Gorgeous beaches, a delicious culinary scene, festive culture and ancient pyramids all make Mexico a popular tourist destination. Mexico is a land of color and contrasts. Crowded beaches lead into quiet colonial towns while resort cities open gateways to jungles ringing with parrots and howler monkeys. Majestic mountains descend to remote deserts. Traditional pueblo houses sit near Spanish haciendas. Ruins of Mayan cities lie excavated outside of modern metropolises.
The capital, Mexico City, is a huge metropolis boasting a historical center, top museums, and chic shopping opportunities. Another popular destination on our list of the best places to visit in Mexico is the enigmatic town of Oaxaca – home to colonial architecture and a fantastic Day of the Dead festival. Traces of it’s Pre-Columbian past can be found in Teotihuacan, with its pyramid dating back to 200 CE; and the archaeological site of Chichen Itza in the Yucatán Peninsula.
1. Puebla
Founded in 1531, Puebla, in central Mexico, is the fifth largest city in the country with over 2 million inhabitants. Its strategic location, halfway between the port of Veracruz and Mexico City, made it an important city.
Today this charming colonial city pairs perfectly with hungry travelers, since it’s known as the gastronomic capital of Mexico. Be sure to try mole poblano, a traditional Mexican dish said to be invented here.
Standing in the shadow of the volcano Popocatepetl, Puebla visitors also won’t want to miss the Catedral de Puebla, with its onyx statues and domed ceiling patterned after St. Peter’s in Rome. The nearby town of Cholula boast one of the largest pyramids ever built, though the structure has been badly neglected over the centuries.
2. Acapulco
Once a popular destination among spring breakers, Acapulco is the largest city in the state of Guerrero. This large beach resort city is situated on a semi-circular bay that is characterized by traditional architecture on one side and luxury high-rise hotels on the other side.
Beautiful beaches are Acapulco’s primary crowd-puller. Most of the popular beaches like Hornos, Icacos, Papagayo and Tamarindos are found along the bay area known as Las Costera. Favored for their cleanliness and direct location on the ocean, the beaches of Langosta and Caleta are good choices as well.
Those who desire more than just the beaches may find the Fort of San Diego an interesting visit for its historic buildings and on-site museum that details the history of the area. Another good museum is the House of Masks, which showcases a collection of masks from all over the world. Shaded by palm trees, the city’s main square is where tourists can visit a stunning cathedral, watch street performers, dine in cafes, shop and experience the local culture.
A must-do in Acapulco is watch the city’s famous La Quebrada Cliff divers plunge 147 feet into a shallow inlet. A tradition since 1934, this spectacle can be viewed from a platform on the cliff tops or from nearby restaurants.
3. Taxco
Surrounded by rolling hills, valleys and mountains, Taxco is set in a very scenic spot, some 170 kilometers to the southwest of Mexico City. Besides the lovely landscapes and breathtaking views, the city is also known for its colonial architecture and intricately carved artisanal silverware.
Presiding over everything is the beautiful baroque architecture of Santa Prisca Cathedral – the city’s symbol and main sight. From atop its belltowers, you can enjoy fabulous panoramas over Taxco’s surroundings, as well as a bird’s eye view of the narrow, steep streets weaving their way up the hillside.
Much of the city was built from the wealth mined from the nearby mountains. Exquisite silver jewellery can still be bought to this day. Nowadays, however, Taxco’s economy is mainly based on the steady stream of tourists who come to delve into its rich history, culture, and architecture. Holy Week is a good time to visit Taxco because of its All Souls processions where residents turn out to show their faith.
4. Cancun
A world famous tourist destination on the Caribbean coast of Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, Cancun presents a complete vacation package of fabulous beaches, a first-class hotel zone, Mayan ruins, modern attractions and an exuberant nightlife.
Cancun’s year-round perfect weather and gorgeous beaches are the island’s top tourist magnets. With fourteen miles of powdery white sand bordering turquoise waters, these beaches offer a wide range of water sports and locals selling souvenirs. The downtown area, known as El Centro, beats to a more authentic Mexican tune with its historic architecture, restaurants, markets, bars and clubs.
There are a few small Mayan archaeological sites in Cancun. While some remain covered in jungle, others are popular tourist attractions such as El Meco and El Ray, with the latter found within the hotel zone. Tourists will find a variety of recreational activities around Cancun like jeep safaris, snorkeling and scuba diving. Shoppers can browse La Isla mall, and sports fans can watch football at the downtown stadium or play golf among the island’s many courses.
Cancun is known for its vivacious nightlife, and tourists will find no shortage of choices that range from bars and nightclubs to dance halls and dinner cruises.
5. Chichen Itza
Situated in the Yucatan Peninsula, Chichen Itza is the most famous, most visited, and most impressive of the country’s many Mayan sites. This is somewhat ironic because its most famous structures do not have a typical Classic Mayan architecture but show strong influences from other civilizations from Central Mexico. While the scorching sun and teeming crowds can put some people off, it is not without reason that the astounding archaeological ruins were selected as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.
Built between the ninth and twelfth centuries, the once-great city covers a huge area, and many of its buildings, temples and palaces are still in remarkably good condition. These feature a wide array of different architectural styles and offer a fascinating insight into the Mayan civilization.
The undoubted highlight is The Pyramid of Kukulcan – or El Castillo – which is the site’s most famous landmark. The hulking temple’s stone terraces dominate Chichen Itza and were ingeniously constructed to give the illusion of serpents crawling down the side of the pyramid.
Many tourists visit Chichen Itza as a day trip, especially from Cancún or Merida but it is also possible to stay a night or two here. Source : touropia
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