Top 10 Things to Do in Mexico
Mexico is so full of things to do that the real challenge is narrowing it down, not finding options. After several years of trips crisscrossing the country, I still keep a running list of the experiences that would not let me leave. These ten are the ones I tell every first time visitor not to miss, and the ones I would not skip myself on a return trip.
Some are famous for good reason, others are the kind of hidden depth that makes a trip stick with you long after you get home. Here is the list, roughly in the order I would plan them.
1. Stand Among the Ruins at Chichen Itza
Chichen Itza on the Yucatan is the icon for a reason. The pyramid dominates the site, but the ball court, the observatory, and the thousand columns all repay a slow walk. Arrive early when the gate opens to beat both the heat and the tour groups, and you will have the place closer to yourself.
The classic photo spot is worth the effort, but the lesser known structures beyond the main plaza are where the site’s scale truly lands.
2. Swim in a Cenote
Cenotes are sinkholes filled with clear, fresh groundwater, and they are unique to this part of the world. From the Yucatan to the Riviera Maya, these natural pools range from open, jungle framed lagoons to dramatic, cavern lit chambers with shafts of sunlight.
My favorite is a quieter cenote off the main tourist route, where the water is so clear you feel like you are floating in the sky. Most require a short walk, and the reward of a cool swim on a hot day is unmatched.
3. Walk Tulum’s Cliffside Ruins
Tulum is the rare ruin with a view. Perched on a cliff above a turquoise Caribbean cove, the temple walls frame the sea from one side and jungle from the other. The combination of history and sheer beauty is hard to beat.
Go as early as you can, because the site draws crowds by midmorning. The reward is standing where the Maya watched the sunrise over the water.
4. Eat Your Way Through Oaxaca
Oaxaca is the food capital of Mexico on well earned reputation. From moles, tlayudas, and street tamales, to the gigantic market where you can graze for hours, the city turns eating into a full day’s activity.
I still dream about the breakfasts here. Following the lines of locals at market stalls beats any guidebook recommendation, and the markets also make incredible souvenirs.
5. Explore Mexico City’s Historic Center
Mexico City’s Zocalo and the surrounding historic center hold centuries of history in a compact walk. The Metropolitan Cathedral, the National Palace murals, and the Aztec temple ruins at Templo Mayor sit practically on top of each other.
They only scratch the surface. The city rewards an appetite for museums, street food, and neighborhoods like Coyoacan and Roma that feel like worlds apart.
6. Take in the Pyramids of Teotihuacan
A short drive north of Mexico City, Teotihuacan is among the largest pyramids of the ancient world. The Avenue of the Dead and the majestic Pyramid of the Sun invite you to walk their massive scale, and climbing the Pyramid of the Sun rewards you with an enormous view over the valley.
I tell people to arrive at opening to catch the site in morning light and thin crowds. It is a genuinely humbling place.
7. Stroll the Canals of Xochimilco
Half an hour south of Mexico City, Xochimilco is a holdover of the Aztec system of canals and floating gardens. Brightly painted boats drift along the water, with vendors and musicians floating alongside.
Grab a group, hire a trajinera, and let the afternoon drift by as you pass under the arches and listen to the boats around you. It is fun, colorful, and unlike anywhere else.
8. Walk the Colonial Beauty of San Miguel de Allende
San Miguel de Allende is a colonial town that looks like it belongs on a postcard, with pink church towers, cobblestone lanes, and flower filled courtyards. It is compact enough to explore entirely on foot, and every corner rewards a camera.
The art galleries and rooftop terraces give it an energy that goes beyond the architecture. It is the best single town for soaking up colonial Mexico without a car.
9. See the Monarch Butterflies in Michoacan
From around November through March, millions of monarch butterflies overwinter in the pine forests of central Mexico. When they gather, the trees turn orange and black and the air fills with drifting butterflies, an experience I find genuinely moving.
It requires some planning and a morning visit, which means the crowds are thin and the reward is enormous. It is nature at its most spectacular.
10. Catch a Sunset at a Pacific Beach Town
Whether it is the surf at Sayulita, the calm of Puerto Vallarta’s coast, or the dramatic cliffs further south, the Pacific coast sunsets are a daily ceremony. Grab a beach chair, order something cold, and watch the sky turn.
This is the Mexico of slow evenings and gentle waves, and the perfect note to end a trip on. It reminds you why you came.
