Travelling in Mexico: Maya ruins, food and beaches
Travelling in Mexico means combining a varied, deeply regional cuisine with major pre-Hispanic sites such as Teotihuacan and Chichén Itzá, colourful colonial cities, cenotes, and beaches on both the Caribbean and the Pacific. Each region, from the capital to Oaxaca or the Yucatán, has its own traditions, dishes and landscapes.
When to go
The dry season, from November to April, is the most comfortable time for most of the country, including the Yucatán beaches, Mexico City, Oaxaca and Chiapas. From May or June to October the rains arrive, usually as afternoon showers, bringing green landscapes and fewer visitors. Hurricane season runs from June to November on both coasts. In winter, gray whales arrive in the lagoons of Baja California Sur.
Where to go
Mexico City
The capital brings together the Zócalo, the Templo Mayor and the cathedral in the Centro Histórico, the National Museum of Anthropology in Chapultepec, and neighbourhoods such as Roma, Condesa and Coyoacán, home to Frida Kahlo's Blue House. Xochimilco's trajinera boats round it off.
Yucatán and the Riviera Maya
The peninsula combines the colonial city of Mérida, Maya sites such as Chichén Itzá, Uxmal and Tulum, hundreds of cenotes and Caribbean beaches between Cancún, Playa del Carmen and Tulum. Valladolid and Izamal make calmer bases.
Oaxaca
Oaxaca City has a colonial centre built of green stone, markets such as 20 de Noviembre and a cuisine famous for its moles, tlayudas and mezcal. Close by are Monte Albán, Mitla and the petrified waterfalls of Hierve el Agua.
Chiapas
In the south, San Cristóbal de las Casas is a highland town surrounded by Tzotzil and Tzeltal communities. The state also holds the Sumidero Canyon, the Agua Azul waterfalls and the Maya city of Palenque, deep in the jungle.
Guanajuato and San Miguel de Allende
In the Bajío region, Guanajuato is a silver-mining city of alleys and colourful houses with tunnels under its centre, while San Miguel de Allende stands out for its neo-Gothic parish church, galleries and colonial architecture. Both are UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Baja California Sur
Between the Pacific and the Sea of Cortez, the peninsula offers desert, beaches and abundant marine life. Los Cabos and its rock arch, La Paz with Espíritu Santo Island, and the towns of Todos Santos and Loreto are its best-known names.
What to do
Climb the pyramids of Teotihuacan
An hour from Mexico City, the ancient city of Teotihuacan preserves the Avenue of the Dead and the Pyramids of the Sun and Moon. Arrive early, bring a hat and water, and consider a sunrise hot-air balloon flight over the site.
Swim in the Yucatán's cenotes
Cenotes are natural freshwater sinkholes in the limestone, open, semi-open or inside caves. Around Valladolid, Tulum and Homún there are many for swimming or snorkelling; you are asked to shower first and skip sunscreen.
Eat at markets and street stalls
Tacos al pastor in the capital, cochinita pibil in the Yucatán, black mole and tlayudas in Oaxaca, tamales and elotes on almost every corner. Local markets and fondas are the best way to taste Mexican cuisine, recognised by UNESCO as intangible heritage.
Experience the Day of the Dead
Every autumn, families build altars with marigolds, pan de muerto and photos of their loved ones, and visit the cemeteries. Oaxaca, Michoacán around Lake Pátzcuaro, and Mexico City are places where the tradition is lived most intensely.
Watch whales in Baja California
In winter, gray whales come to the San Ignacio and Ojo de Liebre lagoons in Baja California Sur to give birth. From small boats with local guides, you can often see them up close, sometimes alongside their calves.
Slow down in Bacalar and Holbox
Bacalar Lagoon, known for its many shades of blue, invites gentle swimming and kayaking. Car-free Holbox Island, with sandy streets, offers quiet beaches, sunsets over the water and a whale shark season in summer.
Practical tips
- Drink bottled or filtered water, and check that ice is made from purified water, which is standard in most restaurants.
- Mexico City sits at more than 2,000 metres: take the first day slowly, drink plenty of water and bring a layer for cool evenings.
- Carry pesos in cash for markets, street food stalls and small towns, where cards are not always accepted.
- In cities, use taxi ranks, ride-hailing apps or the authorised taxis at airports and bus stations.
- On the Caribbean coast, sargassum seaweed can reach some beaches in the warmer months; check beach conditions before choosing where to stay.
As a couple, family or with friends
For couples, Oaxaca and the Yucatán coast combine food, culture and beaches; for families, cenotes, Maya ruins and the calm beaches of Holbox or Bacalar appeal to children and adults alike. Friends can pair Mexico City with Guanajuato and San Miguel. In Gata you can gather ideas and stays together and decide as a group.
Save ideas and stays and decide as a group with the Gata app.
Frequently asked questions
How many days do I need for Mexico?
A week lets you see one region well: Mexico City with Teotihuacan, or the Yucatán Peninsula with Mérida, cenotes and the beach. With two weeks you can combine the capital with Oaxaca or the Yucatán using domestic flights, which save a lot of time.
Should I start with Mexico City or the Yucatán?
It depends on what you want. The capital is ideal for museums, food and lively neighbourhoods; the Yucatán combines Maya sites, cenotes and beaches. Many travellers do both: a few days in Mexico City, then a flight to Mérida or Cancún.
When is the rainy season in Mexico?
In most of the country it rains between May or June and October, mostly in the afternoon, while November to April is the dry season. June to November is hurricane season on the Caribbean and Pacific coasts, with higher risk in late summer.
What dishes should I try in Mexico?
Tacos al pastor, chilaquiles, pozole, mole poblano and Oaxacan moles, cochinita pibil, tlayudas, chiles en nogada in season and tamales. To drink, try aguas frescas, coffee from Chiapas or Veracruz, mezcal in Oaxaca and tequila from Jalisco.
