843 Best Sights in Mexico

Bike tours, butterfly- and bird-watching adventures, as well as kayaking, diving, and eco-oriented snorkeling trips can be booked through Eco Colors. They also specialize in cultural programs and volunteer opportunities.

This Maya-owned and -operated eco-park has cenotes and a few beautiful underground caverns that are great for snorkeling and diving, as well as some small Maya ruins. It offers you a choice of three different experiences. The place is low-key—a nice break from the crowds. Bring natural mosquito repellent.

The Maya site of Ek Balam is best known for the amazingly well-preserved stucco panels on the Templo de los Frisos. A giant mask crowns its summit, and its friezes contain wonderful carvings of figures often referred to as "angels" (because they have wings)—but which more likely represented nobles in ceremonial dress.

As is common with ancient Maya structures, this temple, styled like those in the lowland region of Chenes, is superimposed upon earlier ones. The temple was a mausoleum for ruler Ukin Kan Lek Tok, who was buried with priceless funerary objects, including perforated seashells, jade, mother-of-pearl pendants, and small bone masks with movable jaws. At the bases at either end of the temple, the leader’s name is inscribed on the forked tongue of a carved serpent. (Maya culture ascribed no negative connotation to the snake.) A contemporary of Uxmal and Cobá, the city may have been a satellite city to Chichén Itzá, which rose to power as Ek Balam waned.

This site is also notable for its two concentric walls—a rare configuration in the Maya world—that surround the 45 structures in the main sector. They may have provided defense or, perhaps, symbolized the ruling elite that lived within. In addition, Ek Balam has a ball court and many freestanding stelae (stone pillars carved with commemorative glyphs or images). New Age groups occasionally converge here for prayers and seminars, but the site usually has few visitors, which adds to its allure.

The water at this beach is almost always still, and even when surf is bigger, the many jetties keep a section of the beach safe for swimming (though swimmers should still take caution). Take a panga tour to the Marietas Islands; in winter, whale-watching is popular here. You'll also have plenty of dining options nearby. Amenities: food and drink; parking (free); showers; toilets; water sports. Best for: sunset; surfing.

Spanish explorers discovered this site—once the hub of Maya life on Cozumel—in 1518, and in 1847 it became the island's first official city. Today, it's a residential community with small, well-tended houses and gardens. Conquistadores tore down much of the Maya temple, so there's little in the way of actual ruins apart from one small stone arch; if you're in the market for souvenirs, however, vendors around the main plaza display embroidered huipil blouses and hammocks. Kun Che Park, just past the village, offers an interactive tour of the Maya lifestyle.

Isla's cemetery is on Avenida López Mateos, the road that runs parallel to Playa Norte. Many of the century-old gravestones are covered with carved angels and flowers, with the most elaborate and beautiful marking the graves of children. Hidden among them is the tomb of the notorious Fermín Mundaca de Marechaja, a 19th-century slave trader—often billed more glamorously as a pirate—who carved his own skull-and-crossbones gravestone with the ominous epitaph: "As you are, I once was; as I am, so shall you be." Ironically, his remains actually lie in Mérida, where he died. The monument is tough to find, so ask a local to point out the marker.

There really is a downtown Cancún, although you'll never see it if you confine yourself to your resort in the Zona Hotelera. El Centro's malls and markets offer a glimpse of Mexico's urban lifestyle. Avenida Tulum, the main drag, is marked by a huge sculpture of shells and starfish in the middle of a traffic circle. This iconic Cancún sight, which locals refer to as El Ceviche, is particularly dramatic at night when the lights are turned on. El Centro is also home to many restaurants and bars. (We recommend taking a taxi to and from at night.) You'll also find Mercado Veintiocho (Market 28), an enormous crafts market just off Avenidas Yaxchilán and Sunyaxchén, and the nearby Mercado Veintitres (Market 23) for a fun look at a local produce market. For bargain shopping, hit the stores and small strip malls along Avenida Tulum.

The built-up area in the Zona Hotelera near the convention center at the sharply angled bend of Boulevard Kukulcán is not El Centro.

Considered a giant among the region’s vineyards, this winery produces 30,000 cases of wine, has its own concert venue, private villas, and the popular restaurant Latitude 32. Most stop by to sample the fine blends named after constellations in honor of the owner’s love for astronomy. Behind the barrel is winemaker Jesus Rivera, responsible for much of the success of neighboring wineries where he previously consulted. For an elegant Chardonnay, try Capricornius, or for an Italian grape blend of Nebbiolo and Sangiovese, the Perseus aged 24 months in French oak barrels is also wonderful. The Orion is one of their most popular reds. Over 75 percent of their wines are certified organic, with eco-friendly practices at the root of their production (solar power, water wells, and aqua reserves). For the jewel of El Cielo, go big with their reserved collection, Estrellas (stars) that have been preserved up to 20 years. Be sure to book the "Blend Your Own Wine Experience" that includes a tour, tasting, and wine-lab workshop where a certified sommelier will teach you how to create your own wine. 

