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Mexico is such a fascinating country to visit! It has an incredibly diverse landscape from dry desert to tropical lush rainforests. From a cultural point of view, there is so much to explore as well. Mexico has a rich, colourful and vibrant culture which has been shaped by ancient civilisations like the Aztec and Mayans, as well as European colonisation.
Mexico truly has something for everybody! Artists can explore the thriving art scenes of places like San Miguel de Allende, Oaxaca City and San Cristobal de las Casas. Wine lovers can explore the ‘Ruta del Vino’ and foodies can feast on deliciously fresh seafood in Baja California. And then there is Oaxaca of course – the epicentre of Mexico’s food culture. But did you know that Mexico also offers world-class surf breaks, snorkelling and diving? And in addition to all of this, the abundance of natural beauty will leave hikers and nature-lovers truly spoilt for choice!
So no matter if you want to be completely off the grid and camp on remote beaches or party on rooftops, indulge in fine dining and relax in hot springs – Mexico won’t disappoint!
CLICK HERE TO EXPLORE MEXICO BY REGION or watch our travels through Mexico on YouTube for more travel inspiration!
1. Wine Tasting in Baja California
I’m an absolute wine lover! And despite the fact that Fiona doesn’t drink alcohol, I’ve managed to drag her to fourteen wine tastings across the world so far. It doesn’t matter if we are in Bali, Vietnam or Guatemala – if a country produces wine, then I want to taste it!
And what better welcome could we have expected after crossing the border into Mexico than to couchsurf with a local winemaker? It was pretty awesome! Jorge took us into work for a few days. We cleaned out barrels, checked all the sulphate levels, adjusted them accordingly and spent a lot of time in the actual vineyards. But the best part of it was tasting all the delicious wines of course and to make sure they were maturing well 😉
You can explore ‘Ruta del Vino’ from Ensenada, or if you want to splash out, stay at one of the many vineyards.
BEST VINEYARDS TO STAY AT IN BAJA CALIFORNIA
Adobe GUadalupe
Hacienda Guadalupe
El Encuentro
Rancho El Parral
Finca altozano
Bruma
La villa del valle
2. Ride through the Sonoran Desert of Mexico
I’ve seen many deserts before but none quite like the Sonoran desert! Riding through it, surrounded by gigantic cacti, felt absolutely surreal! Surprisingly, despite the harsh climate the Sonoran desert has the most diverse vegetative growth of any desert in the world. Who would have thought?
To be honest, as we were riding through it I didn’t pay much attention to the diverse plant and animal life. The climate felt dry and harsh! But in reality, the types of plants growing here, not only survive but thrive in this environment!
There are two ways to experience the Sonoran desert. Ride south on Highway 1 and you’ll have a pretty decent asphalt road which only requires you to avoid a few potholes. Alternatively, take any of the dirt roads running in parallel to the highway. If off-road is your kind of thing, then you’ll be in heaven! We had an absolute blast riding through the Sonoran desert on our Adventure Bike.
CHECK OUT: TOP 10 PLACES TO VISIT IN BAJA CALIFORNIA
3. Swim with Whale Sharks in Mexico
Did you know that that there are many places in Mexico where you can snorkel or dive with Whale Sharks? They are the biggest fish in the ocean but don’t worry, they are very gentle and luckily don’t eat humans 🙂
If you want to swim with these gentle giants, then your best bet is Baja California or the Yucatan Peninsula. But pay attention to the time of the year as you can’t spot them all year round!
WHALE SHARKS IN BAJA CALIFORNIA
– Cabo san lucas
(November – May)
– la paz
– Cabo Pulmo nationalpark
It is very easy to book tours to the Espiritu Santo Island National Park from La Paz. Punta Baja is a reputable tour operator with great reviews. Tours costs upwards of 100 USD.
WHALE SHARKS AROUND YUCATAN PENINSULA
– ISLA HOLBOX
(15th June – 15th September)*
– CANCUN
– isla mujeres
– cozumel
– ISLA CONTOY
*outside these dates whale shark trips are illegal!
For sure the nicest places in the Yucatan Peninsula to see the whale sharks from are Isla Holbox and Cozumel. However, this is down to personal preference (whale sharks aside these are two beautiful places to visit). To find out more check out the blogpost below!
TOP 10 PLACES TO VISIT IN THE YUCATAN PENINSULA
4. Sunbathe on Balandra Beach
Mexico is blessed with turquoise coloured water and white sand beaches. The Yucatan Peninsula and Oaxaca coastline in particular boast some of the most beautiful beaches in Mexico. But surprisingly, one of our all time favourite beaches was Balandra Beach in Baja California.
