Mexico Travel Guide

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2026 2026 Fodor’s Go List Destination

The beaches of Cancun, the golf courses of Los Cabos, the nightlife of Puerto Vallarta: Mexico offers enough seaside fun, splashy resorts, and piña coladas to fulfill anyone's sunny dreams. But travelers who dig a bit deeper discover a multifaceted country of ethereal cloud forests, colorful coral reefs, and stark deserts. From ancient archaeological sites and colonial-era cities like Oaxaca and San Miguel de Allende to the pulsing modern metropolis of Mexico City, the country presents thousands of years of history and abundant up-to-the minute style.

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Fodor's Los Cabos: with Todos Santos, la Paz and Valle de Guadalupe

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Fodor's Mexico City

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Fodor's Cancun & the Riviera Maya: With Tulum, Cozumel, and the Best of the Yucatán

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Fodor's Puerto Vallarta: with Guadalajara & Riviera Nayarit

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Guidebooks for Every Journey

Fodor's Los Cabos: with Todos Santos, la Paz and Valle de Guadalupe

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Fodor's Mexico City

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Itineraries
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Fodor's Cancun & the Riviera Maya: With Tulum, Cozumel, and the Best of the Yucatán

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Fodor's Puerto Vallarta: with Guadalajara & Riviera Nayarit

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Top Destinations

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Chiapas and Tabasco

Chiapas is Mexico's southernmost state. And if the villages here resemble those of the Guatemalan Highlands, it's because Guatemala lies just beyond the eastern border...

Xcaret

Once a sacred Mayan city and port, Xcaret (pronounced ish-car-et) is now home to two popular parks on a gorgeous stretch of coastline. The 250-acre...

Acapulco

Few places evoke the glamour of a bygone era quite the way Acapulco does. Fifty years ago, you could board a champagne-filled flight to this...

Puerto Morelos

At the edge of a mangrove-tangled jungle pushing up to the shore, Puerto Morelos is one of the few coastal towns on this stretch of...

Tulum

It used to be that Tulum was simply known as dusty little town with a stellar archaeological site and a few palapa huts. No longer...

Punta Maroma

The waters of this protected bay stay calm even on blustery days, and the enchanting beach ranks among Mexico's finest. A string of resorts has...

Playa del Secreto

The secret is out—the ½-km (1-mile) stretch of white sand at Playa del Secreto is one of the most beautiful in the Riviera Maya. Surrounded...

Puerto Aventuras

The most Americanized of all the Riviera Maya's resorts is a 900-acre gated community and golf course more reminiscent of coastal Florida than Mexico. This...

Tankah

If you plan on staying in the Cobá area, nearby Tankah is a good option—especially if you want to avoid the Tulum crowds. In ancient...

Playa del Carmen

Welcome to the party! "Playa," currently Latin America's fastest-growing community, has a population of more than 150,000 and an international flavor lent by the estadounidenses...

Cobá

Near five lakes and between coastal watchtowers and inland cities, Cobá (pronounced ko-bah) once exercised economic control over the region through a network of at...

The Riviera Maya

Mexico's Caribbean coast is full of treasures, from spectacular white-sand beaches and offshore reefs to some of the Yucatán Peninsula's most beautiful Mayan ruins. Unsurprisingly...

Palenque

Palenque's days as a sleepy little village are far behind. Locals have obliged the needs of travelers in search of the ruins at the Palenque...

Puerto Vallarta

Sunbathing and sipping margaritas is just one of many ways to spend a vacation in Puerto Vallarta. Mexico's prettiest resort town is also one of...

Akumal

In Mayan, Akumal (pronounced ah-koo-maal) means "place of the turtle," and this portion of coast is a storied nesting ground, especially at Half Moon Bay...

Zihuatanejo

Everything in Zihuatanejo radiates out from the main beach. Although this stretch of sand is not the place for swimming, it's the best place to...

Ixtapa and Zihuatanejo

Rarely does one destination satisfy the needs of so many different kinds of travelers, from authenticity-seeking adventurers to languorous sun worshippers who never want to...

Ixtapa

Ixtapa's primary hotel zone, the Zona Hotelera, extends along a 3-km (2-mile) strip of sandy beach called Playa del Palmar. It's fun to walk along...

Isla Mujeres

Once a small fishing village, colorful Isla Mujeres (meaning "Island of Women") has become a favorite for travelers seeking natural beauty, island serenity, and a...

Guadalajara

Guadalajara rests on a mile-high plain of the Sierra Madre Occidental, surrounded on three sides by rugged hills and on the fourth by the spectacular...

Cozumel

It’s not another Cancún yet, but Cozumel’s days as a rustic divers’ hangout are history. Whether arriving at the airport or the gleaming ferry terminal...

Los Cabos and the Baja Peninsula

With coastline that stretches from the Sea of Cortez to the Pacific Ocean, and 350 sunny days a year, Los Cabos is Mexico's ultimate seaside...

Puerto Escondido

Puerto Escondido was the first beach resort on the carretera costera (coastal highway), and it remains the most popular. Playa Zicatela is famous for its...

Cancún

Cancún is a great place to experience 21st-century Mexico, because it has everything you’d want in a vacation: shopping, sports, spas, and beaches. Here you’ll...

Oaxaca City

With its magical concoction of sights, smells, and sounds both ancient and modern, this mountain-ringed city of about 400,000 people, officially called Oaxaca de Juárez...

Puerto Angel

The state's leading seaport in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Puerto Angel today is a small town in a busy bay and is...

Oaxaca

Mexico aficionados have long favored the state of Oaxaca (pronounced wah-hah-kah) for its climate, culinary and artistic traditions, and landscapes and biodiversity. Oaxaca, one of...

Mexico City

Mexico City is having a moment. All of a sudden, it seems, the largest city in the Americas has absolutely captivated international tastemakers, and gallons...

Todos Santos

From the hodgepodge of signs and local businesses you see on the drive into Todos Santos, south on Highway 19, it appears that you're heading...

Monte Albán

Southwest of Oaxaca City, a narrow, twisting road leads up to the mountaintop city of the "cloud people," Monte Albán. Seeing this massive ancient metropolis...

Mazatlan

Mazatlán, the first major resort town on the Pacific coastline, has a split personality. At the northern end of town is the Zona Dorada (Golden...

Manzunte, San Agustinillo, and Zipolite

Fans of this trio of beaches like to brag that they are what Puerto Escondido was 20 years ago, but that mantra doesn't even do...

Yucatán and Campeche States

In sharp contrast to the resort lifestyle of Cancún and the Riviera Maya, the Yucatán and Campeche states cater to a more tranquil traveler who...

Huatulco

Development in the breathtaking Bahías de Huatulco (Bays of Huatulco) continues to march forward. Four of the nine bays have been developed, but only Bahía...

Mixteca

The Mixteca, a rugged region northwest of Oaxaca City, has some of the state's most dramatic scenery. Driving up you'll see more pine-covered hills than...

Xpujil

The highway briefly widens to four lanes around the town of Xpujil, which acts as the service center for Carretera 186. This is the place...

Ticul

One of the larger communities in the Yucatán, Ticul (with a population of around 21,000) is a good base for exploring the Puuc region—provided you...

Reserva de la Biosfera Calakmul

Vast, lovely, green, and mysterious Calakmul may not stay a secret for much longer. You won't see any tour buses in the parking lot, and...

Kabah

...

Tuxpan

A peaceful riverside town with a tangle of twisting streets, Tuxpan—almost as often referred to as Tuxpam—is a pleasant place to stop if you're driving...

Xcalak

The southernmost town in Quintana Roo, Xcalak (pronounced ish-ka-lack) is only 11 km (7 miles) from the Belize border by water, and a little of...

Mitla and the Textile Villages

The second-most-important archaeological site in Oaxaca State (after Monte Albán), Mitla is in the upper end of the Tlacolula Valley. Where Monte Albán was the...

Craft Villages of the Valles Centrales

South of Oaxaca City is a string of craft villages, the most important of which are San Bartolo Coyotepec, where you'll find gorgeous black pottery...

Bonampak

The settlement was built on the banks of the Río Lacanjá in the 7th and 8th centuries and was uncovered in 1946...

Chicanná

Thought to have been a satellite community of the larger, more commercial city of Becán, a couple of miles farther west, Chicanná ("house of the...

Xalapa

A ceremonial center for the Aztec when Cortés swept through the region, Xalapa is still a city of great importance. Take one look at the...

Ek Balam

The large Ek Balam ("black jaguar") site was known to 19th-century archaeologists; however, excavation and mapping didn’t really get underway until the 1990s, making this...

Campeche City

In picturesque Campeche, block upon block of restored buildings with lovely facades, all painted in bright colors, meet the sea. Tiny balconies overlook clean, geometrically...

Manzanillo

Remember the late-1970s movie 10, starring Dudley Moore and Bo Derek? You’ve seen Manzanillo if you do. The beach scenes were all filmed here in...

Dzibilchaltún

...