From Mismaloya there is a trail following the river deep into the jungle and up through the mountains; it's about 4 km (2½ miles) long and it leads to a beautiful waterfall and natural pool known as El Edén. The trek can be a bit arduous for kids, but the nature around is impressive. There is a restaurant and an ecopark on-site.

The best view in Mazatlán gets you some exercise, too—a 30- to 45-minute climb along natural trails and rough-hewn stairs to the lighthouse that since 1571 has been warning ships from atop Cerro del Creston, 515 feet above the sea. Wear sturdy shoes, bring a bottle of water, and, if you go up to watch the sunset, maybe a flashlight for the trip back down. Note that it takes about 20 minutes to walk from the southern terminus of Paseo Claussen (the end of the malecón) to the start of the lighthouse trail, but it's a lovely route, most of which skirts the water. When Claussen ends just follow the signs for Paseo del Centenario for a few blocks through residential streets until you reemerge on the seaside road.

San Miguel's heart, the plaza commonly known as El Jardín (the Garden), is where much of the town's action takes place, from live music to dance presentations and fireworks on special occasions. You can get a real feel for the town just by sitting on one of its wrought-iron benches, where locals and expats alike enjoy the early-morning sunshine or the shade of the geometrically cut laurel trees on a hot afternoon. The Parroquia bells toll each quarter-hour, and at dusk the square fills with lovers smooching, men getting their shoes shined, roving musicians, and teenagers practicing break-dancing moves in the central kiosk.

El Malecón of Puerto Vallarta is its flagship attraction. The construction started in 1936 and it went through a complete renovation in 2011. Now, it’s closed to traffic and pedestrians can stroll for almost 1 km (½ mile) through a gorgeous palm-filled promenade. The walk starts at the Rosita Hotel and continues to the amphitheater across the main square. On your way, enjoy the 10 sculptures and the Voladores de Papantla (ancient Mesoamerican tradition involving bungee-jump-like "flying people").

To enjoy the drama of Isla's western shore while soaking up some rays, stroll along this 1½-km-long (1-mile-long) boardwalk. It runs from the Ultramar pier to Playa Norte and has several benches and lookout points. Check out El Monumento del Marlin Azul y la Barracuda (Blue Marlin and Barracuda Monument) along the way.

This museum tells the history of chocolate, referencing archaeological evidence of the magical substance from different locations across Mesoamerica. You will see what a fresh cacao pod looks like, and will be able to taste toasted seeds. Learn about the cultural significance that chocolate has played in Mexico over a millennia, as well as the role it plays in the world today. From a room dedicated to sculptures made of chocolate to utensils used to prepare chocolate to the insects that dominate its growing regions and cultivation, there is little you’ll be lacking in chocolate knowledge once you spend an afternoon here.

Six theme sections compose this excellent interactive children's discovery museum: My Body, Living Mexico, My Home and Family, My City, the Ideas Laboratory, and the Little Ones Zone, all together comprising more than 200 exhibits. There are also workshops, an IMAX theater (note that tickets are discounted if purchased with museum tickets), a store, and a restaurant. Although exhibits are in Spanish, there are some English-speaking staff on hand.

The somewhat difficult trip to El Pinacate is also one of the region's most rewarding. The reserve, midway between Puerto Peñasco and the Arizona border, is famous for volcanic rock formations and thousands of moonlike craters. Highlights include 4,000-foot-high Santa Clara peak, and the mile-wide El Elegante crater, created by a giant steam eruption 150,000 years ago.

With the addition of a solar-powered visitor center, which opened in 2009, exploring the area isn't quite as daunting. But you'll still need to plan ahead, bringing your own water, food, and extra gasoline. A high-clearance four-wheel-drive vehicle is also strongly advised. Since an unpopulated stretch of desert is a great place for drug trafficking and illegal border crossings, use common sense. Lastly, be mindful of the heat—summer temperatures can be blistering. The best time to visit is between November and March.

All visitors must register at the park entrance, where a ranger's station provides informative tips for visitors. For current park information, contact the International Sonoran Desert Alliance in Ajo, Arizona, at 520/387–6823 in U.S.

A half-hour climb or short funicular ride from downtown is this statue of Juan José de los Reyes Martínez, a young miner and hero of the War of Independence of 1810. Nicknamed El Pípila, de los Reyes crept up to the Alhóndiga de Granaditas, where Spanish Royalists were hiding, and set the door ablaze. This enabled Father Hidalgo's army to capture the Spanish troops in this first major military victory for the independence forces. The monument has spectacular city views, as well as a clutch of souvenir and snack stands. Funiculars run daily from 9 to 9 from behind the Juárez Theater and cost MX$36 round-trip.

A water park for children, El Rollo has dolphin shows, a freshwater pool with a wave machine, a waterslide, the Sky Coaster (a safe, low-key bungee jump for kids), and other fun attractions. If you book an hour-long swim with the dolphins, the folks here can have you picked up at your hotel (it's easy to catch a cab for the return trip).

