A Country of Pyramids, Mezcal and Coast
Mexico is a large country in North America, bordered by the Pacific Ocean, the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, known for its ancient civilisations, colonial cities, regional cuisines and long coastlines. It covers about 1.96 million square kilometres, and its capital, Mexico City, stands on the site of the Aztec city of Tenochtitlan. The Maya, Zapotec, Aztec and many other cultures left monuments that still define the landscape, from the pyramids of Teotihuacan to Chichen Itza on the Yucatan Peninsula.
Food is the way into the country. Mexican cuisine is recognised by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, and dishes such as mole in Oaxaca, tacos al pastor in the capital and fresh ceviche on the Pacific coast show how deeply regional it is. Mezcal and tequila, made from agave, carry their own traditions, and the Day of the Dead each November turns streets and cemeteries into scenes of marigolds, candles and music.
Cities, Coasts and Colonial Towns
Culture-led travellers begin in Mexico City, where world-class museums, Diego Rivera murals, markets and restaurants fill the historic centre, and Chapultepec Park gives the capital its green heart. From there, San Miguel de Allende and Guanajuato represent the colonial silver towns of the highlands, with cobbled lanes, baroque churches and pastel facades. Oaxaca adds crafts, markets and some of the country's best cooking.
The coasts bring the sun. On the Caribbean side, Cancun, Tulum and the Riviera Maya pair white sand with cenotes and Maya ruins above the sea. On the Pacific, Puerto Vallarta offers a cobbled old town and the Bay of Banderas, and Los Cabos sits where the desert meets the sea at the tip of Baja California. A hotel group can use this range to match every guest, from honeymooners to families, to the right shoreline.
Read the full Mexico guide on Visit Travel Group, or see MexicoDirect.co.uk on Visit Travel Group.