I loved how undeveloped it is! There are no public toilets, no bars, no restaurants, no nothing! You can’t pay for sun loungers on the beach, so you better bring everything you need for a beach day, including food and water. Secondly, the water is so shallow that you can walk onto one of the surrounding beaches. It wasn’t crowded when we visited but we felt adventurous. So we packed a dry bag and walked 30 min. across the water onto the opposite beach, which we literally had all to ourselves.
Last but not least, the turquoise colours of the water are UNREAL! Depending on the tide and day of time you visit the beach can look a little different and during low tide the water is particularly shallow! There is also a beautiful hike (you’ll see the trail easily from the car park) which will award you with the most stunning views of the coastline!
5. Celebrate Independence Day in Mexico
San Miguel de Allende is a beautiful small city in Guanajuato, with immaculately maintained colonial-style buildings and colourful carved wooden doors. It has a thriving art scene and some of the best rooftop bars in Mexico overlooking the historic town.
Independence Day attracts locals from all other parts of Mexico for a huge two day celebration. It starts with “El Grito de Dolores” on 15th September with parades moving through the streets surrounding the historic centre. And it ends with fireworks outside of ‘Parroquia de San Miguel Arcangel’, the Neo-gothic 17th century parish church. Celebrating Independence Day in this picturesque city was definitely a highlight of our travels through Mexico!
San Miguel de Allende celebrates festivities all throughout the year and is a very popular place to visit. It is absolutely beautiful and of course also worth visiting outside of festivities. If you want to find out more about San Miguel de Allende then click here!
6. Hike to Tamul Waterfalls
The regions of San Luis Potosí and Chiapas in Mexico have an abundance of natural beauty and boast countless stunning waterfalls, as well as rivers with turquoise blue waters. But Tamul waterfalls was my absolute favourite one!
It’s pretty spectacular and in order to get close to it most people visit by boat. The scenery is stunning and the gorge completely overgrown with vegetation. BUT if you are feeling adventurous and don’t mind a little bit of off-road you can make your way to it independently allowing you to have the waterfalls all to yourself!
Click here to find out more about ‘La Huasteca Potosina’ and how to reach Tamul Waterfall without a tour.
7. Visit the hot springs of Grutas Tolantongo
Amongst the Sierra Madre mountain range in Hidalgo you might find the perhaps most perfect natural infinity pools. Carved into the cliffside and overlooking the mountains the views are hard to beat!
Or why not take a dip in the volcanically-heated thermal river? It flows down in sections creating perfect little pools to relax in. It originates at the main grotto where the water temperature is at its hottest and follows the canyon floor where the water temperature naturally gets cooler.
Fancy a natural sauna perhaps? Then step through the waterfall at the main grotto to explore the cave system where the temperature rises quickly with each step you take. Check out our in-depth guide for more information below!
GRUTAS TOLANTONGO – KNOW BEFORE YOU GO!
8. Celebrate ‘Día de Muertos’ in Mexico
The ‘Day of the Dead’ is a hugely celebrated Mexican holiday on 2nd November each year. It involves friends and family gathering to pray and remembering those who have died. However, it is NOT a morbid or sad occasion at all! In fact, it’s a JOYOUS celebration of the lives of the deceased which is celebrated with food, drink and parties!
‘Dia de los Muertos’ is generally more celebrated in the south of Mexico. During the day you can expect colourful parades involving music, dance and traditional costumes and in the evening everyone heads to the cemeteries to light up the graves with candles. In the lead up to it locals will often create symbolic altars and public art work as well as decorating their loved one’s grave.
TOP 10 PLACES in MEXICO to celebrate
1. Janitzio
‘DIA DEL MUERTO’
2. Oaxaca City
3. Xcaret
4. Mexico City
5. Mixquic
6. Aguascalientes
7. Pátzcuaro
8. San Juan Bautista Tuxtepec
9. merida
10. Chiapa de Corzo
9. Taste Tequila in Tequila
I’m not a huge fan of Tequila but if there is one place in Mexico to have a proper tasting then it has to be in Tequila of course. It’s a colourful, cute little town and with live music as well as a tequila bar right in the historic centre, it’s definitely worth a visit!
Sure, it can get a little touristy with buses in the shape of tequila barrels taking tourists from one distillery to another. But you can easily escape the crowds by visiting the distilleries independently. Our favourite distillery tour was with Tequila 3 Mujeres. It’s just at the outskirts of the city, much less commercial and offers a much more personal tasting experience of quality tequila!
