Mexico holidays
There were numerous, but certainly seeing Aztec and Mayan cities in real life, and quietly soaking up their atmosphere, constituted highlights of the tour. Mr David Kennaby
There is no shortage of things to do in Mexico; from the lively capital to ancient Mayan and Aztec ruins; from natural splendours to whale watching off the stunning coast. We’ve collated some of the highlights of Mexico in this guide.
Vibrant and busy Mexico City offers an exciting mix of history, culture and modernity. In the city centre, visit the vast main plaza (Zócalo), the ruined Aztec Templo Mayor and the superb Museum of Anthropology. To the south lie the charming historic districts of San Angel and Coyoacán, where visitors can browse art galleries, relax at a pavement cafe or visit the former homes of Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo.
Travel north-east from the city to visit the magnificent Sun and Moon pyramids in the huge ancient city of Teotihuacán.
The Yucatan peninsula is covered in jungle and dotted with ancient ruins, while its beautiful beaches and azure waters are perfect for relaxation. Explore inland using the delightful colonial city of Mérida as a base or stay in a beautifully converted rural hacienda. Discover the awe-inspiring pyramids and temples of Mayan sites such as Uxmal, Chichen Itza and Coba, make a side-trip to the historic walled town of Campeche or swim in a cenote, a unique freshwater sinkhole created by underground rivers. Visit the mangroves of Celestún, a coastal reserve with abundant birdlife, or little Holbox island where placid whale sharks congregate.
Offering some of Mexico’s most dramatic scenery, the Copper Canyon is a series of spectacular rugged and forested canyons, some even deeper than the Grand Canyon. It is home to the Tarahumara people, who still live in small settlements and caves in the canyon. The Chihuahua Pacific railway (El Chepe) offers one of the most breathtaking train journeys in the world.
Once the centre of the Mixtec and Zapotec civilisations, the city of Oaxaca is one of the country’s most beautiful colonial towns. Famous for its cuisine, Oaxacan specialities range from delicious, rich and spicy sauces such as mole, to fried grasshoppers seasoned with onion and garlic. An excellent way to learn more is to take a cookery class. Visit a local market, where ingredients are tasted and bought, receive an informal lecture and then put on an apron and create a delicious five-course meal.
Around San Cristóbal lie fascinating Tzotzil Mayan villages such as Zinacantan and San Juan Chamula. The Mayans here proudly wear distinctive traditional outfits with elaborate decorations and ribboned hats. Spanish is often the second language and Catholicism is mixed with older pre-Hispanic customs, with images of patron saints venerated in numerous rituals and festivals.
Explore the desert landscape of the Baja peninsula and discover pristine bays surrounded by calm turquoise waters, teeming with marine life. The unspoilt Espiritu Santo island, situated close to La Paz on the Sea of Cortez, is the ideal place to camp in luxury and spot sea lions and blue whales. Further north lies sleepy, historic Loreto, while Bahia Magdalena and Laguna San Ignacio are renowned whale-watching sites (Dec-March).
The beautiful Mayan Riviera runs south along the Caribbean coast from Cancun, past fishing villages and the lively town of Playa del Carmen. The coast is blessed with white sandy beaches and turquoise seas, while offshore lies the world’s second largest coral reef. Relax at an intimate beachside resort property and visit the clifftop ruins of Tulum, snorkel the reefs or search for wildlife by boat in the Sian Ka’an Reserve.
Chichen Itza is the best restored of the Yucatan’s Mayan sites, with a superb ceremonial ball court, El Caracol observatory, a sacred cenote, and the reclining figure of Chac Mool. On the spring and autumn equinoxes, the afternoon sun casts a shadow resembling the downward gliding of a snake on the side of El Castillo pyramid, also known as the Temple of Kukulkan, or the temple of ‘the plumed serpent’.
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