Top 15 things you can’t miss on your visit to Mexico

Published February 19th, 2022

Mexico has all the charm a tourist is looking for. And there are many who are looking to go straight to the most touristy and fun. And here we give you those facts.

Exploring Mexico City
Mexico City, its capital, is one of the most lively and exciting capitals in the world. You definitely can’t miss spending a weekend here on your list of things to do in Mexico.

Not only is it full of art, culture (there’s an entire district that has been chosen as a UNESCO World Heritage Site), and great food, but it’s also quite doable considering it’s a capital city.

Founded in 1325 as Tenochtitlan, the city was colonized by the Spanish in 1521 and later renamed “Mexico”. However, as you explore, you will see and feel the pre-colonial history dazzle you.

From exploring the street art throughout the city or the architecture of San Miguel de Chapultepec to the 150 museums, including the National Museum of Anthropology, there are many fun things to do in Mexico City.

Mexico City is also a good starting point for day trips to the national parks or to visit some of the Aztec, Toltec, and Mesoamerican ruins.

Diving in the cenotes of the Yucatan Peninsula
If you are inquiring about the best things to do in Mexico, diving in a cenote is an absolute must.

Cenotes are abundant throughout Mexico, mainly in the Yucatan Peninsula. They are natural sinkholes, filled with water, where the cover of a cave has collapsed.

Some are like lakes and you can jump off the cliffs; others remain caverns and are perfect for exploring.

Visit the beautiful Mayan town of San Cristobal de las Casas.
San Cristobal is pure magic. It is a very special area rooted in the Mayan culture and mountain air that lies at 2200 m in the Chiapas highlands.

You know that feeling when you get to a place and you don’t quite know why, but it feels truly special. The air in San Cristobal is warm (both from the sun and the people) and the energy gets you hooked.

I was mesmerized by San Cristobal’s maze of colorful streets, all adorned with various scents and smells, and the mix of locals and travelers as a whole. The mountains and greenery that envelop this southern Mexican city provide an exquisite backdrop to every street you walk down.

San Cristobal de las Casas is one of those hidden gems of Mexico, a destination that should be on your list of things to do in Mexico, even if you like big cities, beaches, and scuba diving.

Traveling the Chiapas coffee route
The Chiapas coffee route runs through the coffee farms and plantations in the mountains and jungles of southern Mexico. If you like good coffee, this is one of the best things to do in Mexico.

The route follows the Tapachula-Nuevo Alemania highway through the mountains of southern Chiapas. Here you can visit some of the 13 farms in this area, enjoy a guided tour and taste the final product, coffee.

Some farms even have museums, stores, restaurants and offer attractive activities such as hiking and zip-lining.

The most visited farms (because they are the most accessible and open to the public) are Finca Hamburgo, Finca Irlanda, Finca Argovia, Finca La Chiripa, and Finca San Francisco.

Surfing in Puerto Escondido
Without a doubt, one of the best things to do in Puerto Escondido, if not one of the most outstanding things to do in Mexico, is to get in the water and surf.

If you are a beginner, you can go to the end of La Punta beach and book a surf lesson. The waves are much gentler at the south end of Zicatela.

The waves that Puerto Escondido is famous for are at Playa Zicatela, although it is not at all for beginners. Rarely flat, Zicatela is one of the places where the best surfers can enjoy big waves to test their skills.

The waves break very close to the shoreline, an incredible opportunity to see some epic surf up close.

Venture out for a dip at Hierve el Agua
Splash lovers should add Hierve el Agua to their list of things to do in Mexico.

The waterfalls here are actually petrified, meaning the mineral water runs through the limestone. The springs above the waterfalls have created small pools in which you can take a dip.

Swimming at El Chiflón Waterfalls, Chiapas
El Chiflón Waterfalls are on most people’s bucket lists and are, without a doubt, one of the best places to visit in Mexico. Tucked away in Chiapas, Mexico’s southernmost state, these natural beauties should be on your Mexican adventure.

Whether you want to hike, swim, or just enjoy the view, El Chiflón has it all. El Chiflón has it all. Within this valley, you will find 5 waterfalls and multiple pools, all filled with turquoise water and connected by a hiking trail.

The main waterfall is almost 120 meters high, so be prepared to be enveloped in mist as you stand open-mouthed in awe of its beauty.

Discovering the ancient Mayan ruins of Palenque
The Mayan ruins of Palenque are a UNESCO World Heritage Site and earn a special mention. Located 650 km from the Riviera Maya, in the mountains of Tumbalá, Palenque holds the secrets of Mayan mythology and resources.