Aduana

A couple of miles off the main road to Álamos, tiny Aduana was once the site of one of the richest mines in the district...

Hormiguero

Bumping down the badly potholed, 8-km (5-mile) road leading to this site may give you an appreciation for the explorers who first found and excavated...

Bahía Kino

On the eastern shore of the Mar de Cortés lies Bahía Kino, home to some of the prettiest beaches in northwest Mexico. For many years...

Mérida

Bustling streets, lively parks, a tropical version of the Champs-Elysées, endless cultural activities, and a varied nightlife: Mérida is the beating urban heart of the...

Zinacantan

The village of Zinacantán is even smaller than San Juan Chamula. The men wear bright pink tunics embroidered with flowers; the women cover themselves with...

Santa Rosa Xtampak

...

Las Grutas de Rancho Nuevo

Spectacular limestone stalactites and stalagmites are illuminated along a 2,475-foot concrete walkway inside the labyrinthine caves known as Las Grutas de Rancho Nuevo (or Las...

Valladolid

The second-largest city in Yucatán State, picturesque Valladolid (pronounced vye-ah-do-leed) is seeing a big boom in popularity among travelers en route to or from Chichén...

Villahermosa

The capital city of Villahermosa epitomizes the development of Tabasco, where the airplane arrived before the automobile. Thanks to oil and the money it brought...

Hermosillo

Hermosillo, the state's on-and-off capital since 1831, is a hardworking city. Manufacturing and agriculture are its main concerns. But a few older plazas and 19th-century...

Ensenada

In 1542 Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo first discovered the seaport that Sebastián Vizcaíno named Ensenada-Bahía de Todos Santos (All Saints' Bay) in 1602. Since then the...

Alamos

With its cobblestone streets, delightful central plaza, 250-year-old baroque church, and thoughtfully restored haciendas, Álamos is the most authentically revived colonial town in Sonora. Although...

San Carlos

Long considered an extension of Guaymas, this resort town—on the other side of the rocky peninsula that separates Bahía de Bacochibampo from Bahía de San...

Guaymas

The buzz and bustle of Guaymas—one of Mexico's largest ports—has a pleasant backdrop of rusty red, saguaro-speckled bluffs that nudge the deep-blue waters of a...

San Juan Chamula

Celebrated for its religious and cultural traditions, San Juan Chamula is one of the most fascinating highland villages. More than 80,000 Maya-descended Chamula live in...

Puerto Peñasco

Puerto Peñasco was dubbed Rocky Point by British explorers in the 18th century, and that's the name most Americans know it by today. The town...

Chetumal

At times, Chetumal—the capital city of Quintana Roo—feels more Caribbean than Mexican; this isn't surprising, given its proximity to Belize. A population that includes Afro-Caribbean...

Mascota

Mascota's cool but sunny climate is perfect for growing citrus, avocados, nuts, wheat, corn, and other crops. Fed by the Mascota and Ameca rivers and...

Yaxchilan

Excavations at Yaxchilán (ya-shee-lan), on the banks of the Río Usumacinta, have uncovered stunning temples and delicate carvings. Spider monkeys and toucans are, at this...

Bacalar

Founded in AD 435, Bacalar (pronounced baa-ka-lar) is one of Quintana Roo's oldest settlements. The town’s most notable feature is a cenote-fed lake of the...

Felipe Carrillo Puerto

Felipe Carrillo Puerto, the Costa Maya's first major town, is named for the governor of Yucatán in 1920, who was hailed as a hero after...

Tonina

Between San Cristóbal and Palenque, on a paved road running along the Río Jataté and through the Ocosingo Valley, is the ancient Mayan city of...

Tuxtla Gutierrez

Balmy, booming, bustling Tuxtla Gutiérrez, population 600,000 and the state’s only true metropolis, will be a place you pass through on your way to San...

Mahahual

Tiny Mahahual (also spelled Majahual) has something of a split personality. With a population of only 600, it's a quiet beachfront outpost with clear, calm...

San Cristobal de las Casas

Remote and historically difficult to reach, San Cristóbal de las Casas has nevertheless been a well-trodden outpost on the Gringo Trail for decades. A modern...

Comalcalco

Comalcalco, which was founded in about the 1st century BC, marks the westernmost reach of the Maya; descendants of its builders, the Chontal, still live...

Izapa

A lesser-known archaeological site, just 15 minutes from Tapachula, on the road to Talismán, the Izapa ruins are said to provide a link between Olmec...

San Blas

Many travelers come here looking for Old Mexico, or the "real Mexico," or the Mexico they remember from the 1960s. New Spain's first official Pacific...

Chiapa de Corzo

Chiapa de Corzo has been designated one of Mexico’s Pueblos Mágicos (“magical towns”), communities of significant heritage. It has a lot more personality than neighboring...

Reserva de la Biosfera Sian Ka'an

Wildlife has understandably been affected by the development of coastal resorts; however, thanks to the federal government's foresight, 1.3 million acres of coastline and jungle...

Xpu-Há

Located 20 minutes south of Playa del Carmen and 20 minutes north of Tulum, Xpu-Há is the perfect base to relax and get away from...

Coatepec

The air is cool and refreshing in Coatepec. Residents call their town the capital mundial del café (coffee capital of the world), as the climate...

La Antigua

This sleepy village was the conquistadors' capital for 75 years. It was given its name ("The Old Town") when the Spaniards abandoned it in 1599...

San Sebastián del Oeste

Physically, there are only about 80 km (50 miles) between Puerto Vallarta and San Sebastián del Oeste (often called, simply, San Sebastián), but metaphorically they're...

Agua Azul

The series of waterfalls and crystalline blue pools at Agua Azul is breathtaking, especially during the dry season...

Veracruz

Veracruz State is a long, slim crescent bordering the Gulf of Mexico, about five hours east of Mexico City. The port city of Veracruz is...

Talpa de Allende

Another tranquil town surrounded by pine-oak forests, Talpa, as it's called, has just over 7,000 inhabitants but welcomes 4 million visitors a year. They come...

El Tajín

...

San Miguel de Allende and the Heartland

Also referred to as el Bajío, this area (parts of the states of Guanajuato, Querétaro, and Michoacán) really is the heartland of Mexico—geographically and historically...

Tlacotalpan

The name Tlacotalpan is of Nahuatl origin and means "in the middle of the earth," referring to the settlement's location on what was then an...

Dolores Hidalgo

Dolores Hidalgo is famous for its lovely hand-glazed Talavera-style ceramics, most notably tiles and tableware. After shopping and visiting a few of Dolores Hidalgo’s pleasant...

Veracruz City

The lively port city of Veracruz, 345 km (214 mi) east of Mexico City, might not be the city that never sleeps, but it is...

Guanajuato

Guanajuato is simply gorgeous. It spills across cliffs and hillsides down to a series of tree-shaded plazas whose sidewalk cafés and street life are unmatched...

Xico

If you close your eyes and try to imagine the ideal Mexican small town, you'd probably come up with something surprisingly close to Xico. In...

La Cañada de la Virgen

More than a thousand years old, the former ceremonial site of La Cañada de la Virgin has been open to the public less than two...

Becán

Becán (usually translated as "canyon of water," referring to the moat) is thought to have been an important city within the Río Bec group, which...

Morelia

Morelia is Michoacán State's capital—its long, wide boulevards and earth-tone colonial mansions earned it its status as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Founded in 1541...

Celestún

When someone says "Celestún," think pink. The estuaries of this biosphere reserve are home to an amazing flock of flamingos. The gateway to it, a...

Pátzcuaro

Founded in the 16th century on the shores of the tranquil Lake Pátzcuaro, this town remained largely undisturbed for several centuries until it was "discovered"...

Chichén Itzá

In 2007, this sublime Mayan city was named one of the "New 7 Wonders of the World"—a distinction that puts Chichén Itzá on par with...

Querétaro

Querétaro is a modern city of about 1.2 million inhabitants, but its historical center holds its own against the region's other colonial cities, with wide...

Edzná

With its smorgasbord of Mayan architectural styles, Edzná is considered by archaeologists to be one of the peninsula's most important ruin complexes; and although it’s...

San Miguel de Allende

You've heard that San Miguel de Allende is an artists' retreat, where the beauty of the surroundings, coupled with the inspired bent of those who...

Hochob

...

Tequisquiapan

Drenched in sun, bougainvillea, and flowering trees, Tequis (as the locals call it) is a pleasant stop for a day or overnight trip. Join the...

Izamal

You won’t find too many sights in beautiful Izamal, but you'll almost certainly be taken by its carefully cared-for architecture. The downtown area shines with...

Xilitla

...

Labná

...

Zacatecas

Although Zacatecas (whose altitude "peaks," as it were, at 8,649 feet above sea level) was once the world's largest silver-producing city, it's relatively undiscovered by...

Oxkintoc

...

Side Trips from Mexico City

In every direction, via every major highway leading outside Mexico City, locals and increasing numbers of tourists fill cars and buses headed to the dozens...

