the bicycle cenote tour was jaw'droppingly gorgeous. I'm waxing superlative but it really all was like a dream. Beyond the activities, the scheduling and pace was perfect for us. We felt like we really made the most of our six days, but with enough downtime to explore and enjoy at our leisure. From picking up our car at the airport to finding our accommodation, the logistics were very smooth at every interaction. Special shoutout to Melina who pretty much instantly helped us when we had any questions about the trip. We've never used a travel planning service like this before. But after this trip, we'll never go back to the old way!

My wife and I had a fantastic holiday in Mexico thanks to Marisol, Ana, Teresa and their colleagues & partners. The entire itinerary and arrangements were put together in less than 4 days. What we really liked about Marisol & her team was that they were only a message or a phone call away for any query/suggestion, etc. The trip was bespoke to the extent that Rutopia had kept in mind about our interests, food habits & executed bookings, tours. They were also very flexible in catering to last minute changes/requests. The team took upon them to ensure that our entire trip was comfortable & safe by taking care of even small stuff that one normally finds out post getting to a place. We would definitely like to use their services again!!

Rutopia did an outstanding job with the arrangement and execution of a 9 day tour of Mayan sites in the Yucatan peninsula. We provided Rutopia with the general parameters of the trip we wanted and they suggested an itinerary. After our approval, they set up the hotels, transportation within Mexico, and site tours. The hotels were good quality, and all of the drivers and tour guides showed up on time. We were very impressed with the quality of the tour guides and learned a lot on the trip. Jorge handled setting up the itinerary, and Melina handled the execution of the trip and was readily available via WhatsApp throughout the trip for any questions or issues. Melina was particularly helpful in changing our transportation arrangements to the airport at the last minute per our request. I would recommend Rutopia and would use them again for future trips.

Great experience with this agency. Our tour in Mexico was perfect and organised with great passion and precision. Special thanks to Mel (our direct contact during the trip) for being super responsive and to Jorge Barbosa (our tour guide in Mexico City). Totally recommend this tour operator!

Such an amazing time in the Yucatán! Between floating in the mangroves to visiting Chichén Itzá to spending a whole day on the beach in El Cuyo, I couldn’t have planned a better trip without their help. Thank you so much for an unforgettable birthday vacation!! Simply amazing! Don’t think twice about having them help you plan your next vacation!

Enjoyed using Rutopia (Marisol and Melina) to plan my trip to Mexico. Marisol helped me figure out the best options fand booked everything. Melina was my in country support. Rutopia (the company through Kim Kim) is great and would highly recommend it to anyone who wants to take the burden out of vacation planning. My son and I truly enjoyed the trip knowing everything was taken care of and we just had to have fun. Thanks!

Seamless transfers, excellent hotels particularly in Mexico city and Puebla, combined with various cultural and food tours. Particular highlights were the cultural/food tours in Mexico city and Puebla (also including the anthropology museum in Mexico city), and the rural tours in Oaxaca where we visited textile workshops, mescal producers and participated in a cooking class using traditional equipment. Also, although we didn't need it, the on call remote assistance was reassuring. I would definitely recommend Rutopia.

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An Expert Guide to the Top Destinations in Mexico

A welcoming country with a stunning diversity of cultures, cuisines, and landscapes, Mexico is a place worth visiting over and over again. I’ve traveled the country from its northernmost border in Tijuana to its southern limit in Isla Mujeres, and there are still places I long to go or dream of seeing again.

From beachfront yoga retreats to avant-garde photography exhibitions, international performing-arts festivals to breathtaking wilderness, Mexico is a fascinating place with a seemingly endless variety of experiences to offer. The constant is the warmth of its people and culture—and, of course, its enviable weather—near-perfect year round in most of the country.

Read on for a primer on where to go in Mexico.

Jump ahead to any destination here:

Mexico City

The oaxacan coast, puerto vallarta.

• Punta Mita, Sayulita, and the Riviera Nayarit

San Miguel de Allende

Cancún and isla mujeres, tulum and the riviera maya.

Mexico’s capital is a city like no other—a sprawling, vibrant metropolis of 20-plus-million people that embodies the splendor and chaos of modern life, as well as the richness of Mexico’s culture and history. With a multitude of excellent museums, contemporary galleries, and critically beloved restaurants opening throughout the city, Mexico City’s star is rising quickly.

Best for: Adventurers, city types, artists, writers, couples, history buffs, and food lovers.

Belly button of the world: Mexico City’s central square, the Zócalo, has been the heart of the metropolis since the founding of the Mexica city of Tenochtitlan in 1325. Destoyed by Hernán Cortés’s army, it became the capital of New Spain in 1521.

Jewel of the city: The National Anthropology Museum holds a breathtaking collection of pre-Columbian artifacts and art from cultures across Mexico. The rooms dedicated to the city of Tenochtitlan and the Valle of Mexico (where modern-day Mexico City was founded) are particularly impressive.

City to scale: Futura CDMX is an interesting new museum dedicated to urban planning and development. The heart of the museum is a scale model of the city, which fills a room on the ground floor; however, the interactive exhibits upstairs, which chronicle the city’s past and present, are equally fascinating.

What to eat: Tacos are king in the capital. Try El Huequito in the centro histórico for tacos al pastor, “Los Tacos del Guero” (officially Taqueria Hola ) in the Condesa for tacos de guisado, Por Siempre Vegana in the Roma for vegan tacos on the street, or Pujol in Polanco for a fine-dining rendition of tacos.

Moon Mexico City

by Julie Meade

• ebook (Revised)

Also available from:

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With its rich cultural traditions, mystical Zapotec ruins, and majestic colonial-era centro histórico, the city of Oaxaca is one of the most magical places in Mexico. It is also a top stop for food lovers: Oaxaca’s famous cuisine is among the most distinctive and delicious in Mexico.

Best for: Culture lovers, foodies, students, artists, activists, and families.

The spirit of the place: Fiery, smoky, and potent, Oaxacan mezcal is generally considered the best in Mexico.

Best bar snack: Fried grasshoppers are a salty compliment to a shot of mezcal or a cerveza.

Best late-night nosh: You can stop in till four o’clock in the morning at Tlayudas Los Libres, a famous little eatery on a street of the same name, which specializes in crunchy tlayudas (giant corn tortillas filled with beans and cheese) prepared on an open fire.

Market finds: The traditional markets in Oaxaca are a great place to eat and shop. Pick up tamales wrapped in banana leaf, fresh cheese, or a mug of chocolate caliente (made with water rather than milk, as is traditional in Oaxaca). Or try tejate , an unusual cold beverage made from chocolate, maize, the seed of the mamey, and sugar. In the market, it’s typically served in a hollowed-out gourd.

Off-the-beaten-path day trip: Visit the lovely Centro de las Artes de San Agustín , a contemporary art center located in a turn-of-the-20th-century textile factory, in the small town of San Agustín Etla.

Moon Oaxaca

by Cody Copeland

Take a rattletrap bus (or a quick flight) over the Sierra Madre to find cheap, tucked-away beach towns along the Pacific coast in Oaxaca state, including the hippie haven of Zipolite, the surfer paradise of Puerto Escondido, and quiet fishing village of Puerto Ángel.

Best for: Hippies, beach bums, and backpackers.

