TOP 25 Best Places To Visit in Mexico to Vacation 2022
Mexico, officially the United Mexican States, is a country in the southern portion of North America. It is bordered to the north by the United States; to the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; to the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and to the east by the Gulf of Mexico.
- Capital: Mexico City
- Founded: 27 September 1821
- Dialing code: +52
- Population: 12.89 crores (2020) World Bank
- Currency: Mexican peso
Its squares, parks, churches, historical infrastructures, beaches, and other natural attractions have made it the country in Latin America that most seduce foreigners, with an influence in 2017 of more than 35 million international visitors.
“Beautiful and beloved Mexico” also ranks eighth worldwide in terms of tourists from other countries.
Whether you are outside or inside Mexican territory, it doesn’t matter. Spend your vacation in any of these 25 best places in the land of tequila and mariachis.
1. Playa del Carmena
paradise on earth: Playa del Carmen, a place that gained so much popularity to become one of the most visited places by Mexicans and foreigners.
The hotel’s offer, the water activities, and the rich nightlife are attractive combinations for travelers.
The most fashionable place in the Yucatan Peninsula has grown with the arrival and establishment of North Americans, South Americans, and Europeans, who have added their influence to the local gastronomy.
Nowhere in Mexico will you find such a wide variety of flavors within a few feet of each other.
The most visited place in Playa del Carmen is Fifth Avenue; its main street is full of trendy clubs, international restaurants, and retail stores.
During the day, tourists prefer to sunbathe, bathe in its beautiful beaches and drink cocktails in front of the immense ocean. In addition, they can enjoy the facilities of first-class hotels.
2. Tulum
The beauty of the landscapes is guaranteed in the Yucatan Peninsula, and in Tulum, it could not be different.
This magical place in the Mexican Caribbean Sea has some of the best beaches in the country, with white sand and turquoise water. Although they are its greatest attraction, it is not the only one.
Tulum is also known for its preserved ruins of an ancient Mayan port, found on a high cliff on the edge of the Caribbean Sea, the only archaeological site that has been built overlooking the ocean.
In addition to its numerous and beautiful cenotes, there is a wide variety of maritime activities such as diving and snorkeling, nature reserves, water parks, street art, restaurants, and much more, just a few meters away.
Tulum offers the perfect combination of relaxation, fun, and adventure.
Please read our guide on the 15 things to do and see in Tulum
3. Cozumel Island
Cozumel Island is ideal for those who know how to appreciate the value of nature.
It is in front of Playa del Carmen and has become a growing destination for its crystal clear waters and incredible marine life. It is one of the preferred destinations for diving and snorkeling.
On the island, you will find the Chankanaab, an ecological park that surrounds a lagoon with underwater caverns and is home to dolphins, manatees, and sea turtles.
This earthly paradise is almost intact, far from the hand of man. There are deserted beaches, wild natural parks, and stunning landscapes waiting to be explored.
4. Izamal
Each building in Izamal is painted yellow, which earned it the name “The Yellow City,” a singularity that will remain in your memory forever.
A town erected on 12 small hills in the ruins of an ancient Mayan city, it still preserves the vestiges of its enormous power: cenotes of a ritual sacrifice that are found around it.
Observing the ancient Mayan ruins in the middle of the city is an enriching experience, both cultural and historical.
Izamal deserves your visit even on a day trip from Mérida, the capital of Yucatán.
5. Mazatlán
Once famous for its 20 kilometers of beach, Mazatlan is drawing tourists to its historic sites, educational museums, and white-sand beaches.
Its hotel offer is as wide as it is exaggeratedly expensive. Therefore, instead of leaving your money in these complexes, go to Old Mazatlan, the historic center, where the prices are lower, the pace of life is not so dizzying, and the Mexican culture is rescued.
If a break from the sun is what you need, go to the city and enjoy a performance at the Ángela Peralta Theater, attend one of its many museums or enjoy a traditional meal in restaurants in Plazuela Machado.
6. Acapulco
Acapulco, there is only one, and it is in Mexico. It used to be by 1950 the favorite place to rest for artists such as Frank Sinatra, Elizabeth Taylor, and Elvis Presley.
The city has overcome its insecure and violent past with which it lost visitors, returning to being the ideal place to rest in luxury and tranquility.
Its avant-garde hotel constructions and tourism investment have once again put Acapulco at the top of places to visit in Mexico.
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7. Guadalajara
Guadalajara is the second most important city in Mexico and is known mainly for its tequila and mariachi.
Great exponents of its traditional music have emerged from its streets and squares, such as Alejandro Fernández, Pedro Fernández, and Vicente Fernández, all known worldwide.
Its nights are impressive due to the musical culture that the city naturally has.
Guadalajara adds countless museums and cultural sites, such as the Neoclassical Degollado Theater, which preserves the country’s history. Its cathedral is one of the most impressive: two golden towers distinguish it.
8. The Capes
Los Cabos is where the sun shines all year long, and the desert beautifully meets the sea.
