Mexico Travel guide

Mexico is a great destination, and has a lot to offer to travelers. Whether you decide to visit the beautiful beaches famous around the world, historical cities from the time of the Spanish colony and archeological sites of cultures such as the Maya, Olmeca and Azteca among others, beautiful national parks in deserts, mountains and forests, or just hang out in one of the modern cities, you will enjoy Mexico holidays any time of the year. 

Highlights in Mexico

Highlights in Mexico are the capital city of Mexico City, Monterrey, with its beautiful colonial buildings and Guadalajara. For colonial cities one should visit Oaxaca, Morelia, San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, Queretaro, San Luis Potosi, Zacatecas, Aguascalientes, Merida in the Yucatan peninsula, among others.

The beaches of mexico

For beaches, some of the best, most unspoiled are located on the Oaxaca coast, particularly Zipolite and Puerto Escondido. Cancun, Cozumel, Playa del Carmen located at the Riviera Maya, Mazatlan, Manzanillo, Ixtapa and Puerto Vallarta among others, are the place to be for all fun loving creatures. The peninsula of Yucatan offers an ideal mix of Maya culture, great weather and some of the world’s best snorkeling and diving in places such as Cozumel and Cancun located on the Riviera Maya. For a truly Mexican experience, the city of San Cristóbal de las Casas in Chiapas offers a view of the indigenous Mayan peoples in a beautiful colonial city. Los Cabos in Baja California Sur has been a favorite get-away for Mexicans and Americans for years. 

Archeological sites in Mexico

Archeological sites in Mexico are vast, one should keep in mind Teotihuacan, Chichen Itza, Palenque, El Tajin and Monte Alban among just a few. 

For those looking for an active vacation, Mexico offers golf courses, scuba diving and lots of mountains to go hiking in, including cloud rainforest in Chiapas. 

When to go to Mexico?

If you are planning a vacation in Mexico, you have to know the main travel season of Mexico, there are only two; the peak season initiates approximately on December 20 and it persists during the Easter; in various places it initiates as early as mid of November. 

The off season is from the day after Easter to mid of December, and the prices may fall 20% to 50%; in the most visited beach resorts with Mexican travelers, such as Acapulco, prices will revert to high season during July and August, this is the traditional national summer vacation season. 

The rates in interior places rarely vary from peak to off season, but may rise radically during the weeks of Easter and Christmas. Taxco and Pátzcuaro elevate prices during their famous Easter-week celebrations. In Isla Mujeres and Playa del Carmen, on the Yucatán Peninsula, peak season begins earlier than in the rest of the country and includes the month of August, when several foreign visitors and local families arrive. 

Mexico also has a pair of principal climate seasons: the rainy season from May to mid-October and the dry season from mid-October to April. The rainy season can be of little effect in the dry, northern region of the country. Southern regions typically have tropical showers. 

Ancient Attractions in Mexico

You dont have to miss Chichén Itzá, Uxmal, Tulum, Monte Albán, Teotihuacán, Cobá.

Eating in Mexico

Mexican cuisine is famous for its intense and varied flavors, colorful decoration, and variety of spices; traditional Mexican food is delicious, but frequently can be very spicy; if you do not like peppers always ask before if your food includes it. 

There are several food carts on the streets of Mexican cities and towns; try to be careful when you eat from these carts, as hygienic preparation practices are not always suitable. If you do that, you may (or may not) find some of the most inimitable and authentically Mexican dishes you have ever tasted. From these vendors, you may get tacos, burgers, bread and almost any kind of food and service you would imagine. 

The most popular dishes in Mexico

Some of the most popular dishes are: 

• Enchiladas – Usually made with a corn (maiz) tortilla dipped briefly in hot lard or oil to soften then dipped in the chosen enchilada sauce. it may have melted cheese.
• Tacos – is a traditional Mexican dish composed of a rolled, folded, pliable maize tortilla filled with an edible substance.
• Tamales – steam cooked cornmeal dough with or without a filling. Tamales can be filled with meats, cheese (post-colonial), and sliced chillies or any preparation according to taste and zone.
• Tortas – traditional Mexican sandwich, the bread is fried slightly; meat fillings are the same as tacos, jalapeños, beans, lettuce, tomatoes, onion, mayonnaise and avocado.
• Quesadillas – it is made of queso or cheese in English, and other ingredients grilled in the middle of a tortilla.
• Mole – Frequently you can find it as shredded chicken in mole or “Pollo en mole”; mild to medium spice sauce with a hint of peanut over meat.
• Pozole – is a Mexican stew of chicken or pork made with a spicy broth and hominy, served with oregano, lettuce, lemon juice, radish, chopped onion, dried ground chile and other ingredients, usually served with a side dish of tostadas, fried potato and fresh cheese tacos. Guacamole – is a delicious appetizer or made by mashing the avocado sauce with green serrano chile, chopped red tomato and onion, lemon juice and fried tortilla slices “totopos”.
• Tostadas – fried flat tortilla topped with fried beans, lettuce, cream, fresh cheese, sliced red tomato and onion, hot sauce, and chicken or other main ingredient.
• Chicharron – Deep fried pork skin, it is quite crispy and if well-prepared a little oily; try it.