Right between the United States and Central America, you will find the country of Mexico. The Pacific and Gulf Beaches, high mountains and deep Canyons in the centre of the country, rain forests to the south and east, gives Mexico a very diverse and unique landscape. The Yucatan Peninsula stretches from the southeastern tip of the country into the Gulf Of Mexico, was once home the Mayan Civilisation, and today many of the remains and monuments can still be found in those areas. One of the world’s great civilisations, Mexico is a mix of indigenous tribes, the modern world, Spanish Traditions and Mesoamerican culture. Mexico has a total population of over 122 million with it’s Capital, Mexico City being the most populous of all the cities in the Americas.
Why You Should Visit
If you enjoy shopping, gourmet cuisine, great museums and a vibrant nightlife, you can find all of that and more in Mexico City. Visit the cities of Chichen Itza and Coba to experience the fascinating Mayan Ruins, artefacts and Pyramids. The Mayan Riviera is a popular tourist area, due to its incredible white-sand beaches, turquoise blue waters, and an abundance of luxury and budget All Inclusive Resorts in Cancun and Playa Del Carmen. From climbing Volcanoes to whale watching, underground swimming and touring Tequila farms, Mexico provides a wide range of experiences for visitors to enjoy. Mexico has a year-round warm climate, incredible food and great hospitality at the hotels.
Getting There
Getting to Mexico is incredibly easy with over 30 Airports. Daily direct flights are available from most Major cities in the United States and Canada into the Cancun and Mexico City international airports. Most major carriers have scheduled flights to Mexico each week. Weekly flights are also available from European cities such as Frankfurt and London.
The National Museum of Anthropology is situated within the famous Chapultepec Forest and contains artefacts from Mexico’s pre-Columbian era, dating from about 100 B.C to A.D. 1521. The Museum includes artefacts, including the well-known Piedra del Sol and the famous Aztec Calendar Stone. As well as the iconic 16th-century statue of Xochipilli, the Aztec God of art, beauty, maize, games and dance. The museum offers a look at how Mexico’s culture, tradition and life were formed in all regions. The museum is open Tuesday through Sunday (closed on Mondays) from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Admission is 65 pesos (around $3.50)
The Palace of Fine Arts is considered the cultural centre of Mexico City and is a must-see for a lot of travellers. The outside of the palace displays art deco-style and art nouveau architecture, while the interior features marble floors and domed glass windows. In addition to its architectural beauty, the Palacio de Bellas Artes hosts cultural events at the National Theatre including dance, theatre, music literary and opera performances. The palace also features iconic murals, including the work of the legendary Mexican muralist Rufino Tamayo. Located on the top floor is the National Museum of Architecture, that displays the work and lives of renowned Mexican architects, and numerous art galleries and museums. The Palacio de Bellas Artes is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission is 60 pesos (about $3.30), but you can save money by visiting on Sundays when admission is free
Templo Mayor served as the religious temple for the Aztec people before the Spanish colonisation. When the Spanish Invaders arrived in Mexico in the late 14th century, the temple was among many that were demolished and reconstructed. It was not until the end of the 1970’s that the temple tribute to the Aztec Gods Tlaloc and Huitzilopochtli brought to light in the heart of Mexico City. Today, the location is still an active archaeological site and the adjacent the museum is home to more than 7,000 artefacts from the site. The museum and ruins are open Tuesday to Sunday (closed Mondays) from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission costs 57 pesos (about $3.15) for adults and is free for children and senior citizens
Chichen Itza is a massive Mayan archaeological site and one of the most famous and recognised landmarks on the Yucatán. The Chichen Itza itself was initially a main centre of Mayan civilisation and has been named a UNESCO World Heritage Site since. The pyramid-like El Castillo is the main attraction at the site; it was once used as a place of worship by the Mayans. Because of the popularity of Chichén Itzá throughout the years, the site is now packed with tourists trying to snap pictures of one of the new Seven Wonders of the World. Nevertheless, the amazing ruins are more than worth it, even for the jaded exhausted traveller. If you want to avoid, the crowds try visiting in the early morning. Chichén Itzá is open year-round from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. Admission costs 64 pesos per person.
To get away from the frenzied beat of Cancún’s nightlife and beaches, head over to Isla Mujeres. There is not much to do on this small island, located just 8 miles off the Yucatán Peninsula, but travellers love it nevertheless. Despite the sleepy reputation of Isla Mujeres, it is home to a few points of interest. One of which is the Hacienda Mundaca, the abandoned mansion of a 19th-century slave trader called Mundaca. The strange death of the mansion’s owner adds to the mysterious charm of the estate. Isla Mujeres is also known for its turtles, and you can get to see creatures at the local turtle farm or tortugranja. The farm features hundreds of turtles and a massive aquarium, with both Spanish and English tours. You can get to the aquarium via taxi from downtown Isla Mujeres. If you are looking for a beach day at Isla Mujeres, head to Playa del Norte, known among travellers as a beautiful beach. You can reach Isla Mujeres by ferry from three different Cancún ports: Punta Sam, Puerto Juárez and Gran Puerto.
While they might not have the wow-factor of Chichén Itzá, El Rey Ruins have accessibility on its side. Situated in the heart of the Hotel Area, these ruins are very accessible to visitors, In the small size of the site makes it easy to tour in a short time. But for most visitors, the ruins are not the main attraction: Visitors crowd the ruins to mingle with the numerous iguanas that made this former Mayan town their domain. The El Rey Ruins are open for exploration between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., and admission is $3 USD.