In the south of Baja, California, this municipality encompasses Cabo San Lucas, San José del Cabo, and the Corredor Resort. One of the most visited Mexican areas is for its beautiful natural landscapes and spectacular hotel offer.
Surfers and divers love Los Cabos for its pleasant weather and ocean. It is also famous for its world-class golf courses and sport fishing, attracting more than 2 million tourists annually.
9. Mexico City
This list would be incomplete without Mexico City because it is the capital and because of its flourishing cultural scene, numerous haute cuisine restaurants, and the hipster, bohemian youth subculture.
What was once known as a high-crime metropolis is today a safer city with transformed and regenerated public spaces.
History buffs have an unbeatable supply of museums dedicated to preserving Mexican heritage in the capital.
It is estimated that Mexico City will soon be among the world’s great metropolises, such as New York, Rome, Paris, and Berlin.
Please read our guide on the 15 best things to do in the Historic Center of Mexico City
10. Merida
The Yucatan Peninsula —full of hotels and the most beautiful beaches— has Mérida capital and largest city.
Most tourists who visit it come from the coast and seek to escape from the sun and sand to get to know the Mexican culture in museums, art galleries, restaurants, and theaters.
It also adds many well-preserved colonial buildings, a vibrant cultural scene, and rich Mayan heritage.
The city’s central point is the Plaza de la Independencia, which is accompanied by the Mérida Cathedral (similar to a fortress) and the Church of the Third Order (white limestone).
11. Chichen Itza
It is the most visited site in the Yucatan Peninsula and the beaches. In vain, UNESCO declared Chichen Itza a World Heritage Site in 1988. It is one of the most famous and best-preserved Mayan sites.
Tourists love the day trip to see its mystical pyramids and temples, one of them, the Kukulkan, chosen in 2007 as one of the New Seven Wonders of the Modern World.
Near Chichen Itza, several impressive cenotes and smaller archaeological sites are also worth visiting.
12. Akumal
Akumal, which means “Place of the Turtles” in Mayan, is a resort in the Yucatan Peninsula and spawning for hundreds of sea turtles.
Tourists —from nearby destinations such as Playa del Carmen and Tulum— cannot resist the temptation to swim accompanied by this type of reptile and enjoy the Aktun Chen Natural Park, known for its caves and cenotes and underground rivers.
The bay has a curved beach to the north, while the Yal-kú lagoon teems with colorful tropical fish, rays, and barracuda.
13. Holbox Island
Although its waters are not as crystal clear as those of the rest of the beaches of the Yucatan Peninsula, Holbox Island is just as rich for swimming and resting.
One of its attractions is that you can dive alongside whale sharks, the largest fish in the ocean. It is common to see boats full of travelers willing to live this adventure in the summer months, a period in which the dangerous animal approaches the coast.
Isla Holbox is also a refuge for more than 150 species, including flamingos and pelicans.
14. Copper Canyon
The majestic Barrancas del Cobre, located in the Sierra Tarahumara, is the longest and deepest in the world, even more, profound than those of the Grand Canyon in Arizona, United States. Its name is due to the copper tone of its walls.
You can camp in its impressive forests. The ever-changing tones and shapes of the mountains seem to melt into the horizon, and it is home to indigenous people who live isolated from the world: two attractions for tourists.
Although the canyon can be explored by hiking, biking, and horseback riding, the ideal is to do it on a train that runs through the Copper Canyon from Chihuahua to Los Mochis, passing through tunnels the Sierra Madre.
15. Puerto Vallarta
Puerto Vallarta is a city on the Pacific coast of Mexico that mixes a bit of tourism from all over the country: from lively nightclubs, beautiful beaches, colonial buildings to lush forests.
English is widely spoken, and although it has a lot of movement of travelers, its tranquility and pleasant people make it an alternative to the outstanding tourist destinations in Mexico.
The boardwalk is one of its main charms, full of contemporary sculptures, bars, and night spots.
16. Canyon Sump
In Chiapas, in southern Mexico, the Sumidero Canyon is a tourist attraction that attracts hundreds of travelers due to its impressive walls crossed by the Grijalva River.
The landscape is better appreciated when you break into this natural immensity from a boat.
Many tourists flock to Sumidero Canyon to bike, swim, hike, camp, and have a picnic. It is also popular with extreme mountain athletes.
17. Cancun
The capital of tourism in Mexico is Cancun.
Although travelers enjoy its beautiful beaches and the most luxurious all-inclusive hotels, Cancun is not only a party because there are still native Mexicans who want traditional local food and dance salsa instead of hits in the center of the city. Modern.
In this area, the prices are lower, and the culture is felt more than in hotel complexes. If you want sun and sand, take a bus, and in a few minutes, you will be on spectacular beaches.
18. Marietas Islands
To the west of Mexico, opposite Puerto Vallarta, is the Marietas Islands, a natural paradise, home to abundant marine life, and a highly sought-after destination for scuba diving.
