841 Best Sights in Mexico

The petite Parroquia de Santa María Magdalena, at the end of Avenida Hidalgo, was built on the highest spot in town, so you have to climb some steep stairs to get to the entrance. Behind the altar is a traditional depiction of the crucifixion with Mary Magdalene, showing a bit more shoulder than usual, lying prostrate beneath the cross. A more demure statue of her is dressed in a different outfit for every day of the festival in her honor. The small museum behind the church has a display of her ensembles.

The wealth of Coatepec town is apparent in its gilt-covered churches. Across from the main square, the 18th-century Parroquia San Jerónimo has low arches trimmed with gold leaf.

North of downtown, this 10-block-long street was the place to reside in the late-19th and early-20th centuries, when wealthy hacienda owners sought to outdo each other with the opulence of their city mansions. They typically opted for the decorative styles popular in New Orleans, Cuba, and Paris (imported Carrara marble, European antiques). Many mansions are now used as office buildings, but four are open to the public: the Palacio Cantón, which houses a museum focused on Maya culture; Casas Gemelas and Quinta Montes Molina, both of which are house museums; and El Minaret, home to the Yerba Santa restaurant. Although the broad boulevard has lost some of its panache, lined as it is with breadfruit, tamarind, and laurel trees, it's still a lovely place to explore—on foot or in a horse-drawn carriage—and enjoy a drink or meal at a restaurant with outdoor seating.

Everyone seems to come here at night, from cuddling young couples in search of a secluded bench to parents with children seeking the best place for ice cream.

Drop by during the day and you'll find boats that will take you out into the harbor for about $5 per person.

The main draw of this gallery with spare, angular exhibit rooms is that it's one of the only art spaces in Mexico City with a primary focus on contemporary photography. About 30 artists show here regularly, and there are about six to eight temporary shows throughout the year.

Pepe Santiago, a Lacandón resident associated with Na Bolom since childhood, leads tours daily to San Juan Chamula, Zinacantán, and San Nicolás Buenavista. (Pepe's name is a veritable ticket to acceptance in the more remote regions of Chiapas.) The group leaves Na Bolom promptly at 10 am (they suggest arriving at 9:45) and returns around 3; it's well worth the $30 per person price. Pepe's sister, Teresa Santiago Hernández, also leads tours.

Follow the signs to Playa Miramar and take advantage of the free tours given by the pearl farm, Perlas del Mar de Cortéz, which has more than 200,000 native pearl oysters in cultivation—it's the only pearl farm of its scale in the Americas. Tours are conducted on the hour weekdays 9 to 3 and Saturday 9 to 11. After taking the tour, you will have an opportunity to buy jewelry made from the stunningly iridescent pearls they cultivate.

The Maya were centuries ahead of their time in understanding the heavens. This newest addition to Cozumel's sightseeing roster mixes modern-day with pre-Columbian knowledge of astronomy, with a bit of Maya legend peppered in. A separate admission apart from the daily schedule admits you to the Velada Astronómica, hourlong stargazing programs held Thursday and Saturday nights at 8—weather permitting, of course.

Playa Agua Blanca is about 30 minutes east of Puerto Escondido, at Km 172 of the road towards Mazunte. You'll see a sign for Agua Blanca pointing down a winding road. At the end of this road is a pristine beach with soft white sand, big waves, and lots of rocks with tidal pools perfect for children or cautious swimmers to take a dip in. Although this beach is becoming better known outside the local community and the restaurants are becoming more substantial, it's still a quiet spot to relax beneath a palapa and eat oysters picked fresh from the sea. Or enjoy a full lunch at any of the shady comedores that dot the beach. Amenities: food and drink; parking (no fee); toilets. Best for: solitude; walking.

This club sits just north of the hotel of the same name. The beach is actually pockets of soft sand between limestone shelves; there's also a pool at the hotel that is open to club guests. The restaurant beneath a large palapa serves delicious ceviche and bountiful club sandwiches with a side of fries, and there's free Wi-Fi to boot. Live music on Sunday afternoon draws a crowd of fun-loving people. There's good snorkeling along the reef wall.Amenities: food and drink; parking (no fee); showers; toilets. Best for: snorkeling; sunsets; swimming.

High red cliffs serve as the backdrop for this long, secluded beach west of town. The beach is situated at the bottom of a steep hill ringed by upscale housing and hotel developments and is best reached by taxi. Between July and November, Playa Bacocho is an important turtle-nesting beach, so if you're lucky you may witness the hatching of baby olive ridley sea turtles or a female coming ashore to lay her eggs. In the winter season you can often see dolphins and migrating whales close to shore. Cocos and Villasol beach clubs have restaurant and bar service, swimming pools, showers, and shade; access is MX$60 unless you're a guest of Posada Real or Villasol hotels.

Avoid swimming here. Although the waves aren't fierce, the rip currents are strong, and there are no lifeguards.

none.

solitude; sunset; walking.

