10 Lovely Places to Visit in Mexico: Beaches to Colonial Gems
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Planning your first trip to Mexico? Or wondering where to go next?
We’ve visited umpteen times, from popular beach towns like Cabo and Tulum to vibrant Mexico City to less-touristy historic gems like Morelia.
We’ve swum in cenotes, explored ancient Mayan ruins and packed in all kinds of adventures along the way.
Here are our favorite places in Mexico – along with who each one is best for, what to expect and why we love them.
Where to go in Mexico? Quick answer
Mexico beach destinations
- Los Cabos – Desert-meets-ocean scenery, warm dry winters, luxe resorts and zero sargassum seaweed
- Cancun, Tulum and Riviera Maya – Caribbean-white beaches, cenotes and Mayan ruins (hotter and more humid)
- Puerto Vallarta – Classic beach city with a lively arts, food and Old Town vibe
- Zihuatanejo – Laid-back boutique beach escape, with tropical weather and a local feel
- Cozumel – Low-key island best for scuba diving and a quieter beach vacation
Big vibrant cities
- Mexico City – Culture-packed capital with 150+ museums, leafy neighborhoods and world-class food
- Guadalajara – Mexico’s second-biggest city, known for mariachi and tequila (and a great base for visiting nearby towns)
Smaller colonial towns and cities
- San Miguel de Allende – Upscale, artsy and expat-loved, with spring-like weather year-round
- Guanajuato – Colorful student-fueled city, with underground tunnels and a lively arts scene
- Morelia – Underrated and non-touristy, with elegant architecture (but the region has high cartel activity)
1) Los Cabos
Let’s start with the place we know best.
We’ve been visiting Los Cabos at least once a year for more than two decades, often staying three to six weeks at a time. We love this laid-back Baja escape so much, we even have a separate travel blog just for it (Cabo Visitor).
Cabo is where rugged cactus desert meets the wild Pacific and the calmer Sea of Cortez. It’s known for its near-constant sunshine, low humidity, pleasantly warm (not hot) winters, luxe resorts and endless outdoor fun.
We think it’s one of the best places to visit in Mexico for a sun, sand and sea vacation – just note it’s probably the country’s priciest resort area.
Who it’s for
It’s an easy hop from the U.S. West Coast – a 2½-hour flight from L.A. – making it ideal for quick beach breaks.
And for beach lovers, Cabo’s beaches are free of that annoying sargassum seaweed that often plagues the Riviera Maya (covered in #3).
What we love about Cabo
Once you’ve made it from the airport to your resort, there’s no shortage of ways to fill your days – though doing absolutely nothing by the pool with a frosty margarita is perfectly acceptable too.
- Beaching – Cabo’s beaches are gorgeous, with golden sand and vivid turquoise water. Not all are swimmable due to strong currents, though. And the ocean can feel cool January to April. Summer (and October and November) bring the warmest waters.
- Whale watching – December to April is prime time for whale watching in Cabo. We’ve gone out on Zodiacs, sailing boats and luxury catamarans, and every trip feels different. Seeing humpbacks breach never gets old.
- Snorkeling – There are several great spots to snorkel. But Santa Maria Bay is our go-to cove for DIY snorkeling. We arrive by 9:00 am to beat the tour boats and have the place almost to ourselves.
- Art Walk – On Thursday nights in high season, San Jose del Cabo comes alive with its free Art Walk. Sip wine, pop into galleries and chat with artists about their creations.
- Marina strolls – The Cabo San Lucas Marina is the hub of activity. It’s where sunset cruises and other boat tours leave from – and a fun place to admire the yachts and duck into lively bars and restaurants.
- Farm-to-table dining – Cabo is making a name for itself with fresh farm-driven cuisine. A favorite of ours is Flora Farms, set on a 25-acre organic farm.
- Day trips – Swim with whale sharks in La Paz (unforgettable!). Other day trips we love? Visiting Todos Santos (one of Mexico’s “magic” towns), hiking to waterfalls and driving to Los Barriles to watch the kiteboarders.
