27 Unmissable Things to do in Oaxaca
Looking for the best things to do in Oaxaca? Don’t miss this guide to the top attractions and places to visit in one of Mexico’s…
Home » Travel » North America » Mexico Travel Guide
Mexico Travel Guide
Thinking of visiting Mexico? Plan your trip with this in-depth Mexico travel guide, packed with the best places to visit, itineraries, costs and insider tips.
Picture this: you are standing in a sun-drenched plaza as the smell of charcoal-grilled tacos drifts past, mariachi tuning up on one corner, the bells of a centuries-old cathedral ringing out across rooftops the colour of sherbet.
A few days later you are watching the sun rise over a Maya pyramid, or floating through ancient canals, or diving into a crystal-clear cenote in the jungle. That is Mexico, and once it gets under your skin it does not let go.
I have travelled all over Mexico, most recently spending five incredible weeks criss-crossing the country from Tulum up to Mexico City and back down again, and it remains one of my favourite countries on earth. It is vast, varied and endlessly surprising, a place where ancient civilisations, colonial history, extraordinary food and genuinely warm people combine into something you will struggle to find anywhere else.
This guide pulls together everything I have learned to help you plan your own trip: the best time to go, where to stay, the unmissable things to do, suggested itineraries, what to eat, and a hefty dose of the practical detail you need before you go. Let’s get into it.
How to Plan a Trip
Best time to visit
Mexico is a huge country and the weather varies enormously by region, but the high season generally runs from December to April, when most of the country enjoys dry, pleasant weather. This is also the busiest and priciest time, particularly around Christmas and Easter. The wet season runs roughly May to October, which is also hurricane season on the Caribbean coast, peaking around September.
For my money, November is the sweet spot: the rains have largely stopped, the landscapes are green, and the December crowds have not yet arrived. November is also when the extraordinary DÃa de los Muertos celebrations take place, at their most vivid in Oaxaca and the central regions, while the Yucatán and Pacific coast are at their best in the dry winter months.
Where to Stay
Mexico is enormous, so where you stay depends entirely on which part of the country you are exploring. Here are four of the best bases for first-time visitors, each with a recommended place to stay.
Mexico City
The vibrant, sprawling capital is the cultural and culinary heart of the country and the place most trips begin. Base yourself in the leafy, walkable neighbourhoods of Roma or Condesa for the best of the city’s cafés, galleries and restaurants.
Stay at: Hotel Villa Condesa, a tranquil boutique bolthole in the heart of Condesa.
Oaxaca
A foodie paradise and one of Mexico’s great cultural cities, Oaxaca is all colour, colonial architecture and incredible cuisine, and the gateway to Monte Albán and the mezcal country beyond.
Stay at: Hotel Sin Nombre, a beautifully restored boutique property in the historic centre.
Mérida and the Yucatán
The elegant Yucatán capital is a laidback, colourful base for exploring the region’s Maya ruins, cenotes and colonial towns, with a food scene to rival anywhere in the country.
Stay at: Casa Lecanda, an intimate boutique hotel in a restored colonial mansion.
The Riviera Maya (Tulum and Playa del Carmen)
For Caribbean beaches, cenotes and clifftop Maya ruins, the Riviera Maya is hard to beat. Tulum offers boho-luxe beach style; Playa del Carmen is livelier and better connected.
Stay at: Encantada Tulum, a boutique beachfront property in Tulum.
Packing For Your Trip
- A good reef-safe sunscreen: essential for the beaches and cenotes, and kinder to the marine ecosystem.
- A reusable water filter bottle like a LifeStraw: you can’t drink the tap water, and this saves you buying endless plastic bottles.
Comfortable walking shoes or sandals: you’ll cover serious ground on cobbled streets and at sprawling ruins. - A lightweight rain jacket: vital if you’re travelling in the wet season or heading south.
- A universal travel adapter: for keeping everything charged on the road.
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is non-negotiable, wherever you go. Over years of travelling for this job, I can tell you that things do go wrong, and comprehensive cover protects you against illness, injury, theft and cancellations. I recommend AXA Travel Insurance for reliable, comprehensive coverage. If you plan to hire a car, note that Mexican car insurance through the rental company is typically required on top of your own policy, so check it is fully comprehensive before you set off.
Suggested Guidebooks
- Moon Mexico — practical, well-organised and great for trip planning.
- Lonely Planet Mexico — the comprehensive all-rounder.
- Rough Guide to Mexico — strong on history and culture.
Plan your next great travel experience!
Sign up for insider tips straight to your inbox.