Reserva de la Biósfera Ría Lagartos

The mangroves of the Ría Lagartos Biosphere Reserve make up one of southern Mexico's most important wildlife sanctuaries. Birds are the big draw here, and...

Cuernavaca

The road to Cuernavaca will likely heighten your anticipation—you'll catch your first glimpse of the city's lush surroundings from a mountain highway, through lacy pine...

Sayil

...

Puebla

The city of Puebla fairly bursts with baroque flourishes and the colors of its famed Talavera tiles. The downtown area in particular overflows with religious...

Uxmal

If Chichén Itzá is the most expansive Mayan ruin in Yucatán, Uxmal is arguably the most elegant. The architecture here reflects the late classical renaissance...

Teotihuacán

Just 31 miles from the center of Mexico City, Teotihuacán is one of the most significant and haunting archaeological sites in the world. Climbing on...

Xcambo

...

Tepoztlán

Surrounded by sandstone monoliths that throw off a russet glow at sunset, Tepoztlán is a magical place. It’s a popular place for practitioners of astrology...

Yaxcopoil

...

Sonora

The Sonoran Desert—or as the Mexicans call it, El Desierto de Altar—dominates the northern part of this state, where long stretches of flat scrub are...

Chiapas and Tabasco

Chiapas is Mexico's southernmost state. And if the villages here resemble those of the Guatemalan Highlands, it's because Guatemala lies just beyond the eastern border...

Xcaret

Once a sacred Mayan city and port, Xcaret (pronounced ish-car-et) is now home to two popular parks on a gorgeous stretch of coastline. The 250-acre...

Acapulco

Few places evoke the glamour of a bygone era quite the way Acapulco does. Fifty years ago, you could board a champagne-filled flight to this...

Puerto Morelos

At the edge of a mangrove-tangled jungle pushing up to the shore, Puerto Morelos is one of the few coastal towns on this stretch of...

Tulum

It used to be that Tulum was simply known as dusty little town with a stellar archaeological site and a few palapa huts. No longer...

Punta Maroma

The waters of this protected bay stay calm even on blustery days, and the enchanting beach ranks among Mexico's finest. A string of resorts has...

Playa del Secreto

The secret is out—the ½-km (1-mile) stretch of white sand at Playa del Secreto is one of the most beautiful in the Riviera Maya. Surrounded...

Puerto Aventuras

The most Americanized of all the Riviera Maya's resorts is a 900-acre gated community and golf course more reminiscent of coastal Florida than Mexico. This...

Tankah

If you plan on staying in the Cobá area, nearby Tankah is a good option—especially if you want to avoid the Tulum crowds. In ancient...

Playa del Carmen

Welcome to the party! "Playa," currently Latin America's fastest-growing community, has a population of more than 150,000 and an international flavor lent by the estadounidenses...

Cobá

Near five lakes and between coastal watchtowers and inland cities, Cobá (pronounced ko-bah) once exercised economic control over the region through a network of at...

The Riviera Maya

Mexico's Caribbean coast is full of treasures, from spectacular white-sand beaches and offshore reefs to some of the Yucatán Peninsula's most beautiful Mayan ruins. Unsurprisingly...

Palenque

Palenque's days as a sleepy little village are far behind. Locals have obliged the needs of travelers in search of the ruins at the Palenque...

Puerto Vallarta

Sunbathing and sipping margaritas is just one of many ways to spend a vacation in Puerto Vallarta. Mexico's prettiest resort town is also one of...

Akumal

In Mayan, Akumal (pronounced ah-koo-maal) means "place of the turtle," and this portion of coast is a storied nesting ground, especially at Half Moon Bay...

Zihuatanejo

Everything in Zihuatanejo radiates out from the main beach. Although this stretch of sand is not the place for swimming, it's the best place to...

Ixtapa and Zihuatanejo

Rarely does one destination satisfy the needs of so many different kinds of travelers, from authenticity-seeking adventurers to languorous sun worshippers who never want to...

Ixtapa

Ixtapa's primary hotel zone, the Zona Hotelera, extends along a 3-km (2-mile) strip of sandy beach called Playa del Palmar. It's fun to walk along...

Isla Mujeres

Once a small fishing village, colorful Isla Mujeres (meaning "Island of Women") has become a favorite for travelers seeking natural beauty, island serenity, and a...

Guadalajara

Guadalajara rests on a mile-high plain of the Sierra Madre Occidental, surrounded on three sides by rugged hills and on the fourth by the spectacular...

Cozumel

It’s not another Cancún yet, but Cozumel’s days as a rustic divers’ hangout are history. Whether arriving at the airport or the gleaming ferry terminal...

Los Cabos and the Baja Peninsula

With coastline that stretches from the Sea of Cortez to the Pacific Ocean, and 350 sunny days a year, Los Cabos is Mexico's ultimate seaside...

Puerto Escondido

Puerto Escondido was the first beach resort on the carretera costera (coastal highway), and it remains the most popular. Playa Zicatela is famous for its...

Cancún

Cancún is a great place to experience 21st-century Mexico, because it has everything you’d want in a vacation: shopping, sports, spas, and beaches. Here you’ll...

Oaxaca City

With its magical concoction of sights, smells, and sounds both ancient and modern, this mountain-ringed city of about 400,000 people, officially called Oaxaca de Juárez...

Puerto Angel

The state's leading seaport in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Puerto Angel today is a small town in a busy bay and is...

Oaxaca

Mexico aficionados have long favored the state of Oaxaca (pronounced wah-hah-kah) for its climate, culinary and artistic traditions, and landscapes and biodiversity. Oaxaca, one of...

Mexico City

Mexico City is having a moment. All of a sudden, it seems, the largest city in the Americas has absolutely captivated international tastemakers, and gallons...

Todos Santos

From the hodgepodge of signs and local businesses you see on the drive into Todos Santos, south on Highway 19, it appears that you're heading...

Monte Albán

Southwest of Oaxaca City, a narrow, twisting road leads up to the mountaintop city of the "cloud people," Monte Albán. Seeing this massive ancient metropolis...

Mazatlan

Mazatlán, the first major resort town on the Pacific coastline, has a split personality. At the northern end of town is the Zona Dorada (Golden...

Manzunte, San Agustinillo, and Zipolite

Fans of this trio of beaches like to brag that they are what Puerto Escondido was 20 years ago, but that mantra doesn't even do...

Yucatán and Campeche States

In sharp contrast to the resort lifestyle of Cancún and the Riviera Maya, the Yucatán and Campeche states cater to a more tranquil traveler who...

Huatulco

Development in the breathtaking Bahías de Huatulco (Bays of Huatulco) continues to march forward. Four of the nine bays have been developed, but only Bahía...

Mixteca

The Mixteca, a rugged region northwest of Oaxaca City, has some of the state's most dramatic scenery. Driving up you'll see more pine-covered hills than...

Xpujil

The highway briefly widens to four lanes around the town of Xpujil, which acts as the service center for Carretera 186. This is the place...

Ticul

One of the larger communities in the Yucatán, Ticul (with a population of around 21,000) is a good base for exploring the Puuc region—provided you...

Reserva de la Biosfera Calakmul

Vast, lovely, green, and mysterious Calakmul may not stay a secret for much longer. You won't see any tour buses in the parking lot, and...

Kabah

...

Tuxpan

A peaceful riverside town with a tangle of twisting streets, Tuxpan—almost as often referred to as Tuxpam—is a pleasant place to stop if you're driving...

Xcalak

The southernmost town in Quintana Roo, Xcalak (pronounced ish-ka-lack) is only 11 km (7 miles) from the Belize border by water, and a little of...

Mitla and the Textile Villages

The second-most-important archaeological site in Oaxaca State (after Monte Albán), Mitla is in the upper end of the Tlacolula Valley. Where Monte Albán was the...

Craft Villages of the Valles Centrales

South of Oaxaca City is a string of craft villages, the most important of which are San Bartolo Coyotepec, where you'll find gorgeous black pottery...

Bonampak

The settlement was built on the banks of the Río Lacanjá in the 7th and 8th centuries and was uncovered in 1946...

Chicanná

Thought to have been a satellite community of the larger, more commercial city of Becán, a couple of miles farther west, Chicanná ("house of the...

Xalapa

A ceremonial center for the Aztec when Cortés swept through the region, Xalapa is still a city of great importance. Take one look at the...

Ek Balam

The large Ek Balam ("black jaguar") site was known to 19th-century archaeologists; however, excavation and mapping didn’t really get underway until the 1990s, making this...

Campeche City

In picturesque Campeche, block upon block of restored buildings with lovely facades, all painted in bright colors, meet the sea. Tiny balconies overlook clean, geometrically...

Manzanillo

Remember the late-1970s movie 10, starring Dudley Moore and Bo Derek? You’ve seen Manzanillo if you do. The beach scenes were all filmed here in...

Dzibilchaltún

...

Aduana

A couple of miles off the main road to Álamos, tiny Aduana was once the site of one of the richest mines in the district...

