Tourism Mexico

Mexico

Mexico is at the southern extremity of North America and is bordered to the north by the USA, northwest by the Gulf of California, west by the Pacific, south by Guatemala and Belize, and east by the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean.
Mexico's geographical features range from swamp to desert, and from tropical lowland jungle to high alpine vegetation. Over half the country is at an altitude greater than 1,000m (3,300ft). The central land mass is a plateau flanked by ranges of mountains to the east and west that lie roughly parallel to the coast. The northern area of this plateau is arid and thinly populated, and occupies 40% of the total area of Mexico.

Where to Go in Mexico

Browse the Mexico Photo Gallery Mexico, rich in reminders of ancient civilizations, is also a modern developing nation. Temples and cathedrals contrast with futuristic buildings and fully-equipped beach resorts. Elsewhere, elements of the ancient and colonial cultures persist in aspects of rural life. Fêtes and festivals are celebrated with enthusiasm, and the markets in towns and villages are lively and colorful.

Mexico City

The capital of Mexico stands at an altitude of 2240m (7350ft) beneath two snow-capped volcanoes, Popocatépetl and Ixtaccíhuatl. It is a huge rambling city with a distinctly colonial feel. Many of the buildings are in the exuberant Latin American Baroque style. Despite its pollution and sprawling size, Mexico City – or ‘El DF’, standing for Distrito Federal (Federal District) – is a very attractive city made up of 16 delegaciones (districts) and about 400 colonias (neighborhoods), with many green spaces and quiet back streets. Exclusive residential areas, such as Polanco, Arizures and Santa Fe have their own village-like centers. The street names in each district have been given particular themes such as philosophers, European cities, rivers or writers, which lend a certain charm and atmosphere to each area, as well as helping the visitor navigate around the city.

In the center of the Centro Histórico (Historic Center) is the Plaza de la Constitución, more commonly referred to as the Zócalo – the Aztec word for ‘plinth’ or ‘pedestal’ – all that was actually completed of a monument to independence planned by General Santa Ana. Construction of the square began in 1573 and was finished in the 19th century. Vast in scale, it is surpassed in size only by Red Square in Moscow. Each evening, the enormous Mexican flag that flies in the middle of the square is taken down and folded with great ceremony by the Mexican army. The Catedral Metropolitana, on the north side of the square, was begun in 1563 and exhibits a plethora of architectural styles (mainly Gothic, Baroque and Neo-Classical). The highlight of the ornate gilded interior is the Capilla de los Reyes (Kings’ Chapel) and its altar. Just east of the cathedral is the excavated site of the Aztec Templo Mayor (Great Temple), part of the sacred complex of Tenochtitlán, which was demolished by the Spaniards in the 1520s. Remains of the temple layout can be viewed from raised walkways. The adjoining museum displays artifacts excavated from the site in the 1970s, including the first artifact to be discovered – a huge votive disk to the goddess of the moon, Coyolxauhqui. On the east side of the zócalo, the National Palace, built in 1692 on the ruins of the Palace of Montezuma, is now the office of the President of the Republic. Diego Rivera’s depiction of Mexican history is illustrated in a dramatic mural that adorns the stairwell leading up to the middle story of the main courtyard. Other outstanding examples of Rivera’s work – and that of Siqueiros, Orozco and Tamayo – can be found in the Palacio de Bellas Artes (Palace of Fine Arts) near Alameda Central (Central Park). This beautiful arts center and concert hall, sculptured out of white Carrara marble, was built between 1900-34 in Neo-Classical, Art-Nouveau and Art-Deco styles. The Ballet Folklórico perform here every Wednesday and Sunday with a blend of ancient Mayan and Aztecritual, dramatized episodes from Mexican history, as well as current songs and dances from all over Latin America. Another hugely popular and sentimental form of Mexican music can be heard through a late afternoon and evening visit to the Plaza Garibaldi, where ‘mariachis’ from all over Mexico, usually dressed in ornate clothes and giant sombreros, play for the public. With so many sites of architectural, religious and cultural merit, it is not surprising that the capital has museums with world-class collections. In particular, the Museo Nacional de Antropología, in Chapultepec Park (‘Grasshopper Hill’ in the Nahuatl language), holds an enormous and absolutely fascinating collection of Pre-Hispanic artifacts within 12 halls on the first floor, including the 24-ton Aztec Sun Stone – the Calendar Stone. Ethnological exhibits on the second floor illustrate life today in Mexico’s indigenous communities. Museums that contain outstanding collections include: the Museo Franz Mayer (16th to 19th century European, Asian and Mexican fine and applied arts, displayed in a restored 16th-century hospital); Museo de Arte Moderno (a collection of some of the major works from 20th-century Mexican and Latin American artists); Museo Frida Kahlo (examples of the artist’s work, her own art collection and belongings displayed in her former home and studio); and Museo Anahuacalli (an extraordinary volcanic stone-clad house, designed by Diego Rivera to house his extensive collection of pre-Hispanic artifacts).

