THE BEST MEXICO TRIP

Everywhere you visit in Mexico, you will come across a magnificent cacophony of music, color and remarkable terrain. Whether it's your first trip to the country or as a regular visitor to this impressive country, there is always something new and exciting to discover. Whatever your budget, you'll find palm-fringed beaches, ancient ruins, color-drenched festivals, fireworks and mouth-watering cuisine that will ensure that this country ranks amongst your favorite holiday destinations. There are more reasons to visit this beautiful nation than any list, but the following things should be included when planning your best Mexican trip. 

 

Scuba Diving n Mexico

Mexico City

Mexico City has to be the best place for a vibrant culture. Luckily, you will probably arrive in Mexico via its capital, Mexico City. The nation's long-standing political capital stands at the forefront of Mexico's cultural scene and is where many of its top artists left behind their most important works. Diego Rivera's cinematic murals in the Palacio Nacional and the social-realism work of José Clemente Orozco in the Palacio de Bellas Artes, for example.  Art, music, dance and theater are everywhere in Mexico City, and a gondola ride along the ancient canals of Xochimilco wouldn't be complete without the sounds of a traditional mariachi ballad. Wander through the buzzing downtown area to relive the capital’s history, from pre-Hispanic and colonial-era architecture to the contemporary metropolis. Old-school cantinas and fascinating museums sit alongside edgy modern galleries and charming plazas, offering unique artisan and designer shopping. This is culturally diverse Mexico at its best.

 

Oaxaca City

This highly individual city basks in bright upland light. It captivates everyone with its delicious Mexican cuisine, gorgeous handicrafts, frequent colorful fiestas, colonial architecture, booming arts scene and fine mezcals distilled from nearby villages.  Oaxaca City is considered the capital of mezcal. Within easy reach of the city are the superb ancient Zapotec capital, Monte Albán, dozens of indigenous craft-making villages with busy weekly markets, and the cool, forested hills of the Sierra Norte, perfect for hikers, mountain bikers and horseback riders. Oaxaca is a complex but intensely attractive city whose majestic churches and elegant plazas have deservedly earned it a UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE  badge. Flowing through handsome yet tranquil streets, life pulsates with an unadulterated regional flavor, fully represented in its cuisine. The color palette of boutique hotels, a meet-the-producer artisan store, satirical street art, bohemian bars and been-around-forever street markets combine to make this the ultimate boho destination in Mexico, and there’s far more to this city than just quaint churches.

 

 Traditional Weavings in Oaxaca

 

Cancun

Cancun is famous for an excellent reason; its beaches are magnificent! It would be a disservice to talk about beautiful Mexican beaches without mentioning Cancún at least once. The Maya Riviera offers pristine beaches, a fine example of Cancún’s typical coastline conditions. Powder soft, fine sand and crystal-clear waters gently lap away in the background, making for an overall feeling of serenity and peace. Famous for sun-worshippers and water sport enthusiasts, this has to be the destination for those who are short on time or looking to escape the winter cold.

 

Isla Holbox

One of the best places for remote beaches has to be Isla Holbox. A relatively undiscovered island in the state of Quintana Roo is Isla Holbox. The island has numerous beaches, long been famous among divers for the unrivaled presence of whale sharks; it’s now gaining popularity in the traveler community for its relaxing ambiance, shallow waters, and practically deserted virgin beaches. Go there soon to truly get a feel for Holbox, or the tourists will have arrived en masse and commercialized everything.

 

Holbox Sunset

 

Copper Canyon

 

The best train ride has to be the Ferrocarril Chihuahua Pacífico (Copper Canyon Railway) which remains one of Latin America’s best rail trips. Trains climb from sea level at Los Mochis to the adventure-minded town of Creel via the sensational rocky landscapes of the Copper Canyon. Vistas from your window include alpine forests, subtropical valleys, Tarahumara villages and glimpses of some of the world’s deepest canyons. Overnight en route at cinematic lodges overlooking the canyon's edge, or stay for days of exploring, hiking, horseback riding and even zip-lining in one of Mexico's most breath-taking destinations. 

