Mexico attractions

Let it all hang out on Zipolite Beach (Playa Zipolite), the only legal nudist beach in Mexico. Popular among LGBTQ+ travelers, hippie spiritualists, and adventurous backpackers, Zipolite Beach is characterized by clean sands, swaying palms, and rough seas better suited to surfing than swimming.

In the heart of downtown Guadalajara, Mariachi Plaza (Plaza de los Mariachis) is one of the most local spots to enjoy live mariachi music performances in the birthplace of the genre. Grab a beer at one of the streetside bars and listen from afar, or hire the musicians to play a few tableside tracks for an authentic experience.

Dive into the depths of the Yucatan’s longest subterranean cave system at Nohoch Nah Chich outside Cancun. Exploring this enormous cenote studded with stalactites and stalagmites offers the experience of a lifetime for diving enthusiasts, while nondivers can swim and snorkel in its freshwater rivers and pools.

Perhaps the best-known beach in Mazatlán, Playa Olas Altas was the center point of Mazatlán’s burgeoning tourist industry in the 1950s. Situated just blocks from the city’s historic Old Town, Olas Altas is a popular surfing spot where visitors can marvel over ocean sunsets, take a dip in the saltwater swimming pool, and escape the crowds of Golden Zone beaches.

Nestled in the Sierra Madre de Oaxaca mountain range, the Cascadas de Llano Grande (Llano Grande Waterfalls) are part of the Copalitilla waterfall system. Its shallow pools and multiple cascading waterfalls also harbor plenty of interesting flora and fauna, plus caves and tunnels to explore. Climb a tree, leap off the rocks, or swing from a rope into the pristine waters below.

Home to the largest collection of decorative art in Latin America, the Franz Mayer Museum (Museo Franz Mayer) houses a predominantly Mexican collection of artefacts and artworks that spans six centuries. In this converted 16th-century former hospital, explore the library and permanent exhibits of Mayer’s private collections, as well as garments, jewelry, and folk-art pieces donated by other collectors and creatives.

While best known for vanilla production, proximity to the El Tajín ruins, and views of the striking Sierra Papanteca mountains, Papantla is also an attractive pueblo mágico (magic town) with a rich indigenous culture. Here, learn about the Totonac people at the Takilhsukut Theme Park and catch a live "Danza de los Voladores" performance.

Órgano Bay (Bahía Órgano) is an isolated stretch of beach just south of Santa Cruz in Mexico. Recommended for travelers who want to get away from it all, it’s an ideal spot for snorkeling and diving with calm, clear blue-green water and several interesting rock formations. Organo Bay is very near Maguey Bay, but not as popular or easy to access.

Olmec culture and native flora and fauna take center stage at La Venta Park-Museum (Parque Museo La Venta), an expansive open-air museum with one of the largest collections of Olmec artefacts in Mexico. Highlights include the rare Olmec heads displayed along labyrinthine jungle pathways and near-nightly sound and light shows.

The Cuzamá area of Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula is known for its cluster of cenotes, or underwater sinkholes, which are unique in their methods of access. The three main cenotes are Chelentun, Chacsinicche, and Bolonchojol, and getting there is half the fun—the trip from Cuzamá’s town square to the cenotes is via traditional horse-drawn cart.

The 263-foot-tall (80-meter-tall) Estrella de Puebla—or “Star of Puebla”—is the largest of its kind in the world, with the Guinness World Record to prove it. It has 50 standard gondolas, each with room for up to eight passengers, as well as four plush luxury gondolas for an extra-special experience; however, each one offers magnificent panoramic views of Puebla.

Stretching along the shores of Veracruz harbor, Veracruz Pier (Malecon offers stellar views across the water to the San Juan de Ulúa Fortress, and a place for locals and travelers to congregate. The scenic seafront promenade serves as a tourist attraction, recreational area, and marketplace all rolled into one— it’s always buzzing with activity.

Pay homage to Russian revolutionary Leon Trotsky at the Leon Trotsky Museum (Museo Leon Trotsky), the Coyoacán home-turned-museum in which he briefly lived and was ultimately assassinated. Now dedicated to educating visitors about political asylum, you can also see the study where he was murdered, learn about his life, explore temporary art exhibits, and more.

Descend into the subterranean world of Mexico’s largest aquarium at Inbursa Aquarium (Acuario Inbursa), which opened in 2014. Throughout 48 themed exhibits, visitors can marvel over close to 15,000 marine animals, including penguins, axolotls, sharks, and stingrays; snap selfies with manta rays; watch jellyfish "dance"; and more during a fun and family-friendly day out.

Once home to director John Huston, Las Caletas Beach and Nature Reserve is a secluded stretch of Bay of Banderas shoreline, which has since become a dream day-trip destination for vacationers in Puerto Vallarta. Here, you can escape the hustle and bustle of busy central beaches and while away the hours swaying in a hammock, snorkeling, or enjoying a soothing massage on the shores of Las Caletas.