You can even sleep in a giant tequila barrel at the world’s only hotel located inside an actual tequila factory! Matices Hotel de Barricas was a little out of our budget though, so we stayed in a cheap AirBnB right in town instead. But if your budget can stretch this far you can sleep amongst the agave fields in pretty luxurious rooms with a fantastic restaurant and underground tequila bar nearby. They even offer horseback riding in the agave fields and you can tour their distillery also!
10. Explore Oaxaca City
Oaxaca City is one of my two favourite cities in Mexico. I just loved getting lost in its cobbled little streets and walking past all the colourful houses and fascinating architecture. However, it’s nothing like the picture-perfect and immaculately maintained colonial buildings one can find in San Miguel de Allende. In fact many buildings look somewhat neglected and crumbling. But exactly that made it so authentic and fascinating!
Almost half of Oaxaca’s population is indigenous, so it is extremely rich in tradition and cultures. In addition it has a thriving art scene! And to top it all off, it’s also a little food paradise. A trip to ‘Mercado 20 de Noviembre’ food market will allow you to taste all the traditional dishes of this region. My absolute favourite was Tlayudas with Oaxcacan cheese – yummy!
There are also so many amazing day trips you can go on from here which make Oaxaca City a fantastic base to explore one of the best regions in Mexico. To find out more read the blogpost below!
TOP 5 PLACES TO VISIT IN OAXACA
11. Walk across ‘Hierve El Agua‘
Surrounded by beautiful mountains you will find a series of mineral springs and rock formations that are so beautiful they almost look unreal! The water which spills over the edge is very rich in minerals and has over time created a bunch of calcified waterfalls. The best way to see them is to go on a hike, which will also allow you to appreciate the true beauty of this place, as most tour buses just stop at Hierve el Agua for a quick photo opportunity!
To read the full guide on how to visit this amazing place click here!
12. Surf in Puerto Escondido
Oaxaca’s coastline has some of the most beautiful beaches in the whole of Mexico surrounded by lush green rainforest. But surprisingly, it doesn’t get anywhere near the visitor numbers that flock to the Yucatan Peninsula. So luckily you can enjoy these gorgeous beaches with fewer people!
The beaches around Puerto Escondido are particularly stunning and offer world-class surf breaks! Playa Zicatela is a 3.5km long beach and the best-known surfing spot in Oaxaca for experienced surfers. If you are just starting out, try a more sheltered beach like Playa Carrizalillo.
MY TOP 3 BEACHES
– Playa Carrizalillo
– Puerto Angelito
– Playa mazanillo
13. Fall in love with San Cristobal de las Casas
San Cristobal de las Casas was my favourite city in the whole of Mexico! It is set in a gorgeous valley surrounded by the central highlands of Chiapas. I instantly fell in love with its red tiled roofs, colourful houses and fascinating colonial architecture. Alongside a thriving art scene you’ll also find some of the finest coffee in Mexico. You’ll be able to soak up the atmosphere of this vibrant city from one of the many coffee shops and most even offer coffee tastings!
Check out the traditional markets, hike up to Cerro de Guadalupe to soak in the best view of the city or visit one of the many museums. San Cristobal de las Casas is such an awesome city that I have written a dedicated blogpost to tell you all there is to do, including best day trips. Want to know more? Check out the blogpost below!
SAN CRISTOBAL DE LAS CASAS: BEST CITY TO VISIT IN MEXICO
14. Stay on a coffee farm in Mexico
Did you know that Mexico is one of the biggest coffee producing countries in the world? ‘El Ruta del Café‘ is a windy mountain road in the Soconusco region of Chiapas surrounded by lush jungle and coffee plantations. There are several coffee farms you can visit and some even offer luxury accommodation.
Top 3 Coffee Farms with Guest lodgings
1. Finca Argovia
2. Finca Hamburgo
3. Finca San Francisco
If you want to know more about the Chiapas region of Mexico and what else there is to explore, then check out our blogpost below!
CHIAPAS: TOP 5 THINGS TO DO AND SEE
15. Relax on Holbox Island
Holbox is a car-free island with white sand beaches and a bohemian vibe. It is much quieter and much less developed than other islands around the Yucatan Peninsula. The town centre is cute and has a rustic feel to it with some nice coffee shops, bars and restaurants. But 75% of the island consists of jungle, mangroves and empty beaches, so it remains still largely unspoilt.