Sweet under-the-radar beach: San Agustinillo, between Zipolite and Mazunte, is a gorgeous little bay surrounded by small lodgings and cafes.

Turtle love: Many sea turtles come to nest on the beach at Mazunte, where the local Centro Mexicano de la Tortuga works to promote the turtles’ well-being and safety.

A touch of chic: Stylish Hotel Escondido , a design-centric beach hotel, run by chic Grupo Habita, opened in Puerto Escondido in late 2013.

The Pacific Coast’s most romantic resort town is more than high-rise hotels and all-inclusive getaways. For thoroughly Mexican charm, head to Old Vallarta, where cobbled streets are flanked by Mexican restaurants, and family-style hotels line the beach.

Best for: Families, art lovers, spring breakers, and honeymooners.

Whale of a time: Marine mammals love the tranquil waters of the Bay of Banderas, and dolphins visit Puerto Vallarta throughout the year. From November to April, numerous companies offer whale-watching tours during the humpback migration off the coast.

Beat the crowds: Water taxis shuttle beachgoers to quieter coves and bays near Vallarta, like Yelapa and Las Ánimas.

Or join ’em: The multistory nightclubs along the Malecon are chapels to tequila shots and thumping dance music, where you can bump with the crowds till dawn, or simply enjoy a beer and the breeze with a view of the sea.

Moon Puerto Vallarta: With Sayulita, the Riviera Nayarit & Costalegre

by Madeline Milne

Sayulita and the Riviera Nayarit

The Pacific beaches north of Puerto Vallarta, located along the Pacific Coast of Nayarit state, are quieter, more laid-back, and, in most cases, far cheaper than their famous neighbor to the south. Newly chic Punta Mita is the place to go for upscale luxury and get-away-from-it-all beaches. Come to Sayulita to surf, take yoga classes, and mingle with other vacationers in the low-key bars and cafes along the shore.

Best for: Surfers, yogis, beach bums, and families.

Best break: Sayulita is a popular destination for surfers, with its gently crashing waves suitable for beginners as well as more advanced surfers.

Upscale spot: The ultra-luxe St. Regis, the Four Seasons, and the W are located in Punta de Mita, the rugged point on the northern end of the Bahia de Banderas.

Low-key spot: North of Sayulita is San Francisco, unofficially known as San Pancho, a quiet little beach town with plenty of budget accommodations, a surf break, and a friendly community.

Fun fact: The state line between Jalisco (where Puerto Vallarta is located) and Nayarit also delineates the time zone; even though it’s just a short drive north up the coast, it’s is one hour earlier in Nayarit (Mountain Time) than in Puerto Vallarta (Central Time).

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Guanajuato is one of Mexico’s most spectacular cities. In the city’s unique centro histórico, crumbling 17th-century churches and pastel-hued houses climb the walls of a steep ravine, and twisting roads lead to shady open plazas. It’s a place to stroll, to sip coffee, to get lost. Originally founded in the 16th century, the city grew wealthy and opulent after silver was discovered in the craggy peaks near the city center.

Best for: Students, backpackers, families, and culture lovers.

UNESCO World Heritage Site: Since 1988.

Cool urban quirk: In the centro histórico, all automobile traffic runs through underground tunnels, making the city particularly pedestrian-friendly.

Study bug: Home to the prestigious Universidad de Guaunajuato, this little town also has numerous Spanish-language schools for foreigners—and plenty of adorable coffee shops to study in.

Quixotic attraction: The two-week-long Festival Internacional Cervantino in October is Mexico’s largest and most prestigious arts festival, with performers from across the globe coming to the city’s many historic theaters and outdoor plazas.

A romantic colonial-era pueblo in the Mexican highlands, San Miguel de Allende has grown more sophisticated in the past decade, with stylish small hotels, creative fine-dining restaurants, and concept boutiques cropping up across town. Even so, this beautiful little town retains its quirky charm, its signature warmth and friendliness, and its unique beauty—San Miguel’s blend of earthy ochre- and rust-colored buildings, sandstone chapels, weathered fountains, flowering trees, and soft pink sunlight is a feast for the eyes.

Best for: Artists, art students, cultural travelers, first-time visitors to Mexico, couples, solo travelers, and retirees.

Iconic sight: The Parroquía de San Miguel Arcángel—a neo-gothic, pink-sandstone church, right in the center of town—is one of the most unusual landmarks in Mexico, and a symbol of San Miguel de Allende.

San Mike: Since the 1940s, San Miguel de Allende has been home to a sizable American and Canadian expatriate community, attracting writers, artists, and bohemian types with its beautiful light and easygoing atmosphere. It’s also a popular place to retire.

¿Que Pasa?: San Miguel’s weekly bilingual newspaper Atención San Miguel has a weekly insert called “¿Que Pasa?” that lists all the gallery openings, concerts, poetry readings, and other special events taking place around town. Don’t be shy: pick something that interests you, and drop by. San Miguel’s community is close-knit and welcoming.

Dive bar, bar none: With cheap beer and occasional art exhibitions, La Cucaracha is a San Miguel institution and one of the coolest low-key cantinas in Mexico.

Moon San Miguel de Allende: With Guanajuato & Queretaro

by Moon Travel Guides

A glitzy resort town located on a spectacular stretch of coastline, Cancún is known for its all-inclusive resorts and multistory nightclubs, which seem to multiply with every passing year. Resorts aside, it is a place of unparalleled natural beauty, with a shimmering turquoise sea and powdery white sand, fringed by emerald mangrove forests. A quick ferry ride from Cancún, the teensy island of Isla Mujeres was, until recently, home to a small fishing community. Thanks to its picturesque beaches and proximity to Cancún, the island is today a popular destination for day trips from the mainland; however, it’s also an excellent place to spend your holiday, with a pleasingly laid-back atmosphere and lower prices than its famous neighbor.

Best for: Beach bums, families, adventure sport enthusiasts, and spring breakers.

Up all night at: Coco Bongo is the ultimate Cancún nightspot.

Rainy day activity: Opened in 2012, the interesting Museo Maya de Cancún includes a small ruin site in addition to its collection of Maya art and artifacts.

Most unusual gallery: Grab your snorkel gear to explore the environmentally friendly, PH-neutral sculptures of the Museo Subacuático de Arte or the Subaquatic Museum of Art, which has three underwater locations in the Mexican Caribbean.

The capital of the state of Yucatán, Mérida is a charming colonial-era city with a relaxed, unpretentious atmosphere, stellar local cuisine, and a balmy tropical climate. While boutique hotels and stylish restaurants are cropping up around town, Mérida remains an attractively traditional and inexpensive destination, great for cultural travelers and those looking to learn more about local culture and Mayan history. In addition to strolling its historic streets and dining at its many excellent eateries, the city is good home base for exploring the greater region through day trips to the colonial-era town of Valladolid, the beach in Progreso, and the Maya cities of Uxmal or Chichén Itzá, among others.

Best for: Cultural travelers, families, solo travelers, and budget travelers.

Hot tip: The wonderfully flavorful and ultra-spicy chile habanero is the most popular accompaniment in traditional Yucatec food.

Chill out: Across the Yucatán peninsula, there are hundreds of deep natural sinkholes filled with freshwater, known as cenotes (say-no-tays). Taking a dip in these ultra-pure, spectacularly beautiful swimming holes are the most unique and effective way to cool off on a balmy, tropical afternoon.