The government used to carry out military activities on this group of islands, but that has now been superseded. Now the human hand is almost invisible.
The caves and rock formations are spectacular, so much so that it is common to see them in landscape photographs of tourist promotion magazines.
Marietas Islands have been declared a National Park, and only a few companies are authorized to transport tourists to this natural wonder.
19. Palenque
As more impressive than the ruins of Chichen Itza are those of Palenque, a Mayan city located in Chiapas, in southern Mexico.
Travelers often forget to visit them because they are not as popular, but the number of people who come to appreciate these monuments does not decrease over time.
The ruins are in the middle of the forest. They are surrounded by impressive waterfalls and caves waiting to be explored. It is advisable to stay in the establishments along the highway, between the city of Palenque and the ruins.
20. Isla Mujeres
The tiny Isla Mujeres, located 13 kilometers off the coast of Cancun, can be explored on a day trip.
It offers spectacular beaches of turquoise blue and white sand. It is ideal for diving and snorkeling, but its great attraction is swimming with whale sharks at certain times of the year.
It is recommended to rent a golf cart or bicycle to tour the island in several hours. Multiple cheap hotels will allow a comfortable stay and enjoy water parks and marine museums.
The boardwalk near the ferry terminal is the best place to dine. The most popular dishes are seafood from the different restaurants.
21. Great Cenote
Cenotes are ideal for people who like to cool off from the harsh sun and swim in waters with high mineral content, in ancient caves, or the middle of the forest.
In addition to being a source of drinking water, the Mayans had their place for offerings and sacrifices in the cenotes.
The Yucatan Peninsula is full of these natural sinkholes resulting from limestone bedrock collapsing, exposing groundwater.
Some of the most popular cenotes are Yokdzonot (near Chichen Itza), Dos Ojos and Gran Cenote (near Tulum), and Cenote Azul (near Playa del Carmen).
22. Blue Water Falls
Cascadas de Agua Azul is a wonder of nature in the state of Chiapas, 60 kilometers from Palenque.
It is a protected area with a section of shallow canyons and cliffs, where you can see the blue-white water mixed with natural pools.
The vegetation is jungle mountain, and it covers the river in some parts. It is an ideal place to observe exotic fauna.
23. Oaxaca
On the Mexican Pacific coast in Oaxaca, a colonial city, differs from the rest for not being at the forefront of development, but with its cultural roots intact.
The historic center is one of more than 30 in Mexico that UNESCO declared a World Heritage Site.
It is home to a significant indigenous culture, vibrant arts and crafts scene, colorful festivities, delicious local cuisine, and stunning natural beauty.
One of the best Day of the Dead festivals takes place in this city from November 1 to 2.
24. San Miguel de Allende
In San Miguel de Allende, you will find a rhythm of life to relax. A small colonial city that was the central axis in the Mexican war of independence.
The best thing about the city located on the plateau is the view. Places to visit, but beautiful alleys and colorful Spanish Baroque architecture can be appreciated in short walks.
One of its best-known sites is the Parroquia de San Miguel Arcángel, with its spectacular pink towers rising above the main square.
25. All Saints
Todos Santos is a town an hour from Cabo San Lucas on the Baja California peninsula. An unbeatable climate is a meeting place for artists, surfers, and travelers who seek adventure, natural beauty, and a good lifestyle.
The community, with hospitable locals, is known for its many art galleries and museums.
The spectacular beaches with solid waves are ideal for extreme water sports.
Here are the best places in Mexico to vacation. They are for all tastes and budgets. Rest in the Mexican sea and lands!
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Where is the safest place to vacation in Mexico?
- Mexico safest cities: Merida, located in the Yucatan Peninsula, is known as the safest city in Mexico. …
- The Tulum Ruins overlook the Caribbean Sea, and were once used as a Maya trade port. …
- The colorful homes in the Puerto Vallarta Zona Romantica.
What is the prettiest place in Mexico?
Most Beautiful Places in Mexico
- Cañón del Sumidero (Sumidero Canyon) reut.bart. …
- Hierve el Agua. juanluis_h. …
- El Castillo, Chichen Itza. leshmudge. …
- Palacio de Bellas Artes, Mexico City. pollosalazar1. …
- Pico de Orizaba. alfredomoran_photo. …
- Isla Mujeres. worldtripmemories. …
- Cabo San Lucas Arch, Cabo San Lucas. …
- Guanajuato, Jalisco.
Where should I go in Mexico for the first time?
If you are thinking of traveling to Mexico you will surely ask yourself, where do I go first? The beaches of Cancun and Los Cabos are the perfect places to have fun, relax and enjoy nature, its incredible atmosphere, and the multiple options in entertainment.
Where should tourists go in Mexico?
1. Cancún and the Mayan Riviera. Lying along a beautiful stretch of coastline on the Gulf of Mexico are the resort destinations of Cancún, Playa del Carmen, the island of Cozumel, and beyond. Collectively these are known as the Riviera Maya.
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