It is an understatement to say that Mexico is magnificent. Pristine beaches, vibrant cities, ancient ruins, and colourful colonial villages may all be found in this vast country. There’s a lot to see and do in Mexico, from arid deserts to soaring mountains to hidden underground sinkholes.Mexico also boasts a lively culture, with one of the world’s most famous cuisines. Whether it’s tacos al pastor on the streets of Mexico City, a delectable mole in Oaxaca, or scorching aguachile on the coast, your taste buds will be in for a treat in Mexico.
The majority of visitors to Mexico come for the sun, sand, and good times. Here, you’ll find a plethora of possibilities for that beach vacation you’ve been yearning for. This is a country that knows how to party, and they’ll make sure you do as well. Mexico has long been one of our favourite vacation destinations, and its attractiveness stems from a variety of sources. This is a country that never ceases to astonish, from the ruins and raw nature to the culture, cuisine, and fantastic festivals. There are so many things to do in Mexico that you might end up planning your next vacation before you even leave!
Things to do in Mexico – Mexico Tour Packages -Tour Packages to Mexico
Mexico has long been one of our favourite vacation destinations, and its attractiveness stems from a variety of sources. This is a country that never ceases to astonish, from the ruins and raw nature to the culture, cuisine, and fantastic festivals. There are so many things to do in Mexico that you might end up planning your next vacation before you even leave!
Take a Cultural Tour
Mexico City boasts more museums than any other city on the planet, which may surprise you, but it’s true. Spend a few days visiting some of the greatest, such as Frida Kahlo’s home and the spectacular Museum of Anthropology. Listen to mariachi music and watch a lucha libre fight in the evening to observe how Mexico handles music and sport.
Tequila and tacos
These are perhaps the two most well-known aspects of Mexico, and they’re easy to come by. Make sure to sample as many taco kinds as possible; you can diet when you get home. Try the famed tacos al pastor, which are shawarma-style pork tacos with a hint of pineapple juice. The tastiest fish and shrimp tacos can be found on the coastlines. If you’re feeling brave, try the tender tacos de cabeza, which are prepared with roasted cow or pig heads. Visit a cantina in the evening to try some tequila or mezcal.
Chichen-Itza is a UNESCO World Heritage Site
There are various Mayan city remains in Mexico, but none are more spectacular than Chichen Itza. It’s not difficult to visit one of the New Seven Wonders of the World from Cancun, so take a break from the beach and go exploring. You’ll be glad you did after one peek at the magnificent edifice.
Take a look at The Luchadores
Because lucha libre is such an important aspect of Mexican culture, you should try to catch a fight night if you can. On Tuesdays, Fridays, and Sundays, the biggest and finest events take place in Arena Mexico in the capital. One of the best things about watching lucha libre is how inexpensive it is. Ringside tickets can be had for roughly $20, and large drinks can be ordered for $4.
Learn the language in Spanish
Many visitors to Mexico are just getting started on a Latin American backpacking adventure. If that’s the case, you should brush up on your Spanish while you’re here. Choose from a variety of excellent Spanish schools located around Mexico. My classes at Spanish School Vallarta in PV were fantastic. Maestro Melchor employs the renowned Warren Hardy method, which is also taught in the original San Miguel de Allende school.
Attend A Football Match
In Mexico and Latin America as a whole, football is practically a religion. If you have the opportunity when travelling in Mexico, try to catch a game. Pick up on some of the Spanish shouts and slurs to blend in with the locals. The greatest site to see a game is at Mexico City’s Estadio Azteca, which is home to two clubs, Cruz Azul and Club America. Because Liga MX has 18 teams, games can be seen in places such as Guadalajara, Monterrey, Puebla, Morelia, and others.
Mexico’s Tourist Attractions – Mexico Tour Packages -Tour Packages to Mexico
In Mexico, there may simply be too many locations to see. We’ve been travelling across this incredible country for nearly six months and feel like we’ve only touched the surface. It would take a lifetime to explore every part of Mexico, but knowing the finest areas to go will help you organise your vacation.
Mexico City is the capital of Mexico.