Moon Yucatán Peninsula: With Cancún, Cozumel & Tulum

by Liza Prado

by Gary Chandler

The gorgeous coastline south of Cancún, often referred to as the Riviera Maya, is known for its azure sea, white-sand beaches, and interesting local culture, with history that stretches back to the Mayan cultures of pre-Columbian Mexico. The area has grown rapidly in the past decade, particularly around Playa del Carmen, where you can now find excellent restaurants, nightclubs, and resorts to rival Cancún’s—though Playa, as it’s often called, retains a pleasingly laid-back, beach-centric ambience. A little farther south is Tulum, a once-sleepy community that has become a locus for chefs, bohemians, and frazzled New Yorkers in search of picturesque wellness retreats.

Best for: Beach lovers, outdoor enthusiasts, scuba divers and snorkelers, and families.

Underwater sights: Surrounded by the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, the island of Cozumel is a world-famous scuba-diving destination.

Best place to party: The full moon parties at the Papaya Playa Project are legendary.

Best place to sit still: The small beachfront town of Akumal, between Playa del Carmen and Tulum, retains a low-key, locals-only feeling.

Wild time: The Biosphere Sian Ka’an, an emerald expanse of bays, estuaries, and mangrove forests on the shores of the Caribbean Sea, is home to an astounding diversity of wildlife, including howler monkeys, toucans, iguanas, crocodiles, and more.

Sense of history: Busloads of tourists come to Chichen Itzá from Cancún every day, and with good reason. The ruin of this Mayan city is among the most splendid in Mesoamerica. You’ll find fewer crowds at Cobá, a stunning Mayan city east of Tulum, where visitors can rent bikes to explore the ruins.

Cabo San Lucas, on the tip of the Baja California peninsula, is perched right between the wild Pacific and the tranquil Sea of Cortez. It’s a stunning, upscale resort town, with some of the most dramatic beaches and poshest hotels in the country. San José del Cabo, Cabo San Lucas’s quieter, more inexpensive sister city, is just a 30-minute drive down the cape, and a great pick for travelers seeking a touch of traditional Mexican charm.

Suitable for: Newlyweds, couples, families, adventure-sport enthusiasts, and fisherman.

Best cheap snack: Fresh fish tacos, stuffed with deep-friend halibut and topped with shredded cabbage, lime juice, and salsa.

Take the kids: Enjoy a glass-bottomed boat ride to the famous arch off the point in Los Cabos, then spend a few hours lounging in the sun on the Playa del Amor.

Or rent a boat to see: Blue, sperm, humpback, minke, and gray whales, among others, come to breed in the Sea of Cortes November to December.

If you miss whale-watching season: Take a kayaking tour of the island of Espiritu Santo, off the coast of La Paz, where the surrounding reefs are filled with a remarkably diversity of fish, birds, and marine mammals.

Skip the beach to visit: Flora Farm , an organic farm and restaurant, is a charming oasis in the desert.

Moon Baja: Tijuana to Los Cabos

by Jennifer Kramer

Wild ocean, rugged desert mountains, and a wealth of culinary delights: Immerse yourself in this colorful peninsula with Moon Baja .

In addition to the destinations listed above, there are dozens more wonderful places to visit in Mexico today, like the wine-and-dining-centric Valle de Guadalupe in Baja California Norte and the magical alpine pueblo San Cristobal de las Casas in the southern state of Chiapas, in addition to other lesser-visited but nonetheless spectacular locations like Patzcuaro, Morelia, Puebla, the Copper Canyon, Real de Catorce, Mazatlan, Querétaro, Tepoztlan, Cuernavaca, or Zacatecas.

One thing is certain: The more you travel in Mexico, the more addictive it becomes.

Julie Meade

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Discover Mexico Off the Beaten Path

Welcome to mexico travel secrets, your ultimate guide to exploring mexico like a local..

Discover the most comprehensive travel guides to Mexico online written by locals, for adventurous travelers like you

Discover the Hidden Gems of Mexico

Hello and welcome to Mexico Travel Secrets! My name is Melissa Douglas and I am a British Travel Writer based in Merida, Mexico. Mucho gusto! 

I have been working in travel media for eight years now and during that time I have produced written content for a number of high-profile publications across the globe including Forbes Travel Guide, Matador Network, and The Huffington Post, along with numerous online blogs and magazines. 

After five years of living in Greece, I came to Mexico on vacation, fell in love, and never left. Through the pages of this website, I want to help travelers like you explore Mexico like a local, and discover off-the-beaten-path highlights that most tourists don’t even know about. 

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Palm-fringed beaches, chili-spiced cuisine, steamy jungles, teeming cities, fiesta fireworks: Mexico conjures diverse, vivid dreams – and then delivers them.

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Tulum Ruins

Tulum is one of the most visited archaeological zones in Mexico and for good reason: it’s sublime. The ruins sit on seaside cliffs, high above turquoise…

Parque Nacional Isla Contoy

A white sand beach with manta rays gliding through the shimmering turquoise waters. No hotels. No nightclubs. No roads or cars of any kind. It’s hard to…

Wandering barefoot through the contemporary art museum at Azulik hotel, you feel like you’re in a giant cocoon. Nature surrounds you, inside and out:…

Jardín Botánico de Vallarta

Puerto Vallarta

For a change of scenery from the beach, head for the tropical highlands of the Sierra Madre mountains and wander the well-curated Jardín Botánico de…

Museo Maya de Cancún

Surrounded by dense tropical forest, the contemporary Museo Maya de Cancún is a welcome respite from the beach and buffet lines of the neighboring high…

Home to a small fishing community, the picturesque beach of Yelapa hugs an emerald coastline backed by jungle-shrouded mountains. The remote coastal…

Palacio Nacional

Centro Histórico

As the seat of the federal branch of the Mexican government, the Palacio Nacional (National Palace) is home to the offices of the president of Mexico and…

Torre Latinoamericana

The Torre Latinoamericana was Latin America’s tallest building when constructed in 1956, and remains the dominant focal point of Centro Histórico. It's an…

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From swimming in cenotes and eating street food to soaking up the history and culture of this vibrant nation, here are the best things to do in Mexico.

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From ski slopes and jungle to deserts and sublime stretches of sand, expect to use many transport options to get around the world's 13th biggest country.

Visa Requirements

If you’re planning a vacation in Mexico, these are some of the ins and outs of navigating its visas, tourist permits and more.

Money and Costs

Soak up history and art without spending a cent, and find out how to make every peso stretch further with our top tips for visiting Mexico on a budget.

Traveling with Kids

Family is at the center of daily life in Mexico, and children are warmly welcomed almost everywhere. Here are the top things to do with little ones in tow.

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Fuel your wanderlust on the open road in Mexico with these epic drives.

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Travel + Leisure’s Collection of the World’s Top Travel Experts: Mexico

Author: Sally Wells

March 26, 2024

Mexico’s allure is a captivating blend of rich history, vibrant culture, and breathtaking natural landscapes. As the authority on all things luxury travel in Mexico, we take pride in curating unforgettable journeys for our discerning travelers.  

