Types of Travel in Mexico

Travel Themes

Interests (rated ★★★★): Nature ★★★; Adventure ★★★; Culture ★★★★; Relaxation-holidays ★★★★.

Nature-Adventure

Even if you sometimes have to travel kilometres for the landscape to change, Mexico offers a rich and varied environment that allows you to experience everything from the arid deserts of the north to the high plateaus surrounded by mountains and volcanoes in the central region, as well as the humid forests along the Guatemalan border. Not to mention, of course, the nearly 10,000 km of coastline spread across two oceans. It’s in this setting that you can enjoy a wide range of "nature-adventure" activities. While Mexico is often associated with pre-Columbian sites, colonial cities, and all-inclusive beach resorts, you can also go diving, surfing, and take part in all kinds of water sports, as well as hiking, climbing, and white-water rafting.

Culture

Mexico is a land of culture where pre-Columbian civilisations, traces of the Spanish colonial era, and the unique aspects of modern Mexican society blend together. In short, with its museums, Mayan and other archaeological sites, architectural heritage, and traditional festivals, Mexico has everything to delight culture lovers. What’s more, the country is one of those with the most UNESCO World Heritage sites. However, it’s primarily the central regions and the Yucatán that offer the most points of interest.

Relaxation-Holidays

Beach relaxation holidays are one of the country’s strengths, not least because Mexico has long been the main "recreational zone" for Americans. As a result, the locations and infrastructure are well-established, and whether you prefer all-inclusive resorts or other options, on the Caribbean or Pacific coast, there’s plenty of choice.

Independent Travel

Mexico isn’t a particularly difficult destination for independent travellers, especially if you speak a little Spanish (or even just English), with plenty of accommodation and transport options that are easy to use. However, the country does have security issues in certain areas. So, without being "paranoid", it’s best to know where you’re going, take precautions, and avoid risky behaviour to stay out of trouble.

In short, the destination is well-suited for "beginner/somewhat experienced" travellers, with Baja California or the highly tourist-friendly Yucatán being easy for everyone, while some parts of the central region and especially the north require a bit more caution.

Organised Travel

Mexico is a classic in travel agency programmes, both in Europe and North America. You’ll find a wide variety of offers, from discovery tours and themed trips (treks, etc.) to cruises and all-inclusive packages, which are particularly common from Canada. You can also find custom or à la carte services from both international tour operators and local providers. In short, there’s no real difficulty in finding what you want, though destinations like the Pacific coast or Baja California are far less featured in French programmes than the Riviera Maya, for example.

All-Inclusive

Mexico is one of the world’s top destinations for all-inclusive resorts. The concept began several decades ago, including with the development of Cancun and its coast, and the all-inclusive formula now attracts millions of tourists every year. The offerings are excellent, varied, and plentiful, with a very good quality-to-price ratio, whether you’re travelling from Europe (from 1,000 € per week) or especially from North America, where stays typically last one or two weeks. For those unfamiliar with the formula who’d like to try it, Mexico—along with Dominican Republic and, to a lesser extent, Cuba—is an excellent destination.

• Mexico All-Inclusive

Family

Things to Do

Things to Avoid

Senior Travellers

Women Travellers

Gay and Lesbian Travellers

Since Mexico has a federal system, each state enacts its own social and societal laws. Mexico City is the only one to have passed civil rights for homosexuals. That said, Mexican society is quite conservative, and homosexuality isn’t always well accepted, though things are very different in the capital or beach resorts compared to the rest of the country. Among all tourist spots, Puerto Vallarta is by far the most recognised and reputed as "gay-friendly".

Travellers with Disabilities