Staying in Cabo
Here are a few places we’ve personally stayed at and recommend:
- One & Only Palmilla – It’s one of Cabo’s finest private-pool hotels, with traditional Mexican architecture and a rare swimmable beach.
- Grand Velas Los Cabos – For a deluxe all-inclusive vacation, we were pampered silly with huge suites, gourmet dining and superb service.
- The Cape, a Thompson Hotel – It’s edgy, chic and more affordable than the ultra-exclusive 5-star hotels.
- Hotel El Ganzo – For an adults-only stay, this arty boutique hotel has a super cool rooftop pool and beach club.
2) Mexico City
We had the wrong impression before visiting. We expected pollution and chaos. Instead, we found leafy neighborhoods (hello, Condesa!) and lots of parks and green spaces.
You can easily spend three days here (we stayed longer) and still not scratch the surface.
Who it’s for
If you love culture-rich, high-energy cities, Mexico City is worth carving out time for. It has one of the highest numbers of museums in the world (more than 150), plus a deep mix of history, art and standout food.
What we love about Mexico City
- The grand-daddy of Mexico city museums – The National Museum of Anthropology houses more than 600,000 artifacts. Short on time, we focused on the Teotihuacan, Maya and Aztec exhibit halls.
- A classic café stop – Café Tacuba has been serving traditional fare for over a century in the historic Zocalo district. We were especially taken with the servers’ starched uniforms (white caps and aprons) – very retro.
- Paseo de la Reforma on Sundays – The city’s grandest boulevard closes to traffic so locals can ride bicycles, jog and get moving. We had a hoot watching the roller-bladers, dancers, clowns and pretty well everyone else who lives in the city out having fun.
- A day trip to ancient ruins – Full of monumental pyramids, Teotihuacan (an hour’s drive away) was once the largest city in the Americas. While you can’t climb the 216-foot-high Pyramid of the Sun, walking the Avenue of the Dead is still unforgettable.
- Souvenir shopping – Mercado de Artesanias La Ciudadela is packed with stalls selling Mexican souvenirs – everything from Talavera pottery and silver jewelry to textiles and folk art. Bargaining is expected.
Staying in Mexico City
Where we’ve bedded down:
- Red Tree House – In Condesa, it’s the #1 bed-and-breakfast in Mexico City. We especially enjoyed meeting and chatting with other guests over their famous “wine hour.”
- Four Seasons Mexico City – A tranquil luxury hotel in a great central location, it impressed us with its polished service and lovely courtyard breakfasts.
3) Cancun, Tulum and Riviera Maya
On the Caribbean coast, Cancun dazzles with powdery white-sand beaches, big-name resorts and buzzy nightlife.
But the appeal doesn’t stop there.
Stretching more than 100 miles south, the Riviera Maya is dotted with beach towns, cenotes (underground caves filled with fresh water) and ancient ruins.
Playa del Carmen has a fun Euro-Mex vibe with boutiques and beach clubs, while Tulum leans barefoot-luxe, with jungle-fringed beaches and stylish smaller hotels.
At times (typically spring through fall), sargassum seaweed washes up on the beaches. When we’ve gone swimming, it feels scratchy on the skin, and it smells if there’s lots on the shore. Many resorts work hard to clear it, but it’s something to be aware of.
Who it’s for
This region is especially convenient to reach from the east coast (about a 4-hour flight from NYC to Cancun).
Cancun suits all-inclusive fans, while Tulum draws couples and honeymooners. We personally prefer the Yucatan’s smaller beach towns and like staying around Tulum (even with the roughly 2-hour drive from Cancun).
Bottom line: If you’re after tropical heat and turquoise water, it’s one of the best vacation spots in Mexico. Quick note: If comparing Cancun to Cabo, it’s hotter and more humid here.
What we love about this area
- Cenotes – They’re easily the most unique of the area’s attractions, and we’d happily snorkel and swim in more cenotes. Some feature surreal stalactites and stalagmites.