Hormiguero

Bumping down the badly potholed, 8-km (5-mile) road leading to this site may give you an appreciation for the explorers who first found and excavated...

Bahía Kino

On the eastern shore of the Mar de Cortés lies Bahía Kino, home to some of the prettiest beaches in northwest Mexico. For many years...

Mérida

Bustling streets, lively parks, a tropical version of the Champs-Elysées, endless cultural activities, and a varied nightlife: Mérida is the beating urban heart of the...

Zinacantan

The village of Zinacantán is even smaller than San Juan Chamula. The men wear bright pink tunics embroidered with flowers; the women cover themselves with...

Santa Rosa Xtampak

...

Las Grutas de Rancho Nuevo

Spectacular limestone stalactites and stalagmites are illuminated along a 2,475-foot concrete walkway inside the labyrinthine caves known as Las Grutas de Rancho Nuevo (or Las...

Valladolid

The second-largest city in Yucatán State, picturesque Valladolid (pronounced vye-ah-do-leed) is seeing a big boom in popularity among travelers en route to or from Chichén...

Villahermosa

The capital city of Villahermosa epitomizes the development of Tabasco, where the airplane arrived before the automobile. Thanks to oil and the money it brought...

Hermosillo

Hermosillo, the state's on-and-off capital since 1831, is a hardworking city. Manufacturing and agriculture are its main concerns. But a few older plazas and 19th-century...

Ensenada

In 1542 Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo first discovered the seaport that Sebastián Vizcaíno named Ensenada-Bahía de Todos Santos (All Saints' Bay) in 1602. Since then the...

Alamos

San Carlos

Long considered an extension of Guaymas, this resort town—on the other side of the rocky peninsula that separates Bahía de Bacochibampo from Bahía de San...

Guaymas

The buzz and bustle of Guaymas—one of Mexico's largest ports—has a pleasant backdrop of rusty red, saguaro-speckled bluffs that nudge the deep-blue waters of a...

San Juan Chamula

Celebrated for its religious and cultural traditions, San Juan Chamula is one of the most fascinating highland villages. More than 80,000 Maya-descended Chamula live in...

Puerto Peñasco

Puerto Peñasco was dubbed Rocky Point by British explorers in the 18th century, and that's the name most Americans know it by today. The town...

Chetumal

At times, Chetumal—the capital city of Quintana Roo—feels more Caribbean than Mexican; this isn't surprising, given its proximity to Belize. A population that includes Afro-Caribbean...

Mascota

Mascota's cool but sunny climate is perfect for growing citrus, avocados, nuts, wheat, corn, and other crops. Fed by the Mascota and Ameca rivers and...

Yaxchilan

Excavations at Yaxchilán (ya-shee-lan), on the banks of the Río Usumacinta, have uncovered stunning temples and delicate carvings. Spider monkeys and toucans are, at this...

Bacalar

Founded in AD 435, Bacalar (pronounced baa-ka-lar) is one of Quintana Roo's oldest settlements. The town’s most notable feature is a cenote-fed lake of the...

Felipe Carrillo Puerto

Felipe Carrillo Puerto, the Costa Maya's first major town, is named for the governor of Yucatán in 1920, who was hailed as a hero after...

Tonina

Between San Cristóbal and Palenque, on a paved road running along the Río Jataté and through the Ocosingo Valley, is the ancient Mayan city of...

Tuxtla Gutierrez

Balmy, booming, bustling Tuxtla Gutiérrez, population 600,000 and the state’s only true metropolis, will be a place you pass through on your way to San...

Mahahual

Tiny Mahahual (also spelled Majahual) has something of a split personality. With a population of only 600, it's a quiet beachfront outpost with clear, calm...

San Cristobal de las Casas

Remote and historically difficult to reach, San Cristóbal de las Casas has nevertheless been a well-trodden outpost on the Gringo Trail for decades. A modern...

Comalcalco

Comalcalco, which was founded in about the 1st century BC, marks the westernmost reach of the Maya; descendants of its builders, the Chontal, still live...

Izapa

A lesser-known archaeological site, just 15 minutes from Tapachula, on the road to Talismán, the Izapa ruins are said to provide a link between Olmec...

San Blas

Many travelers come here looking for Old Mexico, or the "real Mexico," or the Mexico they remember from the 1960s. New Spain's first official Pacific...

Chiapa de Corzo

Chiapa de Corzo has been designated one of Mexico’s Pueblos Mágicos (“magical towns”), communities of significant heritage. It has a lot more personality than neighboring...

Reserva de la Biosfera Sian Ka'an

Wildlife has understandably been affected by the development of coastal resorts; however, thanks to the federal government's foresight, 1.3 million acres of coastline and jungle...

Xpu-Há

Located 20 minutes south of Playa del Carmen and 20 minutes north of Tulum, Xpu-Há is the perfect base to relax and get away from...

Coatepec

The air is cool and refreshing in Coatepec. Residents call their town the capital mundial del café (coffee capital of the world), as the climate...

La Antigua

This sleepy village was the conquistadors' capital for 75 years. It was given its name ("The Old Town") when the Spaniards abandoned it in 1599...

San Sebastián del Oeste

Physically, there are only about 80 km (50 miles) between Puerto Vallarta and San Sebastián del Oeste (often called, simply, San Sebastián), but metaphorically they're...

Agua Azul

The series of waterfalls and crystalline blue pools at Agua Azul is breathtaking, especially during the dry season...

Veracruz

Veracruz State is a long, slim crescent bordering the Gulf of Mexico, about five hours east of Mexico City. The port city of Veracruz is...

Talpa de Allende

Another tranquil town surrounded by pine-oak forests, Talpa, as it's called, has just over 7,000 inhabitants but welcomes 4 million visitors a year. They come...

El Tajín

...

San Miguel de Allende and the Heartland

Also referred to as el Bajío, this area (parts of the states of Guanajuato, Querétaro, and Michoacán) really is the heartland of Mexico—geographically and historically...

Tlacotalpan

The name Tlacotalpan is of Nahuatl origin and means "in the middle of the earth," referring to the settlement's location on what was then an...

Dolores Hidalgo

Dolores Hidalgo is famous for its lovely hand-glazed Talavera-style ceramics, most notably tiles and tableware. After shopping and visiting a few of Dolores Hidalgo’s pleasant...

Veracruz City

The lively port city of Veracruz, 345 km (214 mi) east of Mexico City, might not be the city that never sleeps, but it is...

Guanajuato

Guanajuato is simply gorgeous. It spills across cliffs and hillsides down to a series of tree-shaded plazas whose sidewalk cafés and street life are unmatched...

Xico

If you close your eyes and try to imagine the ideal Mexican small town, you'd probably come up with something surprisingly close to Xico. In...

La Cañada de la Virgen

More than a thousand years old, the former ceremonial site of La Cañada de la Virgin has been open to the public less than two...

Becán

Becán (usually translated as "canyon of water," referring to the moat) is thought to have been an important city within the Río Bec group, which...

Morelia

Morelia is Michoacán State's capital—its long, wide boulevards and earth-tone colonial mansions earned it its status as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Founded in 1541...

Celestún

When someone says "Celestún," think pink. The estuaries of this biosphere reserve are home to an amazing flock of flamingos. The gateway to it, a...

Pátzcuaro

Founded in the 16th century on the shores of the tranquil Lake Pátzcuaro, this town remained largely undisturbed for several centuries until it was "discovered"...

Chichén Itzá

In 2007, this sublime Mayan city was named one of the "New 7 Wonders of the World"—a distinction that puts Chichén Itzá on par with...

Querétaro

Querétaro is a modern city of about 1.2 million inhabitants, but its historical center holds its own against the region's other colonial cities, with wide...

Edzná

With its smorgasbord of Mayan architectural styles, Edzná is considered by archaeologists to be one of the peninsula's most important ruin complexes; and although it’s...

San Miguel de Allende

You've heard that San Miguel de Allende is an artists' retreat, where the beauty of the surroundings, coupled with the inspired bent of those who...

Hochob

...

Tequisquiapan

Drenched in sun, bougainvillea, and flowering trees, Tequis (as the locals call it) is a pleasant stop for a day or overnight trip. Join the...

Izamal

You won’t find too many sights in beautiful Izamal, but you'll almost certainly be taken by its carefully cared-for architecture. The downtown area shines with...

Xilitla

...

Labná

...

Zacatecas

Although Zacatecas (whose altitude "peaks," as it were, at 8,649 feet above sea level) was once the world's largest silver-producing city, it's relatively undiscovered by...

Oxkintoc

...

Side Trips from Mexico City

In every direction, via every major highway leading outside Mexico City, locals and increasing numbers of tourists fill cars and buses headed to the dozens...

Reserva de la Biósfera Ría Lagartos

The mangroves of the Ría Lagartos Biosphere Reserve make up one of southern Mexico's most important wildlife sanctuaries. Birds are the big draw here, and...

Cuernavaca

The road to Cuernavaca will likely heighten your anticipation—you'll catch your first glimpse of the city's lush surroundings from a mountain highway, through lacy pine...

