Mexico Guide
Things not to miss
It's not possible to see everything Mexico has to offer in one trip – and we don't suggest you try. What follows, in no particular order, is a selective taste of the country's highlights: ancient ruins, vibrant cities and spectacular landscapes. They're arranged in five colour-coded categories to help you find the very best things to see, do and experience. All highlights have a reference to take you straight into the guide, where you can find out more.
1 The Copper Canyon • 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.
2 Guanajuato • 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.
3 Hammocks • String a hammock from one tree to another and relax as locals do. Mérida, in the Yucatán, is one of the best places in the country to pick one up.
4 Las Pozas, Xilitla • Built by English arts patron Edward James, this crumbling architectural experiment is a weird juxtaposition of modern concrete and timeless jungle.
5 Turquoise waters and white-sand beaches • The Pacific coast around Bahía Concepción is classic picture-postcard material and a must for all beach lovers.
6 Silver jewellery from Taxco • The town of Taxco, an interesting place in itself, offers the most exquisite silver products in the country.
7 Football • Fan or not, you can't afford to miss out on the buzz generated by matches at Mexico City's Estadio Azteca, site of the 1970 and 1986 World Cups.
8 The Zócalo, Mexico City • The eternal heart of the city, the capital's main plaza is surrounded by its oldest streets, its cathedral, Aztec ruins and the Palacio Nacional.
9 Tula • The fantastic pre-Hispanic pyramid site of Tula, with its striking large statues atop the main pyramid, succeeded Teotihuacán as the Valley of México's great power.
10 Lago de Pátzcuaro • Most famous for its Day of the Dead celebrations, the enchanting lake is a worthy destination year-round.
11 The Bonampak murals • Hidden deep in the forest until 1946, the ancient temples at Bonampak are home to the renowned paintings depicting vivid scenes of Maya life, including human sacrifice.
12 Coffee • Some of the country's best produce is grown in Veracruz state, and the coffee is no exception.
13 Palenque • 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.
14 Museo Nacional de Antropología • Mexico's best and most important museum, with an enormous collection of artefacts from all the major pre-Hispanic cultures.
15 Nightlife in Playa del Carmen • Dance on the sand or in super-hip small clubs alongside stylish Mexico City weekenders and European expats in this Caribbean boomtown.
16 Monarch Butterfly Sanctuary • Witness the amazing sight of millions of monarch butterflies settling on the landscape, turning it a vibrant orange, every year between November and April.
17 Chichén Itzá • The most famous of the Maya sites, displaying eclectic styles. It's well worth staying nearby so you can see the sprawling ruins and complex carvings over a couple of days.
18 Xochimilco • Punt around the canals, taking in the carnival atmosphere and dazzling colours while being serenaded by mariachi bands, then wander the streets of Xochimilco town and visit the flower and fruit market.
19 Voladores de Papantla • An ancient religious ritual, this spectacle is now performed as much for tourists as it is for locals, but it's still breathtaking.
20 Oaxaca markets • 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.
21 Cenotes, Valladolid • Take a refreshing dip in these crystal-clear sinkholes, one of which has the roots of a huge alamo tree stretching down into it.
22 Tulum • Looking out across the Caribbean from its clifftop setting, this important Maya spiritual and cultural centre is also one of the most picturesque of all the ancient sites.
23 Museo Frida Kahlo • Politics, art and national identity combine at the home of Frida Kahlo and her husband Diego Rivera, two of Mexico's most iconic artists.
24 Upscale dining in Mexico City • In the capital's gastronomic temples, the country's top chefs blend traditional Mexican flavours, from hibiscus to chipotle, into refined new dishes.
25 Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve • One of the largest protected areas in Mexico, this stunning bit of coastline comprises tropical forest, fresh- and salt-water marshes, mangroves and a section of the western hemisphere's longest barrier reef.
26 El Tajín • 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 – no one even knows who built it.
27 Whale watching • From December to April, you can see some of the thousands of grey whales that have come to mate in the lagoons of Guerrero Negro, San Ignacio and Bahía Magdalena.
28 The zócalo in Veracruz • One of the most enjoyable places in the republic to chill out. In the evening, the tables under the portales of the plaza fill up, and the drinking and marimba music begin.
29 Acapulco's cliff divers • Watch the clavadistas plunge into the sea from precipitous cliffs – a spotlit-lit tourist display, but one requiring undeniable skill.
30 The Rivera murals • Diego Rivera's work is inextricably linked with Mexicans' national identity, which is a particularly powerful theme in his classic murals at the Palacio Nacional in Mexico City.
31 Real de Catorce • This picturesque, ruined silver-mining town is a pilgrimage site for the Huichol people.
32 Diving • With water all around, Mexico has numerous fantastic diving opportunities: the coral reefs off Isla Cozumel provide some of the best.