More than 20 million tourists visit Mexico each year to enjoy the country’s weather, culture and natural beauty. From ocean beaches to large cities, Mexico offers a wide range of alternatives for a traveler’s itinerary.
Visitors learn about Mexico’s intriguing history, including the Aztec and Mayan civilizations; attend colorful festivals like the Day of the Dead; and sample Mexican food, beer and tequila. The nation is graced with scenic coastlines and lush mountains.
Central Mexico
In the heart of the country lies the sprawling capital of Mexico City. Art, music, cuisine, architecture, museums and shopping are among the attractions. Remnants of the Spanish colonial era are found in the San Angel and Coyoacan neighborhoods, and earlier structures still stand in the old town area.
About a half-hour drive outside the capital is Teotihuacan, an ancient city with huge pyramids and other ruins from the 2nd century. Guanajuato City, a former silver-mining center known for its museums, is also nearby. The mountain community, which dates to 1554, is famous for its haciendas, colonial architecture and underground tunnels.
Acapulco
For many tourists, the primary reason to go to Mexico is to escape winter weather and relax on a sandy beach. One of the most-visited oceanside areas, Acapulco, has been called the “Pearl of the Pacific.” In addition to upscale resorts along the shoreline, the city offers pulsing nightlife and many restaurants serving traditional Mexico food.
A 150-mile drive north of Acapulco leads to Zihuatanejo, a Pacific Ocean coastal community near the Ixtapa resort. Only Cancun and Puerto Vallarta attract more tourists to Mexico than this picturesque region, where sports fishing is among the favorite activities.
Yucatan Peninsula
The home of the renowned city of Cancun, the Yucatan Peninsula is one of the world’s top beach destinations. It is popular with spring breakers, as well as other tourists and the Mexican people. In addition to beautiful strips of sand, Cancun is renowned for its resorts, cafes, nightclubs and shops.
Snorkeling and scuba-diving opportunities are available in the Yucatan state of Quintana Roo, which boasts the second-largest expanse of coral reefs on Earth. Many cruiselines include a stop at the island of Cozumel, where visitors charter boats for fishing and diving.
The peninsula is the site of ruins from the Mayan empire and other archaeological treasures. Some of the most impressive ancient temples and pyramids are found at Chichen Itza, in the Yucatan capital of Merida.
Puerto Vallarta
People have been flocking to this resort area for decades because of its pleasant climate, stunning beaches, art scene and culinary delights. Puerto Vallarta also is home to scenic areas like Banderas Bay and the Sierra Madre Mountains.
Baja Peninsula
Off the western coast of Mexico, between the Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Cortez, this strip of land contains more beaches and resorts. At the peninsula’s southern tip is Los Cabos, a former fishing village that now teems with hotels, spas, restaurants and bars. The city’s white-sand beaches and temperate year-round climate are the major reasons it has become one of the most-visited parts of Mexico.
At Cabo San Lucas, visitors enjoy water sports, go fishing and watch whales when they are not taking in the community’s cultural attractions or relaxing at resorts. Baja’s capital of La Paz is the place to go for ecotourism adventures, as well as museums.
Western Mexico
Each year, hundreds of thousands of travelers choose the Pacific shore city of Mazatlan as their vacation destination. Among the amenities are beautiful beaches and other places of natural wonder, museums, theaters, a historic district and sidewalk cafes.
equila fans love the western state of Jalisco, where multiple varieties of the liquor are available. Mariachi bands provide entertainment in town, while agave field tours and tequila tastings are available in the countryside. Guadalajara is known as western Mexico’s cultural center, with numerous historic sites and museums.
Playa Del Carmen
Also cradled in the Yucatan peninsula, Playa del Carmen is located along the Caribbean coastline in an area referred to as the Mayan Riviera. Over the years, it has become in an increasingly fashionable getaway, where foreign tourists can comfortably unwind in a a beautiful and relatively affordable setting. The core of the city is a site referred to as El Zocalo, known for its bronze statue arch commemorating the cities Mayan origins. Featuring a more cosmopolitan vibe, the city is known for its history, its remarkable landscape, and of course, its stunning array of beachfronts.
Tulum
Near Playa Del Carmen is Tulum, another area increasingly drawing tourists. Tulum, first and foremost, is a historical site, a pre-Columbian walled city of the Mayans, which served as a significant port. It was one of the last cities built by the Mayans before the Spanish conquest and achieved its greatest prominence between the 13th and 15th centuries. Today, it has become a seaside destination for travelers, eager patronize the area’s various historical attractions, shops, and restaurants. Among other more traditional outdoor activities, Tulum has similarly become noted for its proliferation of yoga retreats and eco-friendly resorts.
Nuevo Nayarit
Though the original name for Nuevo Nayarit was Neuvo Vallarta, it was recently changed to “Nuevo Nayarit” in 2022 to distinguish it from Puerta Vallarta. Nuevo Nayarit is known for its long and complex history, most prominently being its indigenous resistance to Spanish colonialization. Today, Neuvo Nayarit is regarded as a planned residential-resort community. Situated along the shores of Bahia de Banderas, one of the largest bays in Mexico, it is naturally home to a profusion of idyllic beaches. More pastoral than its neighbor, Puerta Vallarta, Nuevo also offers a large array of outdoor activities, including sailing, ATVing, surfing and more.
San Miguel de Allende
Located in the state of Guanajuato, Mexico, San Miguel de Allende is a cultural treasure in Mexico. Though it became depopulated at the beginning of the 20th century as a consequence of a flu epidemic, the resonance of its numerous Baroque and Neoclassical structures inspired awe in visitors who traveled in the area. In time, the city became a focal point for students interested in foreign art and architecture, which spawned an expansive market for tourists. In 2008, UNESCO designated the protective town of San Miguel and the sanctuary of Jesus Nazareno de Atontoniclo as world heritage sites, further arousing interest in the area. Popular attractions, apart from the aforementioned sites, including hot springs, high desert hikes, and the general cosmopolitan vibrancy of the town, itself.
For additional articles on travel, reference the following articles:
Top 10 Theme Parks Around The World
Top 10 Tourist Traps – United States