Sayil

...

Puebla

The city of Puebla fairly bursts with baroque flourishes and the colors of its famed Talavera tiles. The downtown area in particular overflows with religious...

Uxmal

If Chichén Itzá is the most expansive Mayan ruin in Yucatán, Uxmal is arguably the most elegant. The architecture here reflects the late classical renaissance...

Teotihuacán

Just 31 miles from the center of Mexico City, Teotihuacán is one of the most significant and haunting archaeological sites in the world. Climbing on...

Xcambo

...

Tepoztlán

Surrounded by sandstone monoliths that throw off a russet glow at sunset, Tepoztlán is a magical place. It’s a popular place for practitioners of astrology...

Yaxcopoil

...

Sonora

The Sonoran Desert—or as the Mexicans call it, El Desierto de Altar—dominates the northern part of this state, where long stretches of flat scrub are...

Puerto Vallarta

Sunbathing and sipping margaritas is just one of many ways to spend a vacation in Puerto Vallarta. Mexico's prettiest resort town is also one of...

Tankah

If you plan on staying in the Cobá area, nearby Tankah is a good option—especially if you want to avoid the Tulum crowds. In ancient...

Xcaret

Once a sacred Mayan city and port, Xcaret (pronounced ish-car-et) is now home to two popular parks on a gorgeous stretch of coastline. The 250-acre...

Acapulco

Few places evoke the glamour of a bygone era quite the way Acapulco does. Fifty years ago, you could board a champagne-filled flight to this...

Tulum

It used to be that Tulum was simply known as dusty little town with a stellar archaeological site and a few palapa huts. No longer...

Playa del Secreto

The secret is out—the ½-km (1-mile) stretch of white sand at Playa del Secreto is one of the most beautiful in the Riviera Maya. Surrounded...

Punta Maroma

The waters of this protected bay stay calm even on blustery days, and the enchanting beach ranks among Mexico's finest. A string of resorts has...

Puerto Morelos

At the edge of a mangrove-tangled jungle pushing up to the shore, Puerto Morelos is one of the few coastal towns on this stretch of...

Puerto Aventuras

The most Americanized of all the Riviera Maya's resorts is a 900-acre gated community and golf course more reminiscent of coastal Florida than Mexico. This...

Cobá

Near five lakes and between coastal watchtowers and inland cities, Cobá (pronounced ko-bah) once exercised economic control over the region through a network of at...

Playa del Carmen

Welcome to the party! "Playa," currently Latin America's fastest-growing community, has a population of more than 150,000 and an international flavor lent by the estadounidenses...

Palenque

Palenque's days as a sleepy little village are far behind. Locals have obliged the needs of travelers in search of the ruins at the Palenque...

Puerto Angel

The state's leading seaport in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Puerto Angel today is a small town in a busy bay and is...

Puerto Escondido

Puerto Escondido was the first beach resort on the carretera costera (coastal highway), and it remains the most popular. Playa Zicatela is famous for its...

Guadalajara

Guadalajara rests on a mile-high plain of the Sierra Madre Occidental, surrounded on three sides by rugged hills and on the fourth by the spectacular...

Oaxaca City

With its magical concoction of sights, smells, and sounds both ancient and modern, this mountain-ringed city of about 400,000 people, officially called Oaxaca de Juárez...

Cancún

Cancún is a great place to experience 21st-century Mexico, because it has everything you’d want in a vacation: shopping, sports, spas, and beaches. Here you’ll...

Zihuatanejo

Everything in Zihuatanejo radiates out from the main beach. Although this stretch of sand is not the place for swimming, it's the best place to...

Los Cabos and the Baja Peninsula

With coastline that stretches from the Sea of Cortez to the Pacific Ocean, and 350 sunny days a year, Los Cabos is Mexico's ultimate seaside...

Ixtapa

Ixtapa's primary hotel zone, the Zona Hotelera, extends along a 3-km (2-mile) strip of sandy beach called Playa del Palmar. It's fun to walk along...

Huatulco

Development in the breathtaking Bahías de Huatulco (Bays of Huatulco) continues to march forward. Four of the nine bays have been developed, but only Bahía...

Monte Albán

Southwest of Oaxaca City, a narrow, twisting road leads up to the mountaintop city of the "cloud people," Monte Albán. Seeing this massive ancient metropolis...

Akumal

In Mayan, Akumal (pronounced ah-koo-maal) means "place of the turtle," and this portion of coast is a storied nesting ground, especially at Half Moon Bay...

Mexico City

Mexico City is having a moment. All of a sudden, it seems, the largest city in the Americas has absolutely captivated international tastemakers, and gallons...

Ixtapa and Zihuatanejo

Rarely does one destination satisfy the needs of so many different kinds of travelers, from authenticity-seeking adventurers to languorous sun worshippers who never want to...

Mazatlan

Mazatlán, the first major resort town on the Pacific coastline, has a split personality. At the northern end of town is the Zona Dorada (Golden...

Todos Santos

From the hodgepodge of signs and local businesses you see on the drive into Todos Santos, south on Highway 19, it appears that you're heading...

La Antigua

This sleepy village was the conquistadors' capital for 75 years. It was given its name ("The Old Town") when the Spaniards abandoned it in 1599...

Las Grutas de Rancho Nuevo

Spectacular limestone stalactites and stalagmites are illuminated along a 2,475-foot concrete walkway inside the labyrinthine caves known as Las Grutas de Rancho Nuevo (or Las...

Chetumal

At times, Chetumal—the capital city of Quintana Roo—feels more Caribbean than Mexican; this isn't surprising, given its proximity to Belize. A population that includes Afro-Caribbean...

Kabah

...

Ek Balam

The large Ek Balam ("black jaguar") site was known to 19th-century archaeologists; however, excavation and mapping didn’t really get underway until the 1990s, making this...

Chicanná

Thought to have been a satellite community of the larger, more commercial city of Becán, a couple of miles farther west, Chicanná ("house of the...

Aké

...

Tuxpan

A peaceful riverside town with a tangle of twisting streets, Tuxpan—almost as often referred to as Tuxpam—is a pleasant place to stop if you're driving...

Manzanillo

Remember the late-1970s movie 10, starring Dudley Moore and Bo Derek? You’ve seen Manzanillo if you do. The beach scenes were all filmed here in...

Ensenada

In 1542 Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo first discovered the seaport that Sebastián Vizcaíno named Ensenada-Bahía de Todos Santos (All Saints' Bay) in 1602. Since then the...

Xalapa

A ceremonial center for the Aztec when Cortés swept through the region, Xalapa is still a city of great importance. Take one look at the...

Mixteca

The Mixteca, a rugged region northwest of Oaxaca City, has some of the state's most dramatic scenery. Driving up you'll see more pine-covered hills than...

Campeche City

In picturesque Campeche, block upon block of restored buildings with lovely facades, all painted in bright colors, meet the sea. Tiny balconies overlook clean, geometrically...

Santa Rosa Xtampak

...

Dzibilchaltún

...

Valladolid

The second-largest city in Yucatán State, picturesque Valladolid (pronounced vye-ah-do-leed) is seeing a big boom in popularity among travelers en route to or from Chichén...

Hormiguero

Bumping down the badly potholed, 8-km (5-mile) road leading to this site may give you an appreciation for the explorers who first found and excavated...

Zinacantan

The village of Zinacantán is even smaller than San Juan Chamula. The men wear bright pink tunics embroidered with flowers; the women cover themselves with...

Mérida

Bustling streets, lively parks, a tropical version of the Champs-Elysées, endless cultural activities, and a varied nightlife: Mérida is the beating urban heart of the...

Playa Norte

...

Ticul

One of the larger communities in the Yucatán, Ticul (with a population of around 21,000) is a good base for exploring the Puuc region—provided you...

Puerto Peñasco

Puerto Peñasco was dubbed Rocky Point by British explorers in the 18th century, and that's the name most Americans know it by today. The town...

Xpujil

The highway briefly widens to four lanes around the town of Xpujil, which acts as the service center for Carretera 186. This is the place...

San Juan Chamula

Celebrated for its religious and cultural traditions, San Juan Chamula is one of the most fascinating highland villages. More than 80,000 Maya-descended Chamula live in...

Guaymas

The buzz and bustle of Guaymas—one of Mexico's largest ports—has a pleasant backdrop of rusty red, saguaro-speckled bluffs that nudge the deep-blue waters of a...

Felipe Carrillo Puerto

Felipe Carrillo Puerto, the Costa Maya's first major town, is named for the governor of Yucatán in 1920, who was hailed as a hero after...

San Carlos

Long considered an extension of Guaymas, this resort town—on the other side of the rocky peninsula that separates Bahía de Bacochibampo from Bahía de San...

Villahermosa

The capital city of Villahermosa epitomizes the development of Tabasco, where the airplane arrived before the automobile. Thanks to oil and the money it brought...

