Whether it’s a tropical beach, cobbled town, or the welcoming nature of its culture, Mexico continues to be one of the top travel destinations in the world. According to Mexico’s Ministry of Tourism, from 2020 to 2021 alone tourist rates to the country grew 28.1 percent to 31 million visitors, and by 2022, 38.3 million international visitors arrived in the country. For inspiration to plan your next trip, we’ve rounded up the top destinations in Mexico to explore.
Mexico City
Possibly the most popular destination in the whole country, Mexico City is becoming increasingly admired as one of the world’s leading capitals of creativity and culinary pursuits. Plan ahead for some of the city’s most desired restaurants, such as Lago Algo and Hugo el Wine Bar.
Los Cabos
Set on the southernmost tip of the Baja California Sur peninsula, Los Cabos is made up of the sister cities of Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo. Luxury travelers and nightlife lovers will gravitate to Cabo San Lucas for a stay at hotels like The Cape, A Thompson Hotel, home to the upscale eatery Manta, offering contemporary Mexican cuisine by chef Enrique Olvera. Surf fans will head for the historic centre of San Jose del Cabo. Located in the downtown area is Drift San Jose, a boutique property that is near some of the town’s top restaurants.
Puerto Escondido
The coastline near Puerto Escondido filled with things to do, from top-notch surf breaks found at Playa Zicatela and Playa Carrizalillo offering some of the best examples of modern Mexican architecture. A visit to this city is all about finding the right beach region for you. In Mazunte, dirt roads lead to bohemian smoothie shops and laid-back bungalows. San Agustinillo offers jungle homes like Monte Uzulu and one of the most walkable beaches in the region. Meanwhile, there’s Zipolite, home to the area’s main nude beach as well as the top cocktail bar, Mezcaleria GotaGorda. And, of course, there’s Punta Pájaros, nearly 30 minutes northwest from Puerto Escondido. Chill, yet luxurious, this region is home to design villas by some of the world’s top architects.
Guadalajara
Guadalajara is more than just the land where mariachi music stems. It’s also the origin of the Mexican charro, or cowboy. It’s where tequila became what it is today, and also the region that produced Luis Barragán, deemed the country’s pioneer of modern Mexican architecture. Rich with tradition, Guadalajara is becoming also known for its hip cafés, upscale restaurants and craft breweries. Don’t leave town without a visit to the lienzo, or arena, of the Carros de Jalisco, to see a classic charreria, a rode-style competition that’s also the country’s national sport.
Chiapas
In the southernmost region of Mexico, Chiapas, a mountainous region that borders Guatemala, offers a vast rainforest landscape where the country’s coffee and cacao plants thrive. To explore the area’s broad range of Maya archaeological sites and Spanish colonial architecture, most travelers situate themselves in one of two cobbled towns: San Cristóbal de las Casas or Chiapa de Corzo. Possibly the most well-known cultural site in Chiapas is Palenque, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with over 200 architectural structures and a grassy ecosystem of streams and waterfalls. For the adventurers, a boat tour of the Sumidero Canyon allows close access to the site’s vertical walls, some rising over 2,500 feet.
Riviera Maya
This stretch of Caribbean coastline along the Yucatán Peninsula is one of Mexico’s most popular tourist destinations. Starting south of Cancun and extending to the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve in Tulum, the area offers much to explore, from hidden limestone cenotes, or freshwater swimming holes, to tucked-away ruins like Coba, a site with the region’s highest temple and oldest network of stone causeways in the Maya world. Some of the region’s top resort stays include Etéreo, a forty-room luxury hotel set along a protected stretch of white-sand shoreline, and Palmaïa, a secluded sanctuary set south of Playa del Carmen that’s admired for its plant-based cuisine and jungle spa. Further south in Tulum, top stays include the private and relaxed Olas Tulum, an all-suite property, and Sanará, a wellness-centric property with the plant-focused kitchen, Real Coconut.
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