10 Best Places to Visit in Mexico
Mexico is a popular vacation spot for many reasons. Not only do North Americans love taking vacations in Mexico, but Europeans are now journeying to Mexico as well. Travelers come here for the gorgeous beaches, delicious food, lively culture, and bustling nightlife.
But beyond the beaches and nightlife, ancient Aztec and Mayan sites in Mexico are just as popular as Cancún, Puerto Vallarta, and Playa del Carmen. These ancient Aztec and Mayan sites in Mexico are so important that many of them have been designated as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. This ensures that they will remain unchanged for generations to come.
10. Playa del Carmen
Playa del Carmen, also known simply as "Playa," is a vibrant resort town in the Mexican state of Quintana Roo, in the Rivera Maya region. The town was originally inhabited as a fishing community by Europeans, but it has swiftly expanded into a magnificent resort area with beautiful beaches and exciting things to do. Nonetheless, Playa has retained its original casual vibe and welcoming locals.
Playa del Carmen is also a popular cruise stop and is close to other major tourist attractions such as the Xcaret Eco Park and the Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve. There are also lots of options for scuba diving and snorkeling with the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef right off the coast. The Quinta Avenida, or 5th Avenue, is a world-famous pedestrian-friendly avenue that runs through the heart of town and is dotted with restaurants, stores, bars, and palm trees.
9. Puerto Vallarta
Puerto Vallarta is a great place to go on vacation. It is in the state of Jalisco on the Pacific Coast of Mexico. It is surrounded by beautiful beaches and jungle-covered mountains. This picturesque town boasts numerous colonial landmarks as well as first-class resorts.
If you're looking for both tasty food and beautiful beaches on your vacation, Puerto Vallarta is the city for you. With an amazing location along Banderas Bay, you can go whale watching, deep sea fishing, do tequila tastings, and more—all while surrounded by stunning scenery. The city's landmarks are Instagram-worthy too; be sure to visit Los Arcos National Marine Park and the Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe!
8. Los Cabos
Los Cabos is the perfect place to go sport fishing in Mexico. With its beautiful resort beaches, great scuba diving, whale watching, and lively nightlife, it's no wonder that Los Cabos has become a popular vacation spot in recent years. Los Cabos consists of two towns—San Jose and San Lucas—separated by 20 miles of a gorgeous road known as "the Corridor."
Cabo San Jose is a traditional Mexican hamlet with colonial buildings and a quiet, serene atmosphere. Cabo San Lucas, on the other hand, is one of Mexico's most popular tourist destinations, with luxury resorts, fine dining establishments, championship golf courses, and a thriving nightlife. A popular thing to do here is the pedestrian-friendly Cabo San Lucas Marina. Here you'll find shops and restaurants all while enjoying top-tier fishing vessels and lavish Yachts as a backdrop.
7. Cozumel
Cozumel is a world-renowned destination for scuba diving, with some of the best dive sites in the world. The Mesoamerican reef system is one of the largest reef systems on earth (second only to the Great Barrier Reef) and offers stunning coral formations and an abundance of marine life.
I know you may be thinking, what if I’m not into diving. Should I still visit? Cozumel, Mexico is an island packed with natural beauty, coral reefs, luxury hotels and world class restaurants and rivals many of the other popular Mexico destinations. So, in short, the answer is yes!
6. Teotihuacan (Mayan Ruins)
Teotihuacan is only 30 miles northeast of Mexico City, and it has some of the world's biggest and most impressive pyramids. Its origins are unknown, yet the city went on to become one of the most impressive and important in the Americas.
This was once a bustling city with an abundance of buildings, large temples, open squares, and stadiums. The Aztecs discovered the ruins of the city that had been long abandoned by its previous occupants. They named it "Teotihuacan," which means "birthplace of the gods" because they believed that this is where the universe was created according to their mythology. This is popular destination amongst history buffs.
5. Oaxaca
Oaxaca, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is one of the best places in Mexico and is known for its food and drinks. Thanks to its plentiful mezcal, an agave-based spirit, and mole, which is a dish synonymous with Oaxaca and somehow includes both chocolate and chilis. But this southwestern Mexican state has plenty more to offer, including vibrant culture, stunning scenery (from soaring peaks to sandy beaches), and some of the country's most famous buildings.
Most of Oaxaca occupies several tropical and subtropical climates, which means the temperature can vary greatly depending on the location and time of year. However, it's almost always pleasantly warm and sunny, except for the rainy season from late June through September.
4. Cancun
Cancun is a popular vacation spot because of its beautiful beaches, high-end resorts, and busy nightlife. Cancun can be expensive or budget-friendly depending on your needs. The pristine beaches and year-round good weather draw tourists from across the globe. Cancun is home to fourteen miles of picturesque white sand and blue water.
Cancun is not only a beautiful paradise, but also offers many activities for tourists such as visiting ancient Mayan ruins, ATV tours, playing golf at world-renowned courses, watching football games at the stadium, shopping at La Isla mall, and experiencing the vibrant nightlife with different pubs and clubs to suit any taste.
3. Mexico City
Mexico City is the country's capital and is home to many ethnic groups from all over the world. It is one of Mexico's most important political and cultural hubs and one of Latin America's most important financial centers. Mexico City is not only the largest city in Mexico, but it is also full of history and culture. Visitors can do a lot at a relatively low cost. However, if you feel like spending a bit more money, you'll find an array of high-end shops lining Avenida Presidente Masaryk in the Polanco neighborhood.
While there are no beaches in Mexico City, there are plenty of fascinating things to see and do. Visitors can indulge in fine dining, see the Plaza de la Constitucion, the Metropolitan Cathedral, the National Palace, and the remnants of an old Aztec temple. Some must-see attractions are the spectacular Chapultepec Park and Xochimilco Floating Gardens.
2. Chichen Itza
Chichen Itza is one of the best-known and most-visited Mayan sites. It is on the Yucatan Peninsula. It attracts visitors from all over the world because its architecture reflects influences not only from the Maya civilization but also from Central Mexico. Though some find the heat and crowds overwhelming, Chichen Itza's architectural ruins were selected as one of The New Seven Wonders of The World for a reason.
While the ruins of pyramids like El Castillo and Kukulcan are the main attraction at Chichen Itza, visitors will find that the site has much more to offer than just those structures. Both the Maya Jungle Reserve and the Hacienda Chichen Bird Refuge provide visitors the chance to participate in otherworldly activities such as astronomy and bird watching. Both Merida and Cancun are convenient departure points for daytrips. It is also good to note that, it is fairly easy to remain for one or two nights at Chichen Itza.
1. Tulum
Tulum has quickly become one of Mexico's most popular tourist destinations because of its beaches and nightlife. It is at the top of many travelers' bucket lists. It lies on the Caribbean Sea and has amazing Mayan ruins, swimmable cenotes, and white sand beaches. You've probably seen it all over your Instagram feed and there's no shortage of places to capture that stunning picture.
Tulum appeals to history buffs and water lovers alike. This Caribbean beach town has a lot more to offer than just trendy and hip things to do. You can take a stroll through the lush jungle in LabnaHa Eco Park or visit the historic Mayan ruins that tower over the town
Here is an important distinction for visitors. Tulum consists of three different areas, all referred to as Tulum. The town center sometimes referred to as Tulum Pueblo, lies across the highway south of the Coba junction. From the town center, there are frequent buses to Cancun, Merida, Playa del Carmen, and Valladolid. Tulum Playa, or Zona Hotelera, extends for more than 6 miles (10km) of great white sand beaches along the Caribbean coastline. And lastly, Tulum Ruinas is the archaeological site where you can find the ancient Tulum Mayan ruins.