Travel advice for Mexico
From travel safety to visa requirements, discover the best tips for traveling to Mexico
Book your individual trip, stress-free with local travel experts
written by Siobhan Warwicker
updated 4.03.2019
Mexico is one of the world’s most biologically diverse countries. Whether you have your sights set on the grey whale migration of Baja, swinging spider monkeys of the rainforests, or adorable coatis on Cozumel island, there's a whole host of interesting animals in Mexico. Though you might not want to get too close to Mexico's national animal – the jaguar!
The country's Central American position provides a plethora of climates and habitats, thus the world's second-highest number of mammal species for its size (around 500) and more than 1,000 species of birds. You can see exotic fauna all over Mexico, but here are a few of the top spots for an unforgettable animal encounter.
17 days / from1590 USD
The Magic of the Yucatan and Mexico City
Explore the magic of the Yucatan Peninsula: from colonial towns like Merida to Archaeological sites like Uxmal and Calakmul, close to the Guatemala border, to beaches in Bacalar and Tulum, this itinerary shows you the real Yucatan before heading out to explore Mexico City.
customize ⤍15 days / from1430 USD
Mexico City, Oaxaca & the Yucatan
Explore Central Mexico with its ever-busy capital Mexico City, visiting Teotihuacan and the famous museums in the city. Further on to Oaxaca City, the gateway to the Archaeological Site Monte Alban. Afterwards, continue to the white beaches of the Yucatan: Cancun and Isla Holbox await.
customize ⤍18 days / from1735 USD
Fascinating Mexico: From Guanajuato to the Yucatan
Discover Mexico from fascinating San Miguel de Allende over busy Mexico City all the way to the Yucatan Peninsula. This itinerary combines public transportation with domestic flights to ensure you can make the most of discovering fascinating Mexico within two weeks.
customize ⤍18 days / from2190 USD
Marvelous Mexico: From Yucatan to Mexico City
Your trip starts on the wonderful coast of Yucatan, exploring the beaches and archaeological highlights like Chichen Itza and Tulum. From there on continue the exploration to Palenque and Oaxaca before taking a flight to Mexico City - 3 days in the capital await your discovery.
customize ⤍10 days / from2147 USD
Mexico's Highlands and Coast
Discover Mexico City's historic highlights and the wonders of sites like Teotihuacan, Campeche and Palenque before you jet off to the Central HIghlands. Discover archeological ruins and traditional tribal villages, then fall for the charms of Mexico's old colonial cities and glitzy Caribbean coast.
customize ⤍7 days / from1499 USD
Mexico's Mayan Trail
Follow the Mayan Trail around Mexico on this archaeological adventure. Begin your journey with a refreshing taste of sea and salt air in the Yucatán Peninsula on one of Playa del Carmen's gorgeous Caribbean beaches before heading off to discover magical Mayan ruins and glorious colonial towns.
customize ⤍12 days / from3057 USD
Magnificent Mexico and Mayan Treasures
From Mexico City down to the southern state of Oaxaca, this trip packs in all of Mexico's colonial charms and archeological wonders. You'll also get to take to the beach at Playa del Carmen, swim in the Caribbean Sea and under cascading waterfalls and boat along lovely Sumidero Canyon.
customize ⤍7 days / from1518 USD
Mexico's Churros and Chiapas
Arrive in exciting Mexico City and get a taste of its surprising charms, imposing plazas and beautiful colonial old town. Then jet off to Chiapas where you'll spend your days exploring canyons, waterfalls and national parks. Then finish with a dose of Mayan culture deep in the jungle at Palenque.
customize ⤍10 days / from890 USD
Los Cabos Self Drive
Take your rental car and explore the beaches and islands of Cabo. Located in Baja California Sur, Los Cabos, Todos Santos, and Cabo San Lucas do not only have excellent beaches to offer for your exploration but also a fascinating wildlife.
customize ⤍15 days / from1450 USD
From Mexico City over Chiapas to Cancun: The Best of Mexico
This itinerary combines the metropolitan glamour of Mexico City with its fabulous museums and pyramids with an outdoor adventure in Chiapas visiting the Sumidero Canyon and the fascinating wildlife and cultural heritage of the Yucatan. Two weeks showing you the true highlights of Mexico!