Our Founder and CEO, Zachary Rabinor, has once again earned a coveted position on Travel + Leisure’s esteemed A-List Awards for the 14th consecutive year. This recognition underscores our commitment to excellence and dedication to delivering unparalleled travel experiences. Zach’s expertise, insider knowledge, and extensive network of personal connections ensure that each Journey Mexico itinerary is crafted to perfection. With a legacy of transformative journeys, we invite you to discover the essence of Mexico through our meticulously curated experiences.  

Tap into our team’s in-country expertise for yourself! Get some inspiration from T+L’s many travel guides below, with insider contributions from Zach:

Mexico City Travel Guide : “You can’t understand Mexico without first understanding Mexico City. The vibrant capital encapsulates the country’s diversity culturally, historically, politically, artistically, musically, creatively, and more…”  

Oaxaca City Travel Guide : Voted by Travel + Leisure as #1 Favorite City in the world, Zach shares, “The most remarkable thing about Oaxaca is the deep presence of this pre-Colombian culture in all aspects of contemporary life — the mingling and mixing of Indigenous, Spanish, and contemporary Mexican influences are unique and unforgettable…”  

Sayulita Travel Guide : “The boho, expat surfer vibe is liberating and fun. The local community is an ongoing evolution of fisherman and ranchers to expat artists, surfers, and digital nomads.”  

Holbox Island Travel Guide:   A favorite hotel of Zach’s is Nomade Holbox, and he divulges the tip: “Even if you’re not staying there, it’s worth stopping by for a day pass or lunch or dinner… It’s a privileged location, the architecture is truly admirable, and their wellness program is very special.”

San Miguel Travel Guide :  Zach reveals his 12 tips for a perfect vacation in the city starting with: “Many travelers make the four-hour journey from Mexico City to San Miguel de Allende, but it’s worth remembering that Guanajuato Airport (BJX) is just a 1.5 drive away and has connectivity through California, Chicago, and Texas. ”  

Careyes Travel Guide : “Dotted with small fishing and ranching pueblos, the coast became a luxury escape…” and “…an eclectic playground for the rich, famous, eccentric, and creative.”  

  Check out more musings with these articles on what to do in Oaxaca , Isla Mujeres , Mexico’s best beaches , the most beautiful places in Mexico , travel tips , and Mexico’s “happy coast” .  

Ready to design your trip with a Mexico Travel Expert?

To get started, explore our inspirational itineraries in Mexico , which are completely customizable, and get a feel of the types of travel experiences Zach and his team can create. With our custom-made itineraries, your dream vacation becomes a reality! Our custom-tailored journeys start from $1,000 USD per day for two travelers in interior Mexico, and $1,800 per day for two travelers in beach destinations.  Contact Journey Mexico

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The home of tacos, Aztecs, sombreros and tequila, almost everyone on the planet knows something about Mexico. Yet there’s a lot more to this country beyond the stereotypes. One of the world’s great civilizations, Mexico travel offers a tantalizing blend of Mesoamerican cultures, Spanish traditions and contemporary arts.

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Its landscapes range from the shimmering blue coastline of Baja California and the cactus-strewn deserts of the north, to the Maya villages and palm-smothered beaches of the south. You can climb volcanoes, watch whales and tour agave farms. And sprinkled throughout you’ll find richly adorned colonial churches, giant pyramids and a sophisticated cuisine. Read our Mexico guide for everything you need to know before you go.

• Population: 122 million.
• Origins: Over 80 per cent of the population is mestizo, combining in themselves European and indigenous traditions with, to a greater or lesser extent, a veneer of urban sophistication.
• Size: 1.96 million sq km.
• Exports: Mexico is the home of chocolate (from the Náhuatl “ xocolatl ”), chillies and maize (corn), though it exports more tomatoes than any other crop (also derived from the Náhuatl word “ tomatl ”).
• Dog’s life: The Chihuahua is officially the world’s smallest breed of dog and really is named after the Mexican state of Chihuahua .
• Films: The opening scenes of Bond movie Spectre closed down central Mexico City’s Zócalo for 10 days and involved 1500 extras (mostly dressed as Day of the Dead revellers).
• Artistic heritage: Mexico lays claim to a range of home-spun talent, including Pancho Villa, Salma Hayek and Frida Kahlo.
• Culinary critters: Bugs have been culinary delicacies in Mexico since Aztec times, with some of the most popular cocopaches (a type of cockroach), chicatanas (flying ants) and escamoles (ant larvae and pupae).

Every trip to Mexico is unique and that's why it's essential to stay protected. With our go-to travel insurance provider, Heymondo , you get great value and 24/7 support wherever you are.

This incredibly diverse country stretches from the deserts and canyons of the north to the grand colonial cities of the centre and the Maya ruins, beaches and jungles of the south. Given the vast breadth of Mexico, it’s more sensible and rewarding to concentrate on one or two sections of the country when planning your travel. Here are some of the best places to visit in Mexico:

Mexico City

Mexico City , though a nightmare of urban sprawl, is totally fascinating, and the capital of the nation in every way – artistic, political, cultural. It is one of the world’s mega-cities, with over 25 million people occupying a shallow mountain bowl at over 2400m above sea level. Spreading out beyond the federal district which is supposed to contain it, the city is at once edgy and yet laid-back at the same time. Around the city lie the chief relics of the pre-Hispanic cultures of central Mexico: the massive pyramids of Teotihuacán and the main Toltec site at Tula.

East of Mexico City is the elegant city of Puebla , known for its colonial architecture and fine cuisine. The republic’s fifth-largest city is an easy 40-minute trip from Tlaxcala or a couple of hours by bus from Mexico City, with glorious views of snow-capped Popocatépetl and Ixtaccíhuatl on the way. Puebla has a remarkable concentration of sights, including a fabulous cathedral, a “hidden” convent, museums and grand mansions, while the mountainous surrounding country is in places startlingly beautiful.

To visitors, Tulum can mean several things. First, it’s one of the most picturesque of all the ancient Maya sites, poised on 15m-high cliffs above the Caribbean. Tulum also refers to a stretch of white beach, with turquoise water and candlelit cabañas. Finally, it’s a booming town (often called Tulum Pueblo to distinguish it from the beach) that has evolved from roadside waystation to real population centre with a thriving tourism core.

The state of Oaxaca is one of the most enticing places to visit in Mexico. The state capital, cosmopolitan yet utterly Mexican, encapsulates much of what the region has to offer. Nowhere else in the country are the fiestas so exuberant, the markets so colourful or the old languages still so widely spoken. There are indigenous traditions in the villages that long predate the Spanish Conquest; yet the city can also offer sophisticated modern dining, great accommodation and wild nightlife.

Acapulco and Pacific Coast

The journey north from Acapulco to Puerto Vallarta, some 800km along the Pacific coast, is defined by languid beach life at its finest. There’s history here, to be sure, but it’s the buttery sands studded with palms, the makeshift bars on the beach, lagoons and torpid villages that dominate. Separating these stretches of wild, untouched coastline are some of the most popular and enjoyable resorts in Mexico.

Few tourists venture over to the Gulf coast, despite the attractions of Veracruz and its mysterious ruins. A pity, as for music and general bonhomie, the city’s central plaza is one of the finest places to visit in Mexico. The fertile, tropical coastal plain gave rise to the earliest Mexican civilizations: Olmec culture thrived in southern Veracruz from 1200 BC, while Classic Veracruz flourished between 250 and 900 AD at centres such as El Tajín. Today, Huastec and Totonac culture remains strong in the north.