Mapa de México

Catedral de Mexico DF

Puerto Vallarta

Puerto Vallarta is the largest town in the immense Bahía de Banderas resort area (one hour 10 minutes by air from Mexico City). It is situated on the Bahía de Banderas, which is the largest natural bay in Mexico. There are a hundred miles of coastline with many sandy beaches and facilities for parasailing, shooting, scuba diving, sailboarding, fishing, golf and tennis. Boat trips provide opportunities to explore the coast. For the visitor who would relish the experience of journeying in a dugout canoe, there is the chance to visit Yelapa, a Polynesian-style village which cannot be visited in any other way. The mountains behind the bay may be explored on horseback. Charreadas, uniquely Mexican rodeos, are held at certain times of the year. Amongst the smaller resorts are San Blas, Barra de Navidad and Zihuatanejo.

Excursions

Manzanillo, a major seaport, has recently become an important resort. The emphasis is on watersports, but the spacious beaches afford good swimming. Fishing is of a world-class standard. Ixtapa, to the south of Manzanillo, is a new resort complex with moorings for yachts and a golf course.

Acapulco

Situated on Acapulco Bay, Acapulco is probably the most famous beach resort in Mexico. The town stretches for over 16km (10 miles) round the bay. It has many beaches as well as numerous top-class hotels. The malecón (seaside promenade) runs along the beaches. There is a square in the center of the old town to the west of the Bay. This lively and fashionable resort offers skindiving, angling, parachute sailing, water-skiing, golf, tennis, riding and the unique spectacle of the Quebrada divers. The waters of the Bay are famous for their calmness and safety, though the beach of La Condesa has rougher waters and good surf for those who want it. The two beaches nearest the center of the town are Playa Caleta and Playa Caletilla; the sun on these is considered to be at its best in the morning. The late afternoon sun is thought to be best on Playa Hornos, which is further around the bay to the east. Scuba-diving lessons can be arranged on request. Nearby is Roqueta Island, visited regularly by glass-bottomed boats, from which the underwater image of the Virgin of Guadalupe can be seen. The island itself is popular for family trips.
Fort San Diego, in the middle of the town, is where the last battle of the Mexican War of Independence was fought. Admission is free but it is closed on Thursdays. Behind the town of Acapulco rise the Sierra Madre Mountains, a favorite location for photographers who relish the greenery, the rocky cliffs and the breathtaking views over the bay.

16km (10 miles) away is Pie de la Cuesta which has a lagoon and several large beaches. The surf is rough.

Puerto Escondido and Puerto Angel

Further down the coast from Acapulco, in Oaxaca state, are the well-known resorts of Puerto Escondido and Puerto Angel. Puerto Escondido (Hidden Port), once an isolated fishing village, has now developed into a well-equipped resort, though it has still retained some of its original character. The string of beaches stretching from the main bay are frequented by bathers, surfers and fishermen. On the hills behind are cheap restaurants and hotels. Puerto Angel, to the west, also a fishing port, is relatively low-key and sleepy. Charming secluded beaches are its main attraction, plus authentic eating places and cheap accommodation. Nearby is the famous beach of Zipolite, a 2km- (1.2 mile-) stretch of palm-fringed, white sand, which, although renowned amongst surfers, has treacherous undercurrents; local people rarely swim there.

Huatulco

One of Mexico’s newest resort areas is at Huatulco, a group of nine interlocking bays set against rainforest-covered mountains. Until the mid-1980s, this area was a sleepy fishing village with no water or electricity. However, a carefully planned expansion program has brought luxury hotels and other amenities to the area, while strict regulations conserve its natural beauty. The beaches include Playa La Entrega (good for snorkeling with beautiful, calm water) and Bahía Tangolunda (where there is an 18-hole golf course). Watersports and other activities are easily arranged.

The East Coast

Monterrey

In the North, Mexico’s industrial powerhouse stands beneath the highest peaks of the Sierra Madre Oriental in a setting of great natural beauty. The remnants of Monterrey’s more tranquil past (the Cathedral, the Palacio del Gobierno, the Obispado) compete with its present-day preoccupations.