Bacalar

Founded in AD 435, Bacalar (pronounced baa-ka-lar) is one of Quintana Roo's oldest settlements. The town’s most notable feature is a cenote-fed lake of the...

Tonina

Between San Cristóbal and Palenque, on a paved road running along the Río Jataté and through the Ocosingo Valley, is the ancient Mayan city of...

Tuxtla Gutierrez

Balmy, booming, bustling Tuxtla Gutiérrez, population 600,000 and the state’s only true metropolis, will be a place you pass through on your way to San...

Yaxchilan

Excavations at Yaxchilán (ya-shee-lan), on the banks of the Río Usumacinta, have uncovered stunning temples and delicate carvings. Spider monkeys and toucans are, at this...

Mahahual

Tiny Mahahual (also spelled Majahual) has something of a split personality. With a population of only 600, it's a quiet beachfront outpost with clear, calm...

Comalcalco

Comalcalco, which was founded in about the 1st century BC, marks the westernmost reach of the Maya; descendants of its builders, the Chontal, still live...

Izapa

A lesser-known archaeological site, just 15 minutes from Tapachula, on the road to Talismán, the Izapa ruins are said to provide a link between Olmec...

San Cristobal de las Casas

Remote and historically difficult to reach, San Cristóbal de las Casas has nevertheless been a well-trodden outpost on the Gringo Trail for decades. A modern...

Bonampak

The settlement was built on the banks of the Río Lacanjá in the 7th and 8th centuries and was uncovered in 1946...

Coatepec

The air is cool and refreshing in Coatepec. Residents call their town the capital mundial del café (coffee capital of the world), as the climate...

Agua Azul

The series of waterfalls and crystalline blue pools at Agua Azul is breathtaking, especially during the dry season...

Chiapa de Corzo

Chiapa de Corzo has been designated one of Mexico’s Pueblos Mágicos (“magical towns”), communities of significant heritage. It has a lot more personality than neighboring...

Xcalak

The southernmost town in Quintana Roo, Xcalak (pronounced ish-ka-lack) is only 11 km (7 miles) from the Belize border by water, and a little of...

Mascota

Mascota's cool but sunny climate is perfect for growing citrus, avocados, nuts, wheat, corn, and other crops. Fed by the Mascota and Ameca rivers and...

Xpu-Há

Located 20 minutes south of Playa del Carmen and 20 minutes north of Tulum, Xpu-Há is the perfect base to relax and get away from...

San Blas

Many travelers come here looking for Old Mexico, or the "real Mexico," or the Mexico they remember from the 1960s. New Spain's first official Pacific...

El Tajín

...

San Sebastián del Oeste

Physically, there are only about 80 km (50 miles) between Puerto Vallarta and San Sebastián del Oeste (often called, simply, San Sebastián), but metaphorically they're...

Tlacotalpan

The name Tlacotalpan is of Nahuatl origin and means "in the middle of the earth," referring to the settlement's location on what was then an...

Talpa de Allende

Another tranquil town surrounded by pine-oak forests, Talpa, as it's called, has just over 7,000 inhabitants but welcomes 4 million visitors a year. They come...

Veracruz City

The lively port city of Veracruz, 345 km (214 mi) east of Mexico City, might not be the city that never sleeps, but it is...

Dolores Hidalgo

Dolores Hidalgo is famous for its lovely hand-glazed Talavera-style ceramics, most notably tiles and tableware. After shopping and visiting a few of Dolores Hidalgo’s pleasant...

Xico

If you close your eyes and try to imagine the ideal Mexican small town, you'd probably come up with something surprisingly close to Xico. In...

Guanajuato

Guanajuato is simply gorgeous. It spills across cliffs and hillsides down to a series of tree-shaded plazas whose sidewalk cafés and street life are unmatched...

Becán

Becán (usually translated as "canyon of water," referring to the moat) is thought to have been an important city within the Río Bec group, which...

La Cañada de la Virgen

More than a thousand years old, the former ceremonial site of La Cañada de la Virgin has been open to the public less than two...

Celestún

When someone says "Celestún," think pink. The estuaries of this biosphere reserve are home to an amazing flock of flamingos. The gateway to it, a...

Querétaro

Querétaro is a modern city of about 1.2 million inhabitants, but its historical center holds its own against the region's other colonial cities, with wide...

Chichén Itzá

In 2007, this sublime Mayan city was named one of the "New 7 Wonders of the World"—a distinction that puts Chichén Itzá on par with...

San Miguel de Allende

You've heard that San Miguel de Allende is an artists' retreat, where the beauty of the surroundings, coupled with the inspired bent of those who...

Edzná

With its smorgasbord of Mayan architectural styles, Edzná is considered by archaeologists to be one of the peninsula's most important ruin complexes; and although it’s...

Tequisquiapan

Drenched in sun, bougainvillea, and flowering trees, Tequis (as the locals call it) is a pleasant stop for a day or overnight trip. Join the...

Hochob

...

Xilitla

...

Izamal

You won’t find too many sights in beautiful Izamal, but you'll almost certainly be taken by its carefully cared-for architecture. The downtown area shines with...

Cuernavaca

The road to Cuernavaca will likely heighten your anticipation—you'll catch your first glimpse of the city's lush surroundings from a mountain highway, through lacy pine...

Labná

...

Puebla

The city of Puebla fairly bursts with baroque flourishes and the colors of its famed Talavera tiles. The downtown area in particular overflows with religious...

Oxkintoc

...

Teotihuacán

Just 31 miles from the center of Mexico City, Teotihuacán is one of the most significant and haunting archaeological sites in the world. Climbing on...

Sayil

...

Tepoztlán

Surrounded by sandstone monoliths that throw off a russet glow at sunset, Tepoztlán is a magical place. It’s a popular place for practitioners of astrology...

Uxmal

If Chichén Itzá is the most expansive Mayan ruin in Yucatán, Uxmal is arguably the most elegant. The architecture here reflects the late classical renaissance...

Aduana

A couple of miles off the main road to Álamos, tiny Aduana was once the site of one of the richest mines in the district...

Xcambo

...

Alamos

Yaxcopoil

...

Bahía Kino

On the eastern shore of the Mar de Cortés lies Bahía Kino, home to some of the prettiest beaches in northwest Mexico. For many years...

Puerto Vallarta

Sunbathing and sipping margaritas is just one of many ways to spend a vacation in Puerto Vallarta. Mexico's prettiest resort town is also one of...

Tankah

If you plan on staying in the Cobá area, nearby Tankah is a good option—especially if you want to avoid the Tulum crowds. In ancient...

Xcaret

Once a sacred Mayan city and port, Xcaret (pronounced ish-car-et) is now home to two popular parks on a gorgeous stretch of coastline. The 250-acre...

Acapulco

Few places evoke the glamour of a bygone era quite the way Acapulco does. Fifty years ago, you could board a champagne-filled flight to this...

Tulum

It used to be that Tulum was simply known as dusty little town with a stellar archaeological site and a few palapa huts. No longer...

Playa del Secreto

The secret is out—the ½-km (1-mile) stretch of white sand at Playa del Secreto is one of the most beautiful in the Riviera Maya. Surrounded...

Punta Maroma

The waters of this protected bay stay calm even on blustery days, and the enchanting beach ranks among Mexico's finest. A string of resorts has...

Puerto Morelos

At the edge of a mangrove-tangled jungle pushing up to the shore, Puerto Morelos is one of the few coastal towns on this stretch of...

Puerto Aventuras

The most Americanized of all the Riviera Maya's resorts is a 900-acre gated community and golf course more reminiscent of coastal Florida than Mexico. This...

Cobá

Near five lakes and between coastal watchtowers and inland cities, Cobá (pronounced ko-bah) once exercised economic control over the region through a network of at...

Playa del Carmen

Welcome to the party! "Playa," currently Latin America's fastest-growing community, has a population of more than 150,000 and an international flavor lent by the estadounidenses...

Palenque

Palenque's days as a sleepy little village are far behind. Locals have obliged the needs of travelers in search of the ruins at the Palenque...

Puerto Angel

The state's leading seaport in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Puerto Angel today is a small town in a busy bay and is...

Puerto Escondido

Puerto Escondido was the first beach resort on the carretera costera (coastal highway), and it remains the most popular. Playa Zicatela is famous for its...

Guadalajara

Guadalajara rests on a mile-high plain of the Sierra Madre Occidental, surrounded on three sides by rugged hills and on the fourth by the spectacular...

Oaxaca City

With its magical concoction of sights, smells, and sounds both ancient and modern, this mountain-ringed city of about 400,000 people, officially called Oaxaca de Juárez...

Cancún

Cancún is a great place to experience 21st-century Mexico, because it has everything you’d want in a vacation: shopping, sports, spas, and beaches. Here you’ll...

Zihuatanejo

Everything in Zihuatanejo radiates out from the main beach. Although this stretch of sand is not the place for swimming, it's the best place to...

Los Cabos and the Baja Peninsula

With coastline that stretches from the Sea of Cortez to the Pacific Ocean, and 350 sunny days a year, Los Cabos is Mexico's ultimate seaside...

