Cirque du Soleil brings its award-winning magical theater to Mexico’s Riviera Maya with Joya, the troupe’s first resident production in Latin America. From dazzling theatrics and incredible acrobatics to otherworldly costumes and death-defying stunts, this fantastical show is truly an unforgettable experience.
Experience the 17th-century house and gardens at Museo Ex-Hacienda San Gabriel de Barrera, a colonial home located just outside Guanajuato center. There, you can walk through 17 lush, European-style themed gardens, as well as view period furniture in the restored hacienda.
Jump into the art at Playa del Carmen’s 3D Museum of Wonders. Created by a visionary American artist, this interactive museum is truly in a genre and mind-bending class of its own. It doesn’t take long for reality to blend with illusion, and pretty soon you’re splashing beneath a waterfall, surfing a wave, or trapped inside a bubble.
Opened in response to the dwindling turtle population in Mexico, the Mexican Turtle Center (Centro Mexicano de la Tortuga) is a 10-acre (4-hectare) attraction located in Mazunte, Oaxaca. Here, you’ll find a variety of sea and freshwater turtles across over a dozen aquariums, including hawksbills, leatherbacks, and green turtles, all of which you can learn about on a guided tour of the center.
Situated just 17 miles (28 kilometers) outside of Mérida city center, Dzibilchaltún offers a quieter alternative to other Mayan sites such as Uxmal and Chichén Itzá. Here, visitors can explore over 8,000 astronomically and religiously significant archaeological structures, including the Temple of the Seven Dolls, as well as the Cenote Xlacah swimming hole and the Mayan People Museum.
The youthful epicenter of the city, Monterrey Old Town (Barrio Antiguo) offers a lively alternative to the business-oriented city center and high-end outlying districts. Extending outwards from pedestrianized Padre Mier, this walkable neighborhood is replete with dive bars, quiet coffee shops, and weekly flea markets.
Created by a volcanic eruption millennia ago, Lake Catemaco (Laguna Catemaco) is best known for its non-native population of Stumptail Macaque monkeys. Take a boat to Monkey Island or get spiritual during the annual Witchcraft Festival, before using the lake as a jumping-off point for exploration of the Los Tuxtlas Biosphere Reserve.
Home to fewer than 100 people—mostly fishermen—San Agustin Bay (Bahía San Agustín) has no electricity or running water. The bay itself is known for its prime snorkeling opportunities. Visitors head into the ocean straight from the shore and are immediately surrounded by schools of tropical fish, coral plates, crabs, snails, bivalves, and sea urchins.
Located just off the ferry dock, Fundadores Park (El Zócalo) is the center of Playa del Carmen. This beachside park sits along Playa del Carmen’s famous Fifth Avenue, and it’s the main square from which the rest of the tourist area branches out. From El Zócalo you’ll have a gorgeous view of the ocean and easy access to the beaches.
Luxurious all-inclusive resorts and private beachfront villas line the rocky cliffs ofTangolunda Bay (Bahía Tangolunda) in Huatulco. Some of the big names that you’ll find here include Dreams, Barcelo, and Las Brisas. It’s a top choice for those wanting to stay right on the bay, and the endless stretches of sandy shores are perfect for early morning walks.
Discovered in 1960, Rancho Nuevo Caves Natural Park (Grutas de Rancho Nuevo) is home to massive limestone stalagmites and stalactites and surrounded by a towering pine forest. Wander through the caves by following the winding 2,475-foot (755-meter) walkway, before riding horseback or hiking among the trees for a rural escape just 20 minutes outside of San Cristóbal de las Casas.
Popular with surfers and river rafters alike, the Copalita River (Río Copalita) is one of the region’s most popular water sports destinations, surrounded by beautiful flora and fauna. From the river rafting opportunities offered inland to the boogie boarding and surfing conditions you’ll find as the river empties into the ocean, the Copalita River is a must for adventurous travelers in Oaxaca.
One of the most important contemporary art museums in Mexico City, much of the Tamayo Museum’s permanent collection was personally collected and curated by Oaxacan artist Rufino Tamayo. A must-visit for art fans in Mexico City, Tamayo Museum is now home to a continent-spanning collection of artworks, from artists such as Picasso and Miró, as well as several temporary exhibits.
Eknakán, in Mexico’s Yucatán, is the site of one of many haciendas as well as a German Gothic-style church—which is what makes it an interesting small village to experience. Known as the Iglesia de la Soledad (La Soledad Church), the yellow church stands tall over the center of town, with stained glass–diffused lighting throughout.
At the heart of one of Mexico City’s most chaotic thoroughfares, the glass-roofed Reforma 222 shopping mall offers air-conditioned respite from the hustle and bustle of the surrounding city. Across four floors, visitors can browse stores, grab lunch, catch a film, or workout at the on-site gym.
