Americans don’t have to travel far to experience exotic destinations and cultural experiences. In fact, Mexico remains a favorite due to its bountiful traditions that differ from everyday life in the United States. From festive music to colorful architecture, it can be a challenge to decide which part of this large country to visit. If you’ve never been to Mexico, you need a quick tour to help you determine which visit might give you the best experience. Even if you’ve been, if you’ve seen one part of Mexico you certainly haven’t seen them all.
Here are 6 Mexico destinations you’ll want to visit, but it’s up to you to decide in what order.
Puerto Vallarta
Puerto Vallarta is a coastal city nestled along Mexico’s Pacific edge. While it is some distance into the country, you can easily find cruises to Mexico from California. With beautiful, white-sand beaches and a year-round sunny climate, Puerto Vallarta is a hedonist’s dream. If you enjoy the cuisine, the nightlife, and the luxuries you won’t soon forget, this city in the state of Jalisco could be just what you’ve needed.
Mexico City
Mexico City is for the true jungle adventurer. Not only is it the largest city in Mexico, it also holds the largest population of any city in North America. Why would you want to risk getting lost in this behemoth of a city? Because in Mexico City you will find the true spirit of Mexico.
It is home to museums housing cultural gems and artworks by famous artists such as Diego Rivera. It is also home to some of the largest and oldest Aztec ruins to be found in Mexico. If you love art or history, you’ll never get bored in Mexico City.
Puebla
Puebla is located in Central Mexico and is home to the active Popocatepetl volcano. If beautiful mountains and volcanoes aren’t enough to get you to this colorful destination, perhaps the colorfully tiled buildings will. Whether you want to learn about the culture of the people or hike in the jungles on the outskirts of the city, Puebla has adventures to be explored by everyone.
Veracruz
Located further down south in the Gulf of Mexico is Veracruz, a city founded in 1519 by Spanish explorer Hernán Cortés. Veracruz is known for many things, but perhaps its most popular attraction is the Carnival festival.
While the festival is held in observation and celebration of the Christian season of Lent, the festival is more cultural than religious and can be enjoyed by everyone. The entire city shuts down for this day’s long celebration that packs streets and hotels every year prior to Ash Wednesday.
Cabo San Lucas
Located on the southernmost tip of Baja California, Cabo San Lucas is for the water adventurer. If you enjoy spending time exploring the mysteries of the ocean, there are plenty of destinations for diving and exploring nature’s water wonders in Cabo San Lucas. Adventurers will enjoy riding ATVs along the beach, spending an afternoon snorkeling with friends, and ending the day on a taco tasting tour downtown.
From cuisine to adventure, Cabo San Lucas has it all. This is another getaway that you could easily enjoy from the luxury of a cruise.
Lacandon Jungle
The Lacandon Jungle isn’t a city, but it is certainly a destination. This is a rainforest that runs down into Guatemala. It offers the ultimate vacation for the true explorer. It’s not an easy destination to arrive at, and you may need to get there by bus. When you arrive, you would be wise to see a guided tour, as this jungle is large enough to have you lost for years.
From small intimate inland cities to abundant paradises on the sea, Mexico is full of adventure and marvels of nature. Deciding which area to visit first is not an enviable position to be in, but your ultimate goal should be to someday visit them all.
