Best places to visit in Mexico
Mexico
Mexico offers many destinations for almost all types of travelers. The beaches are outstandingly beautiful, and next to that one can visit historical landmarks such as Mayan ruins and ancient cities of the Aztecs, as well as natural gems such as well-known cenotes – small lakes within caves where you can usually swim with a unique atmosphere. Here’s a look at some of the best places to visit in Mexico.
Tulum: A Beach Lover’s Paradise
Tulum offers the best beaches at Yucatan, such as Playa Paraiso. Apart from relaxing on the beach, you can also visit Mayan ruins perched on a cliff overlooking the Caribbean Sea, or just enjoy the city with its cute cafés and restaurants with great Mexican food.
To avoid overpriced taxis, you would usually ride a bike around the town, so you can enjoy a bit of fun with the bumpy roads and slightly different vibes at each corner where you arrive. 🙂
Valladolid: A Glimpse into the Past
Valladolid is a charming colonial town with colorful architecture and historic churches. It’s a gateway to some of Yucatan’s most beautiful cenotes and is close to the famous Chichen Itza ruins.
Bacalar: The Lagoon of Seven Colors
Bacalar is home to the stunning Laguna de Bacalar, which is known for its seven shades of blue. This calm lagoon is great for swimming, kayaking, and sailing. The town is laid back but has a positive atmosphere with some nice restaurants and little shops. We especially enjoyed the kayaking experience, even though it required some sports performance that needed to be supported by some stops for a coffee and hot chocolate on the bank. 🙂
Oaxaca: A Cultural and Culinary Hub
Oaxaca is a city famous for its rich cultural heritage as it is a part of UNESCO. Alos, it has outstanding cuisine with many specialties to taste, such as mole or various types of crickets. The city is full of colors, and the best experience is to visit local markets, taste various types of foods (including crickets and similar 🙂 ), or also to do the tasting of Mezcal, a special type of tequila produced with a worm inside of the bottle for better taste.
Mexico City: A City of Contrasts
When you are visiting, it is beautiful to walk in areas like Juarez, Condesa, Roma, or Coyoacán, where it is safe to hang out and you can enjoy the atmosphere, see the daily life in the streets, or visit some shops or cafés.
Mexico City provides you a more proper look at the “real life” of Mexico, with diverse neighborhoods reaching from modern business areas similar to Dubai, to the very poorest parts similar to Brazilian favelas (in Mexico, these are called “Barrios”), where you are advised to never walk into.
Further you can visit historical sites such as Zocalo, Palacio de Bellas Artes, or Chapultepec castle, or pick some of the many museums in the city. We personally liked Frida Kahlo museum in Coyoacán a lot. You can see a lot of Mexican history in the Museum of Anthropology, and it is definitely worth going outside of the city and visiting Teotihuacán ruins.
On the other hand, it is fair to note that in all parts of the country you will feel that Mexico is still only on the brink of full development. Many things are expensive and restaurants and hotels position themselves as luxurious, whereas in the background you feel the lack of resources and you observe the not-so-high quality of services. Streets you walk or bike will not be straight and without bumps, some of them lacking the concrete overall, public lighting is missing in many places, and in the back of your head you know you must think of the safety way more than in other parts of the world.
Each of these destinations in Mexico offers a unique experience, be it a relaxing beach vacation, a cultural exploration, or an urban adventure. It is especially recommended for those who love nice beaches, appreciate good food, or would like to learn more about the history of ancient civilisations such as Mayans or the Aztecs.
Oh, what a great description! I just got the urge to visit Mexico as soon as possible…