 

Tulum

 

Take a dramatic Maya ruin beside the achingly beautiful white sands and turquoise-blue waters of the Caribbean, and you’ve got the rightly world-famous Tulum. Add in accommodations for all budgets, from beachside shacks to top-end resorts, some fantastic restaurants and bars, and numerous attractions in the surrounding area, from cenotes (limestone sinkholes) to other Maya ruins, and it’s no wonder many people come for a few days and find themselves staying for far longer. Some may be put off because the town center sits right on the highway, making the main drag feel more like a truck stop than a tropical paradise. But be assured that if Tulum Pueblo isn't to your liking, you can always head to the coast and find a tranquil, beachside bungalow. Exploring Tulum's surrounding areas pays big rewards: there's the massive Reserva de la Biosfera Sian Ka’an, the secluded fishing village Punta Allen and the ruins of Cobá.

 

Tulum

The Sea of Cortez

Part of a UNESCO-protected Biosphere Reserve in the Sea of Cortez Espíritu Santo Island is spectacular in every way. Pink sandstone has been eroded by wind and waves into finger-like protrusions, each harboring a beautiful cove. And suppose this otherworldly beauty isn't enough. In that case, you can descend into the endless blue with whale sharks, dive the many colorful reefs, camp under a canopy of stunning stars, snorkel with playful sea lions at their island colony and paddle your way along various azure bays. Several operators run activities here, including kayaking and snorkeling. If water sports are your thing, then this is by far the best place to visit in Mexico.

 

San Miguel de Allende

This Mexican beauty has it all: a fantastic springlike climate, great light, breath-taking architecture, superb handicraft shopping and some of the best culinary experiences in the country. Its frequent festivities mean that music, parades and fireworks are never hard to find – check out what's on in Atención San Miguel. The Escuela de Bellas Artes and the Biblioteca (in the Sala Quetzal) host various cultural events in English; check their noticeboards for schedules. San Miguel has a mind-boggling number of craft shops selling folk art and handicrafts from all over the country. Anyone serious about buying should book an appointment at the excellent Galeria Atotonilco. Once you're finished shopping up a storm, the town's nearby hot springs are a joy to unwind. Famously a place for retired gringos to spend the winter, San Miguel has so much more to offer than ex-pat hangouts; spending time here is often a highlight of Mexico for many visitors.

 

San Miguel de Allende

 

Baja California

If catching the perfect wave sounds like your idea of heaven, Baja California has some of the best beaches for surfing. With green coves backed by lush tropical mountains, untouched expanses of sand, and mangrove-fringed lagoons teeming with birdlife, Mexico's Pacific coastline is stunning in its natural beauty. You can indulge in all the tropical clichés here: eating sublime seafood under palm-frond roofs, drinking chilled coconut water while lounging in a hammock, or enjoying poolside cocktails at an upmarket resort. The city's nightlife is excellent, and there's a beach for everyone, whether you prefer yours backed by high-rise hotels or tumbledown cabins. There's even more going on in the ocean, where you can spot humpback whales breaching on the horizon, mother turtles arriving to lay their eggs, pelicans flying in formation or schools of dolphins rising from the waves.

 

Chichén Itzá

The most popular of Mexico's ancient sights for a good reason, Chichén Itzá is simply spectacular. From the imposing, monolithic El Castillo pyramid (where the shadow of the plumed serpent god Kukulcán creeps down the staircase during the spring and autumn equinoxes) to the Sacred Cenote and curiously designed El Caracol, the legacy of Maya astronomers will blow your mind. Admire the Wall of Skulls and the stone carvings at the Temple of Warriors, or come back at night for the sound-and-light show. The heat, humidity and crowds in Chichén Itzá can be fierce; try to explore the site either early in the morning or late in the afternoon, though note that the 5 pm closing is a hard exit. If you're determined to avoid the crowds and the heat, consider taking a private tour of the site, allowing you to enter the grounds between 5 am, and 8 am. 

 

Chichen Itza

 

While you may be unable to visit all these options on the same trip, these are the pointers for the best trip to Mexico. If you cannot fit all these sights into one trip, they hey, you might just have to come back for another visit!

Taco-Mania!