Thousands of animals roam the grounds at this safari park, which is known for its work in both wildlife conservation and education. By bus or from your own car, look out for rare white tigers, rhinos, and elephants, before exploring the bat exhibit, botanical garden, and butterfly zoo on foot in the Adventure Zone.

Located in the historical heart of Mexico City, the National Museum of Art (Museo Nacional de Arte) houses an extensive collection of Mexican artwork from the 16th century to the 20th, including early paintings by Diego Rivera and landscapes by Velasco. While the permanent collection is impressive, temporary exhibits are often also worth the trip.

Wonder at the more than 250 native and international species, spread across 10 exhibitions and ranging from ethereal jellyfish to salt-water sharks and even penguins, at the Veracruz Aquarium (Acuario de Veracruz). Considered one of the largest aquariums in Latin America, it's focused on marine conservation and education.

At the foothills of the Sierra Madre Mountains, the verdant Chipinque Ecological Park is one of the Cumbres de Monterrey National Park’s most easily accessible areas. Hike or bike through pine and oak forests, visit the butterfly house, and enjoy flora and fauna filled respite from the hustle and bustle of Monterrey.

Named in honor of philanthropist and collector Dolores Olmedo, this museum in Mexico City’s Xochimilco suburb houses a collection of more than 130 original works by Mexican painter and muralist Diego Rivera. Paintings by Frida Kahlo and Rivera’s first wife, Angelina Beloff, also line the halls of the 16th-century building.

Built around the cenotes and jungle of the Riviera Maya, the Kantun Chi Ecopark is a subterranean playground of cenotes, underground caves, and grottoes. Filled with stalactites, stalagmites, and ancient columns, it offers a unique way to explore the dramatic natural scenery and learn about the region’s long Maya history.

A few blocks away from the popular Olas Altas Beach, Mazatlán’s Old Town is a neighborhood filled with restored, French-style 19th and 20th century buildings. Centered around the leafy and laidback Plazuela Machado, visitors can explore art galleries, small museums, boutiques, and a range of bars, restaurants, and cafes, as well as historically significant attractions such as the Ángela Peralta Theater.

El Rey Archaeological Zone (Zona Arqueológica El Rey) is an archaeological site containing 47 ancient Maya stone structures. These ruins are the remains of ceremonial buildings and market areas, and are thought to date back to the third century BC. While the ruins aren’t as impressive as those at Chichen Itza or Tulum, they’re conveniently close to Cancún’s main strip, so they're well worth visiting if you’re a history buff.

A waterfront restaurant and club, Kin Ha Water Park (Balneario Kin Ha) brings together some of Isla Mujeres’ top activities, including snorkeling, paddleboarding, and beachside relaxation. Highlights include an adults-only pool with a swim-up bar, a water trampoline, and a rope swing, all with sweeping views over the Mexican Caribbean. If you’re looking to take a load off, hammocks, sunchairs, and cabanas offer perfect places to relax.

Cobblestone streets, craft markets, and baroque buildings dominate Villa de Santiago, a colonial "magic town" that also serves as the gateway to some of Nuevo León’s top ecotourism destinations. Dine on typical cuisine at the local restaurants before venturing to the nearby Horsetail Falls, La Boca Dam, and the Matacanes Canyon.

Escape the hustle and bustle of downtown Guadalajara for the peace and quiet of colorful Tlaquepaque. An arts and crafts town, known in Mexico for being one of the country’s foremost ceramics regions, Tlaquepaque has a timeless appeal, plenty of shopping options for all budgets, and several important ceramics museums. Charming and laidback by day, it comes alive with mariachi music and lively bars by night.

Three decades worth of award-winning, contemporary Mexican ceramics are housed at the Pantaleón Panduro Museum in the town of Tlaquepaque. Almost every one of the country’s most prolific pottery-producing regions—from Oaxaca to Puebla—is represented. Quality is a guaranteed too: practically every piece at the Pantaleón Panduro Museum was once a winning entry of the prestigious National Ceramics Prize.

Home to the Virgin of Zapopan, the 17th-century baroque Basilica of Our Lady of Zapopan (Basílica de Nuestra Señora de Zapopan) is one of Guadalajara’s most important churches. Take your cue from pilgrims across the country and come to admire the much-revered 16th-century wooden statue of the Virgin of Zapopan—when she’s in situ—or visit the on-site Huichol Art Museum.

The Cozumel Museum (Museo de la Isla de Cozumel) sits on the waterfront in downtown San Miguel de Cozumel. Inside the historical building are a wealth of displays, all well signed in both Spanish and English. Its four permanent exhibit rooms offer an overview of the island’s geography, ecosystems, history, and culture.

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.