Veracruz

The capital, which shares the state’s name, is a lively seaport, with excellent seafood cuisine – the visitor will particularly enjoy carnival time in this easy-going city, which is also well known for its lively nightlife. For centuries, Veracruz was Mexico’s main seaport, and it h

Templo de los Guerreros, Punta Allen, México

El Tajín

Approximately four hours north of Veracruz lie the ruins of the Totonac city of El Tajín, one of Mexico’s most impressive ancient sites. Most of the buildings to be seen on this extensive site date from AD 600-700, while the Totonac civilization was at its height at around AD 600-900. Abandoned around 1200, El Tajín was rediscovered by the Spaniards in 1785. The central edifice is the Píramide de los Nichos, so called because of the 365 square niches on the sides of the building, representing the solar year. Around the pyramid are 11 ball courts whose walls are carved with bas-reliefs depicting human sacrifices, warriors and ball games. Behind this edifice is a network of buildings, El Tajín Chico, which is dominated by the Edificio de las Columnas, featuring massive columns covered in mosaics. An ancient Totonac ritual is performed daily at about noon by the ‘voladores’ of Papantla. Five men in traditional dress climb to a small platform at the top of a pole where one of them performs a dance in honor of the sun god, accompanying himself on the drum and whistle. Meanwhile, the other four wrap themselves in rope fastened to a suspended frame. At a given signal, they launch themselves gracefully into space, rotating exactly 13 times, arms outstretched to greet the sun while the rope unwinds. The exact significance of this ritual is unknown, though it is thought to relate to a pre-Hispanic calendar.

The Yucatán Peninsula

More than 3000 years ago, there emerged a highly sophisticated civilization, the Mayas, in the diverse landscape of what is now Guatemala, Belize, western Honduras and part of El Salvador, as well as the Mexican states of Yucatan, Quintana Roo and Campeche. The variety of landscape is matched by the abundance of flora and fauna, unrivalled anywhere else in the continent. Birdlife, especially, seems to abound, including toucans, parrots and macaws, hummingbirds and others. The lowland rainforest of Chiapas, Campeche and Quintana Roo is home to such exotic wildlife as ocelots, margays, whitetail deer, anteaters, peccaries, tapirs, howler and spider monkeys and jaguars, the largest wildcats in the Americas. The upland cloud-forests are home to the multicolored guacamayas as well as the resplendent and elusive quetzal, an emerald-colored bird with trailing feathers considered sacred by the Mayan Indians. The coast also supports a wealth of birdlife, as well as alligators and manatee, a rare aquatic animal distantly related to the elephant, which can be found in the coastal lagoons. The Wildlife Reserve of Contoy Island is the resting and nesting place for hundreds of migrant and resident birds. Even the underwater world can offer a richness of species such as marlin, snapper, grouper, bonito, wahoo, shrimp, lobster, octopus and sailfish, and the beaches are important nesting places for sea turtles during the summer months.
At the height of their development (AD 250-900), the Mayans built extraordinary temples and ceremonial centers, many of which are now engulfed by the rainforest. Among the most important archaeological sites to be found in this region are Palenque and Bonampak (Chiapas); La Venta and Comacalco (Tabasco); Edzna, Chicanna and Becan (Campeche); Chichén-Itzá and Uxmal (Yucatán) and Tulum and Coba (Quintana Roo).

Mérida

The capital of Yucatan State is Mérida, the ‘White City’, founded in 1542 on the site of an ancient Mayan town. It has an air of elegant, faded grandeur, a legacy of its once worldwide importance as a center of henequén (sisal used in the manufacture of rope) production. It is still reckoned to be one of the best places in Latin America to buy fine quality cotton hammocks. There is much to keep the tourist here, including a fine cathedral, the Casa de Montejo, and a Museum of Anthropology, but above all it is a good base for excursions.

Palenque

Nestled in the foothills at the edge of the Chiapas rainforest lies Palenque. This small but important Mayan site is one of the most aesthetically appealing sites of the Mayan world, with its exquisite stucco façades. The Temple of Inscriptions (above the crypt of a Maya king), the Multileveled Palace and the Temple of the Count are other highlights. It is easily reached in a couple of hours' drive from Villahermosa or San Cristobal de las Casas.

Bonampak

The site of Bonampak, 150km (90 miles) southeast of Palenque, is famous for the finest Mayan murals ever to be discovered. Housed in the Temple of Frescoes, the multicolored murals depict scenes of Mayan warfare, sacrifice and celebration.

