Puerto Peñasco

city in Sonora, Mexico

Merida (Mexico)

A short distance — yet seemingly a world away — from the rowdy, touristy beach resorts of Cancún and Cozumel that make up the Yucatán of cliché, Mérida is the cultural center of southern Mexico, boasting a panoply of excellent museums and attractions, a vibrant street life, and a wealth of historic colonial-era architecture that's second only to Mexico City on the national scene.

Palenque

former city state in Central America in present-day southern Mexico

Mexico City

capital city of Mexico

Tulum

Mayan coastal city with spectacular Caribbean vistas. Dates from late Mayan period.

Cancún

One of the worlds most popular and famous beaches, known for its clear Caribbean waters, its lively party atmosphere, and its wealth of recreational facilities. During the U.S. college Spring Break (mid-Feb to the end of March) it is noted for drinking, sunburns, and debauchery.

Guanajuato

capital city of Guanajuato, Mexico

Mazatlan

city in the Mexican state of Sinaloa

Chetumal

city on the east coast of the Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico

San Luis Potosi

Located in central Mexico, a colonial city that was once an important silver producer, but today, relies on manufacturing for its economic base.

Tijuana

city in Baja California, Mexico

Cozumel

Cozumel is a Caribbean island just off the Yucatán Peninsula in southeastern Mexico. It has great diving, nice people, safe streets, and prices comparable to other Mexican tourist destinations. The diving is the main draw to Cozumel; if you prefer white sandy beaches then other nearby destinations would be a better bet It was badly battered in 2005 by Hurricane Wilma, but, with few exceptions, has been completely repaired.

Playa del Carmen

Playa del Carmen, or just "Playa" as it is also commonly referred to by locals, is a coastal resort town in Quintana Roo on the Yucatán Peninsula of Mexico. Approximately 70 km south of Cancún and 20 km west of Cozumel island, it is at the center of the Mayan Riviera and offers a more relaxed atmosphere and smaller boutique lodgings.

Valladolid (Mexico)

Valladolid is a small city in the state of Yucatán. Located about a 45 minute drive from the (lesser-used) east entrance of Chichén Itzá, it offers an alternative base for the ruins, while having its own charms as well -- although further from the ruins than the town of Piste, Valladolid is less tourist-oriented and has more historic charm.

Puerto Morelos

Puerto Morelos is a town in Quintana Roo on the Yucatán Peninsula, about 20 km south of Cancún. It is a fishing village, and a resort and diving destination. It is roughly halfway between Cancún and Playa del Carmen on the Caribbean coast of the Yucatán Peninsula. The pier in the center of town hosts snorkel and sport fishing boats while yachts dock in a man-made harbour just south of town. The village used to be the embarkation point for the car ferry to Cozumel, but that now leaves from Calica, a major port south of Playa del Carmen.

Chiapas

From docks on the Rio Grijalva (the only major river within Mexico) near Tuxtla Gutiérrez in Chiapas state, tour launches take you into this steep-walled National Park. You'll likely see vast flocks of flamingos, pelicans, and other waterfowl, as well as crocodiles.

Taxco

Small city and administrative center of a municipality of the same name (Taxco de Alarcón) located in the Mexican state of Guerrero

Monterrey

city in Mexico

Guadalajara

city in Jalisco, México

Acapulco

largest city in Guerrero, Mexico

Toluca

City in the capital municipality of Mexico State

San Miguel de Allende

municipal capital city of San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, Mexico; UNESCO World Heritage Site

Coyoacán

Mexico City's town hall

Chichen Itza

Majestic Mayan city, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988 and was voted as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.

Uxmal

Impressive Mayan city-state in the Puc Region, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996.

Torre Latinoamericana

tower in Mexico City

Teotihuacan

Pre-Columbian Mesoamerican city located in a sub valley of the Valley of Mexico

Frida Kahlo Museum

historic house museum and art museum dedicated to the life and work of Mexican artist Frida Kahlo

Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve

biosphere reserve

Isla Mujeres

island of Quintana Roo, Mexico

Teotihuacán Municipality

human settlement in Mexico

Estadio Azul

football (soccer) stadium in Ciudad de los Deportes, Mexico City, home venue for Cruz Azul

Estadio Jalisco

football (soccer) stadium located in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico

Palacio de los Deportes

arena

Foro Sol

sports venue

Xcaret

Maya civilization archaeological site on Yucatán Peninsula

Anahuacalli Museum

Palenque, Chiapas

Cerro de la Silla

Mountain in Nuevo Leon, Mexico

Chapultepec

hill

Tijuana Cultural Center

cultural center in Tijuana, Mexico

Zócalo

Plaza de la Constitución, Mexico City

Leon Trotsky Museum, Mexico City

national museum

Chacchoben

maya site in Quintana Roo, Mexico

Viveros de Coyoacán

Macroplaza

square in Monterrey, Mexico

Coronado Islands

José Luis Cuevas Museum

Kohunlich

human settlement in Mexico

Muyil

Plaza de las Tres Culturas

square in Mexico, Mexico

Pie de la Cuesta, Guerrero

Mummies of Guanajuato

A must if you're in Guanajuato. In 1910, due to the overcrowding of the local graveyard, the authorities were forced to exhume several bodies and when they did that they found the bodies had turned into mummies rather than fully decomposing. After that they founded this really strange and unique museum.

La Valenciana Church (San Cayetano)

Built from 1765-1788 with funding from the rich silver mines, this is considered to be one of the best examples of Mexican Churrigueresque architecture. Particularly noteworthy are the finely-carved, elaborate altars covered in gold leaf.

La Feria de Chapultepec

Santa Lucía riverwalk

Templo Expiatorio del Santísimo Sacramento

This finely detailed Gothic Revival cathedral was built over decades starting in the late 19th century. There is a mechanical clock in the bell tower that features a procession of the Twelve Apostles at 09:00, 12:00 and 18:00. The interior of the church features a lovely collection of stained glass windows.

Pyramid of the Magician

The most impressive structure and the tallest at 35m, which you will find just beyond the entrance. According to ancient legend, this pyramid was built by Itzamna in one night. It actually appears to have been built in five phases, and it was situated so that its western stairway faces the setting sun at summer solstice. Tourists are no longer permitted to climb the pyramid.

Tecate

stream in Baja California, Mexico

Arena Coliseo

arena in Mexico City, Mexico

Faro Mazatlán

lighthouse in Mexico

Organ Pipe Cactus Family Picnic Ground

park in the United States of America

El Caracol, Chichen Itza

pyramid in Chichén Itzá

Romería

pilgrimage

Cerro del Obispado