- Archaeological ruins – Tulum’s clifftop Mayan ruins overlooking the Caribbean are as photogenic as they come. Chichen Itza is just over a 2-hour drive from Playa del Carmen and Cancun.
- Akumal – Snorkeling with sea turtles at Akumal Bay is one of those “pinch-us” travel moments.
- Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve – This vast UNESCO-listed nature reserve (1.3 million acres) is where we floated down a lazy river, saw dolphins and manatees, and explored the crumbling ruins of Muyil.
Staying in the Riviera Maya
- Tulum – Wondering where to base yourself (beach or town)? You have a wide choice of boutique stays, including many hotels with private pools. We love the boho-chic beachfront hotels like La Zebra. There are also some cool (and usually more affordable) hotels in downtown too.
- Playa del Carmen – You’ve got easy access to the whole Mayan Riviera from here. The sophisticated all-inclusive Grand Velas Riviera Maya wowed us with its deluxe suites and superb restaurants.
4) San Miguel de Allende
Mexico is full of beautiful colonial cities, with mansions and buildings dating back to the 16th century era of Spanish colonization.
One of our favorites is the UNESCO World Heritage Site of San Miguel de Allende (SMA) – a small central highlands city with an artsy soul and knockout architecture.
Who it’s for
Set at 6,200 feet (1,900 meters), SMA’s altitude keeps the climate pleasantly spring-like all year. In winter, expect sunny days around 70 to 75F (21 to 24 C) – one reason it’s long attracted North American and European expats who have homes here.
It’s also very visitor-friendly (English is widely spoken), with a cosmopolitan cultured feel – think museums, galleries, festivals and live performances.
Do we agree with Conde Nast Traveler and Travel+Leisure readers who often rank it among the “best cities in the world”? Indeed!
What we love about SMA
Lots! For starters, you’ll want to read our guide to the best things to see and do in San Miguel de Allende. Some highlights:
- The iconic pink church – The Parroquia de San Miguel Arcangel steals the show, with its graceful neo-Gothic spires rising up to the sky.
- A playful museum stop – The La Esquina Mexican Toy Museum is full of colorful nostalgic treasures. It took us right back to our childhoods as we eyed the Frida dolls and wooden train sets.
- “Mexico’s Sistine Chapel” – Just outside town, the Sanctuary of Atotonilco is adorned with dramatic murals of angels, saints and scenes from scripture.
Staying in San Miguel de Allende
SMA offers a lot of lovely accommodation, from ultra-deluxe hotels to delightful boutique inns.
We booked into Casa de Sierra Nevada, A Belmond Hotel.
Rooms and suites of this luxury colonial hotel are scattered about in various casonas or mansions, some across the street from reception or around the corner.
We felt like we were staying in a guest suite of a wealthy local’s home, rather than in a hotel.
5) Puerto Vallarta
On the Pacific Coast, Puerto Vallarta (PV) nails the classic Mexican resort city vibe. Cobblestone streets and colorful facades give its Old Town (Zona Romantica) a distinctly historic lived-in feel.
Who it’s for
If you’re weighing Puerto Vallarta vs. Los Cabos, PV is a large thriving city (less Americanized than Cabo) with a strong cultural pulse – and it’s generally more affordable.
And here’s how to pick between Puerto Vallarta and Cancun.
And while you may initially be drawn to PV for its sandy beaches, its arts and delicious food scene seal the deal.
What we love about PV
- Malecon statues – We love strolling along the Puerto Vallarta Malecon (boardwalk) to admire the famous bronze sculptures.
- Art Walk – From October to May, the weekly Old Town Art Walk (usually Wednesday evenings) opens galleries along Basilio Badillo and nearby streets.
- Food scene – We’re drooling just thinking about all the great food in PV! We even wrote a whole guide on the city’s best restaurants. Two faves: Barcelona Tapas for its buzz, bacon-wrapped dates and sangria and Tintoque for fine dining. Even the Mexican fruits at breakfast taste next-level sweet and fresh in PV.
