Mexico vacations

Civilizations thrived in Mexico for centuries before the arrival of the Spanish, and you can still walk among the well-preserved ruins of those cities today. The ruins at Chichén Itzá and Palenque preserve Maya hieroglyphs from the 6th century AD. Or marvel at the Pyramid of the Sun and the Pyramid of the Moon in the ancient city of Teotihuacan, more than 2,000 years old.

‘Día de los Muertos,’ or the Day of the Dead, is one of Mexico’s most important celebrations. On the first two days of November, Mexicans honor their departed loved ones by making altars with offerings such as sugar skulls, marigolds and bread called ‘pan de muerto.’ Oaxaca City is the epicenter of the celebrations, where cemeteries glow by candlelight. Mexico City also hosts an annual parade.

Seeing a ‘lucha libre’ (Mexican wrestling) match is one of the best things to do in Mexico. Most major cities have arenas where masked fighters face off in semi-staged bouts involving acrobatic maneuvers off the ropes and the occasional tossing of a folding chair. In the crowd, everyone from toddlers to grandmas cheers for the ‘técnicos’ (good guys) and boos the ‘rudos’ (bad guys).

The beaches in Mexico are world-class, from the rugged Pacific Coast to the turquoise waters of the Caribbean. Travelers come to snorkel in Cozumel, catch surf waves in Zihuatanejo and buff out their tan lines at Playa Zipolite, Mexico’s most famous nude beach. You can even commune with friendly gray whales in Baja, where they swim right up to the boat.

Mexico’s landscape spans arid deserts, lush tropical forests, coral reefs and mangroves. There are volcanoes to hike (Iztaccíhuatl and Popocatépetl, near Mexico City), rivers for rafting and waterfalls to gawk at (like Agua Azul in Chiapas). Don’t miss the mystical freshwater cenotes of the Yucatán Peninsula, formed from sinkholes in underground caves.

Whether you’re dining at one of 18 Michelin-starred restaurants in Mexico or at a family-run taco stand, chances are you’re going to have a great meal. While the cuisine varies by region, tacos are universal. The best feature handmade tortillas topped with grilled or stewed meats or fried fish and drizzled with homemade salsa — not all of which is spicy!

There are more than 150 museums in Mexico City alone, making it one of the cultural capitals of the world. You could spend a whole day at the National Anthropology Museum, the Frida Kahlo Museum and the Jumex Museum, which displays contemporary art. But keep an eye out for the quirkier ones too, like the Antique Toy Museum.

It’s hard to generalize about the weather in a country with so many different climates. Summer in Yucatán can be searingly hot, while it’s a perfect 72°F in Baja. The best time to visit Mexico City is in the spring when the jacarandas are in bloom and before the rains arrive. Pacific Coast beaches are lovely in winter but can also be crowded with tourists.

Cheap trips to Mexico are easy to come by. A short taxi ride runs about 175 Mexican pesos ($), a casual meal can be had for under $200, while a cappuccino will run you about $60.