Ixtapa

Ixtapa's primary hotel zone, the Zona Hotelera, extends along a 3-km (2-mile) strip of sandy beach called Playa del Palmar. It's fun to walk along...

Huatulco

Development in the breathtaking Bahías de Huatulco (Bays of Huatulco) continues to march forward. Four of the nine bays have been developed, but only Bahía...

Monte Albán

Southwest of Oaxaca City, a narrow, twisting road leads up to the mountaintop city of the "cloud people," Monte Albán. Seeing this massive ancient metropolis...

Akumal

In Mayan, Akumal (pronounced ah-koo-maal) means "place of the turtle," and this portion of coast is a storied nesting ground, especially at Half Moon Bay...

Mexico City

Mexico City is having a moment. All of a sudden, it seems, the largest city in the Americas has absolutely captivated international tastemakers, and gallons...

Ixtapa and Zihuatanejo

Rarely does one destination satisfy the needs of so many different kinds of travelers, from authenticity-seeking adventurers to languorous sun worshippers who never want to...

Mazatlan

Mazatlán, the first major resort town on the Pacific coastline, has a split personality. At the northern end of town is the Zona Dorada (Golden...

Todos Santos

From the hodgepodge of signs and local businesses you see on the drive into Todos Santos, south on Highway 19, it appears that you're heading...

La Antigua

This sleepy village was the conquistadors' capital for 75 years. It was given its name ("The Old Town") when the Spaniards abandoned it in 1599...

Las Grutas de Rancho Nuevo

Spectacular limestone stalactites and stalagmites are illuminated along a 2,475-foot concrete walkway inside the labyrinthine caves known as Las Grutas de Rancho Nuevo (or Las...

Chetumal

At times, Chetumal—the capital city of Quintana Roo—feels more Caribbean than Mexican; this isn't surprising, given its proximity to Belize. A population that includes Afro-Caribbean...

Kabah

...

Ek Balam

The large Ek Balam ("black jaguar") site was known to 19th-century archaeologists; however, excavation and mapping didn’t really get underway until the 1990s, making this...

Chicanná

Thought to have been a satellite community of the larger, more commercial city of Becán, a couple of miles farther west, Chicanná ("house of the...

Aké

...

Tuxpan

A peaceful riverside town with a tangle of twisting streets, Tuxpan—almost as often referred to as Tuxpam—is a pleasant place to stop if you're driving...

Manzanillo

Remember the late-1970s movie 10, starring Dudley Moore and Bo Derek? You’ve seen Manzanillo if you do. The beach scenes were all filmed here in...

Ensenada

In 1542 Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo first discovered the seaport that Sebastián Vizcaíno named Ensenada-Bahía de Todos Santos (All Saints' Bay) in 1602. Since then the...

Xalapa

A ceremonial center for the Aztec when Cortés swept through the region, Xalapa is still a city of great importance. Take one look at the...

Mixteca

The Mixteca, a rugged region northwest of Oaxaca City, has some of the state's most dramatic scenery. Driving up you'll see more pine-covered hills than...

Campeche City

In picturesque Campeche, block upon block of restored buildings with lovely facades, all painted in bright colors, meet the sea. Tiny balconies overlook clean, geometrically...

Santa Rosa Xtampak

...

Dzibilchaltún

...

Valladolid

The second-largest city in Yucatán State, picturesque Valladolid (pronounced vye-ah-do-leed) is seeing a big boom in popularity among travelers en route to or from Chichén...

Hormiguero

Bumping down the badly potholed, 8-km (5-mile) road leading to this site may give you an appreciation for the explorers who first found and excavated...

Zinacantan

The village of Zinacantán is even smaller than San Juan Chamula. The men wear bright pink tunics embroidered with flowers; the women cover themselves with...

Mérida

Bustling streets, lively parks, a tropical version of the Champs-Elysées, endless cultural activities, and a varied nightlife: Mérida is the beating urban heart of the...

Playa Norte

...

Ticul

One of the larger communities in the Yucatán, Ticul (with a population of around 21,000) is a good base for exploring the Puuc region—provided you...

Puerto Peñasco

Puerto Peñasco was dubbed Rocky Point by British explorers in the 18th century, and that's the name most Americans know it by today. The town...

Xpujil

The highway briefly widens to four lanes around the town of Xpujil, which acts as the service center for Carretera 186. This is the place...

San Juan Chamula

Celebrated for its religious and cultural traditions, San Juan Chamula is one of the most fascinating highland villages. More than 80,000 Maya-descended Chamula live in...

Guaymas

The buzz and bustle of Guaymas—one of Mexico's largest ports—has a pleasant backdrop of rusty red, saguaro-speckled bluffs that nudge the deep-blue waters of a...

Felipe Carrillo Puerto

Felipe Carrillo Puerto, the Costa Maya's first major town, is named for the governor of Yucatán in 1920, who was hailed as a hero after...

San Carlos

Long considered an extension of Guaymas, this resort town—on the other side of the rocky peninsula that separates Bahía de Bacochibampo from Bahía de San...

Villahermosa

The capital city of Villahermosa epitomizes the development of Tabasco, where the airplane arrived before the automobile. Thanks to oil and the money it brought...

Bacalar

Founded in AD 435, Bacalar (pronounced baa-ka-lar) is one of Quintana Roo's oldest settlements. The town’s most notable feature is a cenote-fed lake of the...

Tonina

Between San Cristóbal and Palenque, on a paved road running along the Río Jataté and through the Ocosingo Valley, is the ancient Mayan city of...

Tuxtla Gutierrez

Balmy, booming, bustling Tuxtla Gutiérrez, population 600,000 and the state’s only true metropolis, will be a place you pass through on your way to San...

Yaxchilan

Excavations at Yaxchilán (ya-shee-lan), on the banks of the Río Usumacinta, have uncovered stunning temples and delicate carvings. Spider monkeys and toucans are, at this...

Mahahual

Tiny Mahahual (also spelled Majahual) has something of a split personality. With a population of only 600, it's a quiet beachfront outpost with clear, calm...

Comalcalco

Comalcalco, which was founded in about the 1st century BC, marks the westernmost reach of the Maya; descendants of its builders, the Chontal, still live...

Izapa

A lesser-known archaeological site, just 15 minutes from Tapachula, on the road to Talismán, the Izapa ruins are said to provide a link between Olmec...

San Cristobal de las Casas

Remote and historically difficult to reach, San Cristóbal de las Casas has nevertheless been a well-trodden outpost on the Gringo Trail for decades. A modern...

Bonampak

The settlement was built on the banks of the Río Lacanjá in the 7th and 8th centuries and was uncovered in 1946...

Coatepec

The air is cool and refreshing in Coatepec. Residents call their town the capital mundial del café (coffee capital of the world), as the climate...

Agua Azul

The series of waterfalls and crystalline blue pools at Agua Azul is breathtaking, especially during the dry season...

Chiapa de Corzo

Chiapa de Corzo has been designated one of Mexico’s Pueblos Mágicos (“magical towns”), communities of significant heritage. It has a lot more personality than neighboring...

Xcalak

The southernmost town in Quintana Roo, Xcalak (pronounced ish-ka-lack) is only 11 km (7 miles) from the Belize border by water, and a little of...

Mascota

Mascota's cool but sunny climate is perfect for growing citrus, avocados, nuts, wheat, corn, and other crops. Fed by the Mascota and Ameca rivers and...

Xpu-Há

Located 20 minutes south of Playa del Carmen and 20 minutes north of Tulum, Xpu-Há is the perfect base to relax and get away from...

San Blas

Many travelers come here looking for Old Mexico, or the "real Mexico," or the Mexico they remember from the 1960s. New Spain's first official Pacific...

El Tajín

...

San Sebastián del Oeste

Physically, there are only about 80 km (50 miles) between Puerto Vallarta and San Sebastián del Oeste (often called, simply, San Sebastián), but metaphorically they're...

Tlacotalpan

The name Tlacotalpan is of Nahuatl origin and means "in the middle of the earth," referring to the settlement's location on what was then an...

Talpa de Allende

Another tranquil town surrounded by pine-oak forests, Talpa, as it's called, has just over 7,000 inhabitants but welcomes 4 million visitors a year. They come...

Veracruz City

The lively port city of Veracruz, 345 km (214 mi) east of Mexico City, might not be the city that never sleeps, but it is...

Dolores Hidalgo

Dolores Hidalgo is famous for its lovely hand-glazed Talavera-style ceramics, most notably tiles and tableware. After shopping and visiting a few of Dolores Hidalgo’s pleasant...

Xico

If you close your eyes and try to imagine the ideal Mexican small town, you'd probably come up with something surprisingly close to Xico. In...

Guanajuato

Guanajuato is simply gorgeous. It spills across cliffs and hillsides down to a series of tree-shaded plazas whose sidewalk cafés and street life are unmatched...

Becán

Becán (usually translated as "canyon of water," referring to the moat) is thought to have been an important city within the Río Bec group, which...