The most popular cruise port on the so-called Mexican Riviera, Cabo San Lucas Cruise Port welcomes liners from around the world. Known for its natural beauty, nightlife, and endless beaches, Cabo San Lucas marks the southern tip of Mexico’s Baja California Peninsula and acts as a gateway to the region.
Mexico City’s Memory and Tolerance Museum (Museo Memoria y Tolerancia) examines the impact of indifference, discrimination, and global violence through eye-opening exhibits. This groundbreaking museum is divided into two major sections—aptly named Memory and Tolerance—that illustrate the international struggle between harm and hope.
Perched on the tip of the Yucatán Peninsula, the pink-algae salt lakes of Las Coloradas must be seen to be believed. Discover candy-colored lagoons and high salt hills, and take memorable snaps of the resident flamingos posing against this bright blue sky.
Connected to the Templo de Santo Domingo, the impressive Oaxaca Culture Museum (Museo de las Culturas de Oaxaca) is housed in a beautifully restored monastery. Well-curated exhibits featuring crafts, herbal medicines, and local dress transport travelers through the history of Oaxaca, from ancient times to the modern day. A particular highlight is the collection of Mixtec silver, jade, and gold.
Head up to the 45th floor of Mexico City’s World Trade Center for near-exclusive panoramic views from Mirador Giratorio, the only revolving lookout in the country. Then round out a romantic, relaxing vacation by dining in style at Bellini, the lookout’s eclectic restaurant.
Behind the white facade of an imposing neoclassical building in downtown Guadalajara, the University of Guadalajara Art Museum (MUSA) houses an impressive collection of artworks and murals by notable Mexican artists, as well as regularly rotating international exhibits. Highlights include two José Clemente Orozco murals—Man, Creator and Rebel and The People and Their False Leaders.
A relaxed fishing village located along the Yucatan coast, Celestun lies within the Celestun Biosphere Reserve, or sometimes known as the Celestun Wildlife Refuge. Comprised of over 146,000 acres (hectares) of mangroves, the reserve makes ideal habitat for animals, especially birds, and more than 300 bird species, including the popular flamingo, live here.
Opened in 2006 to popularize and preserve Mexico’s artisan heritage, the Popular Art Museum is a principal attraction for both casual travelers and avid art fans alike. Inside the striking art deco building, visitors seealebrijes (fantastical wooden figurines), piñatas, pottery from across the country, handblown glassware, and more.
Soak up dramatic panoramic views over Xcaret Park and the Caribbean coastline from the highest viewpoint in the Riviera Maya, the Cancún Scenic Tower (Torre Escénica). You'll rise to a height of more than 250 feet (76 meters) and enjoy sweeping vistas of the ocean and jungle as you gently rotate 360 degrees while learning about your surroundings with audio commentary. Benches on the ride allow you to sit and enjoy the scenery.
Located in the colonial town of Valladolid in the Yucatán, Cenote Zazil Tunich is a site of natural beauty. Here, you can admire rock formations such as the Mayan Kiss and Guardian of the Caves; learn about the nine levels of the Mayan Underworld and associated mythology; and swim in the crystalline waters of the limestone sinkhole.
Mazatlan, the “Pearl of the Pacific”, has drawn people to its shores since pre-Columbian times thanks to its gorgeous beaches. Add an architecturally outstanding old town, the festive, hotel-lined Golden Zone, and top-notch shopping, dining, and nightlife, and it's no wonder that this is a heavily trafficked cruise stop.
Not far from Cuernavaca, the UNESCO-listed archaeological ruins of Xochicalco serve as a fascinating reminder of the ancient cultures that inhabited these valleys nearly 1,500 years ago. Known for its intricately carved buildings, such as the Temple of the Feathered Serpent, Xochicalco also offers sweeping vistas over Cuernavaca, an observatory, and on-site museum.
Originally built in the late 19th century, the Angela Peralta Theater (Teatro Ángela Peralta) is a landmark of downtown Mazatlán with a tumultuous past. Over the years, it served as a boxing arena, movie theater, and opera house, before falling into decline, but visitors can now tour the neoclassical building, catch live performances at the intimate 841-seat venue, and visit the onsite art galleries.
One of the oldest churches in Mexico City, the 16th-century San Juan Bautista Church (Parroquia de San Juan Bautista) is a marvellous example of New Spanish baroque. Beyond the unassuming whitewashed facade, visitors can attend weekly services, relax in the courtyard, or simply marvel over the lavishly reconstructed interior, dominated by intricate frescoes and gilded detailing.
One of the oldest buildings in Mexico City, the 17th-century Museum of El Carmen is home to dozens of religious artworks, including paintings by Miguel Cabrera, as well as a permanent exhibit about the Carmelite order. However, this former monastery is perhaps most notable for the dozen-strong collection of mummified corpses in the crypt.