Staying in Puerto Vallarta
We’re partial to the city’s beautiful boutique hotels.
- Casita Mia de Mita – It’s a true beachfront gem (with just 8 rooms and suites) in the Punta Mita area, north of Puerto Vallarta. Staying here feels like being in a private villa, with staff taking care of everything.
- Hacienda San Angel – Enjoy character-filled suites in the heart of the Zona Romantica, with terraces overlooking the city and the bay. Our suite was delightfully quirky – we had to walk through the kitchen to reach it!
We suggest you split your stay between these two hotels to experience both the beach and colonial PV in one vacay.
6) Guadalajara
Known for tequila and mariachi music, Guadalajara is Mexico’s second-largest city – yet it feels more relaxed and easy-going than Mexico City.
Its historic center is filled with elegant colonial buildings, leafy plazas and excellent museums.
Who it’s for
If you enjoy culture, art and a lively (but not overwhelming) city vibe, Guadalajara deserves a few days.
It’s also a great base for exploring nearby towns and the tequila region. After flying in to Guadalajara, we took the bus to Guanajuato and San Miguel de Allende. (Mexico’s first-class buses are clean and very comfy, with wide reclining seats and footrests.)
What we love about Guadalajara
- Orozco murals – Some of the city’s hottest art is found inside Hospicio Cabanas, where Jose Clemente Orozco painted fiery can’t-miss frescoes.
- Tlaquepaque – We spent a very pleasant afternoon wandering this charming artsy enclave (technically its own town) – browsing galleries, artisan shops and colorful boutiques.
- Zapopan – The striking Basilica of Our Lady of Zapopan houses a tiny revered statue of the Virgin Mary and draws huge crowds each October for a major pilgrimage.
Staying in Guadalajara
We enjoyed Villa Ganz Boutique Hotel, a beautiful villa-style boutique stay with a peaceful garden setting right in the city.
7) Zihuatanejo
Zihuatanejo is a laid-back resort town on Mexico’s Pacific coast (near big sister Ixtapa), with a clutch of excellent restaurants and standout boutique hotels.
Further south of Cabo and PV, it’s about a 3½-hour flight from L.A., yet it feels worlds away from the big resort scene.
Who it’s for
If you want an easygoing beach escape, Zihua fits. It’s smaller and less busy than Puerto Vallarta, with a distinctly local feel.
Expect warm tropical weather that’s more humid than Cabo.
And compared with Cancun and the Riviera Maya, the sand here is golden-gray (not white), and the ocean isn’t the same brilliant Caribbean blue – but there’s no sargassum.
What we love about Zihuatanejo
There are some beautiful beaches in Zihuatanejo – especially Playa La Ropa, the area’s main stretch, where calm water makes it ideal for swimming and stand-up paddleboarding.
Staying in Zihuatanejo
You won’t find big resorts or all-inclusives. (For that, go to Ixtapa.) Boutique hotels rule.
We chose La Casa Que Canta, one of Mexico’s loveliest hotels with private pool suites (about half of its 25 suites have private pools).
It was heavenly, and we split our time between its ocean-view clifftop pool and La Ropa Beach below, reached by a stairway.
8) Guanajuato
About an hour’s drive from San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato is another gem of a colonial city with a rich silver mining past.
What’s unique is its maze of underground tunnels, now used as roads for cars – leaving much of the historic center above wonderfully pedestrian-friendly.
Who it’s for
A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Guanajuato buzzes with student energy thanks to its large university population. That means lively cafés, bars and cultural events year-round.
Smaller and less polished than SMA, it’s easy to visit on a day trip, though staying a couple of nights lets you properly soak up its atmosphere.
What we love about Guanajuato
- Juarez Theater – The ornate Teatro Juarez (built between 1873 and 1903) features grand columns and bronze statues of the Greek muses out front.
- Diego Rivera history – Set in the home where the artist was born, the Diego Rivera Museum offers a peek into the life and work of Frida Kahlo’s husband.
