Mexico

Population - 123,166,749 (July 2016 est.)

Capital - Mexico City (DF)

Official language - Spanish

Currency - Mexican peso

International phone code - +52

Time zone - UTC/GMT -6 (Mexico has four time zones)

Main airports - Benito Juárez International Airport (Mexico City) | Cancún International Airport

Where to stay in Mexico

If you're looking for a hotel in Mexico, Booking.com constantly offers the cheapest rates and has the largest selection of accommodation. The platform offers competitive prices and in many cases allows cancellations free of charge.

Travel insurance in Mexico

Before travelling to Mexico it is extremely important to check the safety conditions. This is essential for better planning the adventure. And, during the journey, to keep up to date in the event of any minor or serious situation during your stay.

My advice is that, even before you book your flight to your destination of choice, you should check this website and see if there are any problems. What's more, you'll find detailed maps showing which places and regions are not recommended or where it's dangerous to travel. If you're spending €500 or €1,000 on your holidays, are you going to risk losing all that to avoid investing €30 or €40 in travel insurance?

I recommend travel insurance at IATI or Heymondo 5% discount with this link. Do you already have travel insurance for your holidays in Mexico?

When to visit Mexico

There are two seasons in Mexico: the dry season, between November and May, and the rainy season, from June to October, when rainfall is very heavy but brief.

Summer, from June to October, is, in theory, the rainy season in Mexico, but it varies greatly from place to place. In the north it hardly rains at all, which contrasts with Chiapas - the wettest state - where many secondary roads are subject to downpours.

Along the beaches, from September to mid-October is hurricane season, or at least rain, rough seas and mosquitoes.

In Acapulco and Cancún, the months from December to April are the busiest, with the Christmas and Easter seasons being a particular highlight.

Altitude has a major influence on the climate in Mexico. The temperate climate is predominant in areas at an altitude of between 1000 and 2000 metres, although it is cold above 2000 metres in winter.

The best time to visit Mexico is between October and April, when the weather is dry and hot, but not scorching.

No time in Mexico?

Book in advance to avoid unforeseen problems, the best tours, activities and transfers with GetYourGuide. Don't forget to check out the passes and monument tickets, which offer easy access to various attractions. often at a discount.

Flight to Mexico

Skyscanner is a platform for finding cheap flights quickly and easily. With a simple interface and price comparisons from various companies, this is an essential tool for planning your trip.

Renting a car in Mexico

A DiscoverCars is a car hire comparison and booking platform that lets you find the best deals in 8,000 destinations. With a simple interface and transparent pricing options, it's a great choice for anyone looking to hire a car.

Money in Mexico

I use Wise and Revolut cards to avoid bank fees and commissions. Wise and Revolut are great for travelling, as they both offer prepaid travel cards that allow you to make purchases and withdrawals in different currencies, without fees and without complications. I always travel with both.

Internet and Wifi in Mexico

The most affordable method of accessing the internet is to use this eSIM (with 15% discount). Discover the world without worrying about roaming and access high-speed internet in over 190 countries.

Luggage in Mexico

Store your luggage safely and cheaply to explore Mexico without the burden of your bags. This storage service allows you to keep your belongings in shops, hotels, and other partner locations. Reservations can be made online in just a few seconds, and the service is available 24 hours.

What to see in Mexico

Palenque is one of the most fascinating Mayan cities, with imposing temples and pyramids surrounded by tropical jungle. You can't miss a visit to the Riviera Maya - with its paradisiacal beaches - and Chichén Itzá, where you'll find the El Castillo pyramid. Teotihuacán is another fascinating archaeological site, where you can climb the pyramids of the Sun and Moon. Guanajuato and San Miguel de Allende are colourful cities full of charm, with narrow streets and colonial buildings. If you like adventure and nature, the Barrancas del Cobre are an incredible place.

If you're going to be in Mexico, then take the opportunity to find the best experiences, activities and tours. From gastronomic experiences to buying tickets or unique adventures on land and sea, this is a great way to discover this destination.

Palenque

Temple in Palenque, Chiapas, Mexico
The ruins of Palenque, in the Mexican state of Chiapas. The ancient city has more than 200 buildings and was one of the most powerful Mayan cities. Photo: Jorge Duarte Estevão

Chichén Itzá may be the most visited Mayan ruin and is under the radar of tourists, but Palenque is by far the most beautiful Mayan ruin in Mexico.

In Spanish, Palenque means "wooden fence", referring to a fort or a fenced-off place.

Palenque is much smaller than some neighboring Mayan cities like Tikal or Chichén Itzá, but it contains some of the impressive structures and sculptures produced by the Mayans.

The setting of virgin jungle, complex construction, and the scale of the structures are truly fascinating. For obvious reasons, Palenque was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1987.

The organisation praised Palenque for the elegance and detail of the buildings, as well as the sumptuous sculpted reliefs that attest to the creative genius of the Mayans.

The archaeological site of Palenque, one of the most important tourist destinations in the state of Chiapas, is just eight kilometers from the city of the same name.

