There is so much to see and do in this vibrant country that when planning a trip to Mexico you may find yourself in analysis paralysis. The options range from sandy beaches on the edge of the Caribbean Sea to ancient ruins on high plateaus; from colourful colonial towns to scuba diving in the deep ocean. To help you plan the best vacation for you, we’ve narrowed down the list to what we think are the best places to visit in Mexico.
We’ve mostly ranked these in order of our preference, but if you have different interests you’ll have a different order. No matter where you choose, you will have a great time exploring Mexico.
1. Scuba Diving In Cozumel
This may not be the top attraction for most people travelling to Mexico, but when we think about places we would like to return to, it is diving off the shores of Cozumel. Imagine swimming beside coral walls as tall as high-rises, through narrow tunnels (swim-throughs), and under overhangs made by the large coral reef. The diving off Cozumel is like swimming in a magical coral jungle.
You can read more about Cozumel in our post Scuba Diving in Cozumel.
2. Oaxaca
Not only is Oaxaca a great colonial city, but its proximity to fascinating ancient sites pushes it up our list. If you’re a history lover, its colonial past can be seen and felt on every street corner. If you prefer to experience vibrant culture, the city comes alive with its many festivals that parade along the colourful streets. Outside of the city explore the Zapotec cultures pyramids of Monte Albán and their intricately decorated palace in Mitla. There’s a lot to do and see in this festive city.
You can read more about these sites in our posts Experience History in Oaxaca, Pyramids of Monte Albán and Zapotec Mosaics & Frozen Waterfall in Mitla.
3. Puerto Escondido
If you’re looking for a beach vacation consider staying in Puerto Escondido. Not only are the beaches stunning, the surf is something that must be seen. Known as the Mexican Pipeline, long tube-shaped waves unfurl beside the 4 kilometer long Zicatela Beach. In addition to this beach, the city has many more located in its myriad of picturesque coves. The city is also much more laid-back than many beach towns because there is no busy Hotel Zone.
You can read more about this great beach town in our post Puerto Escondido -More Than A Surfing Beach.
4. San Cristobal de las Casas
One of the cutest colonial towns in Mexico is San Cristobal de las Casas. Quiet, cobblestone streets are lined by colourful heritage homes in excellent condition. The many pedestrian streets in Old Town offer views of the surrounding hills, adding even more likeability to the scene. We think San Cristobal de las Casas is one of the prettiest towns in Mexico.
For more information you can read our post Discover Colonial San Cristobal de las Casas.
5. Cenote Diving In Tulum
There is nothing comparable to diving in a cenote and Tulum has a large variety of these incredible natural features. Diving in a cenote means you will swim around stalactites and stalagmites, under low ceilings and through layers of unique substrates. After spending a few days diving, you can explore the pretty Maya ruins of Tulum.
For more information you can read our post Tulum – Cenote Diving & Maya Ruins.
6. Ruins of Uxmal
There are so many Maya ruins in Mexico that it’s difficult for one site to stand out, but Uxmal does just that. With delicate veneer-like decorations and quirky masks on the walls, the Puuc architectural style used in Uxmal makes it our favourite Maya city.
You can read more about this fantastic Maya site in our post Best Day Trips From Mérida – Uxmal & Izamal.
7. Guanajuato
Without the typical organized street grid of most Spanish colonial towns, Guanajuato has its own distinct personality. Streets climb up and down the many hills, covering them in a myriad of colours. We loved exploring the sites of this Mexican gem and we think you will too.
You can read more about this lively city in our post A Mexican Gem – Guanajuato City.
8. Agua Azul & Palenque
Tiers of white rimmed, travertine pools gently spill their turquoise water into the pool below in a long string of mini waterfalls. Together these pools form Cascadas de Agua Azul, one of the prettiest waterfalls in the country. After soaking in the waters in this perfect natural scene, you can explore the Maya ruins of Palenque.
To read more about these amazing sites see our post Day Trips From Palenque – Agua Azul and Maya Ruins.
9. Bacalar Lagoon
What if we told you there is a little-known magical place, where the water glistens in seven gorgeous shades of blue? It’s not a Caribbean beach resort, but the water is just as pretty. This place is called Bacalar Lagoon and it is so beautiful that it won’t be long before the secret gets out.
To find out more about this treasure read our post Seven Shades of Blue in Bacalar Lagoon.