While you might be tempted to go straight for the beach, the Mexican capital is well worth the trip. The city has more museums than any other city on the planet, including the amazing Museum of Anthropology and the Frida Kahlo House. On a visit to the vast Chapultepec Park, you may also see the masked luchadores battle it out in the ring, hire a mariachi band to serenade that particular someone, or dance till the sun rises.
Riviera Maya is a popular tourist destination in Mexico.
This is, without a doubt, Mexico’s most popular location, and for good reason. There are some of Mexico’s best beaches here, as well as magnificent Mayan sites like Chichen Itza and a plethora of adventure activities. You can stay in a bustling tourist destination like Playa del Carmen or Tulum, a quieter town like Akumal, or travel to Cozumel Island.
Bay of Banderas
The stunning Banderas Bay is located on the opposite side of Mexico. The famed city of Puerto Vallarta is located here, and while it has several all-inclusive resorts, it retains much of its particular Mexican character. Other smaller places to visit include Yelapa, Bucerias, and Sayulita, which are all located along the coast.
Mexico’s Best Beaches – Mexico Tour Packages -Tour Packages to Mexico
Mexico has a coastline of 9,330 kilometres (5,797 miles), so it’s no wonder that the country boasts some beautiful beaches. Although the majority of the coast (7,338 km) is on the Pacific side, where you can enjoy spectacular sunsets, there are still several areas where land meets the Caribbean Sea – great for those seeking postcard-perfect white sand and turquoise sea.
Tulum
The beautiful, powdery white beach and dazzling blue ocean are undeniable here, even though the secret is out and Tulum is no longer a hidden gem. There are also a few outstanding bars, a good nightlife, and several fantastic boutique hotels directly on the beach.
Isla Mujeres is a small island off the coast of Mexico.
“The Island of Women” is a site blessed with plenty of white sand paradises and is probably the coolest island in Mexico, having some of the nicest beaches in the country. Rent a golf cart for the day and drive around the island for a few hours, stopping for a swim whenever you come upon a hidden bay. Don’t forget to bring your snorkelling equipment!
Puerto Vallarta is a resort town in Mexico.
We’d be remiss if we didn’t list some of the Pacific Coast’s most beautiful beaches, and while Oaxaca gets some honourable mentions, Puerto Vallarta makes the top three because it’s located near to one of the country’s coolest cities.
DETAILED ITINERARY
The tour begins in Mexico City on the first day.
The tour begins Friday evening in Mexico City, the country’s bustling capital. Rooms will be available beginning in the early afternoon for those who arrive early. Today is a free day.
Mexico City
Because one might easily spend a week or more touring the many sights in and around Mexico City, our stay here cannot be totally thorough. However, we will begin our tour of the city and nation today by seeing the wonderful Museo Nacional de Antropologia, which houses one of the world’s greatest Mesoamerican collections and will provide significant context for many of the places we will visit later in the trip. We’ll also visit the famed Zocalo and take a journey through the city’s colonial past, passing by the National Palace and the Metropolit.
Mexico City – Oaxaca,
Today’s drive will take us through the beautiful Mexican countryside to the charming city of Oaxaca. Our actual driving time will be approximately 6 hours, but this will be broken up with a visit to Puebla’s lovely ancient city centre, a stunning UNESCO World Heritage Site with over 70 churches and thousands Mexican colonial buildings.
Oaxaca
This morning, we’ll visit Monte Alban, also known as ‘At the Foot of the Sky’ or ‘Sacred Mountain’ in indigenous languages, to explore one of the region’s most important pre-Columbian ruins. Several hundred terraces and a dozen groups of mounded structures characterise this partially excavated site. Later, we’ll travel to Oaxaca for a guided tour of the city, which includes the cathedral, the Templo del Carmen Alto, and the Templo de Santo Domingo, among other outstanding colonial structures.
Tehuantepec – Oaxaca
After a morning excursion to adjacent Teotitlan del Valle, which is known for its textiles, we’ll travel into the Sierra Madre foothills to see the well-preserved Zapotec ancient ruins of Mitla, which are known for its geometric mosaics. We’ll next make our way down to the Pacific coast and the town of Tehuantepec, where we’ll spend the night.
