Mexico: culture, beaches and food

Mexico is huge and varied. You can explore ancient pyramids, colonial towns, world-class food and warm beaches on one trip.

Where to go

• Mexico City: museums, markets, parks and some of the best food in the world. Visit the historic center, Chapultepec and Coyoacan, plus the ancient pyramids at Teotihuacan.
• Oaxaca: food, markets, mezcal, and nearby villages and ruins at Monte Alban.
• Yucatan Peninsula: the Maya sites of Chichen Itza, Uxmal and Tulum, cenotes (natural swimming sinkholes) and Caribbean beaches.
• Pacific coast and Baja: Puerto Vallarta, Sayulita and Baja California for beaches, whale watching and surfing.
• Colonial towns: Guanajuato, San Miguel de Allende, Puebla and Merida.

When to go

The dry season, roughly November to April, is the most popular. The Caribbean and Pacific coasts have a hurricane season from about June to November. Mexico City is high up and mild, with rain most afternoons in summer. In some years, seaweed called sargassum washes up on Caribbean beaches.

Getting around

• Long-distance buses are comfortable, cheap and frequent. First-class companies sell tickets online.
• Domestic flights are an easy option for long distances.
• Use official taxis or ride apps rather than unmarked cars. In cities, metro and bus systems are very cheap.
• Check your government's travel advisories for the areas you plan to visit, and keep to well-traveled routes, especially at night.

Money

• Pay in pesos where you can. Use ATMs inside banks, and decline a card machine's own exchange rate.
• Tip 10 to 15 percent in restaurants, and small amounts for helpers.
• Eat at busy street stands and markets for cheap, fresh food.

Health

Drink bottled or filtered water. Mexico City is about 2,240 meters, or 7,350 feet, above sea level. Take it easy on the first day, drink water and go slowly with alcohol.

Spend less

Stay in guesthouses, small hotels and rental rooms away from the busiest resort strips. All-inclusive resorts can be a good deal for a beach holiday, but you will miss the local food. See Stay for less beyond hotels.