Independent travellers often find the glitz of Mexico’s mammoth resort city off-putting. Certainly, all the concrete can be a downer. But a night spent in Cancún doesn’t have to be wasted, so long as you appreciate the energetic city as a successful frontier experiment, rather than lament its lack of history. A closer look reveals hidden beach bars and inexpensive taco stands frequented by friendly cancunenses .

Playa del Carmen

Once a soporific fishing village where travellers camped out en route to Isla Cozumel, Playa del Carmen is now a hot spot with pretensions of being the next Miami Beach. Mexico City’s elite pop in to “Playa”, as do day-trippers from Cancún and passengers from cruise ships docked on Cozumel. The quieter north side is relatively cosmopolitan and calm, and the nightlife, in particular, has a hip edge.

Guadalajara

Mexico’s second city, easy-going Guadalajara is packed with elegant buildings and vibrant little squares. One thing no visitor should miss is hearing mariachi in its home town, specifically at the Plaza de Los Mariachis. Outside the city, the land is spectacularly green and mountainous, studded with volcanoes and lakes, most famously Laguna de Chapala.

Baja California

Graced with tantalizing desert landscapes, lush oases and rich marine life, Baja California is one of the most compelling places to visit in Mexico. Its human history is no less enticing, with a legacy of remote cave paintings, crumbling Spanish missions and fabulous seafood. Among the most magical sights in Baja is the annual grey whale migration from December to April. Spot the magnificent creatures at the Laguna Ojo de Liebre, just off Guerrero Negro, or the lagoon near San Ignacio.

Yucatán Peninsula

In the Yucatán, traditional indigenous life sits side by side with massive tourist attractions such as the great ruins of Chichén Itzá and the super-resort of Cancún. Once the province of Maya rebels and palm-plantation owners, the Caribbean coast is now the so-called Riviera Maya, which includes the towns of Playa del Carmen and Tulum. But beyond these big centres, you’ll discover underground springs known as cenotes to the north, along with flocks of flamingo and sea turtles along the coast.

Chichén Itzá

Chichén Itzá is the most famous, the most extensively restored and by far the most visited of all Maya sites. It lies conveniently along the main highway from Mérida to Cancún , a little more than 200km from the Caribbean coast. Arrive early to wander in relative peace around the extraordinary ruins, with its vertiginous temple, Chac-mool figures and dramatic, snail-shaped observatory.

North Mexico

Rich in legends of the country’s revolutionary past, Mexico’s north has a modern history dominated by its relationship with the neighbouring United States. Though the region is far less visited than the southern states, cross-border trade – as much about the movement of people as goods – means it’s one of the most dynamic parts of Mexico. It’s not all business, though. Rugged and untamed, the north is home to deserts, mountains, seedy frontier towns, archeological remains and modern cities, as well as a rich ranching culture.

Find tons of ideas for your Mexican adventure in our guide to the best vacation spots in Mexico .

Discover more places in Mexico

• The north Travel Guide
• Copper Canyon and Around Travel Guide
• Oaxaca Travel Guide
• The Bajío Travel Guide
• The Yucatán Travel Guide
• Veracruz Travel Guide
• Chiapas Travel Guide

Mexico is a year-round destination, with most visitors sticking on the whole to the highlands in summer and the coasts in winter. June to October is generally the rainy season, though the intensity of rainfall varies from place to place. Late winter is the traditional tourist season; December through to April the busiest months. November is probably the best time to visit Mexico, with the rains over, the land still fresh and the peak season not yet begun.

Read our guide on the best time to visit Mexico .

It is possible to travel to Mexico overland from the US via train, bus or car, though be prepared for long and often uncomfortable journeys. It is much quicker and easier to get to Mexico by plane. There are plenty of direct and connecting flights from major cities in North America into Mexico City and other popular resorts. Canada is not as well connected as the US, though Air Canada and Aeroméxico serve Mexico City. Several direct flights run to Mexico City and Cancún from London , Birmingham and Manchester , though you will have to change planes if you fly from anywhere else in the UK or Ireland. The same applies to passengers flying to Mexico from Australia, New Zealand or South Africa. Read our full guide on how to get to Mexico .

Bear in mind Mexico is a large country, and journeys between key destinations can be very long. Although public transport is frequent and reasonably efficient everywhere, taking an internal flight at least once may be worthwhile for the time it saves. If you’re travelling around Mexico on a budget, buses are your best bet. Only a couple of tourist train routes exist: the Copper Canyon railway in Chihuahua and the Tequila Express from Guadalajara. Ferries connect Baja California with the Pacific mainland, and smaller boats serve islands off the coasts. Driving in Mexico requires care, but renting a car is often an extremely good way of quickly seeing a small area that would otherwise take days to explore using public transport. Read more travel advice on how to travel around Mexico .

• Cenotes of Yucatán . Vast sun-lit caverns filled with water, the cenotes of northern Yucatán are magical places for a refreshing dip. X’keken and Samula are two of the best.
• Acapulco’s cliff divers . Watch the clavadistas plunge into the sea from precipitous cliffs.
• Chichén Itzá . The most famous of the Maya cities, the sprawling ruins and complex carvings will take a couple of days to explore.
• Tulum . This important Maya spiritual and cultural centre is one of the most picturesque, with a spectacular beach.
• Tequila . Visit the town that gave birth to Mexico’s favourite tipple, surrounded by fields of blue agave, and enjoy tours of local distilleries.
• Baja Whale watching . From December to April, thousands of grey whales come to mate in the lagoons of Guerrero Negro and San Ignacio.
• Real de Catorce . This picturesque ghost-town once thrived on the wealth of its silver mines. Huichol pilgrims visit the nearby desert in search of peyote.
• Museo Frida Kahlo . Politics, art and national identity combine at the home of Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera.
• Diving . The pristine islands and shimmering reefs just off the Pacific Coast are prime diving destinations.
• Lago de Pátzcuaro . Most famous for its Day of the Dead celebrations, this enchanting lake is a worthy destination year-round.
• Oaxaca markets . Any market in Mexico is a feast for the senses, but Oaxaca’s are especially vibrant, with everything from fresh produce to some of the country’s most imaginative textiles.
• Street eats . Sample tortas and tacos at street food stalls and stands clustered along the pavements of Mexico City .
• Xochimilco . Take in the carnival atmosphere and colours while being punted around the canals and serenaded by mariachi bands at the Mexico City suburb of Xochimilco.
• Driving Hwy-1 . One of the world’s greatest road journeys, driving from the US border to the southern tip of Baja California takes you through deserts, isolated mountain ranges and tropical beach towns.
• Lucha libre in Mexico City . Watched masked heroes and villains partake in fantastical wrestling ( lucha libre ) competitions, held in over a dozen venues throughout the capital.

We’ve expanded our Mexico travel guide to include an example of our Tailor-Made Trips service. These Mexico itineraries will take you to every corner of the country – and you’ll learn plenty about Mexico no matter where you want to go or what you want to do. You’re unlikely to complete the list, but it will give you a flavour of how to travel around Mexico and a deeper insight into the country’s natural and historic wonders. Below is a sample itinerary, ideal for the first-time visitor to Mexico, but you can see all our itineraries here .