customize ⤍9 days / from1670 USD
Mayan Heritage Tour in Yucatan
Yucatán is calling you, and this trip is the way to do it; go into the jungle and know it like no one else has ever known it; enjoy incredible food, beautiful sunsets, and the warmth of its communities that will do everything possible to offer you a dream experience. Are you ready?
customize ⤍8 days / from1516 USD
Mexico City to the Yucatán
Enjoy a whirlwind tour of Mexico City, taking in the museums, churches and colonial plazas of Mexico's vibrant capital. Then relax on Playa del Carmen's Caribbean beaches before you take off to explore some of the country's most amazing archeological treasures.
customize ⤍10 days / from2307 USD
Mexico's Nature and Beaches
Explore the nature and wildlife of Chiapas and Tabasco by visiting the Sumidero Canyon and Agua Azul waterfalls before heading off to the Yucatan Peninsula: Chichen Itza awaits to impress you with its magnificent pyramids before ending the trip at the white beaches of Holbox.
customize ⤍14 days / from1350 USD
Chiapas, Tabasco, Yucatan: Explore the Eastern Highlights
Explore the wide depths of Sumidero Canyon in Chiapas, the fascinating archaeological site of Palenque in Tabasco before moving on to the Yucatan to explore Merida, Chichen Itza and the peaceful island of Cozumel. This itinerary offers adventure and relaxation in 14 days.
customize ⤍20 days / from1280 USD
Discovering Central Mexico: from Guanajuato to Oaxaca
With this itinerary, you will get to know the real Mexico: from magic towns to archaeological sites all the way down to the beautiful beaches of Huatulco - this itinerary combines history, cuisine, and relaxation, all compactly available in a 3-week trip.
customize ⤍21 days / from1490 USD
Enchanting Mexico: from the capital to the beaches
Discover Mexico's capital before heading to your first Mexican beach: Puerto Escondido. After some days relaxing in the sun, head to Cancun to pick up your rental car and explore the Yucatan Peninsula in your own car. From archaeological sites to stunning beaches, the peninsula awaits.
customize ⤍11 days / from2415 USD
Culture & Jungle in Chiapas
Get ready for an adventure through Chiapas with hosts who are prepared to welcome you and discover the natural beauty of canyons, waterfalls, lakes, and rivers! The magnificent archaeological sites will amaze you as well as the charming towns.
customize ⤍16 days / from1850 USD
Mexico City and the Yucatan - from the city to the beaches
Take this trip to explore the best of Mexico City: From the museums to the pyramids of Teotihuacán. Afterwards continue to Merida to explore the famous Pink Lake and the Haciendas of the Yucatan. At the ed, take your time relaxing on the beaches in Playa del Carmen and Cancun.
customize ⤍7 days / from925 USD
Authentic and unique Mexico City
Mexico City seems to have it all - over 50 museums, a beautiful historic city center, an extensive city park with a majestic castle, upscale neighborhoods like La Condesa or La Roma, bohemian Coyoacan and mouth-watering cuisine. This trip shows you the best of this mega city.
customize ⤍7 days / from590 USD
Mexico City Explored
Mexico City is one of the most fascinating cities in North America. This week-long itinerary grants you an insight to the museums, restaurants, and events in the capital, as well as exploring surrounding cities such as Taxco or Puebla. Get ready for a true Mexican adventure!
customize ⤍12 days / from3405 USD
Mexico's Tomb Raider Experience
Explore the caves, cenotes, pyramids, and beaches of the Yucatan Peninsula. Inspired by the famous Tomb Raider video game, this itinerary takes you exploring across the pyramids of Chichen Itza, Ek Balam, and Coba, before relaxing at the white beaches of Cozumel.
customize ⤍10 days / from1695 USD
Oaxacan Coast Adventure
Adventure awaits you on this trip to the Oaxacan coast, a place as spectacular as the activities you will do. From a boat trip to the beautiful bays of Huatulco to a warm horseback ride on the seashore in Puerto Escondido. Enjoy freedom of traveling with your own rental car.