La Venta

The museum park of Parque-Museo La Venta not only boasts one of the few extensive collections of Olmec artifacts, but it is also the only archaeological site ever to be completely transplanted. The original Olmec city of La Venta (1500 BC) was situated on the island of Tonala and fea

Templo Kukulkan, Yucatan, México

Comacalco

About 67km (42 miles) from Villahermosa is Comacalco. This archaeological site of the Maya civilization dates back to the late Classic period (AD 500-900). Some of the structures resemble those at Palenque though they are still unique in the region. All the buildings here are made from bricks rather than the stone used elsewhere. In fact, Comacalco means ‘in the house of bricks’. Sights include the Great Acropolis with its detailed stucco masks and the small museum.

Edzna

Edzna, 65km (40 miles) southeast of Campeche, dates back to 300 BC. Besides the Chenes-style architecture, visitors can also see an extensive network of canals, reservoirs and waterholes. Attractions include the Great Acropolis, the Small Acropolis, the Platform of the Knives, the Ball Court, the Temple of Stone Masks and the Nohochna.

Chichén-Itzá

('City of the Water Wizards'.) The famous archaeological and UNESCO World Heritage Site of Chichén-Itzá, 120km (75 miles) south of Mérida, contains the Pyramid of Kukulcan (El Castillo), where one can find the ‘Red tiger with jade eyes’. During the spring and autumn equinoxes (21-22 March and 21-22 September), huge crowds gather to see a unique spectacle, when shadows create the illusion of a serpent descending the northern staircase. Of interest are also the snaking columns of the Temple of the Warriors, a ball court in perfect condition, El Caracol (the observatory), the Caves of Balankanche and the Sacred Cenote (where bejewelled young girls were thrown into the well as sacrifices to the rain god Chac).

Uxmal

The elaborate stucco work and detailed façades of Uxmal, 80km (50 miles) south of Mérida, have led to a comparison of the city with Rome. Among the fine stonework are the entwined serpents in the Nun’s Quadrangle, the House of Pigeons and the Ball Court. Other attractions include the Pyramid of the Magician and the Governor’s Palace.

Tulum

The walled fortress of Tulum, 131km (78 miles) south of Cancún, has been described as one of the most dramatic sites of the pre-Hispanic world. Perched atop rugged cliffs on the coast, this last outpost of the Maya civilization commands a breathtaking view of the Caribbean. Settlement here dates from AD 900-1500 and sights include the Temple of the Descending God, El Castillo and the Temple of the Frescoes.

Coba

Coba, 38km (24 miles) north of Tulum, is possibly the largest archaeological site on the Yucatán peninsula. This town, set amongst dense jungle and marshlands and including four lakes, dates from the classical period and is believed to have been occupied during the time of the conquest. The most significant groupings of sites are the Coba Group, Las Pinturas, the Macanxoc Group, the Crossroad Pyramid and the Chumuc Mul Group. It also houses the tallest structure in Yucatán, the Nohoch Mul Pyramid.

Beach Resorts

Cancún, Cozumel, and Isla Mujeres were once little more than sleepy villages, but now these Caribbean Coast resorts are world renowned for their vacation facilities. The Isla de Cancún, made up of some of Mexico’s most expensive beachfronts occupies the northeast tip of the Yucatán. The Punta, or point of the island, is nestled between the Bahía de Mujeres (Bay of Women) and the Caribbean Sea and boasts some of the best areas for sunbathing on the Peninsula. At the tip of the point is Playa Chac Mool, a public beach area offering comfortable dining and shopping. Although the beaches of Cancún are known for their powder white sand and exquisite beauty, the waters along the east edge of the island are subject to strong undertow and should be treated with caution. Lifeguards are posted on the beaches fronting most of the major hotels and swimming is encouraged in these areas only. On the west side of the island are the shimmering waters of Laguna Nichupté (Nichupté Lagoon) and Laguna Río Inglés (English River Lagoon), which are home to 200 species of birds and host a number of watersports. The Ciudad de Cancún borders the west side of the lagoons, and is a good place for shopping. South of the point lies the Zona Arqueológica El Rey, with a small collection of Mayan ruins. The Isla Mujeres, once known for its remote jungle and mysterious ambience, attracts visitors who prefer to explore the less developed areas of the Peninsula. Accessible by a 20-minute boat ride from Cancún, the island is home to six different species of endangered turtles, and a marine farm that oversees their protection. The reefs of Los Manchones, Cuevones, Chital and La Bandera are prized diving spots, known for their extraordinary marine life and unusual cave structures. South of Cancún is the equally prized beach resort of Cozumel, with its extraordinary coral reefs, gentle currents and exceptional diving.