If you love the wildlife, a day trip to the Faro Celerain Eco Park is ideal. Also known as Punta Sur Eco Beach Park, this ecological park stretches across the southern edge of Cozumel. The 2,500 acres of Punta Sur Eco Beach Park hosts a variety of indigenous species, including crocodiles, tropical birds and turtles. But don't get distracted by the wildlife, the park has a lot more to explore. Take some time to wander the El Caracol Mayan ruins Faro and the Celerain Lighthouse, where you will discover a small maritime museum. Make sure you also pack some swim gear to enjoy the tranquil waters of the Laguna Colombia. The Faro Celerain Eco Park is open for visit every day of the week from 9 a.m to 4 p.m at $14 for adults and around $8 for children.
If you are looking for an amazing park to visit in Cozumel, Mexico. Just go and Discover Mexico Park. Situated along the coast a little to the south of San Miguel, this park is home to miniature versions of some of Mexico’s most popular attractions, including the famous Mayan Ruins and the Metropolitan Cathedral of Mexico City. The Mexico Park provides knowledge into Mexican culture, including the demonstrations on how to make tortillas and the famous tequila tasting exhibit. Visitors say the place is perfect to visit if you don't have a lot of time and want to learn about Mexico. Mexico is open Monday - Saturday from 8 a.m. 4 p.m. Cost to enter $26 for adults and $14 for children.
A trip to Stingray Beach will grant you the similar interactive experience as scuba diving, just with less swim gear and less cost. Stingray Beach is located in San Miguel; this facility lets you get up close and friendly with these beautiful marine creatures, providing adequate opportunities for you to swim with them. The stingray's barbs are clipped, so don't worry about getting stung. Often visitors couldn't get enough of the experience and brag about how friendly the stingrays are and how informative and reassure the staff are. Stingray Beach is open for visits from 7 a.m to 3 p.m and tours must be booked in advance. The cost to enter Stingray Beach is $64 for adults and $29 for kids.
The prime reason Tulum is so popular is the Tulum’s, one of the most famous Mayan archaeological sites along the Riviera Maya. Situated on a rocky patch of coastline to the south of Tulum’s downtown, the ruins displaying several temples and castles from the once-thriving Colombian Mayans. If you have already visited the Chichen Itza, Tulum might prove to be sub-par as visitors say the ruins and the Chichen Itza isn’t comparable. The park is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, and there is a small admission of about $5.
Cancun is a world-renowned tourist destination on the Caribbean Coast of the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico, Cancun provides the perfect vacation package with beautiful beaches, world-class resort areas, fabulous attractions, Mayan Ruins and an energetic nightlife. But it is the perfect year-round weather and stunning beaches that are the main attractions in Cancun making it one of the best vacation destinations in the Mexico and the World. The Cancun Resort Town is almost completely built around the tourism industry. Ibis filled with all-inclusive resorts. El Centro, the downtown area of Cancun, beats to a more original Mexican pace with its clubs and bars, markets and restaurants.
Tulum is located on the east coast of the Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico. It was once upon a time a major port that served the Mayan City of Coba. Tulum was built around 1200 AD when the Mayan civilisation was already in a slump and therefore lacks the beauty of some of the most popular sites. The tropical beach background, however, makes Tulum a beautiful and popular attraction which shouldn't be missed. Tulum is also the home of the famous Ancient Fortress of Tulum.
Los Cabos is known as the marlin sports fishing capital of the world, Los Cabos has rapidly acquired recognition in recent years as on of the top tourist destinations in Mexico. Located in Baja California Sur, (A Mexican State), Los Cabos is made up of two towns, San Lucas and San Jose that is divided by the twenty-mile highway called “the Corridor”. While Cabo San Jose is an authentic Mexican town with a laid-back and quiet setting, Cabo San Lucas is all for 5-star restaurants and luxurious resorts and a vibrant nightlife. Cabo San Lucas is popular for its untouched attractions, Land’s End, which features a group of rocks shaped by the ocean and the wind into strange formations.
Another one of Mexico’s destinations that are getting increasingly popular is this City on Mexico’s Pacific Coast, Puerto Vallarta. Often called Vallarta for short, this city — most parts of which have no modern development — initially appeared on the vacation map in the 1960’s as a getaway for North America’s social aristocrats and had since become very popular among tourists seeking a home away from home in a more pleasant climate. In recent times, the city is more likely to attract a cruise ship with an older audience looking to swim alongside dolphins as younger travellers are usually looking for the adventure that can be found in Puerto Vallarta, activities are as diverse as jet-skiing and paragliding. For travellers who prefer vacationing at a more relaxed pace, the city is also home to many shops for arts and crafts, and to easily wander along beautiful beachside promenades with their abundance of sculptures and green spaces.
Acapulco is the authentic tourist town in Mexico which came to prominence during the 1950s as a tropical getaway for Hollywood Celebrities and the wealthy. Still, Acapulco remains a very popular tourist destination for North Americans and Mexicans and as spring break destination for University and college students. No trip to Acapulco is complete without watching the cliff divers perform their amazing dives into the ocean. This has been a practice in Acapulco since the 1930s, today, most of the divers are trained, professionals.
Popularly known as “Playa,” Playa del Carmen is a vibrant resort town in the Mexican State Quintana Roo on Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula. Once known to be a remote fishing village of distinct European influence, Playa has evolved in recent years into a lively tourist destination with beautiful beaches and a lot of nightlife spots. However, Playa still kept its laid-back atmosphere and friendly locals With the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef just off the shore; there are more than enough opportunities for scuba diving and snorkelling.