Travel ideas for Mexico

Created by local experts

The Magic of the Yucatan and Mexico City

Explore the magic of the Yucatan Peninsula: from colonial towns like Merida to Archaeological sites like Uxmal and Calakmul, close to the Guatemala border, to beaches in Bacalar and Tulum, this itinerary shows you the real Yucatan before heading out to explore Mexico City.

Mexico City, Oaxaca & the Yucatan

Explore Central Mexico with its ever-busy capital Mexico City, visiting Teotihuacan and the famous museums in the city. Further on to Oaxaca City, the gateway to the Archaeological Site Monte Alban. Afterwards, continue to the white beaches of the Yucatan: Cancun and Isla Holbox await.

Fascinating Mexico: From Guanajuato to the Yucatan

Discover Mexico from fascinating San Miguel de Allende over busy Mexico City all the way to the Yucatan Peninsula. This itinerary combines public transportation with domestic flights to ensure you can make the most of discovering fascinating Mexico within two weeks.

Marvelous Mexico: From Yucatan to Mexico City

Your trip starts on the wonderful coast of Yucatan, exploring the beaches and archaeological highlights like Chichen Itza and Tulum. From there on continue the exploration to Palenque and Oaxaca before taking a flight to Mexico City - 3 days in the capital await your discovery.

Mexico's Highlands and Coast

Discover Mexico City's historic highlights and the wonders of sites like Teotihuacan, Campeche and Palenque before you jet off to the Central HIghlands. Discover archeological ruins and traditional tribal villages, then fall for the charms of Mexico's old colonial cities and glitzy Caribbean coast.

Mexico's Mayan Trail

Follow the Mayan Trail around Mexico on this archaeological adventure. Begin your journey with a refreshing taste of sea and salt air in the Yucatán Peninsula on one of Playa del Carmen's gorgeous Caribbean beaches before heading off to discover magical Mayan ruins and glorious colonial towns.

Itinerary 1: Classic Mexico

This three-week tour focuses on the southern and central parts of the country, traditionally the most popular targets for independent travellers.

Soak up the museums, murals and markets of the nation’s crazy, high-octane capital, leaving a couple of days for Cholula and Teotihuacán.

Head to Mexico’s most enticing state, its capital the best place to sample mole, mescal and indigenous crafts.

• Zapotec and Mixtec heartland After the obligatory visit to Monte Albán, spend two to three days exploring the indigenous markets and lesser-known ruins around Oaxaca .

Heading east into Chiapas this colonial city is worth at least two days, plus a day or two to take in the remarkable Maya villages nearby.

Heading north, these are some of the grandest jungle-smothered Maya ruins in the country, all easily accessible.

From Palenque you can strike out into the Lacandón Maya heartland and these more isolated, romantic ruins.

Hit the Caribbean coast for the spectacular diving from this offshore island.

Back on the Yucatán mainland enjoy the balmy beaches and nightlife of the Riviera Maya.

End your trip by soaking up Mexico’s most magical Maya ruins followed by a dip in the cooling waters of a giant sinkhole.

Finding accommodation in Mexico is rarely difficult. In areas that are not overly touristy, the inexpensive places to stay are usually concentrated around the main plaza (the zócalo). Others tend to be near the market, train station or bus station. In bigger cities, you’ll find the cheaper accommodation clustered in a relatively small area. The more modern and expensive places often lie on the outskirts of towns, accessible only by car or taxi. The only times you’re likely to have problems finding somewhere to stay for your Mexico trip are in coastal resorts over the peak Christmas season, at Easter, on Mexican holidays and almost anywhere during a local fiesta, when it’s well worth trying to reserve ahead.

Food in Mexico bears very little resemblance to the concoctions served in “Mexican” restaurants in other parts of the world – you certainly won’t find chile con carne outside the tourist spots. Nor, as a rule, is it especially spicy. The basic Mexican diet is essentially one of corn (maíz as a crop, elote when eaten), supplemented by beans and chiles. These three things appear in an almost infinite variety of guises. Traditionally, lunch is the main meal of the day, taken around 2pm or later. Eating a large meal at lunch time is a money-saver – almost every restaurant serves a cut-price comida corrida (daily-changing set meal).

As delicious as most Mexican cuisine is, there are some slightly more unusual additions , like corn smut fungus, or huitlacoche (“sleeping excrement”). Yum!

A great deal of coffee is produced in Mexico, and you’ll be served superb coffee in the growing areas, especially Veracruz , as well as in the traditional coffeehouses in the capital. On any visit to Mexico, you have to try the country’s most famous spirit, tequila, distilled from the cactus-like agave plant in Jalisco and usually taken with lime and salt.

Read our full guide to food and drink in Mexico .

Visit Mexico and you’ll be rewarded with long-standing cultural traditions, such as the popular spectator sports of bullfighting and lucha libre (masked wrestling). For action, the pristine coastline offers sea-based adventures galore, from surfing on the Pacific coast to snorkelling and diving offshore islands.

Football and Baseball

Mexico’s chief spectator sport is soccer ( fútbol ). Mexican teams have not been notably successful on the international stage, but going to a game can still be a thrilling experience. The capital and Guadalajara are the best places to see a match. Baseball ( béisbol ) is also popular, as is American football (especially on TV). Jai alai (also known as frontón , or pelota vasca ) is Basque handball, common in big cities and played at a very high speed with a small hard ball and curved scoop attached to the hand; it’s a big gambling game.

Rodeos and bullfights

Mexican rodeos (charreadas), mainly seen in the north of the country, are as spectacular for their style and costume as they are for the events. Bullfights remain an obsession, with every city home to a bullring – Mexico City’s Plaza México is the world’s largest. The country’s toreros are said to be the world’s most reckless, much in demand in Spain.

Lucha libre

Masked wrestling (lucha libre) is very popular in Mexico, too. During this curious sport, the participants, Batman-like, are out of the game for good should their mask be removed and their secret identity revealed.

Originating in Mexico, mariachi bands comprise a mix of violinists, trumpeters and guitarists, headed up by a vocalist. You’ll find mariachi played the length and breadth of the country but most notably in Mexico City’s Plaza Garibaldi. Here, bands compete for your attention in a frenzy of music and singing.

Diving, snorkelling and surfing

Diving and snorkelling are big on the Caribbean coast, with world-famous dive sites at Cozumel and on the reefs further south. Over on the Pacific coast is something of a centre for surfing, despite few facilities as yet, though you can rent surfboards in major tourist centres such as Acapulco and Mazatlán . Nonetheless, plenty of Californian surfers follow the weather south over the winter, crowding the waves at Baja California, Oaxaca and Lázaro Cárdenas in Michoacán .

Travel advice for Mexico

From travel safety to visa requirements, discover the best tips for visiting Mexico

• Visa and entry requirements Mexico
• Crime and personal safety tips Mexico
• Eating and drinking in Mexico
• Getting around Mexico: Transportation Tips
• Travel Tips Mexico for planning and on the go
• Best time to visit Mexico

Despite soaring crime rates and dismal-sounding statistics, you are unlikely to run into trouble in Mexico if you stick to well-travelled paths. Even in Mexico City, which has a dangerous reputation , the threat is not that much greater than in many large North American and European cities. Obviously there are areas in cities where you wander alone, or at night, at your peril; the best precaution is common sense.