A rocky point shelters a clear, warm bay at Playa Balandra, 21 km (13 miles) north of La Paz. Several small coves and pristine beaches appear and disappear with the tides, but the water is calm and shallow enough that you can wade between them. This is Mexico's most famous beach, so the most popular way to visit is with a boat tour, whose guide typically provides beach chairs, snorkeling gear, and lunch. If you go independently, there are some restrictions, as Balandra was named an ecological conservation site by UNESCO. There is an entrance fee of about $3 per person, and you can stay for up to a maximum of four hours during either a morning (8--noon) or afternoon (1--5) time slot. A maximum of 450 people are allowed to enter during each time slot, so if you're traveling during peak season (or even on a weekend), you may want to arrive and line up early to guarantee admission. You will be made to leave once your time slot closes, regardless of when you arrived. The most iconic site at Balandra is "El Hongo," a rock formation that looks like a mushroom. It's a photo op, for sure, but climbing on it is forbidden. There's also a 30-minute hike from the parking lot up to a panoramic viewpoint overlooking the bay. When walking in the shallow waters, you're advised to shuffle your feet, kicking up sand to disturb any potentially sleeping sting rays. Sand flies can be a nuisance on the beach, particularly between July and October. Amenities: parking (fee). Best for: snorkeling; swimming.

Also known as Whale Beach, this Blue Flag Beach is a raw stretch of sand and crystal water at Km 14.5 between the Hard Rock Hotel and Secrets The Vine. Jet Skiers often zoom through the water, and the strong wind makes the surf rough. The beach is open to the public; parking and beach access are at Calle Ballenas. Food and drinks are available at any of the resorts along this stretch, including the Hard Rock, Secrets The Vine, and Sandos Cancún—but keep in mind these all-inclusives cater only to hotel guests. Amenities: parking (no fee); water sports. Best for: sunrise; walking; windsurfing.

This beach of fine gray-blond sand is wide and flat, and it stretches for several kilometers. Gentle waves make it suitable for swimming, boogie boarding, and snorkeling, but beware the undertow. It's a great place for jogging or walking on the beach. The place goes completely bananas every year during one weekend in August when the International Beach Festival Boca de Iguanas takes place. Amenities: food and drink; parking (no fee); showers; toilets. Best for: partiers; snorkeling; surfing; swimming.

This V-shape, rocky bay lies at the mouth of the Río Horcones, about 5 km (3 miles) south of Mismaloya. Water taxis leave from Boca to the southern beaches. As far as most visitors are concerned, this is mainly the staging area for water taxis with nowhere else to hang out. However, this dramatic-looking bay lined with palm trees does have rustic appeal. Amenities: food and drink; showers; toilets. Best for: swimming.

This wide, lengthy, and accessible stretch of beach is one of the longest along the Cabo Corridor, but is rapidly developing with new resorts. Reef breaks for surfers can be good, but the beach is also known for its riptides, making it unswimmable. It's a great beach for long, quiet runs or walks, and it's not uncommon to find locals with horses to rent for a beachside ride. Whales can easily be spotted from the beach from January through March. The small, man-made "Tequila Cove" between Hilton and Paradisus has calm waters, excellent for swimming. Here you'll find a tiny shack renting bodyboards and other water-sports equipment. Amenities: toilets; water sports; free parking. Best for: surfers; walking.

For a truly romantic spot you might want to visit Playa Caballo, a spectacular secluded beach of turquoise blue waters, calm waves, lush vegetation—and nothing else. Get a water taxi at Boca de Tomatlán or, if you are up for the adventure, start walking from Boca through a small pathway across the jungle all the way to this "Horse Beach." You'll be there in hour and a half. Amenities: none. Best for: solitude; swimming; walking.

Situated 5 km (3 miles) north of La Paz, half of Caimancito "belongs" to the locals (though anyone is welcome), with sun-shading palapas and some government signage. It's a good beach for families with young children, as the calm, shallow waters feel more like a large natural pool than ocean. The second half houses El Caimancito Restaurant & Beach Club, which is owned by the boutique hotel, Orchid House Baja. There are very cute day beds and wooden swings, plus a DJ and fan to keep cool in the heat. A $500 MXN ($25) consumption minimum is required for nonguests of the hotel. Amenities: food and drink; parking (free). Best for: partiers; swimming.

On the southern peninsula in Old Acapulco, this beach and smaller Playa Caletilla (Little Caleta) to the south once rivaled La Quebrada as the main tourist areas, and were quite popular with the early Hollywood crowd Today their snug little bays and calm waters make them a favorite with Mexican families, and the newly renovated Boca Chica, one of Acapulco’s original hotels, keeps the glamour alive. Caletilla also has many small family-run restaurants serving good, cheap food. On both beaches vendors sell everything from seashells to peeled mangos; boats depart from both to Isla de Roqueta. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; water sports. Best for: snorkeling; sunrise.

