Ancient pyramids, colonial towns, beaches and great food
Mexico is a huge, varied country with Maya and Aztec ruins, colourful colonial cities and long Caribbean and Pacific coasts. Mexico City is one of the world's great food and museum capitals. The Yucatán Peninsula adds cenotes, beaches and ruins, while Oaxaca and the highlands are known for crafts and festivals. It suits almost any traveller, from beach lovers to culture fans.
Tap a card or a pin. Add a place to a day of your trip, or look for tours.
A great Maya city with the El Castillo pyramid and a huge ball court. It is one of the most visited ruins in the Americas.
An ancient city with the Pyramids of the Sun and Moon along the Avenue of the Dead. It was one of the largest cities in the world around 500 AD.
The Zócalo, Metropolitan Cathedral and Templo Mayor ruins sit at the heart of the capital. Palaces and murals fill the streets around.
One of the world's great museums, with the Aztec Sun Stone and halls for each culture. Many visitors need more than one visit.
Maya ruins on a cliff above a Caribbean beach. The town and beach have become a major resort.
Natural sinkholes with clear freshwater, ideal for swimming and diving. There are thousands across the peninsula.
A colonial city with markets, mezcal and some of Mexico's best food. The ruins of Monte Albán stand on a hill above.
Maya temples set in jungle, with carved inscriptions and waterfalls nearby. It feels wilder than Chichén Itzá.
A colonial town of pastel streets with a pink neo Gothic church. It is popular with artists.
A colourful silver mining city built in a ravine, with tunnels and alleys. It has a big arts festival each October.
A system of canyons larger than the Grand Canyon, crossed by the Chepe train. It is home to the Rarámuri people.
A small island off Cancún with calm beaches and a relaxed town. Whale shark trips run in summer.
Millions of monarch butterflies spend winter in fir forests here. The season runs roughly from November to March.
Canals left from the Aztec lake system, toured on colourful trajinera boats with music and food. It is lively at weekends.
Grey whales breed in Pacific lagoons of the El Vizcaíno reserve each winter. Small boats let visitors get close.
Everything above is open to read. A Hodolog account lets you build the trip around it: pick cities, add places to days, see the weather for your dates.
Each city with a guide opens its own page: map, where to stay, what to eat.
Capital with museums, food and day trips.
food, culture · Open the city guideFood, crafts and ruins.
food, culture · Open the city guideYucatán colonial base.
culture, gateway · Guide comingRiviera Maya beaches.
beaches · Open the city guideMain beach airport hub.
beaches, gateway · Open the city guideBeach and ruins.
beaches · Open the city guideColonial charm.
culture · Open the city guideMariachi and tequila country.
culture · Open the city guidePacific beaches.
beaches · Open the city guideDesert and sea at Baja's tip.
beaches · Open the city guideA colourful colonial city built into a hillside.
colonial, history · Guide comingA tiled colonial city with strong food traditions.
food, history · Guide comingCapital, pyramids and colonial towns.
Mexico City, Teotihuacan, San Miguel de Allende
Maya ruins, cenotes and Caribbean beaches.
Chichén Itzá, Tulum, Isla Mujeres
Indigenous culture, mountains and jungle ruins.
Oaxaca, Palenque, San Cristóbal de las Casas
Beach resorts and surf towns.
Puerto Vallarta, Sayulita, Puerto Escondido
Deserts, canyons and whales.
Copper Canyon, Los Cabos, El Vizcaíno
The heart of the country with the capital, colonial cities and pyramids.
Mexico City, Puebla, Guanajuato
Choose how long you have, then add the whole route to a trip as places and nights.
Best: November to April. The dry season has sunny weather across most of the country.
The Caribbean coast has hurricane risk from June to November, and the central highlands are cool at night year round.
January. Busy season. Higher prices, bigger crowds.
64°F daily high, 51°F average, 0.4 in
Average of past years from NASA POWER, worked out at each city's position. A place far from these cities can be quite different.
The US State Department rates Mexico Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution overall, with some states at higher levels; check state by state advice.
Excellent long distance buses and cheap domestic flights connect the country.
Food and buses are cheap, though resort areas are pricey.
Entry rules depend on your passport. Members see the rules for their own passport here.
Passport and visa rules change often and without notice. Always check the official pages before you book and again before you travel.
| Entry | Rules change, so check the Mexican Foreign Ministry (SRE) page on visas for foreigners and your own government's travel advice before you book. |
| Plugs | Type A, B; 127 V |
| Tap water | not safe |
| Tipping | Tip 10 to 15 percent in restaurants and small amounts for guides and porters. |
| Payments | Cards work in cities, but carry pesos for markets, taxis and small towns. |
| Emergency | 911 |
| Etiquette | Greetings matter, so say buenos días when entering shops. Mexicans value politeness and patience. |
| What to wear | Cover shoulders in churches. |
| Driving | On the right |
| Between cities | Long distance buses such as ADO are comfortable and cover most routes, and domestic flights save time on long distances. Driving is fine in the Yucatán but use toll roads and avoid night driving. Uber works in big cities. |
| Main airports | MEX, CUN, GDL, SJD, PVR, OAX |
| Ride apps | Uber, DiDi |
Mexico was home to Olmec, Maya, Zapotec, Teotihuacan and Aztec civilisations. Spain conquered the Aztec capital Tenochtitlan in 1521 and ruled New Spain for three centuries. Mexico won independence in 1821 and later lost about half its territory to the United States. The 1910 revolution shaped the modern state, and Mexico today is a major economy.
Researched 2026-10-13. Check official sources and recent changes before you go.