10. Teotihuacan Ruins
To call the giant pyramids in this historic city impressive is an understatement. Your first view of Pyramids of the Sun and Moon will let you know how important this city was in early Mesoamerica. Located only 50 km (30 miles) from Mexico City makes it perfect to visit on a day trip from the capital.
You can read more about this ancient city in our post Explore The Pyramids of Teotihuacan.
11. Mexico City
As one of the largest cities in the world, Mexico City is surprisingly easy to navigate and a pleasure to visit. It’s often feared as being a dangerous city, and parts of it probably are, but its historical centre is safe, and perfect for history-loving tourists. Mexico City’s historic downtown lets you see both sides of its past with colonial churches standing beside indigenous Mexica ruins.
Find our more about this fantastic capital city in our post Mexico City’s Historic Centre.
12. Chichen Itza
As one of the most famous Maya cities, Chichen Itza had a lot of high expectations to live up to and we’re pleased to say that it did just that. From its grand pyramid to its delicately decorated buildings, Chichen Itza is a wonderful site to explore.
Find out more about this impressive Maya city by reading our post Explore The Wonders Of Chichen Itza.
13. Tequila
Even if you think you don’t like tequila, you may be surprised by the variety of tequila drinks available. Tequila tasting in the town of Tequila is a great spot for this truly Mexican experience.
To read more about tequila tasting, read our post Tequila Tasting in Tequila.
14. San Miguel de Allende
Staring up at the tall spires of the neo-gothic church, we understood why so many people visit San Miguel de Allende. In addition to the fairytale-style church, tourists flock to the city to wander along the cobblestone streets ornamented with perfectly restored colonial homes.
Read more about this colonial city in our post Visiting San Miguel de Allende & Atotonilco.
15. Puebla
A collection of beautifully tiled and colourfully painted heritage buildings adorn the streets in Puebla’s historic centre. Ornate colonial churches fill its squares. These buildings along with its unique beginnings makes Puebla a great city to explore.
For more information about this pretty city, visit our post A Day In Puebla.
Travel Tips For Mexico
ATMs – We found Bankonorte gave us the best rates and were the most reliable for having money. DO NOT use a Santander ATM as they are notorious for debiting your bank account without giving you the money. We unfortunately found this out by personal experience. You can read more of this story in our post from Guadalajara.
Credit Cards – Most museums, larger hotels, tourist restaurants accept credit cards but they mostly likely have a surcharge. Smaller shops and family run businesses often only accept cash.
Transportation – If you rent a car, the roads are generally in good condition, but there are quite a few toll roads throughout the country. Be aware that the toll fees are very high. Most tourist areas are safe to drive during the day, but you should research the safety precautions of each state before you make a long distance drive. Buses are a good option if you don’t want to drive, but because of the high toll fees, buses are a lot more expensive than you would expect in Mexico. There are many different bus companies in the country; many are excellent, but some are less reliable. We found the reviews on BusBud to be a helpful source in deciding which company to use. We had good experiences with ADO, ETN and Primera Plus.
There are quite a few taxi scams in Mexico, most are related to typical over charging that happen everywhere. In Guadalajara, however, we heard a new one. We met a women whose luggage was stolen by her taxi. He drove off after she had loaded her luggage and before she got inside. Uber and other ride share apps make it safer because there is record of your transaction, but they aren’t available in many cities in Mexico.
Safety – Most tourist sites in Mexico are safe for visitors. There will likely be an obvious armed police presence who are there to protect the country’s valuable tourist industry. Obviously there are a lot of parts of the country that are not safe and those tend to not have much of interest for tourists anyway. Most of the violence is between warring drug cartels who operate in every part of Mexico. They do not typically target tourists, but it still can make an area unsafe.
In larger centres there will also be petty crime. The best way to stay safe is to be aware of where you are travelling and what dangers may exist there. No matter where you travel, don’t draw attention to yourself. This means keep your expensive jewelry at home and don’t flash money and keep your valuables including phones out of sight in zipped pockets and stay aware of your surroundings. Be extra cautious when you go out after dark. We didn’t have any problems, but we were careful.
SIM cards – We bought a SIM card from Claro and found it to have excellent coverage and good rates.
Language – Spanish is the official language in Mexico. In tourist centres there will be a lot of English, but outside of these regions, don’t expect much English.
When to Travel to Mexico – Although the weather varies from region to region, generally the best weather will be between December and April.
To read more of our adventures in Mexico, click here.
Coming Next – The Seven Hills of Historic Lisbon
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