Tehuantepec – San Cristobal de las Casas
We’ll travel to Chiapas and stop at the Sumidero Canyon for a boat ride through the canyon’s stunning granite walls, which stand hundreds of feet above the sea. We’re hoping to see crocodiles, spider monkeys, cormorants, and herons among the local animals. We’ll continue into the highlands on our way back to the port, eventually arriving in the lovely town of San Cristobal de las Casas.
San Cristobal de las Casas
We’ll go visiting the nearby indigenous settlements of San Juan Chamula and San Lorenzo Zinacantan this morning, which are known for their strange religious customs, such as drinking huge amounts of Coca Cola to fend off evil spirits! Please keep in mind that photography inside churches and during religious parades is absolutely prohibited in these towns. In the afternoon, we’ll return to San Cristobal, where you’ll have the remainder of the day to relax and take in the sights of this perennially popular resort.
San Cristobal de las Casas – Las Guacamayas
Rather than taking the more direct route to Palenque, we choose for the so-called Frontier Highway, which travels along the Guatemalan border. This route will take us through the rainforest on rocky roads to the Las Guacamayas ecotourism project, which was founded by local communities and benefits from its remote jungle position. This is where we’ll be staying for the next two nights.
Las Guacamayas
There will be time for early morning boat trips along the Lacantun and Tzendales Rivers, both of which are located inside the Montes Azules Biosphere Reserve and provide excellent wildlife viewing possibilities. We’ll also be able to go for a stroll in the forest in the afternoon to explore the flora of this protected zone as well as a feeding location for parrots. Las Guacamayas is a unique location that provides a unique perspective on Chiapas’ natural treasures, and it is a project that we are proud to support.
Las Guacamayas
This morning, we’ll go to Yaxchilan, one of the least visited but most stunning Mayan monuments, known for its spectacular location and ornate facades. In the afternoon, we take a boat ride along the Usumacinta River, which serves as a natural border between Mexico and Guatemala, while enormous groups of howler monkeys remind us how far we are from modern civilisation. We make our way back up the river to our overnight rooms, which are conveniently located near our boarding point.
Corozal – Palenque
We’ll leave after breakfast for Bonampak, the Lacandón forest’s interesting and well-kept secret. The incredible paintings inside the Templo de las Pinturas, with vivid images of wars and strange rituals that are unrivalled in the Mayan civilization, are the most recognised feature of these ruins. After some time to soak in the beauty of the surrounds, we’ll continue on to Palenque, where we’ll check into our hotel in the afternoon.
Palenque – Campeche
We leave early in the morning for Palenque, one of Mexico’s most stunning Mayan archaeological sites. These fascinating remains, engulfed by vegetation and located on a high escarpment on the northern edge of the Chiapas Highlands, span nearly a thousand years of history. The city was once the heart of the Mayan kingdom, and its famed Templo de las Inscripciones is regarded one of the most important burial sites ever unearthed in the Americas. It is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. After a thorough tour, we embark on a six-hour trip to the Yucatan Peninsula. We’ll spend the night in Campeche, a beautifully preserved Baroque city established by the Spanish to defend its ports against pirates like Francis Drake. Campeche features some magnificent specimens of 17th and 18th century Spanish military architecture, as well as a great spot to soak up the rich milieu of modern life, with two forts and half of its original defensive walls remaining intact.
Merida – Campeche
This morning, we’ll travel across the Yucatan to Uxmal, where we’ll see the beautifully preserved ruins of one of the greatest Mayan cities ever created. Uxmal, once one of the greatest cities on the Yucatan Peninsula, is now known for the stunning setting of the Governors’ Palace, which is widely regarded as one of the finest specimens of classical Mayan architecture worldwide. The mythical Pyramid of the Magician, a 38-meter-high building made up of five superimposed temples, is also located here. This afternoon, we’ll go to Merida, the cultural capital of the Yucatan Peninsula, which boasts some stunning colonial architecture.
Merida – Chichen Itza – Merida
We’ll get an early start to avoid the expected but understandable crowds as we make our way to Chichen Itza, one of Latin America’s most awe-inspiring sights. The artistically built Castillo pyramid, where human sacrifices were made, is famous in this pre-Columbian city. Later, we’ll get the opportunity to swim in a beautiful cenote (sinkhole) before returning to Merida for our final night. The day will be free for exploring the city, but we will reassemble in the evening to depart for our final night in Mexico.
The tour comes to a close in Merida.
