Rough Guides
  • Rough Guide to
    • Africa
      • Egypt
      • Morocco
      • Kenya
      • South Africa
      • See all destinations
    • Asia
      • Cambodia
      • China
      • India
      • Japan
      • Laos
      • Malaysia
      • Nepal
      • Philippines
      • Singapore
      • South Korea
      • Sri Lanka
      • Taiwan
      • Thailand
      • Vietnam
      • See all destinations
    • Australasia
      • Australia
      • New Zealand
      • See all destinations
    • Central America & the Caribbean
      • Belize
      • Costa Rica
      • Dominican Republic
      • Guatemala
      • See all destinations
    • Europe
      • Belgium
      • Croatia
      • England
      • France
      • Germany
      • Greece
      • Iceland
      • Ireland
      • Italy
      • Netherlands
      • Norway
      • Portugal
      • Scotland
      • Spain
      • Sweden
      • Turkey
      • Wales
      • See all destinations
    • Middle East
      • Jordan
      • Oman
      • See all destinations
    • North America
      • Canada
      • Mexico
      • USA
      • See all destinations
    • South America
      • Argentina
      • Bolivia
      • Brazil
      • Chile
      • Ecuador
      • Peru
      • See all destinations
  • Rough Stuff
  • Gallery
  • Shop
    • Books
    • eBooks
    • Apps
    • Travel Insurance
    • Hostels
    • See all products
  • Community
Inspire Me
FacebookTwitterNewsletter
  • Register
  • |
  • Log in
  • North America
    • Introduction
    • Canada
    • Mexico
    • USA
  • Mexico
    Overview
    • Introduction
    • Fact file
    • Where to go
    • When to go
    • Getting there
    • Getting around
    • Accommodation
    • Crime and personal safety
    • Health
    • Food and drink
      • The media
      • Festivals
      • Sports and outdoor activities
      • Culture and etiquette
      • Shopping
      • Travelling with children
      • Living and working in Mexico
      • Travel essentials
    Inspiration
    • Things not to miss
    • Features
    • Gallery
    Explore
    • Baja California
    • The northwest and Copper Canyon
    • The north
    • The Bajío
    • Northern Jalisco and Michoacán
    • Mexico City
      • Around Mexico City
      • Acapulco and the Pacific beaches
      • Veracruz
      • Oaxaca
      • Chiapas and Tabasco
      • The Yucatán
    Shop
    • Books
    • eBooks
    • Apps
    • Travel Insurance
    • Hostels
  • Things not to miss
Take a refreshing dip in these crystal-clear sinkholes, one of which has the roots of a huge alamo tree stretching down into it. Poised dramatically overlooking the Caribbean, this important Maya spiritual and cultural centre is one of the most picturesque of all the ancient sites. An ancient religious ritual, this spectacle is now performed as much for tourists as it is for locals, but it’s still breathtaking. Hidden deep in the forest until 1946, the ancient temples at Bonampak are home to renowned paintings depicting vivid scenes of Maya life, including human sacrifice. Diego Rivera’s work is inextricably linked with Mexico’s national identity, which is a particularly powerful theme in his classic murals at the Palacio Nacional in Mexico City. This Maya site is remarkable not only for its distinct architectural style but also for its setting – surrounded by jungle-covered hills, right at the edge of the great Yucatán plain. At Christmas and Spring Break the wild parties take over: the rest of the year you can dance on the sand or in super-hip small clubs alongside stylish Mexico City weekenders and European expats in this Caribbean boomtown. Whether you take the awe-inspiring train ride here from the west coast or hike along the canyon floor, a visit to this vast chasm is the definite highlight of any trip to northern Mexico. Most famous for its Day of the Dead celebrations, the enchanting lake is a worthy destination year-round. This gorgeous colonial town, sandwiched into a narrow ravine, is home to one of the country’s finest Baroque churches, a thriving student scene and a relaxed café and bar culture. Once the most important city on the Gulf coast, by the time of the Conquest it had been forgotten, and was only rediscovered by accident in 1785. Even now it remains one of the most mysterious archeological sites in Mexico. The ancient city of Tula, where the giant Atlantes stand atop the main pyramid, succeeded Teotihuacán as the Valley of México’s great power. The eternal heart of the city, the capital’s main plaza is surrounded by its oldest streets, its cathedral, the Palacio Nacional and the ruins of Aztec Tenochtitlán. If bullfights aren’t for you, head to a charreada (rodeo) instead; the ultimate charro (cowboy) event, traditional charreadas make a brilliant spectator sport. Mexico’s best and most important museum, with an enormous collection of artefacts from all the major pre-Hispanic cultures. Take in the carnival atmosphere and dazzling colours while being punted around the canals and serenaded by mariachi bands, then wander the streets of Xochimilco town to visit the flower and fruit market. Watch the clavadistas plunge into the sea from precipitous cliffs – a spotlit tourist display, but one requiring undeniable skill. Probably the best known of all Mexican music styles, you’ll find mariachi played the length and breadth of the country. In the evening, hundreds of bands compete for attention in a blur of silver-spangled finery in Mexico City’s Plaza Garibaldi. Deep in the heart of the jungle and only partially restored, this is the largest-known archeological zone in Mesoamerica, with a stunning seven thousand buildings in its central area alone. Politics, art and national identity combine at the home of Frida Kahlo and her husband Diego Rivera, two of Mexico’s most iconic artists. A huge, stunning coastal nature reserve with eco-systems ranging from tropical forest through fresh- and salt-water marshes to barrier reef. Wildlife of every sort lives here, but it’s especially good for bird watching. From December to April, thousands of grey whales come to mate in the lagoons of Guerrero Negro, San Ignacio and Bahía Magdalena, where they can be observed at close quarters. Any market in Mexico is a feast for the senses, but Oaxaca’s are especially vibrant, with heaps of everything from fresh produce to some of the country’s best-made and most imaginative textiles. Witness the amazing sight of millions of monarch butterflies settling on the landscape, turning it a vibrant orange, every year between November and April. The most famous of the Maya sites. It’s well worth staying nearby so you can see the sprawling ruins and complex carvings over a couple of days.