customize ⤍12 days / from850 USD
The Gems of Yucatan - a Self Drive Trip
Go at your own pace and discover the Peninsula de Yucatan with its many archaeological sites, its colonial villages, and stunning beaches. Having your own car allows you the maximum freedom to explore and the easy road access makes driving yourself a breeze.
customize ⤍11 days / from2846 USD
Amazing Mexico
This 11-day trip takes you from Mexico City, where you will enjoy the La Merced Market to Merida where you can discover Maya ruins...with more adventure along the way, such as Hierve el agua where nature will surprise you and Oaxaca city a great cosy UNESCO World Heritage City.
customize ⤍7 days / from2251 USD
Baja: Pacific Coast Paradise
Baja California is an off-the-beaten-track unspoiled paradise. The area is home to mountains, deserts and thousands of kilometers of gorgeous Pacific coastline. Come here to explore, snorkel, dive or do a spot of whale watching (in season). Otherwise, sit back and relax on its soft sandy shores.
customize ⤍9 days / from1475 USD
Taste of Mexico
Discover the most unique places in Mexico City before heading out to Puebla and Oaxaca, tasting the best Mexico has to offer: mole poblano, chocolate, a corn workshop - this is a hands-on tour, showing the variety Mexico has to offer, both in food and culture wise.
customize ⤍8 days / from2230 USD
Small Group Tour: Yucatán Off the Beaten Path
This is a trip immersed in Maya culture, considering visits to essential places, accommodations in different Maya communities, and cultural and outdoor sports activities. Trip starts February 1st & April 29, 2024 - prefer to do this trip in private? Send us a request for individual pricing.
customize ⤍9 days / from3035 USD
Mayan Heritage on the Yucatan Peninsula
Embark on a Yucatan self-drive adventure, blending renowned treasures like Tulum and Chichen Itza with hidden gems. Wander off the beaten track to discover local communities, engaging in community-based experiences. Delve into Mayan culture, sample authentic cuisine, and explore the region.
customize ⤍7 days / from1800 USD
Immersive Mexico City
Discover the vibrant heart of Mexico City in 7 unforgettable days. A stroll through historic downtown, explore colorful markets, and savor delicious street food. Day trips to Teotihuacan's ancient pyramids and Chapultepec Park's museums offer cultural enrichment.
customize ⤍10 days / from3275 USD
Flavours of Central Mexico
Start in Mexico City, exploring its rich history and vibrant markets. Journey to Cholula to uncover ancient pyramids and partake in cooking classes. Conclude in Oaxaca, where you'll dive deep into local markets and culinary traditions, forging unforgettable memories.
customize ⤍Don your trekking gear and join an excursion into Mexico's southern rainforests. Spider and howler monkeys are easy to spot in their lively groups, and often the animals that children want to see. Trickier is the cacomistle, a racoon-like creature which dwells in the south-eastern jungles. If you love guinea pigs then you'll adore the Mexican agouti, an oversized rodent which hangs out in hollow trees.
Of course, not all rainforest critters are so cute and cuddly. Crocodiles lurk around the lower rivers that flow through the southern forests, including the Lacandón on the Guatemala border. Jaguars, puma and lynx, coyote and kitfoxes also prowl these parts, though you'll rarely spot one of these slinky predators.
The elusive jaguar, one of the most hard to spot animals in Mexico © manny5d/Shutterstock
Thinking of visiting Mexico? We can help! Our tailor-made travel service will pair you with a local expert to plan a fully personalised trip
Arid and rocky, northern Mexico marks the southernmost territory of some typically North American mammals – such as black bears. It's rare to encounter these endangered beasts, but you can have fun tracking them in the Cumbres de Monterrey National Park. The last Mexican grizzly was sadly shot a century ago.
You're more likely to come across a peccary, a medium-sized pig-like hoofed mammal which lives in the desert scrub. The occasional prairie dog may also pop up and show his face. Preying on these are bobcats, ocelots and the occasional jaguar – more commonly associated with the country’s jungle regions.
If you hear a rattle, stay clear: several species of rattlesnakes are common in the Mexican deserts.
