Mexico Destination Guide
Mexico is one of the world’s most exciting tourist destinations. The tropical rainforests with its beautiful rivers in south Mexico and the majestic deserts of north and central Mexico offer a variety of experiences from ecotourism to adventure sports. The diverse flora and fauna, the beauty of the Pacific Ocean and the scenery around the Sea of Cortez are the naturalist’s delight. Tourists can also enjoy the rich history and culture of Mexico and explore old Arabic cities and small coastal towns.
Mexico is a tourist’s delight, with beautiful landscapes and exciting opportunities.
Our Mexico Destination Guide below together with our Mexico tour suggestions will tell you all you need to know about the best places to visit in Mexico. Our Mexico Country Guide has some helpful information to ensure you have a great holiday in Mexico. For tips on how to get around in Mexico, read our Mexico Transportation Guide. You should also check out the local attractions in:
Things to See & Do in Mexico
Follow the links below or scroll further down the page for details on some of the many interesting tourist attractions in Mexico:
Mexico City
Mexico City is the third largest city in the world after New York and Tokyo and lives up to its position as a vibrant and bustling city.
Teotihuacan
Teotihuacan was the capital of Mexico’s largest empire in the pre-Hispanic times. At its zenith during the 6th century, Teotihuacan had over 200000 citizens. Located at a mere 50 kilometres from Mexico City, this ancient city is definitely worth a visit.
Baja California
Baja California epitomises a culture which is essentially ‘south of the border’. It is famous for pristine white beaches, serene bays and majestic cliffs that mark its long coastline. Tijuana is the frontier city of Baja California.
Chihuahua-Pacific Railway
The Chihuahua-Pacific Railway, one of the most scenic rail routes in Mexico, connects Chihuahua in the arid interiors of Mexico to Los Mochis on the Pacific Coast. This breathtaking journey, which takes between 14 and 16 hours, traverses a distance of 655 kilometres (406 miles) through 86 tunnels and more than 39 bridges. The train stops at various points on the legendary Copper Canyon (Barranca del Cobre), which is a cluster of 20 canyons in Sierra Tarahumara and is much steeper than the Grand Canyon. The railway line literally hugs the precipitous cliffs and provides dizzying glimpses of the river below; it is quite an experience.
Puerto Vallarta
Puerto Vallarta is one of the most famous beach resorts of the central Pacific Coast. Located near the Rio Caule, it lies nestled between the blue Bay of Flags and palm covered mountains. Puerto Vallarta presents a pretty picture with its pristine white beaches, cobble stoned paths and white adobe houses with red tiles.
Acapulco
Acapulco is one of the most enduring beach resorts of Mexico where tourism has been the numero uno industry since 1950. It boasts of beautiful white beaches, a vibrant nightlife and luxurious high rise hotels. Tourists also visit Acapulco to see the legendary divers of La Quebrada.
Oaxaca
Oaxaca, a city built by the Spanish, is located in the rocky state of the same name in South Mexico. It is laid back yet energetic, cosmopolitan yet remote and boasts of a unique ambience. Oaxaca has a sizeable indigenous population. Despite its narrow streets, the colonial architecture and vibrant markets of Oaxaca are worth visiting.
Yucatan Peninsula
Yucatán has been home to the violent yet glorious Maya tribe for millions of years. Located across the Rio Usumacinta, it is still inhabited by the heirs of this proud race. Yucatan is a popular and exciting tourist destination.
Puebla
Puebla, at a distance of 125 kilometres (77 miles) to the east of Mexico, is an old city with a Spanish colonial ambience. Much of Pueblo was destroyed in a massive earthquake in 1999, yet there are over a thousand colonial structures and 70 churches which still stand proud. Many of these edifices are decorated with azulejos or hand painted tiles which are unique to this city.
Álamos
Álamos, a peaceful town at the foot of the Sierra Madre Occidental mountain range, came into prominence in the 18th century due to its silver deposits. It was a town of gorgeous haciendas and mansions. However, it became a spent force by 1920 and was forgotten till some North American expatriates took up the task of restoring its past glory. Today, Álamos has been designated as a national historic monument with most of the Spanish colonial edifices having been finely restored.
Pátzcuaro
Pátzcuaro is known for the celebration of the Day of the Dead, a festival influenced by the pre Hispanic culture. On this day (November 2nd), the indigenous Purépechas people light up the graveyards with candles, decorate the altars with marigold and have traditional dance and music performances. The celebrations have a mystical and magical quality about them. The city also has some fine examples of colonial architecture.
Adventure Sports
Mexico has a lot to offer in the arena of adventure sports. Baja California offers surfing, sea kayaking, scuba diving and snorkelling. It also offers the unique and fascinating thrill of whale watching. Vallarta and Oaxaca are good locations for surfing. Cabo San Lucas, Acapulco, Isla Mujeres, Cozumel and Cancun also have facilities for scuba diving and snorkelling. Veracruz is an ideal location for white water rafting.
Beaches
Mexico has a coastline of almost 9500 kilometres (6000 miles). It offers an amazing range of beaches and beach activities. Tourists can explore the beautiful coral reefs in the Caribbean, go whale watching along the Pacific Coast or simply stretch out on the pristine white sands and soak in the sun. Manxanillo, Los Cabos, Tulum, San Jose del Cabo, Riviera Maya, Celstune and Cancun are some excellent beach destinations of Mexico.
Copper Canyon
Barrancas del Cobre is perhaps Mexico’s most remote and exotic destination. It offers a unique experience that is designed especially for the adventure tourist who loves to rough it out. A ride on the El Chepe, operated by Chihuahua al Pacifico Railway takes the tourists snaking up to a height of more than 8000 feet on a track that is said to be an engineering marvel. Tourists can get a ring side view of the life of the Tarahumara Indians and also go horse riding, hiking and bird watching.
Sea of Cortez
The Sea of Cortez near La Paz, on the eastern coast of Baja California, offers tourists the opportunity to watch whales birthing. They can also swim with the dolphins and go kayaking in the warm waters there.
Sumidero Canyon
The Sumidero Canyon lies along Grijalva, Mexico’s most important river. The steep cliffs of the Canyon enclose a National Park whose major attractions are a variety of flamingoes, waterfowl, pelicans and crocodiles. There are also some very unusual caves worth exploring. Excursions to the park are in launches that leave from the docks near Tuxtla Guiterrez in Chiapas State.
Archaeological Sites
Some of the most famous archaeological sites of the world are found in Mexico. These sites are symbols of the Aztec and Mexican cultures which are centuries old. Chichen Itza, the grand Mayan city was voted one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. It was also designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988 and is highly recommended as a tourist destination. Another monument worth visiting is the recently restored Mayan site, El Balam, which is famous for its stone carved temples with stucco decorations. El Tajin at Veracruz and Montel Alban at Oaxaca are two more UNESCO World Heritage Sites that must not be missed. Palenque in the state of Chiapas is a Mayan city which is famous for the largest expanse of rainforests in Mexico as well as for its ornate paintings. The huge pyramids of Teotihuacan near Mexico City are also worth visiting.