Palenque is located in an area surrounded by beautiful natural areas, including the surreal and fascinating Misol-Ha waterfall, which is over 100 metres high and forms a large pool where you can swim.

Riviera Maya

Diver in Cozumel, Cancún, Mexico
Cozumel is an island south of Cancún in Mexico that is popular with divers due to its clear, warm waters and high concentration of marine life. Photo: niemand und nichts

The Riviera Maya stretches along a fantastic stretch of coastline on the Gulf of Mexico and encompasses the famous holiday destinations of Cancún, Playa del Carmen and the island of Cozumel.

This magnificent area, at the tip of the Yucatán Peninsula, attracts around five million visitors a year, generating 20% of Mexico's total revenue.

Despite these numbers, you're unlikely to feel part of the crowd due to the Riviera Maya's wide beaches and endless warm, crystal-clear water.

Here you can also take part in countless activities, such as swimming with dolphins and rays, among coral reefs and tropical fish, as well as diving in the world's largest underwater museum, where you can see a fabulous collection of sculptures submerged up to eight metres deep.

Also in this region you can visit Mayan ruins such as Chichén Itzá and Tulum, just a few hours away.

Chichén Itzá and Tulum

Temple of Kukulcán, in Chichén Itzá, Mexico
The Temple of Kukulcán in Chichén Itzá, Mexico, was built in the 12th century. Chichén Itzá was one of the largest Mayan centres on the Yucatán peninsula. Photo: Jorge Duarte Estevão

Chichén Itzá is the largest of the Mayan cities on the Yucatán Peninsula, classified by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site since 1988, and one of the most visited tourist destinations in Mexico.

The most famous landmark in Chichén Itzá is the temple-pyramid of El Castillo (Kukulcán). The design of the temple has a special astronomical significance, as each face of the pyramid has a staircase with 91 steps, which together with the step at the top, adds up to 365, i.e. the number of days in a year.

Other highlights of Chichén Itzá include El Caracol, a circular temple that served as an astronomical observatory. Meanwhile, in 2016, researchers from the Faculty of Engineering at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) revealed they had discovered the original structure of the famous Kukulkán pyramid in Chichén Itzá.

According to historians, this is a small pyramid that is thought to have preceded the current building as a place of worship.

Located on the Yucatán Peninsula, Chichén Itzá is the most famous of all the great Mayan cities. Many tourists visit Chichén Itzá on a day trip, especially from Cancún, Mérida or Playa del Carmén.

Tulum is located on the east coast of the Yucatán Peninsula, on the Riviera Maya. The archaeological zone once served as the main port for the Mayan city of Coba.

Tulum was built around 1200 AD, when the Mayan civilisation was already in decline, and therefore doesn't display the same elegance as other sites such as Chichén Itzá or Palenque.

However, its hilltop location on a tropical beach makes it a stunning attraction that shouldn't be missed.

Barrancas del Cobre

El Chepe, train in the Barrancas del Cobre, Mexico
The region called Barrancas del Cobre is located in the middle of the Sierra Madre, the Tarahumara Mountains, in northern Mexico. Seven canyons make up the Barrancas del Cobre. Photo: Jorge Duarte Estevão

The Barrancas del Cobre, or Copper Canyon, is actually a network of canyons that together are several times larger than the Grand Canyon in the USA.

The most popular way to explore the Barrancas del Cobre - a spectacular group of deep canyons - is via the famous "El Chepe" train.

The journey passes over 37 bridges and 86 tunnels as it climbs to 2400 metres above sea level, enjoying awe-inspiring landscapes in the region known as the Sierra Madre.

The name Barrancas del Cobre comes from the distinctive green copper colouring along the steep canyon walls.

These amazing natural structures were created by six rivers that converge in the Rio Fuerte before flowing into the Gulf of California.

Thanks to the area's growing popularity as a travel destination, there are numerous options available for those wishing to explore this area of exceptional natural beauty - above all on board the Ferrocarril Chihuahua al Pacífico (Chepe), but you can also do so by bicycle or horseback.

Los Cabos

Divorce Beach, Los Cabos, Mexico
Although seductive, the waters of the Pacific Ocean and Divorce Beach can be treacherous. The beach is located in the Los Cabos region of Baja California, Mexico. Photo: Jorge Duarte Estevão

Los Cabos is a lively 30-kilometre beach area on the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula. The area is made up of an extensive coastline that stretches from the cities of Cabo San Lucas to San José del Cabo and is known as the Tourist Corridor.

The white sandy beaches, surrounded by sophisticated resorts, restaurants, bars and other attractions appeal to tourists from all over the world - most of them American.

Los Cabos is a great destination for lovers of water activities and perfect for whale watching in the Pacific Ocean.

In addition to the beaches, one of the most popular activities is swimming and snorkelling around the famous natural landmark El Arco de Cabo San Lucas - a huge arch carved not far from the coast where the Sea of Cortez meets the Pacific.

You can, and should, also visit two of the region's most beautiful beaches: Playa Del Amor and Playa Del Divorce.

