Mexico Travel Guide:

Best Places to Visit

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Mexico is a large country that offers an  number of interesting regions featuring an enormous number of potential vacation spots. How to decide where to go?  Simple.  Read our recommendations on the best places to visit in Mexico.

Mexico has over  five thousand miles (9,000 km) of beaches, which along with its warm winter temperatures attract the majority of vacationers to this enchanting country.  Although many seaside resorts are popular, the leading vacation destinations are located along tor near the Riviera Maya on the Caribbean coast or the Mexican Riviera on the  Pacific coast of Mexico.

From the tourist’s point of view, there are three "Mexico’s" that attract attention.  The most popular of these is the Yucatan peninsula, which encompasses the delightful area that has come to be known as the Riviera Maya by some and Caribbean Riviera by others.  Including Cancun, Playa del Carmen, Tulum and other gorgeous beach towns and islands (such as Cozumel), the Riviera Maya is known for its majestic, white-sand beaches, warm sunny weather and Mayan ruins. We provide a concise description of the Yucatan and its many attractions below, as well as links to our detailed guides for these areas.

The second most popular area of Mexico is known as the Mexican Riviera, a delightful swath of beaches spanning over 2,000 miles of the Pacific coast between Ensenada and Acapulco. The distances separating the major resort areas are great and, as a result, the leading resort towns are not likely to be explored during in a single vacation. 

In some ways the concept of the Mexican Riviera is marketing-speak coined  by the Mexican government and eagerly adopted by cruise lines, since the best way to sample this beautiful and enchanting region is see it during a cruise. Although there are a number of great vacation spots for cruise itineraries, we recommend only three for an extended land vacation – Cabo San Lucas, the Puerto Vallarta area and Ixtapa.    We provide a concise description of these locations below, as well as links to our detailed guide for the Mexican Riviera, where we cover these locations and more in greater detail.

The “third” Mexico runs down the center of the country and includes Copper Canyon, Morelia and Mexico City.  We cover these locations at the bottom of this page.  Although each location is attractive to many travelers, most visitors to Mexico will focus on the Caribbean or Pacific shores of this interesting country.

Before you complete your planning for a vacation in Mexico, read our sections on Mexico Travel Information and Mexico Facts to complete your basic preparation for vacationing in Mexico. There is a U.S. State Department Travel Alert concerning travel in Mexico in 2009.  You can find the text for the warning here.

• Cancun/Riviera Maya/Yucatan Peninsula

  • The eastern coast of the Yucatan Peninsula lies within the state of Quintana Roo.  Blessed with 120 miles of excellent coastline, white sand beaches and an attractive climate, this area contains Cancun, Cozumel and the towns of the Riviera Maya.
    
    

    • Cancun

      • Considered by many the best beach-resort  in Mexico (and perhaps the world) Cancun is an all-encompassing coastal resort.  Known for its impressive seventeen mile strip of white-sand beaches and clear temperate waters, the area offers a variety of activities for those who want to do more than just hug the beach.  See our Cancun Guide for a detailed description of what the area has to offer

      
      

    • Cozumel

      • Offshore from the Riviera Maya,  the Island of Cozumel offers romantic beaches and a relaxing environment.  Scuba or dive here if you get the chance, as this is a highlight of visit to this island.  Click here for our guide to visiting  Cozumel.

    
    

    • The Riviera Maya

      The Riviera Maya runs south of Cancun from Puerto Morales to south of Tulum.  The area is famous for its wonderful beaches and  unique attractions.  The Mayan civilization built major settlements in this area and touring these interesting sites is one of the many highlights of visiting the Riviera Maya.

      • Click for our guide to the Riviera Maya.  We cover the major beach towns,  the Mayan sites of Tulum and Coba, as well as the area's unique ecological parks.

       

    • Chichén Itzá  

      Chichén Itzá, in Yucatan state, is the best preserved and most famous of the Mayan ruins in Mexico. It is  considered one  the greatest  Mayan-Toltec centers in the Yucatan Peninsula and at only 90 miles from Cancun, it is a popular day trip.
      • Take your time here and explore the Great Pyramid (the Castle), the Warriors Temple, the ball fields (for sports) and the astronomical observatory.  This is a popular stop and can be very crowded at mid-day.

      • Our guide to Chichén Itzá provides a great preview of what you will see during your visit.

       

    • Merida   

      • Merida is the best base for an exploration of Chichén Itza and has much to offer on its own. Merida is the capital of the Yucatan state and was a colonial capital founded by the Spanish in the 16th century. Be sure to visit the Zocalo (the town Square), its cathedral and the Governor's palace.

• The Mexican Riviera

  • The Mexican Riviera stretches from Ensenada to  Acapulco, which are separated by over 2,000 miles of scenic coastline.  Ensenada and Los Cabos are located on the Baja Peninsula, while Mazatlan,  Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo, Puerto Vallarata and Acapulco, run down the coast of Mexico opposite Baja.  Each has a great deal to offer tourists, but for most of us, they are great places to escape the cold winters where we live.  The beaches along the Mexican Riviera are spectacular, the food  is varied and delicious and the beach-side activities numerous.

  • See our guide  to the Mexican Riviera for information on the best places to visit and the delightful places you will find to while away those lazy days in the sun.

• Cabo San Lucas 

  • To many travelers, Cabo is the "place to be" in Mexico.  Good beaches, great shoreline, golf, fishing, and an active nightlife combine to make the Cabo area an attractive destination for a variety of travelers. (During Spring Break - Cabo is  home to the  party hardy!). 

  • Click  for our  Guide to Cabo and the Los Cabos area.

   

• Puerto Vallarta

  • Spectacular beaches, great weather and a fun city combine to make Puerto Vallarta an attractive destination.  Its Bay of Banderas is the place to be, but touring the nearby jungles on horseback is also an attractive option. In addition, Puerto Vallarta is an area of Mexico that has attracted many talented artists and is known as one of the country's centers for the fine arts.

  • Read more about Puerto Vallarta and the new and emerging destination of Riviera Nayarit, which are covered in part 2 of our guide to the Mexican Riviera

   

• Mexico City   

  • Mexico City's historic center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  Aztec ruins, the continent's largest cathedral, and  historic architecture make Mexico City an interesting place for tourists.  Visitors should note that Mexico City is rough around the edges and personal security should be a major concern.




• Copper Canyon 

  • Copper Canyon is an out of the way place that may be attractive to travelers who like scenic landscapes, incredible canyons, and great train rides.  The Copper Canyon complex covers a very large area and consists of six separate canyons, all of which are worth seeing.

  • To maximize your enjoyment, we suggest that you sign-up for a train tour/hotel package and travel from west to east (towards Chihuahua).  The "Chepe" (Chihuahau Pacifico Railroad runs between Chihuahua and Los Mochis.

    • If you are interested in traveling to Copper Canyon, see this site.

     

• Morelia 

  • Morelia is a UNESCO World Heritage site with noted architecture, plazas, and gardens. Dating from the 16th century, the town's urban plan combines both Spanish and Mesoamerican features. The architecture of the old town is very pleasing and include elements from the Baroque and Renaissance styles of architecture.

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