The tour formally ends after breakfast, however those who fly with the suggested group will have the morning to themselves before being transferred to Merida airport for their onward journey.
Frequently Asked Questions
Since Mexico is such a large country, the climate differs greatly from region to region. As a result, the ideal time to visit Mexico is usually between December and April. These are the coolest and driest months of the year, therefore the beaches are packed with visitors. Around Christmas, New Year’s, and Easter, popular tourist destinations are unusually crowded.
In certain locations, rain begins to fall in May and continues until October. August and September are the wettest and hottest months of the year, which means fewer visitors. For a few months, many businesses in attractive seaside regions close their doors. While the coast can be very hot and rainy, the interior area of Mexico is much more comfortable.
Peak Season
The months of December through April are the busiest for travel in Mexico. The last week of the year is undoubtedly the most popular time to visit Mexico, particularly along the coasts such as Cancun and Puerto Vallarta. Around Christmas and New Year’s, prices skyrocket, and you’ll need to book months in advance just to get a room.
Shoulder Season
Shoulder Season With the exception of Easter, when the entire country appears to be travelling, crowds are normally substantially lower during these times. These are excellent seasons to visit Mexico since the weather is still pleasant, but prices and crowds are lower.
Off-Season
Mexico attracts much fewer international tourists after the rainy season begins in June/July. During the summer vacation, beach locations are still packed with domestic tourists, but by August-September, the crowds have thinned significantly. The rains on the Pacific Coast, in particular, can be monsoon-like around this period, and there’s a risk that a hurricane will pass through the Caribbean. The good news is that you can get some fantastic prices and avoid the crowds during the off-season.
Due to the lack of a rail system in Mexico, most travel involves flying or taking a bus. There are currently various budget airlines in the country that provide low tickets for domestic flights, especially if you book ahead of time. Viva Aerobus, Volaris, and Interjet offer the most affordable flights. Just keep in mind that you’ll have to spend $20-25 per person for a checked bag on these carriers.
If you prefer to travel by bus, Mexico has a plethora of options. After taking a Mexican bus, I usually joke that taking the Greyhound makes the United States look like a third-world country. Mexico’s buses are extremely pleasant, with soft reclining seats and clean restrooms.
A personal entertainment screen (so you can practise your Spanish) and even a little sack lunch are frequently provided. ETN, Primera Plus, and ADO are the best bus companies to use. You can book your tickets online, however some of their websites do not accept credit cards from outside the United States. You might simply pick them up at the station in that scenario.
There is a metro system in major cities such as Mexico City and Guadalajara for travelling about. Women and children are also given their own automobiles, which you should take advantage of, especially during rush hour. Local buses are available almost everywhere and are usually extremely easy to navigate and relatively inexpensive.
The majority of visitors will arrive in Mexico by plane. Flights to Mexico City and Cancun are available from major International cities. Those travelling for an extended period of time can enter Mexico by land if they are coming from nearby countries such as Guatemala or Belize. Of course, many tourists visit Mexico aboard a cruise ship, sailing to destinations such as Puerto Vallarta, Cancun, and Cozumel.
Visa-free travel to Mexico is available to citizens of 65 different countries. This comprises India, the United States, Canada, the whole European Union, Australia, New Zealand, the majority of South America, and a few Asian nations. Tourists and business travellers can stay in Mexico for up to 180 days. For further information, visit the Wikipedia page on Mexico’s visa rules.
There are no immunizations required for travel to Mexico. Tetanus, Typhoid, and Hepatitis A immunizations are all recommended. If you plan on hiking to isolated areas, you should also consider being vaccinated against Hepatitis B and Rabies. Malaria is not widespread in Mexico, but anyone travelling through rural regions should bring malaria tablets with them just in case.
“Montezuma’s Revenge” is to Mexico what “Delhi Belly” is to India. If you’re not used to eating on the street or spicy food, you might want to stick to nicer restaurants and avoid the spicy food if you don’t want to spend the majority of your vacation in the bathroom.
While the cartels and the violence that surrounds them make international headlines, Mexico remains a safe destination for visitors. You can wander around central areas at any time of day or night, but you should stay away from them after dark. Of course, keep your belongings safe and don’t flaunt your brand new iPhone or high-end camera.