Some basic Mexico travel tips include avoid hailing a cab in the street in Mexico City (phone for a radio cab instead); don’t leave cash or cameras in hotel rooms (use the safe), and never leave valuables visible in your car. Drug offences are the most common cause of serious trouble between tourists and the authorities, and if you’re caught with quantities reckoned to be for distribution you can wave goodbye to daylight for a long time.

Read our guide for more travel advice for Mexico.

Citizens of the US, Canada, the UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and most EU countries do not need visas to enter Mexico as tourists for less than 180 days. Other Europeans can stay for ninety days. Non-US citizens travelling via the US, however, may need a US visa, even if they will only be in the country in transit. Citizens of the UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand and most Western European countries can enter under the Visa Waiver Program . South African citizens need to obtain a visa. Visit the website of the US embassy in your country of residence for further details.

Read our Mexico guide for more information on entry requirements .

Top image: The Zocalo in Mexico City with the cathedral © dubassy/Shutterstock

The colour and bustle of Mexico’s markets is hard to beat. Even if you’ve no intention of buying, half an hour is always well spent meandering through narrow aisles surrounded by heaps of perfectly ripe fruit and stacks of nopal cactus leaves (though stay away from the meat sections if you’re at all squeamish). In small villages, like those around Oaxaca, inhabitants still recognize one day of the week as the traditional market day.

Towns of any size will have a market, usually daily, an important centre of local life and source of cheap eats (San Cristóbal de las Casas and Papantla are good examples), while in the cities, each barrio has its own vibrant mercado: among the best are Mexico City’s La Merced and the arts and crafts-oriented Ciudadela. Markets in San Miguel Allende are also better known for arts and crafts, as are Oaxaca’s city mercados . Toluca is the mother of them all, Mexico’s largest market held every Friday.

The Rough Guides to Mexico and related travel guides

In-depth, easy-to-use travel guides filled with expert advice.

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written by Andy Turner

updated 06.06.2024

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Should travelers worry about being kidnapped in Mexico? Travel experts discuss safety in Mexico.

The high-profile case of four U.S. citizens being kidnapped in Mexico sent shock waves through the nation. Two were killed last week after getting caught in the crossfire of cartel violence in the border city of Matamoros. 

Many are wondering what's next for the popular tourist destination, and whether Mexico is safe for travel. 

The four Americans – one woman and two men from South Carolina – crossed the southern border for cosmetic surgery last Friday when a cartel shootout erupted.

Social media videos show the gunmen pulling the Americans from their car and driving away, all during daylight. Mexican officials announced Tuesday that they had found two dead. the other The two survivors were escorted back to the U.S.

Is it safe to take a taxi in Cancun?: Here are the safest ways to get around, per travel agents.

Enjoy your worry-free vacation: Best travel insurance policies

With 2 Americans dead in Matamoros: A cartel-scarred Mexican border town wonders what's next

Violence around border cities is not unusual and can involve Mexicans or migrants with little public attention, but it typically doesn't involve Americans. Officials said the abduction was probably a case of mistaken identity , but the FBI is investigating further.

Meanwhile, questions arose on how the Mexican and U.S. governments will respond, which could affect regular travel to Mexico. A heavy-handed response could likely mean "a wave of violence where it gets worse before it gets better," said Michael Ballard, director of intelligence at Global Guardian , a firm that specializes in travel security. 

Currently, the travel advisory for Mexico warns Americans of crime and kidnapping. On Tuesday, White House press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said the State Department takes it "seriously" when it comes to providing "clear, timely, and reliable information about every country in the world ... so they can make informed travel decisions." 

Is Mexico safe to travel to?

In 2021, nearly 29 million American travelers  headed down to Mexico. That same year, about 75 American citizens died by homicide in Mexico, according to the most recent U.S. State Department statistics. 

Mexico is "a tricky place" when it comes to travel and safety because "the security landscape and the security dynamic is so different state to state and city to city," according to Ballard. 

Unlike some other countries, Mexico's travel advisory assesses each state individually. 

The agency issued a "do not travel to" warning for the Colima, Guerrero, Michoacan, Sinaloa, Tamaulipas and Zacatecas state because of violent crime.

"You probably don't want to go to one of these border cities" because cartels "contest these ports of entry pretty heavily and fight for their economic control," Ballard said.

When it comes to the "do not travel to warning," Jean-Pierre said, "We've been very clear about that. The State Department, again, has put that out. We urge Americans to read these alerts before traveling."

Popular tourist spots like Quintana Roo, Nayarit and Mexico City have warnings of "exercised increased caution when traveling to" and Jalisco, where Puerto Vallarta is, has a "reconsider travel to." Travelers can "exercise normal precautions" when traveling to Yucatan, which includes the popular attraction Chichén Itzá.

How likely is it to encounter cartel violence? 

"I don’t think anyone can ensure 100% clearance on (avoiding cartel violence), unfortunately. We know that Mexico has been plagued by drug violence, and cartels are in many parts of the country, just as in other nations," said Vanessa Karel, a Latinx entrepreneur who founded Greether , a travel startup that helps women travel with fewer risks. 

"However, it is well documented that some areas have a higher presence of violence. Please do your due diligence on which areas these are," she said. Steer clear of these areas and avoid taking part in anything drug-related, Karel advised. 

Ballard agreed and offered this analogy: "Getting struck by lightning is a really rare occurrence, but if you are standing on top of a tree in a thunderstorm, those odds go up. That's how I view being in and around some of these higher-risk cities in Mexico, the border cities."

Getting caught in cartel activity is less common somewhere like Cancun than it is in Colima.

Because Mexico's economy heavily depends on tourism dollars, cartels "tend to stay away from harming or hurting Americans because they know the response would be pretty severe," Ballard said.

The Mexican government has also implemented several initiatives to maintain safety in high-tourist areas, like deploying tourist police forces to high-traffic visitor areas. These officers are easy to spot and usually speak English.

"Travelers will have fewer risks by staying at highly rated hotels, areas and booking tour guides to show them around," Karel said. 

Should people be worried about being kidnapped in Mexico?

Being "in the wrong place at the wrong time" is the main risk for Americans and cartel activity, Ballard said. It's rare for Americans to be kidnapped by cartels for ransom.

He does warn of occasional "express kidnappings," which happen not just in Mexico but in other countries too. In this situation, a tourist who is likely drunk and wandering around downtown gets kidnapped, driven around to ATMs and forced to withdraw money. Usually, they end up being let go. 

As long as you stay in resort areas and use common sense, it should be relatively easy to keep safe. 

Check out USA TODAY's 17 travel safety tips from the CIA .

What should you do if you witness or encounter cartel crime? 

If you do witness or encounter cartel crime such as an express kidnapping or carjacking, Ballard said, you should report the case to the U.S. Embassy or to the local equivalent of 911. "You definitely want to have a record of something like that out there." Unfortunately, response times can be slow depending on where you are, he said. 

According to the State Department , if something happens, you'll probably be relying on local resources. 

Global Guardian clients, he pointed out, have a 24/7 panic button on the Global Guardian app, which will connect users to a safe haven, like a hospital. 

In some cases, he said, your response depends on the situation, and it may be best to cooperate. 

Top safety tips

Karel's top rule for traveling to Mexico is "to plan on going to places that are designed for you to go. If you are trying to visit an area that not even locals feel comfortable going to, don't attempt it, and please, simply avoid it," she said. 