There is excellent snorkelling and you can spot flamingos straight from the beach also. Depending on the time of the year you can even swim with whale sharks or see planktons. If you are looking for a super chilled place to relax and not too crowded then you’ll like Holbox. There is also a number of luxury boutique hotels and nice restaurants if you want to treat yourself!
If you want to find out about other amazing places to visit within the Yucatan Peninsula, then check out the blogpost below!
TOP 10 PLACES TO VISIT IN THE YUCATAN PENINSULA
16. Join a yoga retreat in Mexico’s Hippie Hangout: Mazunte
There is a cute, little beach town on the coastline of Oaxaca with unpaved roads and an awesome vibe! Here you’ll find the best coffee shops, juice bars, gluten-free and vegan food options. But no matter if you are looking for that perfect wood oven pizza or want to taste local Mexican food, Mazunte has it all!
If you are looking for a yoga, meditation or spiritual healing retreat, then there is probably no better place in Mexico to escape to. Many people arrive here for a couple of weeks but never leave. There is something quite magical about this place!
The internet is a little hit and miss out here so it’s probably not a great base for digital nomads. However, if you want to switch off and connect with your inner-self then this is as good as it gets! In addition, Mazunte is a fantastic base to explore the nearby coastline which features some of the most beautiful beaches in Mexico!
17. Jump into a cenote
The Yucatan Peninsula is famous for its cenotes. In fact, there is no other place quite like it. And with over 6,000 cenotes to choose from, you will be spoilt for choice. There is no better way to cool off on a hot summer’s day then to jump into the turquoise coloured fresh waters of a cenote. Did you know that you can even snorkel and dive in some of them?
If you want to know more about where the best cenotes are, what the best time to visit is and how to avoid the crowds, then make sure to check out the blogpost below:
TOP 10 Cenotes to Explore in the YUCATAN PENINSULA!
18. Visit Mayan Ruins in Mexico
Visiting ancient pyramids and finding out about the mayan civilisation is probably one of the most important and fascinating things to do in Mexico! The Mayans had some of the most advanced and sophisticated mathematical systems in the world and entire cities were built based on this knowledge. But you can also learn a lot about mayan traditions and even human sacrifices.
There are thousands of mayan ruins and pyramids scattered across Mexico. If you want to know which are the most impressive Mayan temples to visit and why then click here!
19. Hang out in Tulum
Tulum has a vibrant seafront which is lined with boutique hotels, shops, restaurants and bars. Many face off to the beach so you’ll be spoilt for choice! Most people move between the seafront and the town which is about 20 min. away by bicycle. This is certainly the best way to get around as the main road along the seafront is usually one big traffic jam with nowhere to park.
In town you’ll find amazing coffee shops, book stores and more budget-friendly accommodation and eateries! Tulum is for sure my favourite place to base yourself to explore the Yucatan Peninsula and has a much better vibe than overcrowded hotels around Cancun or even Merida!
Looking for secret tips and best places to see around Tulum?
Tuluminiña is a local travel guide focused on sustainable & conscious travelling.
contact her to help you plan your perfect trip or book her for private tours!
20. Sailing in Bacalar
‘The Lagoon of 7 Colours’ is located at the most southern point of the Yucatan Peninsula, at the border to Belize. As it’s a little further out it gets significantly less visitors and is still a largely unspoilt gem!
This is the PERFECT place to come to relax and unwind! Kayaking is one of the most popular activities here but if you really want to take in the mesmerising colours of the water, you have to book a day trip on a catamaran or sailing boat.
Bacalar was the perfect end to our amazing road trip through Mexico. I think that anyone who enjoys nature and appreciates getting away from the crowds will enjoy chilling here also!
Are you ready for Mexico?
I know … I know … we’ve made things more complicated for you, right? You’ve probably noticed by now that our recommendations are scattered across many different regions of Mexico and if you don’t have the luxury of time, then you might need to pick just one or two.
But fear not, as I’ve actually written a blogpost dedicated to solving this exact issue and providing you with an overview of the five most beautiful regions in Mexico. So after reading this, depending on if you love hiking, surfing, diving or history and architecture, you’ll hopefully be able to pick the right region for you – click below to find out more!
WHICH IS THE BEST REGION IN MEXICO TO VISIT?
Hopefully we’ve been able to provide some travel inspiration or at least make you aware of a few new things to explore in Mexico you didn’t already know about. Questions? Feedback? Or just want to share YOUR favourite place in Mexico? We’d love to hear from you 🙂