Mexico Visitor Guide: What to Do During Your Mexico Trip
Top Things to Do
Dive into Mexico City
The capital is a mega-sprawl that can feel overwhelming at first, but give it time and it will win you over completely. Explore the ancient Aztec ruins of the Templo Mayor, wander Frida Kahlo’s blue house in Coyoacán, eat astonishing street food, and soak up one of the world’s great food cities.
Read Next: The Best Things to Do in Mexico City
See the Maya Ruins of Chichén Itzá
One of the New Seven Wonders of the World and the most famous of Mexico’s countless Maya sites. The towering El Castillo pyramid is the headline act, but the wider complex of ball courts, temples and observatories deserves at least half a day. Go early to beat the heat and the crowds.
Read Next: The Most Famous Landmarks in Mexico
Explore Oaxaca
One of Mexico’s great cultural and culinary cities, Oaxaca is all colour, mezcal and the legendary moles for which the region is famous. It’s also the gateway to the extraordinary Zapotec ruins of Monte Albán and one of the best places in the country to experience DÃa de los Muertos.
Read Next: The Best Things to Do in Oaxaca
Discover Mérida and the Yucatán
I adore Mérida, with its colourful buildings, rich Maya and colonial heritage, and a food scene that’s quietly one of the best in Mexico. Less polished and more laidback than the Riviera Maya, it’s the perfect base for exploring cenotes, colonial towns and Maya sites like Uxmal.
Read Next: Why You’ll Fall in Love with Mérida
Relax in Tulum and the Riviera Maya
One of the Caribbean coast’s most famous spots, Tulum pairs clifftop Maya ruins with white-sand beaches and crystal-clear cenotes. Dive into the cool freshwater sinkholes, explore the ruins early, and find your own quiet stretch of coast away from the busier beach clubs.
Honour the Day of the Dead
The annual DÃa de los Muertos is one of the most extraordinary festivals in all of the Americas, a joyful reuniting of families with their departed loved ones held at the start of November. Costumes, altars, marigolds and parades fill the streets, especially across the central and southern regions.
Visit Teotihuacán
Just outside Mexico City lie the colossal pyramids of Teotihuacán, one of the most significant archaeological sites in the world, built by a mysterious civilisation that predates the Aztecs by centuries. Climb the Avenue of the Dead between the Pyramids of the Sun and Moon for one of Mexico’s great experiences.
Read Next: The Best Day Trips from Mexico City
Wander Colonial Guanajuato
A UNESCO-listed former silver-mining town and one of the prettiest cities in the country, Guanajuato spills up its hillsides in a riot of colourful houses, grand plazas and atmospheric tunnels. It’s a joy to wander, especially in the evening when the student bands roam the streets.
Suggested Mexico Itineraries
Mexico is vast, and the cities are spread far apart, so it’s best to focus on one region or a handful of highlights rather than trying to see it all. Most trips begin in Mexico City, the main international hub. Here are four itineraries to suit different interests and timeframes.
Mexico Highlights: Mexico City, Oaxaca and the Yucatán 2 to 3 weeks Mexico City – Oaxaca City – Mérida – Chichén Itzá – Tulum The classic all-rounder, covering the capital, colonial culture, Maya ruins and Caribbean beaches. This is roughly the route I followed on my recent road trip.
The Pacific and Colonial Heartland 2 weeks Mexico City – Guanajuato – Guadalajara – Puerto Vallarta Colonial cities, tequila country and a relaxed finish on the Pacific coast.
Yucatán in Depth
10 days to 2 weeks
Cancún – Mérida – Uxmal – Valladolid – Chichén Itzá – Tulum – Bacalar
A slower exploration of the peninsula’s ruins, cenotes, colonial towns and lagoons.
Southern Culture and Cuisine
2 weeks
Mexico City – Puebla – Oaxaca City – the Oaxaca coast
For food and culture lovers, taking in two of Mexico’s great culinary cities before unwinding on the coast.
Read More: The Ultimate 2-Week Mexico Itinerary
Hidden Mexico: Off the Beaten Path
Puebla
Two hours south of Mexico City, Puebla is a UNESCO-listed colonial gem famous for its Talavera-tiled facades, baroque churches and exceptional food (this is the birthplace of mole poblano). Nearby sits the Great Pyramid of Cholula, the largest pyramid in the world by volume.
Sayulita
A low-key, bohemian surf town just north of Puerto Vallarta, Sayulita has colourful streets, a relaxed bohemian vibe and gentle waves perfect for learning to surf. It’s beginning to make a name for itself but still flies pleasantly under the radar.