She also advised people to have situational awareness. "We are concerned that travelers going to Mexico think they can go just about anywhere, especially when they don’t blend as a local," she said. Visitors "should be aware of how much they stand out and how little or how much they know about the area they are going to."

Here are some other safety tips when traveling in Mexico:

• Travel during daylight hours and avoid walking around unknown areas, especially at night.
• Don't walk around with jewelry or your head down looking at your phone because that makes you an easy target to get robbed, Ballard said. 
• "Please ask trustworthy travel businesses and, most importantly, check travel advisories and what the tourism boards say. T they are there for a reason, and a lot of us are fighting to make cities safer and more sustainable," Karel said.
• Enroll in the  Smart Traveler Enrollment Program , a free service for U.S. travelers to receive safety alerts about their destination from the U.S. Embassy in real time.
• Before departing on your trip to a high-risk area, the State Department recommended you share important documents and points of contact with someone at home, and create a communication plan if something were to happen. 
• Share your location via your smartphone with someone at home while you are abroad. 
• Consider purchasing travel insurance for kidnapping or ransom. Depending on the plan, it can cover ransom payments, emergency evacuation costs, and payment for any negotiations needed. 

Contributing: Michael Collins, USA TODAY

Kathleen Wong is a travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Hawaii. You can reach her at [email protected]. 

$1499—Mexico 5-star all-inclusive for 3 nights, reg. $2539

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Past Travelzoo guests are singing their praises for the 5-star Andaz Mayakoba. We're talking top-notch service, superb cuisine and a prime location near Playa del Carmen. Travelzoo members can save on stays through July with this exclusive deal. Meals, drinks and a $100 credit are included. Plus, the nightly resort fee is waived.

"This resort had everything I needed. The staff was amazing, the room was spacious and very clean and the beach was perfect." -- Travelzoo guest, September 2024

What's Included

• NEW! We’ve changed the way we list prices. Resort fees and any other mandatory charges (except for government taxes and fees) have been factored into the prices listed below
• $1499 ... Lagoon View King or Two Double Room —these overlook the natural mangrove jungles and have private terraces
• $1749 ... Beach Area King or Two Double Room —these are within walking distance of the white-sand beach
• Extend your stay with additional nights starting at $499 per night
• Jan. 6–March 31 stays are also exclusively priced with rates from $1999 for 3 nights
• All-inclusive meal plan
• Waived resort fee (reg. $45 plus tax, per night)—covers premium Wi-Fi, valet parking, wellness activities, minibar and more
• $100 resort credit (per stay; can be used towards food and beverage and spa services)
• Not available on: Nov. 27–30; Dec. 21–31; Jan. 1–5
• Price is per room, not per person

More Reasons to Go

• This upscale retreat is among the top resorts in eastern Mexico (Condé Nast Traveler, 2023)
• Amenities include two pools—one by the beach and one by the lagoon
• The spa offers customizable treatments inspired by ancient Mayan culture
• There's a Kids Club for the younger travelers
• The multiple restaurants offer a diverse mix of Latin American, Mediterranean and even vegan dishes

About the Destination

To reach Andaz Mayakoba, travelers will fly into Cancún International Airport (CUN). From there, it's a 40-minute drive to the resort. Airport transfers can be arranged through the hotel at an additional cost.

$1499 $2539

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October 2024–July 2025

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I’m a Patagonia Travel Expert — and Here Are 10 Mistakes to Avoid When Visiting This Remote Part of the World

Whether you're traveling solo or with family or friends, Patagonia offers something for everyone.

iStockphoto/Getty Images

Outdoor adventurers dream of spotting iconic wildlife and trekking among soaring glaciers in Patagonia. But when visiting remote natural wonders with varying landscapes, it’s important to be prepared. As a Patagonia travel specialist for the past 15 years, I know every jaw-dropping nook and cranny, along with the best ways to explore.

Here are 10 common planning mistakes to avoid, so your trip is unforgettable for all the right reasons. 

Planning Without an Expert

Patagonia is divided between Chile and Argentina, which makes it enormous in scale. For this reason, it’s easy to become overwhelmed by the numerous search results that appear when planning a trip here. Avoid this by working with a local travel expert who can provide first-hand knowledge. Not only does this make the planning easier, but it's also the best way to take part in experiences that not everyone has access to, like heli-rafting to a nearby remote island where you can have a picnic. 

Underestimating Travel Time

Many visitors underestimate travel times — not only in getting there, but also between remote destinations upon arrival. Going from New York City to Patagonia, for example, takes more than a full day. And once there, you’ll enjoy magnificent landscapes on every long drive, so it’s important to time your itinerary right.

Skipping Cultural Experiences

With so many captivating backdrops for trekking, kayaking, and wildlife spotting, many travelers miss the rich cultural attractions on their way to their next adventure. Trips handcrafted by local travel experts help you delve into the various lifestyles of the place you're visiting. One way we do this is by inviting travelers to experience the Patagonian gaucho (or “cowboy”) lifestyle by staying at a cattle ranch within Perito Moreno National Park . 

Not Eating Local Food

Argentinian cuisine is one of a kind. Whether it’s juicy guanaco steaks, grilled jabali (wild boar), or trout straight from the river to your plate, sampling delicious dishes made with local ingredients is key when visiting Patagonia. 

Forgetting Your Sense of Adventure

When visiting Patagonia, it’s important to not be afraid of journeying off the beaten path — it’s where you’ll find some of the region's most awe-inspiring landscapes , along with the joy of being one of a few travelers lucky enough to witness them. One experience I recommend is mountain biking along the Lago del Desierto. Here, you can admire the scenery of beach forests, mountains, crystal-clear rivers, and glaciers. It’s important to avoid driving or exploring on your own in remote places with limited reception, so hire a trusted local guide for peace of mind. 

Thinking Patagonia Is Only for Extreme Adventures

From ice hiking to whitewater rafting, there’s no doubt Patagonia delivers unbeatable outdoor thrills. But if you’re not a fan of extreme sports, there’s still plenty to do. An exciting itinerary might include a relaxing whale-watching cruise and staying overnight at a working estancia. 

Leaving the Kids at Home

Getting up close to penguins and sea lions in the wild is among the many incredible experiences for kids in this family-friendly destination. Don’t worry, a knowledgeable Patagonia specialist can design an itinerary to suit children of all ages for stress-free travel with local guides at the helm.

Packing Incorrectly 

It’s possible to experience all four seasons in one day in Patagonia. The weather is unpredictable, and this means packing can make or break your trip, so it’s important to come prepared. Most importantly, pack layers to dress for all weather conditions, and make sure your hiking shoes are worn in and ready to go.

Rushing the Journey

When visiting a place like Patagonia, many people often try to fit everything into one trip. Instead,  indulge in slow travel by choosing a few experiences you and your group really want to enjoy. If you try to fit too much in, you may miss out on the moment right in front of you.

Not Being in the Moment

As you connect with the landscapes and soak up fascinating cultural sights, you learn to disconnect from your devices. If you find this hard to do, spotty reception in many places will help you leave the world behind as you venture into the Patagonian wilderness.

Jeaninne Sanz Bernay is a member of Travel + Leisure's A-List, and specializes in creating unique, private journeys to South America. You can create an itinerary that fits your needs with Santz by contacting her at [email protected].

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