La Cañada de la Virgen

More than a thousand years old, the former ceremonial site of La Cañada de la Virgin has been open to the public less than two...

Celestún

When someone says "Celestún," think pink. The estuaries of this biosphere reserve are home to an amazing flock of flamingos. The gateway to it, a...

Querétaro

Querétaro is a modern city of about 1.2 million inhabitants, but its historical center holds its own against the region's other colonial cities, with wide...

Chichén Itzá

In 2007, this sublime Mayan city was named one of the "New 7 Wonders of the World"—a distinction that puts Chichén Itzá on par with...

San Miguel de Allende

You've heard that San Miguel de Allende is an artists' retreat, where the beauty of the surroundings, coupled with the inspired bent of those who...

Edzná

With its smorgasbord of Mayan architectural styles, Edzná is considered by archaeologists to be one of the peninsula's most important ruin complexes; and although it’s...

Tequisquiapan

Drenched in sun, bougainvillea, and flowering trees, Tequis (as the locals call it) is a pleasant stop for a day or overnight trip. Join the...

Hochob

...

Xilitla

...

Izamal

You won’t find too many sights in beautiful Izamal, but you'll almost certainly be taken by its carefully cared-for architecture. The downtown area shines with...

Cuernavaca

The road to Cuernavaca will likely heighten your anticipation—you'll catch your first glimpse of the city's lush surroundings from a mountain highway, through lacy pine...

Labná

...

Puebla

The city of Puebla fairly bursts with baroque flourishes and the colors of its famed Talavera tiles. The downtown area in particular overflows with religious...

Oxkintoc

...

Teotihuacán

Just 31 miles from the center of Mexico City, Teotihuacán is one of the most significant and haunting archaeological sites in the world. Climbing on...

Sayil

...

Tepoztlán

Surrounded by sandstone monoliths that throw off a russet glow at sunset, Tepoztlán is a magical place. It’s a popular place for practitioners of astrology...

Uxmal

If Chichén Itzá is the most expansive Mayan ruin in Yucatán, Uxmal is arguably the most elegant. The architecture here reflects the late classical renaissance...

Aduana

A couple of miles off the main road to Álamos, tiny Aduana was once the site of one of the richest mines in the district...

Xcambo

...

Alamos

Yaxcopoil

...

Bahía Kino

On the eastern shore of the Mar de Cortés lies Bahía Kino, home to some of the prettiest beaches in northwest Mexico. For many years...

Yucatán and Campeche States

In sharp contrast to the resort lifestyle of Cancún and the Riviera Maya, the Yucatán and Campeche states cater to a more tranquil traveler who...

The Riviera Maya

Mexico's Caribbean coast is full of treasures, from spectacular white-sand beaches and offshore reefs to some of the Yucatán Peninsula's most beautiful Mayan ruins. Unsurprisingly...

Manzunte, San Agustinillo, and Zipolite

Fans of this trio of beaches like to brag that they are what Puerto Escondido was 20 years ago, but that mantra doesn't even do...

Oaxaca

Mexico aficionados have long favored the state of Oaxaca (pronounced wah-hah-kah) for its climate, culinary and artistic traditions, and landscapes and biodiversity. Oaxaca, one of...

Los Cabos Side Trips

At the risk of sounding glib, we might suggest that you skip Los Cabos altogether. The highlights of your visit to the far southern tip...

Chiapas and Tabasco

Chiapas is Mexico's southernmost state. And if the villages here resemble those of the Guatemalan Highlands, it's because Guatemala lies just beyond the eastern border...

Veracruz

Veracruz State is a long, slim crescent bordering the Gulf of Mexico, about five hours east of Mexico City. The port city of Veracruz is...

Hermosillo

Hermosillo, the state's on-and-off capital since 1831, is a hardworking city. Manufacturing and agriculture are its main concerns. But a few older plazas and 19th-century...

Sonora

The Sonoran Desert—or as the Mexicans call it, El Desierto de Altar—dominates the northern part of this state, where long stretches of flat scrub are...

Side Trips from Mexico City

In every direction, via every major highway leading outside Mexico City, locals and increasing numbers of tourists fill cars and buses headed to the dozens...

Zacatecas

Although Zacatecas (whose altitude "peaks," as it were, at 8,649 feet above sea level) was once the world's largest silver-producing city, it's relatively undiscovered by...

Pátzcuaro

Founded in the 16th century on the shores of the tranquil Lake Pátzcuaro, this town remained largely undisturbed for several centuries until it was "discovered"...

Morelia

Morelia is Michoacán State's capital—its long, wide boulevards and earth-tone colonial mansions earned it its status as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Founded in 1541...

San Miguel de Allende and the Heartland

Also referred to as el Bajío, this area (parts of the states of Guanajuato, Querétaro, and Michoacán) really is the heartland of Mexico—geographically and historically...

Mitla and the Textile Villages

The second-most-important archaeological site in Oaxaca State (after Monte Albán), Mitla is in the upper end of the Tlacolula Valley. Where Monte Albán was the...

Craft Villages of the Valles Centrales

South of Oaxaca City is a string of craft villages, the most important of which are San Bartolo Coyotepec, where you'll find gorgeous black pottery...

Yucatán and Campeche States

In sharp contrast to the resort lifestyle of Cancún and the Riviera Maya, the Yucatán and Campeche states cater to a more tranquil traveler who...

The Riviera Maya

Mexico's Caribbean coast is full of treasures, from spectacular white-sand beaches and offshore reefs to some of the Yucatán Peninsula's most beautiful Mayan ruins. Unsurprisingly...

Manzunte, San Agustinillo, and Zipolite

Fans of this trio of beaches like to brag that they are what Puerto Escondido was 20 years ago, but that mantra doesn't even do...

Oaxaca

Mexico aficionados have long favored the state of Oaxaca (pronounced wah-hah-kah) for its climate, culinary and artistic traditions, and landscapes and biodiversity. Oaxaca, one of...

Los Cabos Side Trips

At the risk of sounding glib, we might suggest that you skip Los Cabos altogether. The highlights of your visit to the far southern tip...

Chiapas and Tabasco

Chiapas is Mexico's southernmost state. And if the villages here resemble those of the Guatemalan Highlands, it's because Guatemala lies just beyond the eastern border...

Veracruz

Veracruz State is a long, slim crescent bordering the Gulf of Mexico, about five hours east of Mexico City. The port city of Veracruz is...

Hermosillo

Hermosillo, the state's on-and-off capital since 1831, is a hardworking city. Manufacturing and agriculture are its main concerns. But a few older plazas and 19th-century...

Sonora

The Sonoran Desert—or as the Mexicans call it, El Desierto de Altar—dominates the northern part of this state, where long stretches of flat scrub are...

Side Trips from Mexico City

In every direction, via every major highway leading outside Mexico City, locals and increasing numbers of tourists fill cars and buses headed to the dozens...

Zacatecas

Although Zacatecas (whose altitude "peaks," as it were, at 8,649 feet above sea level) was once the world's largest silver-producing city, it's relatively undiscovered by...

Pátzcuaro

Founded in the 16th century on the shores of the tranquil Lake Pátzcuaro, this town remained largely undisturbed for several centuries until it was "discovered"...

Morelia

Morelia is Michoacán State's capital—its long, wide boulevards and earth-tone colonial mansions earned it its status as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Founded in 1541...

San Miguel de Allende and the Heartland

Also referred to as el Bajío, this area (parts of the states of Guanajuato, Querétaro, and Michoacán) really is the heartland of Mexico—geographically and historically...

Mitla and the Textile Villages

The second-most-important archaeological site in Oaxaca State (after Monte Albán), Mitla is in the upper end of the Tlacolula Valley. Where Monte Albán was the...

Craft Villages of the Valles Centrales

South of Oaxaca City is a string of craft villages, the most important of which are San Bartolo Coyotepec, where you'll find gorgeous black pottery...

Reserva de la Biósfera Ría Lagartos

The mangroves of the Ría Lagartos Biosphere Reserve make up one of southern Mexico's most important wildlife sanctuaries. Birds are the big draw here, and...

Reserva de la Biósfera Ría Lagartos

The mangroves of the Ría Lagartos Biosphere Reserve make up one of southern Mexico's most important wildlife sanctuaries. Birds are the big draw here, and...

Isla Mujeres

Once a small fishing village, colorful Isla Mujeres (meaning "Island of Women") has become a favorite for travelers seeking natural beauty, island serenity, and a...

Cozumel

It’s not another Cancún yet, but Cozumel’s days as a rustic divers’ hangout are history. Whether arriving at the airport or the gleaming ferry terminal...

Isla Mujeres

Once a small fishing village, colorful Isla Mujeres (meaning "Island of Women") has become a favorite for travelers seeking natural beauty, island serenity, and a...

Cozumel

It’s not another Cancún yet, but Cozumel’s days as a rustic divers’ hangout are history. Whether arriving at the airport or the gleaming ferry terminal...

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