Taxco
A charming colonial town tumbling down a hillside not far from Mexico City, Taxco is famous for its silver and its dramatic setting. Wander the white-and-terracotta streets, browse the silver market, and try the local pozole.
Lake Bacalar
Known as the Lagoon of Seven Colours, this long, narrow lake in Quintana Roo shifts through extraordinary shades of blue and turquoise. Kayak the crystal-clear water, visit the ancient stromatolites and explore the surrounding jungle. Far quieter than the Caribbean resorts to the north.
How to See the Best of Mexico for Free
Some of the best experiences in Mexico cost nothing at all. Take advantage of the excellent free walking tours in most major cities, a great way to get your bearings with a knowledgeable local guide (a tip is expected, so do leave one).
Mexico’s markets are free to wander and offer hours of colour, atmosphere and cultural immersion, from Mexico City’s century-old Mercado de Coyoacán to Oaxaca’s bustling food halls. And in Mexico City in particular, many of the top museums offer free entry on Sundays, while landmarks like the Metropolitan Cathedral and the murals of the Palacio Nacional cost nothing to visit.
Dishes to Try in Mexico
- Tacos — the national obsession, endlessly varied by region, from al pastor to Baja fish tacos.
- Mole — the complex, layered sauces of Oaxaca, the land of the seven moles.
- Tamales — masa dough filled with meat, cheese or chillies and steamed in a corn husk.
- Mezcal — tequila’s smoky, artisanal cousin, best sipped slowly in Oaxaca.
- Tejate — a pre-Hispanic drink of maize and cacao, earthy and delicious, found around Oaxaca.
Must-Try Bars & Restaurants in Mexico
Mexico is one of the great food countries of the world, and these are three of the most memorable places I’ve eaten across my travels here, one in each of my favourite corners of the country.
Pujol
Mexico City
The most talked-about restaurant in Mexico, and with good reason. Enrique Olvera’s Polanco institution has long held a place on the World’s 50 Best Restaurants list, and its signature dish, the mole madre, mole nuevo, is a genuinely profound thing to eat: a circle of fresh mole surrounded by a ring of mole aged for well over 1,000 days. Book well ahead for the tasting menu. Visit the website
Criollo
Oaxaca
One of the most stylish places to eat in Oaxaca, set in a bohemian UNESCO heritage house with a beautiful courtyard dining room. The focus is firmly on seasonal, local ingredients, and the tasting menu is a proper culinary event that showcases the depth of Oaxacan cuisine. Visit the website
Travel Guide: Things to Know Before You Plan a Trip to Mexico
Tipping in Mexico
Tipping is customary and appreciated. In restaurants and bars, 10 to 15 percent is standard. For hotel staff, a few pesos per bag and per night for housekeeping is normal. Rounding up the fare is fine for taxis, though tipping isn’t strictly expected.
Interesting Facts
- Mexico City is one of the largest metropolitan areas in the world, home to over 21 million people in the greater area.
- The Mexican government recognises 68 official indigenous languages, with hundreds of further variations.
- Mexico has 35 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, among the most of any country in the Americas.
- The country is home to Pico de Orizaba, the third-highest mountain in North America at 5,636 metres.
Handy Phrases
- Hola — Hello
- Sà — Yes
- No — No
- Por favor — Please
- Gracias — Thank you
- ¿Cuánto cuesta? — How much is it?
- ¿Dónde está el baño? — Where is the bathroom?
- No hablo español, ¿habla inglés? — I don’t speak Spanish, do you speak English?
- ¡Salud! — Cheers
Time Zones
Mexico spans four time zones, but most of the country, including Mexico City, uses Central Time. The northwest uses Mountain and Pacific time, and the state of Quintana Roo (Cancún, Tulum) uses Eastern Time. Most of Mexico no longer observes daylight saving.
Electricity and Adapters
Mexico uses 127V and Type A and Type B plugs, the same as the United States and Canada. Type A (two flat pins) is most common, so a universal travel adapter is the safest thing to carry.
Health
Check that your routine vaccinations (including measles, typhoid and Hepatitis A and B) are up to date before you travel. Mosquito-borne illnesses such as dengue exist in some regions, so use repellent and cover up at dusk; malaria risk is low and limited to specific rural areas, so check with your doctor based on where you’re going. Do not drink the tap water: stick to bottled water or, better for the environment, bring a purifier such as a LifeStraw or SteriPEN.
Transport
Buses are the backbone of travel in Mexico and are surprisingly comfortable and affordable. Long-distance lines like ADO range from standard to luxury classes; for longer journeys it’s worth paying for the higher class. A first-class intercity bus might cost 400 to 900 MXN depending on distance.