Teotihuacán

Pyramid of the Moon and Sun in Teotihuacan, Mexico
Teotihuacan - 'the place where the Gods were created' - preserves the remains of one of Mesoamerica's most important civilisations. This important site in Mexico was inscribed on the UNESCO list in 1987. Photo: Jorge Duarte Estevão

In the 2nd century BC, a new civilisation emerged in the valley of Mexico. This civilisation built the metropolis of Teotihuacán and its enormous pyramids.

The Pyramid of the Sun was built around 100 AD and is the largest pyramid in Teotihuacán and in the whole of Mexico - 75 metres high.

Construction of the smaller Pyramid of the Moon (43 metres high) began a century later and was completed in 450 AD.

Seven centuries after the end of the Teotihuacán empire, the pyramids were used by the Aztecs and became a place of pilgrimage.

The largest city of Mesoamerica is just 50 km northeast of Mexico City and is easy to reach by bus or taxi. The area was recognized by UNESCO in 2008.

Mexico City (DF)

Basilica-Our Lady of Guadalupe - Mexico City

Mexico's capital, Mexico City, is one of the largest cities in the world, with an estimated 8.6 million people living there, while the metropolitan area has a population of over 21 million.

Made up of ethnic groups from all over the world, the capital is not only the most important political, cultural and educational centre in Mexico, but also one of the most important financial centres in Latin America.

The Historic Center is filled with prominent landmarks such as the Plaza de la Constitución, the Metropolitan Cathedral, and the National Palace. Just 50 km from Mexico City, you can visit the imposing and impressive structures of Teotihuacán.

Delight in the friendliness of the Mexicans, the handicrafts and carefully prepared food in the local markets or even the street vendors who take advantage of any traffic stop to try and drum up business.

Be prepared, however, for the constant noise and the terrible cloud of fumes emitted by the thousands (millions?) of vehicles that fill the city's wide avenues every day. The city is commonly known by Mexicans as D.F - Distrito Federal.

Guanajuato

Guanajuato at night, Mexico
Guanajuato, in northern Mexico, is a colonial city declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Photo: Jorge Duarte Estevão

Nestled in the Sierra de Guanajuato is the charming colonial city of Guanajuato. The city, founded in 1554, underwent a demographic and economic explosion in the 16th century due to Mexico's extensive gold and silver mining areas.

This development led to the construction of huge farms and colonial buildings. Some of the mines can be visited today, including La Valencia, one of the richest silver mines in the world. Next to the mine is the Church (or temple) of San Cayetano, adorned with silver and gold.

Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988, thanks to its many historic colonial buildings, winding streets, and narrow alleys, Guanajuato is a city that begs to be explored on foot.

Guanajuato's colourful streets and alleys proliferate in all directions, while most of the traffic is routed through a network of underground tunnels - previously the tunnels carried the waters of a river.

Guanajuato - the capital of the state of the same name - has no shortage of charm and is also a good place to enjoy the traditional music of the locals. mariachi.

It's a pleasant city where you can visit the squares, including the Jardín de la Unión, the city's main square with its splendid old architecture. Here you'll also find the old San Diego Church and the Juárez Theatre, along with cafés and restaurants.

Known as a city of art, Guanajuato is home to several interesting galleries and museums, such as the Museo Iconográfico del Quijote, dedicated to the works of Spanish writer Miguel de Cervantes.

The city celebrates the annual Cervantino International Festival in honour of the writer and playwright. More macabre is a visit to the Museum of the Mummies of Guanajuato, which contains the mummies of famous inhabitants of the city who suffered during an outbreak of cholera in 1833.

San Miguel de Allende

Aerial view of San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, Mexico
San Miguel de Allende is a fantastic city in the state of Guanajuato, Mexico, with rich colonial architecture. Photo: Jorge Duarte Estevão

Many people say that San Miguel de Allende, in the Mexican state of Guanajuato, is a bit like a Mexican Disneyland for retired foreigners (mainly Americans) - more than 12,000 foreign citizens live here.

Regular festivals, fireworks and parades dominate the local scene. The city's cosmopolitanism is reflected in the restaurants and hotels, some of which are very classy, with galleries full of Mexican handicrafts.

Many of the restaurants and bars have terraces, offering excellent views of the city.

San Miguel de Allende was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2008, and is an exceptional example of the integration of different architectural styles and trends based on a 16th-century urban layout.

The historic centre features outstanding colonial architecture, well-kept cobbled streets and a peculiar light that attracts photographers and painters.

This is a compact area where you'll find the main square, the highlight of which is La Parroquia de San Miguel Arcángel - a church with a neo-Gothic façade and two towers that can be seen from almost anywhere in the city.

The building was constructed in the 17th century with a traditional Mexican façade. The current Gothic façade was built in 1880 by Zeferino Gutierrez, an indigenous stonemason and self-taught architect.

The Gothic façade of the local parish church was inspired by Gaudi's Sagrada Familia in Barcelona.

Articles about Mexico

Saving in Mexico

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