North America most southern country has a lot to offer, but when we think of Mexico, many associate it with beach resorts. We certainly did. It’s only natural since Mexico has an extensive coastline with the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Gulf of Mexico to the east. Also, part of the Yucatan Peninsula and the Island of Cozumel are on in the Caribbean Sea.
Mexico has spectacular scenery throughout and venturing inland is well worth it. We enjoy visiting the ancient civilizations’ vestiges that dot the spectacular scenery. Abandoned cities like Teotihuacan, Chichen Itza or Tulum are all impressive and unique. There is so much history in Mexico and these ancient sites bring it to life.
Mexico City
Mexico City is a beautiful city with a lot of history. It’s perfect for a cultural trip. For some reason we had never made it that far inland in Mexico until just recently. We usually stay at resorts by the sea. But we’re thrilled we made it to Mexico City. You can read about our experience and our travel tips in our post: Mexico City: Top Places to Visit and Things to Do (or Not)
Of course, like any megalopolis there are areas that are best to be avoided but this should not deter you from visiting Mexico City. Just take the same precautions you would take in any large city.
Beach Resort Reviews
Acapulco
Acapulco was once one of Mexico’s premiere beach resorts destination, but its days of glory are long gone. It wasn’t very safe when we visited in the mid-90s, so I can just imagine how it is now. Even back then we had to stay on the main strip and avoid venturing too far from our hotel, sticking to nearby restaurants. The beach is lined with restaurants and bars, so most hotels are located across the main road. I remember that the late-night music was so loud that the windows of our room shook! Our hotel had a beach club, but some hotels do not. This is one of the only places where we saw shards of broken glass in the sand.
Having seen many beaches over the years, I can qualify that Acapulco Beach is dangerous. The surf and undertow are very powerful.
On top of this, it gets deep really fast, 10 feet in and the water is over your head. Rogue waves come crashing on the shore and can reach far onto the beach. We even saw one that took a table as it receded back into the sea! Despite the restaurant owner chasing after it, we watched in dismay as the table disappeared into the ocean never to be seen again. Needless to say, we were not very tempted to visit Acapulco again, as we like to swim in the ocean when the conditions are right. Rip currents can be deadly.
Even in Mexico City our hotel chauffeur, a local, said he was scared to visit Acapulco. That should say a lot!
Cancun
We’ve visited Cancun a couple of times. It’s a safer destination than Acapulco, but it can get crazy and overcrowded especially during Spring Break. Furthermore, we found that it lacked the Mexican vibe with all the fast food chains and usual restaurants established in most American tourist spots. For those who enjoy shopping, bar hopping and partying, Cancun would be a good choice but if you’re looking for peace and quiet it’s not a good option.
Riviera Maya
Playa del Carmen and Tulum are great for beach vacations, scuba diving or snorkeling. If relaxing on the beach is what you’re looking for, then this area is a good choice. Beautiful and inviting beaches dot the coastline.
The Riviera Maya is also perfect for family vacations as there are plenty of activities to do. Day excursions to Xel-ha or Xcaret are sure to keep the kids entertained. At the Xel-ha aquatic park and ecocenter we snorkeled in a river inlet. Snorkeling in a mixture of fresh and seawater is like looking through champagne with all the bubbles. It was an unusual experience and we highly recommend it. Also, in the inlet marine life was thriving and we encountered many different species. The park offered a lot of activities, some of which were included in the entrance fee. Other activities like swimming with dolphins cost extra. Xcaret Park offers similar activities, although it’s more touristy.
It’s also a good home-base for visiting ancient Mayan sites. Resorts along the Riviera Maya offer regular excursions to Tulum, Chichen Itza and Coba.
Visiting Ancient Civilizations Sites
When we visited Chichen Itza we climbed to the top of the Kukulkan Pyramid, but this isn’t allowed anymore. Perhaps it’s to preserve this national treasure (and one of the New Seven Wonders of the World) or maybe it was decided that it is simply too dangerous. Let me tell you that it was a steep hike up on very narrow stairs. Going up wasn’t too bad but coming down was a different matter, especially for those, like me, with vertigo. Even if you can’t climb the pyramid it’s a very impressive site and I would love to see it again.
If you must climb a pyramid, go to the Mayan site of Coba where climbing the pyramid is still permitted and get a different perspective. Alternatively, go to Teotihuacan, near Mexico City, where you can climb both the Pyramid of the Sun and the Pyramid of the Moon as well as a bunch of other structures. These pyramids are the largest ones and are truly impressive.
The Mayan site of Tulum is the only Mayan site overlooking the ocean. We visited Tulum on a couple of occasions. The first time we rented a scooter to go from Playa del Carmen. It took a long time, but it was worth it! At that time the site wasn’t finished with nice pathways for visitors as it is today. When we returned years later it felt less authentic and very touristy, but it was still nice to see. On our latest visit we got there by boat and approaching this iconic site by the sea is by far one of the best views of Tulum.
Also, plan enough time to take a dip and enjoy the beautiful white sand beach of Tulum. The water is warm and inviting! The beach itself is spectacular!
Cenotes
All over the Yucatán Peninsula there are Cenotes, which are entryways to underground rivers. It’s possible to explore them while snorkeling or scuba diving. We snorkeled in one that was inside a cave, it was interesting to see, but the water was pretty cold. Scuba diving in them is more technical and having a guide is essential. Getting lost would be deadly since there isn’t always a hole to get out nearby. Not for us…
Scuba Diving in Cozumel
Cozumel is a diver’s paradise. Who doesn’t want to dive on the world’s second largest barrier reef? As scuba divers this is a place we enjoy visiting regularly. Seriously, the island’s reefs are thriving with sea life. On top of that the water is warm with a visibility of 80 to 100 feet. Of course, snorkeling is also very popular.
It goes without saying that the Riviera Maya is also an excellent scuba diving destination, and perhaps even a better vacation spot for those traveling with non-diving friends or family members, as there is a lot to see and do.
It’s also an area frequented by whale sharks and these gentle creatures migrate through this area from mid-May to mid-September.
I remember our first dive in Cozumel very well. A few minutes after jumping off the dive boat we saw a nurse shark, a stingray, a turtle, and a large grouper—we were hooked! And knew we would be back for a scuba diving vacation!
See our post: Scuba Diving Vacation in Cozumel
Latin America & The Caribbean – Cozumel – Mexico City