Domestic flights are convenient for covering Mexico’s big distances, with carriers like Aeroméxico, Volaris and Viva Aerobus connecting over 60 cities. Book in advance for the best fares, which can start from around 1,000 to 2,500 MXN one way.
Rental cars are great for regions like the Yucatán and Baja, giving you freedom to explore at your own pace, with prices from around 600 to 1,200 MXN per day. In cities, use Uber where available rather than driving.
Safety
Mexico has long been associated in the headlines with drug-related crime, but the reality for most travellers is that this is concentrated in specific areas well away from the tourist trail, and foreign visitors are rarely targeted. The main day-to-day concern is petty theft and pickpocketing in larger cities, so keep an eye on your valuables, especially at night. Check current advice for specific regions and steer clear of known trouble spots near parts of the US border and certain areas like Acapulco.
Costs and Budgeting
Mexico is a relatively good-value destination, more affordable than its northern neighbour though not as cheap as countries further south in Central America. Expect to spend between £50 and £90 (around $70 to $120) per day per person on a mid-range basis, covering a comfortable hotel, meals out, local transport and attractions. Add around £80 to £150 ($110 to $200) per day if you’re travelling on a luxury basis. Budget travellers can get by on around £30 ($40) a day with hostels, street food and public transport. Travelling outside high season and away from the famous coastline brings costs down considerably.
Average Daily Costs
- Hotel (mid-range): £50 to £100 / $70 to $135
- Hotel (luxury): £150+ / $200+
- Food: £15 to £35 / $20 to $47 per day
- Public transport: £5 to £15 / $7 to $20 per day
- Attractions: £5 to £15 / $7 to $20 per site
- Tours: £30 to £90 / $40 to $120 per day
Read All Mexico Guides
38 Brilliant Things to do in Mexico: Adventures, Activities and Culture You Won’t Forget
Welcome to the vibrant, sun-kissed world of Mexico, where every adventure is a fiesta. Ready to discover the best things to do in Mexico? Take…
12 Brilliant Day Trips from Mexico City: Ancient Ruins, Foodie Havens and Culture-Filled Cities
From culture-filled cities to sprawling ancient ruins, these are the very best day trips from Mexico City. Add these nearby destinations to your CDMX itinerary…
3 Days in Mexico City: The Perfect Mexico City Itinerary
Making travel plans for a quick trip to Mexico City? My 3-day Mexico City itinerary is perfect to help you fit in everything you can…
34 Famous Landmarks in Mexico
Discover the most famous landmarks in Mexico – from ancient Mayan ruins to expansive canyons and colonial-era cities, there’s plenty to explore. Are you planning…
Cool Things to do in Campeche, Mexico
Looking for the best things to do in Campeche, Mexico? Discover the city’s top attractions and more. Often referred to as Mexico’s ‘Rainbow City’, Campeche…
Where to Stay in Mexico City: The Best Areas + Hotels For Your Trip
Ready to explore the best places to stay in Mexico City? Buckle up, because this whistle-stop guide will help you plan an epic vacation. Whether…
22 Unmissable Things to do in Mexico City
Looking for the best things to do in Mexico City? Delve into the city’s top attractions and lesser-known gems with this guide. Built on the…
Things to do in Merida, Mexico: Travel Guide
Planning to travel to Merida, Mexico? Here’s what you need to know before you go. Not planning to travel to Merida? Here’s why you should. …
2 Weeks in Mexico Itinerary – A Brilliant Mexico Road Trip
Ready for an adventure around Mexico? Of course, you are. Don’t miss this perfect Mexico itinerary. My five-week trip to Mexico left me a little…
The Best Time to Go to Mexico
When is the best time to go to Mexico? Which are the best months? This comprehensive guide will answer all of your questions and help…
Where to Stay in Oaxaca: The Best Areas + Hotels For Your Trip
Wondering where to stay in Oaxaca? Look no further than my guide to the best places to stay on your trip. It’s no secret that…
Cool Things to do in San Cristobal de las Casas, Mexico
Do you believe in magic? Visiting San Cristobal de las Casas in Mexico will make you a believer if you’re still on the fence. If…
Cool Things to do in La Condesa, Mexico City
La Condesa is one of Mexico City’s coolest neighbourhoods. Discover the best things to do, see and eat in La Condesa right now. La Condesa…
The Best Hotels in Campeche, Mexico
Planning your upcoming trip and needing to find the best hotels in Campeche, Mexico? Take a look at these brilliant accommodation options. The city of…
Follow us on Instagram for travel inspiration, tips, and guides.