This church shows a Gothic strain in its needle-slim tower and the pointed arch of the main door. Its common name, La Iglesia de los Jarritos (Church of the Little Pitchers) refers to its landmark spire, prettily adorned by 80 clay vessels. There is a cemetery in front of the church that is often full of vibrantly colored flowers.

Continuing down the road from the contaduría brings you to El Templo de la Virgen del Rosario. Note the new floor in the otherwise ruined structure; the governor's daughter didn't want to soil the hem of her gown when she married here in 2005. A bit farther on, San Blas's little cemetery is backed by the sea and the mountains.

The waterfall is a 40-minute walk from Ajijijc and only visible during the rainy season, but the trek is definitely worth it if you want to spend some time in nature without people around you.

About 14 km (9 miles) east of Oaxaca on Carretera 190, the hamlet of Santa María del Tule is known for El Tule, the huge cypress tree that towers over the lovely colonial-era church behind it. Thought to be more than 2,000 years old, it's one of the world's largest trees, with roots buried more than 60 feet in the ground and a canopy arcing some 140 feet high. It has an estimated weight of nearly 640,000 tons; it would take 35 adults to embrace the trunk. In front of the church is a pleasant garden with animal-shape topiaries. There's a nominal fee to enter the grounds. At informal outdoor eateries in the tree's shadow, local ladies tend large griddles, serving atole (a nutritious drink of ground cornmeal or rice), soups, and snacks.

Several blocks south of the city center, the restored Hermitage of St. Isabel, also known as the Hermitage of the Good Trip stands on a square that is the heart of the neighborhood named after the church—La Ermita. Completed in 1748, the beautiful edifice served as a resting place for colonial-era travelers headed to Campeche. It's one of the most peaceful places in the city and a good destination for a ride in a horse-drawn carriage, though it's typically open only during mass. Behind the hermitage are huge tropical gardens, which have a waterfall and footpaths and which are usually unlocked during daylight hours.

La Antigua also has the first church of New Spain, the diminutive Ermita del Rosario. The little white stucco structure has been restored (and enlarged) many times over the years. The oddly placed arch in the middle of the church was actually once the facade. You can see that two windows near the altar were originally doors.

At the northern edge of UNAM's cultural center and an easy stroll from MUAC (Museo Universitario Arte Contemporáneo) and the concert halls, this mesmerizing and tranquil complex of contemporary sculpture is more of a wilderness than a garden. Opened in 1979, it contains strikingly dramatic and in some cases massive sculpture installations by six renowned artists: the frequent Barragán collaborator Mathias Goeritz as well as Helen Escobedo, Manuel Felguérez, Sebastian, Hersúa, and Federico Silva, who came up with the idea of creating a natural space to display large-scale, abstract shapes. The property adjoins a massive nature preserve; if you have time, take a stroll through the rugged, arid landscape of rusty-hued volcanic rock and the flora that thrives here. It's a peaceful spot, although with little protection from the sun. Note that it closes at 4 in the afternoon.

Thanks to batter-friendly thin air, baseball fans here are often treated to slugfests at Diablos Rojos games in this dramatic stadium near the airport. The season for the Mexican League pro team (they play at roughly the caliber of U.S. MLB Triple A minor league teams) runs from April to August, with playoffs lasting into September.

This hulking 72,000-seat stadium is near the south end of San Ángel, but is part of Ciudad Universitaria, the main campus for UNAM (National Autonomous University of Mexico). The striking elliptical building was an icon of modern architecture when it opened in 1952 and it played host to the main events of the 1968 Olympics and 1986 FIFA World Cup. Today it hosts soccer games of UNAM's Pumas as well as a number of other events. Be sure to view the sprawling relief mural by Diego Rivera that hangs above the main entrance of the stadium, on the east side of the building.

El Salado Estuary is a natural reserve set in the middle of Puerto Vallarta. Considering it's in an urban area, the biodiversity is impressive. They offer boat tours across the estuary, where you will see crocodiles roaming free in their habitat, as well as several species of water birds.

The largest and most dramatic of a few different historic churches in town, this imposing, ornately designed church and former Augustine monastery sits in the very center of town, overlooking Malinalco's small but bustling main plaza. Exceptionally detailed murals created by indigenous artists when the building was constructed in the mid-16th century line the walls and arched ceilings of the central atrium, and there's a remarkable crucifix carved of stone on the expansive tree-shaded grounds out front. The building is also known as the Parroquia del Divino Salvador, or Parish of the Divine Savoir. 

This impressive, huge, former convent includes a trio of churches. The most unusual is the Moorish-style Capilla Real, with 49 domes. Construction began in the 1540s, and the building was originally open on one side to facilitate the conversion of huge masses of people. A handful of Franciscan monks still live in one part of the premises, so be respectful of their privacy. La Biblioteca Franciscana is a fascinating on-premises library of over 24,000 volumes from the 16th through 19th centuries, with occasional exhibitions.