Wild black bear in the Cumbres de Monterrey National Park © Martha Marks/Shutterstock
Despite its name, the peninsular of Baja California slices through the Pacific from Mexico’s east coast. Basking in these warm waters is an incredible array of marine mammals - nearly 40% of the world’s species.
The mammal-spotting show-stopper is the annual grey whale migration. These majestic mammals arrive from the Artic and hang around Baja from December to April. The lagoons where the greys gather also attract blue, humpback, fin, minke, sperm and orca (killer whales), as well as dolphins and the rare vaquita porpoise.
Further out, Isla Guadeloupe is one of the few remaining breeding sites of the endangered elephant seal. If you want to get into the water, swimming with whale sharks is best in either Baja or the Yucatan. The time of year will determine which you choose.
A whale fluke breaks the surface in Baja California © HTurner/Shutterstock
Axolotl, the "Mexican walking fish", is surely of the most bizarre creatures on the planet. A seemingly smiling salamander with pink "probes" on its head, these strange amphibians have the ability to regrow their digits and limbs.
Once eaten as a delicacy in Mexico City, they are now a protected species. You can currently only see them in Lake Xochimilco and Lake Chalco, adjacent to Mexico City, where they are part of a conservation programme.
Central Mexico is also bursting with tree-dwellers: spider and howler monkeys, opossums, tropical squirrels, coatis and kinkajous. In the grass below you might spot a snuffling tapir.
The otherworldly Axolotl, or "walking fish" © Henner Damke/Shutterstock
Witness one of the the insect world's greatest shows in eastern Michoacan. Each winter thousands of Monarch butterflies hatch, creating a blaze of colour across branches and forest floors. Visit one of the reserves, such as the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve, from November to February to see the butterflies at their best. It's an easy wildlife win; you can do this as a day-trip from Mexico City.
Monarch butterflies at the Monarch Biosphere Reserve © Glass and Nature/Shutterstock
Nature's booming in this eastern region, with a whole host of Mexican animals to see.
In the skies you could see a squirrel cuckoo, Aztec parakeet, and all three species of the Mexican toucan. There's plenty of life in the waters too. Colonies of manatee (sea cow), a docile creature which feeds on sea grass, live in the reefs of Quintana Roo. The village of Coba borders a lake that’s home to turtles and large numbers of Morelet’s crocodiles.
Predators, such as the coyote – and from the cat family, the margay, lurk in the forests of northern Yucatan. You might also encounter an anteater, opossum or armadillo.
If you fancy a guaranteed animal encounter in Mexico, head to the The Jungle Place spider monkey sanctuary in Quintana Roo. They take care of rescued spider monkeys who were victims of the illegal pet trade, poaching, and habitat destruction. The Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve, which features possibly the widest range of flora and fauna in Mexico is also well worth a visit (and you can stay here too). Jaguars are being monitored here, as well as at ten other nationwide destinations including Oaxaca and Jalisco.
If you're lucky you might spot a squirrel cuckoo in the Yucatan © Linnette Engler/Shutterstock
Off the Yuctan’s Caribbean coast, the island of Cozumel is central to some of Mexico’s finest coral reefs, ideal for snorkelling and diving. Alternatively, you can join a trip out to the deep sea for snorkelling with bright silver sailfish or friendly turtles. Back on dry land, Cozumel is also the best place to see the Mexican coati, which looks part anteater, part lemur with its flexible snout and banded tail.
Touristy Cancun isn't the first place you might choose for a wildlife experience. However, the Isla Contoy bird sanctuary is a popular day trip from the party resort, and Isla Holbox, off the north coast, is the closest point to an annual gathering of more than 100 whale sharks.
There are many places in Mexico where you can participate in baby turtle release programs, including Riviera Maya on the Caribbean coast.
Diving with turtles is an experience to remember © Brian Lasenby/Shutterstock
written by Siobhan Warwicker
updated 4.03.2019
Use Rough Guides' trusted partners for great rates
From travel safety to visa requirements, discover the best tips for traveling to Mexico
Plan your tailor-made trip with a local expert
Book securely with money-back guarantee
Travel stress-free with local assistance and 24/7 support