In contrast to its Caribbean cousins like Cancun and Playa Del Carmen, Puerto Vallarta is one of Mexico’s Pacific coastal towns that hasn’t yet been irreversibly marred by Western capitalism. In fact, it’s one of the most astonishingly beautiful places in the country. Young backpackers in search of adventure – as well as relaxed foreigners …
Playa Del Carmen is a coastal town along the Riviera Maya in Mexico’s Quintana Roo state. It is often chosen by visitors to the region who are looking to get away from the party atmosphere of Cancún. The town is lined with a large beach facing the Caribbean Sea. It is known for having a …
The Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico has become a popular tourist destination over recent decades. It is a peninsula with a significant history dating back to the Mayans. It is also a place with a wonderful climate and stunning beaches. Just off the coast in the Caribbean is the island of Cozumel. A small area, it …
The capital of the western Mexican state of Jalisco, Guadalajara is at the heart of the second largest urban area in Mexico. The city has monuments to match its status, like the Hospicio Cabañas, a splendid hospital complex from the turn of the 19th century, and a 400-year-old Colonial Renaissance cathedral. Also in Guadalajara’s conurbation …
Blessed with exuberant Renaissance and Baroque architecture, Puebla is a World Heritage city on a grid of streets laid out in 1531. This parcel of land, ringed by gargantuan stratovolcanoes, was picked by Mexico’s early colonists as a mid-way point between Veracruz on the gulf and Mexico City. The Historic Centre is bursting with colonial-era …
On the Pacific Coast in the state of Guerrero, Zihuatanejo is a quiet coastal village on a protected bay near the built-up resort of Ixtapa. The bay burrows deep inland, which leaves Zihuatanejo’s beaches with mostly gentle, aquamarine waters to float and snorkelling in. The hinterland has the last summits of the Sierra Madre del …
A World Heritage city in southern Mexico, Oaxaca has a special identity that comes from indigenous cultures like the Mixtecs and Zapotecs. They built settlements close by and still have significant minorities across the state. Minutes from Oaxaca is Monte Albán, a lofty Zapotec city atop a ridge, and after losing a few hours in …
A border city with a rakish reputation, Tijuana is almost a byword for earthy pleasures. And while tequila, margaritas and sleaze are still front and centre, Tijuana’s character has changed a little since American traffic slowed because of Mexico’s cartel war. Yes, there are grubby parts, especially if you venture into the Zona Norte. But …
In the dry grassland and desert of the Central Mexican heartland, San Miguel de Allende is a World Heritage city with a large community of artists as well as retirees from the United States and Canada. San Miguel’s name was changed in 1826 in honour of Ignacio Allende, a commander in the insurgency during the …
A coastal city in Sinaloa, Mazatlán has been a honeypot for foreign tourists since the stars of Hollywood’s golden age came down for fishing trips and to socialise on Plaza Machado. Mazatlán dates back a century before and was planned by a Filipino banker who made his fortune from the pearl trade. Most tourists will …