This beach is just north of Playa las Gaviotas on the map but a couple of notches lower on the energy scale. Although hotels and sports concessions back both stretches, there's more room to spread out on this beach. It's also well protected from heavy surf by offshore islands. Most of the hotels have lounge chairs and umbrellas that nonguests can often use if they order drinks.

A long, flat, brown-sand beach whose name translates to Shrimp Beach, Playa Camarones was the first urban beach in the country to receive the Playa Limpia (Clean Beach) certification by the federal government. The certification means that the beach will always have a lifeguard present, trash bins, clean bathrooms, and handicap accessibility. Its location—parallel to the malecón between the Hotel Rosita and the Buenaventura Hotel—attracts many locals. The shore is always changing: it could be rock-strewn in the morning and clear later when the tide goes out. Watch for whales in winter from trendy beachfront El Solar Bar or from the El Barracuda Restaurant next door. Although the waves are gentle, there are strange currents here, which should discourage all but strong swimmers. Amenities: food and drink; parking (no fee); toilets; water sports. Best for: sunset; surfing; walking.

The last "real beach" along the east–west stretch of the Zona Hotelera is near Plaza Caracol and the Xcaret dock. Located at Km 8.5, the whole area has been eaten up by development, in particular the high-rise condominium complex next to the entrance. Playa Caracol (caracol means "snail") is also hindered by the rocks that jut out from the water to mark the beginning of Punta Cancún, where Boulevard Kukulcán turns south. There are several hotels along here and a few sports rental outfits. It's also the launching point for trips to Contoy Island. Closer to the Fiesta Americana Grand Coral Beach hotel, the water is calm because of the jetty that blocks the wind and waves.Amenities: food and drink; water sports. Best for: swimming; windsurfing.

This beach is named for the careyes (hawksbill) turtles that lay eggs here. It's a lovely soft-sand beach framed by headlands. When the water's not too rough, snorkeling is good around the rocks, where you can also fish. There's a small restaurant at the north end of the beach, and often you can arrange to go out with a local fisherman (about $20 per hour). Amenities: food and drink; parking (no fee). Best for: snorkeling; swimming.

Careyitos is one of the longest beaches in Costa Careyes and, paradoxically, maybe the most private, as there are not many properties on its shore. Its waters are calm and inviting. It's a perfect place for camping. You may want to climb the Morro Prieto hill to reach a lookout that offers outstanding views of the area. Amenities: food and drink; parking (no fee); water sports. Best for: sunset; swimming; walking.

This village may not have the classic beaches of the Caribbean, but it does have several kilometers of lovely coastline, perfect for long walks and seashell collecting. There are no crowds, even at the main beach in town, and the water is a pretty emerald-green color. The nicest stretch is near Hotel Eco Paraíso, home to 5 km (3 miles) of white sandy beaches, where turtles nest from April through July and bottlenose dolphins can be seen swimming. The waters are usually tranquil until late afternoon; when winds pick up, this isn't the best place for a dip—but it's perfect for relaxing or kayaking (rentals are available at the hotel). There are no lifeguards on duty, so ask hotel staff about rip currents and incoming swells. Amenities: food and drink; water sports (through the hotel). Best for: walking.

Located at Km 10 on Boulevard Kukulcán, this Blue Flag Beach can be accessed through the beach entrance across the street from Señor Frog's. As at Playa Caracol, development has greatly encroached on the shores here. There are a lot of rocks, but the water is a stunning turquoise; moreover, the beach is close to shopping centers and the party zone, so you'll find plenty of restaurants nearby. The short stretch to the south has gentler waters and fewer rocks. Public changing rooms and limited free parking are also available. The clear, shallow water makes it tempting to walk far out, but be careful—there's a strong current and undertow. Lifeguards are on duty until 5 pm. The closest hotel to Playa Chac Mool is Le Blanc Resort. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; parking (free); toilets. Best for: partiers; sunrise.

Playa Chalacatepec is a true piece of unspoiled paradise. Miles of white-sand beach extend without any sign of human activity. However, this outstanding beauty could have its days numbered, as there are big projects planned for the area. Talk about building a “new Cancún” is commonplace, as the Chalacatepec lagoon provides a similar setting to that of the Caribbean resort town. It's perfect for camping—just stay away from crocodiles. Amenities: none. Best for: solitude; surfing; swimming; walking.

The main beach in the Chamela Bay area is long and wide, with several hotels and restaurants scattered here and there. Lounge chairs and palapas are available for rent on the beach. The sea is good for kids and for swimming, as the islands in front of the coastline soften the surf in the bay. Boat trips to the islands are available. Amenities: food and drink; parking (no fee); water sports. Best for: snorkeling; swimming; walking.

This long and wide, white sand beach has natural rock formations that serve as protection from the waves providing calm waters that are perfect for swimming with kids. There are several palapas scattered here and there to relax under. Visit the nearby Mirador Chen Rio for some of the best views on this side of the island. Amenities: food and drinks; lifeguards; parking (no fee); showers; toilets; water sports. Best for: snorkeling; sunrise; swimming; walking.