- Mummies – Unusual and a little eerie, the Mummy Museum in Guanajuato displays mummified remains exhumed from a local cemetery (many dating back more than a century), including those of a woman who may have been mistakenly buried alive.
Staying in Guanajuato
We stayed at Quinta Las Acacias, a charming 19th-century French-style mansion set just outside the center.
9) Morelia
Morelia is refreshingly non-touristy, and English isn’t widely spoken. Its historic center is a UNESCO site with more than 200 beautifully preserved buildings dating back to the 16th and 17th centuries.
Who it’s for
Morelia’s historic center is generally safe to explore. But the state of Michoacan is under U.S. and Canadian “do not travel” advisories due to cartel violence. Most incidents don’t involve tourists, but this isn’t a place to roam freely.
Visiting Morelia is best for more experienced, informed travelers. Also note that traveling to advisory-listed regions can void your travel insurance.
What we love about Morelia
- Cathedral – Morelia’s top attraction, the Baroque cathedral is a marvel to see, especially during the Saturday night fireworks and music display.
- Candy market – The Mercado de Dulces is a fun (and very sweet) stop.
- Butterflies – Morelia is a gateway to the Monarch butterfly sanctuaries in the Sierra Madre mountains.
Staying in Morelia
We loved Cantera 10 Boutique Hotel, a hip 5-star boutique hotel in a 300-year-old building.
10) Cozumel
The island of Cozumel is located off the coast from Playa del Carmen.
You can visit Cozumel on a day trip from Cancun (take the ferry from Playa del Carmen). But, as we’re scuba divers, we’ve stayed for two weeks just on the island for a dedicated dive vacation.
Who it’s for
Trying to decide between Cancun and Cozumel? Pick Cozumel if you’re into scuba diving or prefer a quieter, less “happening” vacation.
What we love about Cozumel
Diving! It’s Mexico’s top vacation spot for this, with crystal-clear water and vibrant reefs that are part of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef.
Staying in Cozumel
The InterContinental Presidente Cozumel Resort & Spa is probably the most deluxe hotel on the island.
Snooze under a thatch palapa on the private beach, sway in a hammock on your terrace and head out on guided dives with the on-site 5-star PADI dive center.
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Our top travel tips and resources
→ General trip planning: TripAdvisor is a helpful starting point, with loads of user reviews on hotels, restaurants and things to do.
→ Hotels: Booking.com is our go-to for scoring a “wow” hotel – or at least a decent one – often at lower rates than the hotel’s own website. (We especially like Booking.com’s flexible cancellation policy!) You can also find excellent discounted rates on Expedia, especially for hotels in the U.S. and Mexico.
→ Vacation homes, condos and rentals: We prefer and use Vrbo (Vacation Rentals by Owner).
→ Flights: For the best flights, we search on Google Flights first. Expedia and Kayak are then perfect for snagging the cheapest tickets. (They’re often non-refundable, though, so for more flexibility, we book directly with the airline, even if it costs more.)
→ Airport lounge access: We love (and have) Priority Pass for comfy lounge seats, free snacks and drinks, complimentary WiFi and sometimes even showers and spa services!
→ Tours: For the best local food, walking and other guided tours, plus skip-the-line tickets to attractions, check out Viator (a TripAdvisor company) and GetYourGuide.
→ Car rental: Renting a car can be a great way to explore off the beaten path. Discover Cars searches car rental companies for the lowest rates.
→ Travel insurance: SafetyWing is designed for frequent travelers, long-term adventurers and digital nomads. It covers medical expenses, lost checked luggage, trip interruption and more. We also have and recommend Medjet for global air medical transportation.
→ Travel gear: See our travel shop to find the best luggage, accessories and other travel gear. (We suggest these comfy travel sandals for city walking, the beach and kicking about.)
→ Need more help planning your trip? Check out our travel tips and resources guide for airline booking tips, ways to save money, how to find cool hotels and other useful trip planning info.
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