5 Mexican Holiday Destinations You Need to Experience at Least Once

Mexico is colorful, flavorful, gorgeous, and diverse, with many beautiful places to visit. It is a country endowed with cultural and historical heritage, such as the numerous archaeological sites that can be found all over the region.

Some of the famous tourist attractions of Mexico include Chichén Itzá, situated in the Yucatan Peninsula, the colossal structures of the Teotihuacan, and the Mayan settlement at Palenque, which was established around 800 A.D. However, many tourists still come here to enjoy the extensive sandy beaches, offering accommodations for different tastes.

Some of Mexico’s most enjoyable leisure activities include cruising and diving. Due to the stunning reefs that unveil the beauty of the underwater world. There is also a variety of sea life, including parrotfish, whale sharks, and turtles, found in the blue waters of the Gulf of Mexico and the Pacific Ocean regions.

Cancun is one of the most famous beach resorts in the world, but dozens of similar places attract thousands of visitors, which are even more stunning. Visit Puerto Vallarta, Tulum, and Huatulco, which have more than 30 beaches and magnificent views of the green hills.

Mexico City is one of the major travel destination points many people begin their trip with. It is a joy for food lovers, who can find tasty meals in local restaurants and food-to-go stalls with tamales, tacos, and quesadillas. You can lodge at any of the luxurious city hotels, visit some of the most interesting Aztec sites, or simply enjoy the city’s nightlife. After that, explore one of the beautiful cities with colonial architecture or enjoy beach resorts with wonderful sea views.

If you want to start your trip with a truly unforgettable experience,

hop on a hot-air balloon and watch the stunning pyramids of Teotihuacan from above. It’s just a 40-minute ride from the city, and you’ll remember this journey for years to come. Lucha libre is yet another fun thing to do in Mexico.

You can head to the arena and watch this type of Mexican wrestling after a night out exploring local taquerias and tasting pulque, a delicious milky liquor, at one of Mexico City’s vibrant cantinas. 

Still, there are many more places for you to explore in this breathtaking country – the lively markets, the art galleries, the mesmerizing ruins, and, of course, the crystal-clear ocean waters with sugar-white sandy beaches. Below, we present you with 5 holiday destinations that you should not miss when in Mexico.

Merida

When going on Mexican holidays, it’s always important to start with a city that has a little bit of everything – beaches, vibrant architecture, and some deliciously ancient sites that are not too far from it. With its beautiful colonial architecture, wide plazas, and bustling Sunday markets, Merida is a great place to spend more than just a few days. You can drive to the beach that’s around 40 minutes away from the city or visit the world-famous ancient sites.  Drive to the town of Uxmal, which features some of the best-preserved marvels of Mayan architecture. 

Alternatively, you can explore Chichén Itzá with its spectacular array of pyramids. Go for a full-day tour and pair your trip with a visit to the Cenote Ik Kil, where you can swim in its cool waters while enjoying its unprecedented beauty. Back in the city, you can spend some time enjoying traditional music and dancing, which takes place every week at the center. There are also video mapping shows and the colorful Lucas de Galvez Market, where you can spend hours roaming among the stalls and trying various foods.

Tulum

When it comes to choosing the greatest destinations in the country, Tulum is the place Mexican people go to most often. It has jungle, cenotes, mangrove forests, and coral reefs that you can see at the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve. You will also find unspoiled white sand beaches for sun tanning and ancient ruins left by the Mayan civilization set dramatically on the cliff top. Select from a wide range of beautiful boutique hotels and high-end all-inclusive resorts. As for the activities, do not leave without swimming in deeply shaded cenotes and numerous underwater caves.

Some of the cenotes you can visit include Dos Ojos, Casa Torgtuga, Calavera, Zacil-Ha, and Casa Cenote. Make sure you have some cash on you because the entrance to the cenote usually requires paying a fee. Additional fees for using cameras can also apply. As a rule, you can spend around one hour inside the cenote, depending on how big it is.

Huatulco

If you fancy hiking, kayaking, and scuba diving, then Huatulco may turn out to be your dream vacation spot. Being a unique locality with 36 beaches and an active National Park, Huatulco is appreciated by fans of sea activities and environmentally friendly tourism. Wander through the territories inhabited by exotic animals and plants, and definitely check out the Museum of Oaxacan Handicrafts, where one can find products made by the indigenous people of Mexico. 

Here, you can purchase goods such as clay pottery, beautiful hand-made rugs, and a wide range of colorful clothes with exquisite embroidery. No trip to Huatulco is complete without visiting a local Temazcal. This is a type of traditional Mexican sauna that uses hot stones and water to produce steam with cleansing properties. It’s usually infused with herbs, and you can spend up to an hour there just breathing and meditating. Usually, you can enjoy a revitalizing massage afterward for a fully relaxing experience.

Head to the storefront in La Crucecita to rent a few bikes to explore the area. Easy Bike Huatulco offers tours around the most picturesque places you can join anytime. It’s one of the most pleasant ways to discover the national park and ride up to more secluded beaches located in Cacaluta Bay.

Oaxaca

To discover the country’s culture and learn more about the process of creating mezcal – an alcoholic beverage made of agave – go to Oaxaca. It has an unrivaled dining culture, but if you are looking for an everyday experience, head to the markets packed with unusual goods. They have everything from stands serving grasshoppers to local food items like tlayuda, which is made with a toasted tortilla, avocado, meat, refried beans, cheese, some vegetables, and salsa.

Spend some time wandering the city streets enjoying the Baroque architecture, mezcalerías, where you can taste different types of mezcal, and art galleries, where you can buy alebrijes as a memento of your trip to Oaxaca. Start exploring the city center and the zocalo, and enjoy its vibrant architecture and some people-watching. If you want to enjoy some natural sites, head to Hierve el Agua, one of Oaxaca’s most famous natural formations. Known as the frozen waterfall, this place stuns all visitors with beautiful calcified minerals that look like water frozen in the air.

La Paz

This one is pretty much the epitome of getting the perfect beach spot. From here, you can easily go to Playa El Saltito for a quiet experience where you can swim in the sea during the daytime and enjoy the twinkle of the water at night. Espiritu Santo island maintains a high standard and provides very well-organized excursions to the island’s attractions, such as snorkeling with sea lions, beach camping, and kayaking in the clear waters. Playa Balandra, a stunning place that is ideal for taking pictures, has a huge mushroom-shaped rock. 

Some tourists swear that this place is one of the most stunning beaches in the region. There are numerous coves with shallow, clear water, and you can even walk around most of them. You can get to this picturesque place via a boat tour from La Paz in order to explore all the coves and decide which one you like the most. 

Conclusion

Mexico is among the top tourist destinations that travelers love to visit all year round. Gourmands will find a range of luxurious eateries offering all sorts of cuisines here. Even more delicious meals can be tasted at numerous markets. Of course, visiting the archaeological ruins of Mayan and Aztec civilizations must be the next thing to do in this naturally beautiful country. However, organizing a vacation at the beach can be paired with visiting archaeological sites since these are usually situated in close proximity to one another. 

The main idea is you can have the most versatile experience while traveling around Mexico, and you don’t have to miss your beach vacation to explore the pyramids. Familiarise yourself with the brilliant Mexican culture in Mexico City by touring its spectacular markets and dining in the poshest restaurants offering authentic Mexican dishes. Next, travel to those tourist sites that appeal to the history lover in you, such as Chichén Itzá and Teotihuacan.

Keep in mind that there are plenty of beach locations no matter where you are in Mexico, so you should plan your trip accordingly. Swimming in cenotes is one of the most unique experiences you can get in places like Merida and Tulum.