Country guide · Mexico
Best places to visit in Mexico
5 destinations compared, so you can choose where to spend your time.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
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Quick answer
For a first trip to Mexico, start with Cancún: Turquoise Caribbean beaches, Maya ruins, cenotes and island day trips. For beaches, look at Cancún, Playa del Carmen and Puerto Vallarta. Puerto Vallarta is the least expensive of the destinations in this guide.
Key facts
- Destinations in this guide
- 5
- Best months overall
- November–April
- Start with
- Cancún
- Least expensive here
- Puerto Vallarta
5 places to visit in Mexico
Best: December–April · 7 days
Cancún
Turquoise Caribbean beaches, Maya ruins, cenotes and island day trips
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Best: March–April and October–November · 5 days
Mexico City
Aztec ruins, world-class museums, street tacos and leafy Roma and Condesa
Best: November–April · 6 days
Playa del Carmen
A walkable beach town on the Riviera Maya with ferries to Cozumel
Best: November–April · 6 days
Puerto Vallarta
A Pacific bay town of cobbled streets, jungle hills and winter whales
Compare the destinations
| Destination | Known for | Best time | Ideal stay | Mid-range per day |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cancún | Caribbean beaches and All-inclusive resorts | December–April | 7 days | $180–$320 |
| Mexico City | Tacos al pastor and National Museum of Anthropology | March–April and October–November | 5 days | $120–$220 |
| Playa del Carmen | Quinta Avenida and Caribbean beaches | November–April | 6 days | $110–$220 |
| Puerto Vallarta | The Malecón and Zona Romántica | November–April | 6 days | $100–$200 |
| Tulum | Clifftop Maya ruins and Cenotes | November–April | 5 days | $150–$300 |
When to visit Mexico
Across these destinations the most reliable months are November–April. Timing still varies by place: Cancún is best in December–April; Mexico City is best in March–April and October–November; Playa del Carmen is best in November–April.
Signature dishes across Mexico
| Destination | Try first | Also try |
|---|---|---|
| Cancún | Cochinita pibil | Sopa de lima and Poc chuc |
| Mexico City | Tacos al pastor | Chilaquiles and Tamales and atole |
| Playa del Carmen | Tacos al pastor | Cochinita pibil torta and Fish and shrimp tacos |
| Puerto Vallarta | Pescado zarandeado | Smoked marlin tacos and Aguachile |
| Tulum | Cochinita pibil | Tacos al pastor and Panuchos and salbutes |
Events through the year in Mexico
| Month | Events |
|---|---|
| January | Cancún: Día de Reyes with rosca de reyes cake (6 January); Mexico City: Día de Reyes with rosca de reyes cake (6 January) |
| February | Cancún: Cancún Carnival (usually February or early March, before Lent); Mexico City: Día de la Candelaria, when tamales are shared (2 February) |
| March | Cancún: Spring equinox serpent shadow at Chichén Itzá (around 20–21 March); Mexico City: Spring equinox gatherings at Teotihuacan (around 21 March) |
| April | Cancún: Semana Santa (Holy Week) holidays (March or April); Mexico City: Passion Play in Iztapalapa (Holy Week, March or April) |
| May | Mexico City: Mother's Day celebrations (10 May); Puerto Vallarta: Vallarta Pride — week of LGBTQ+ events and a parade (usually May) |
| June | Cancún: Whale-shark season begins (usually around June); Mexico City: Mexico City Pride march (usually late June) |
| July | Cancún: Whale-shark season (usually June to mid-September); Puerto Vallarta: Sea turtle nesting and hatchling releases at local camps (about July to December) |
| August | Mexico City: Chiles en nogada season (usually August to September) |
| September | Cancún: Mexican Independence Day celebrations (night of 15 September and 16 September); Mexico City: El Grito independence celebration in the Zócalo (night of 15 September) |
| October | Cancún: Day of the Dead festivities begin, including Xcaret's Festival de Vida y Muerte (usually late October to early November); Mexico City: Day of the Dead parade along Paseo de la Reforma (usually late October or early November) |
| November | Cancún: Día de Muertos and Hanal Pixán, the Yucatecan Day of the Dead (1–2 November); Mexico City: Día de Muertos altars and celebrations (1–2 November) |
| December | Cancún: Día de la Virgen de Guadalupe (12 December); Mexico City: Feast of the Virgin of Guadalupe (12 December) |
How far apart they are
| From | To | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Cancún | Mexico City | 1,295 km |
| Cancún | Playa del Carmen | 64 km |
| Cancún | Puerto Vallarta | 1,908 km |
| Cancún | Tulum | 123 km |
| Mexico City | Playa del Carmen | 1,267 km |
| Mexico City | Puerto Vallarta | 651 km |
| Mexico City | Tulum | 1,223 km |
| Playa del Carmen | Puerto Vallarta | 1,888 km |
| Playa del Carmen | Tulum | 62 km |
| Puerto Vallarta | Tulum | 1,850 km |
Questions travellers ask
+Where should I go on my first trip to Mexico?
Cancún: Cancún is two places: the Hotel Zone, a 22-km sandbar shaped like a figure 7 between the turquoise Caribbean and the Nichupté Lagoon, lined with resorts, public beaches and nightclubs; and downtown, a working Mexican…
+When is the best time to visit Mexico?
Generally November–April, though it varies by region.