It is one of the most studied and documented Mayan ruins and is still being studied to better understand Mayan history.

Eating tacos
You can’t leave Mexico without eating tacos. It’s one of the best things to do there and a must on any list of things to do in Mexico.

You can stumble upon taco trucks on every street, selling fresh tortillas filled with delicious meat and fish.

What I didn’t know before arriving in Mexico was how many types of tacos there are. There is everything from traditional pork, goat, or beef to shrimp or crab, as well as vegetarian options, and even more unique fillings like chapulin.

Visit one of the indigenous villages in the area.
San Cristobal is not an indigenous village, but there are many indigenous villages in the Chiapas area, as well as in Oaxaca, Yucatan, Mexico City, and other areas of Mexico. In these villages, you can learn about local traditions and crafts and more about indigenous culture in Mexico.

It is absolutely essential that you respect the norms of these local communities that have clung to their ancestral ways. Be friendly, don’t assume they speak Spanish (there are over 100 indigenous languages in Mexico), be cordial and ask permission before taking photos.

Take a boat tour of the Sumidero Canyon
A boat tour of the Sumidero Canyon in Chiapas is a must. You will realize that the canyon walls are more than 1 km high as you enjoy the boat tour on the Grijalva River.

On your tour, in addition to the majestic canyon, you will see crocodiles, monkeys, caves, waterfalls, and birds, as well as learn about the history of the canyon and the area.

It is approximately 1 hour from San Cristobal, so you can book an excursion from there.

Visit one of the many UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Mexico is home to 35 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, so if you’re looking for fun things to do in Mexico, there are plenty to keep you busy.

Some of our favorite UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Mexico are:

Chichen Itza.

Not only is it a UNESCO World Heritage Site, but it is one of the seven new wonders of the world. You can explore this ancient city to see the pyramids (including the monumental El Castillo or Temple of Kukulcan), the Great Ball Court, and the Temple of the Jaguars.

San Miguel de Allende

This historic Mexican city looks like something out of a fairy tale. Explore its colorful cobblestone streets to soak up the art, culture, and cuisine that Mexico has to offer.

Puebla

This city is covered in Talavera, colorful glazed tiles made by local artisans. You’ll see them in buildings, fountains, benches, and many other places. You can also buy Talavera pottery and ceramics to take home.

Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve

Each year, millions of Monarch butterflies migrate south from the United States and Canada to the Sierra Madre Mountains in Mexico. Be sure to take a day trip to this protected area to see them in the wild.

Xochimilco

Here you can ride a gondola-like boat through floating flower gardens while listening to mariachis.

Tequila

Yes, the city where tequila comes from is also called Tequila and is a beautiful UNESCO World Heritage Site. Take a trip to one of the distilleries for a tequila tasting.

Check into a Cancun hotel and explore the Riviera Maya.
Along a beautiful stretch of coastline on the Gulf of Mexico are the tourist destinations of Cancun, Playa del Carmen, Cozumel Island, and others.

Together they are known as the Riviera Maya. Known for its beautiful white-sand beaches and for being the place where the lush jungle meets the warm Caribbean Sea, the Riviera Maya and Cancun are two of the most popular places to visit in Mexico.

Without a doubt, it is the place to go for a vacation of luxury and disconnection.

Here you can do everything from relaxing on the beach to swimming in cenotes and subway caves, sightseeing in the cities, sailing to the island of Cozumel, strolling through ancient ruins, and much more.

While there, one of the most fun things to do in Mexico is to visit the Underwater Museum of Art (MUSA).

With 500 life-size sculptures and installations submerged underwater in Cancun’s National Marine Park, it is the largest underwater museum in the world and can be visited by glass-bottom boat or on a snorkeling or diving excursion.

Visit the Copper Canyon: Mexico’s Grand Canyon
The Copper Canyon, located in the Sierra Madre in the state of Chihuahua, is a system of canyons in Mexico. It is another of Mexico’s heritage sites.

Did you know that the Copper Canyon canyon system is larger and deeper than the Grand Canyon in the United States?

However, the Grand Canyon is larger than any of the individual canyons in the Copper Canyon group. The Copper Canyon is over 1 mile deep in some places, which is also deeper than the Grand Canyon.

Once you have seen the Copper Canyon (best done on the Copper Canyon train), spend some time in the area exploring the small towns and discovering the hidden waterfalls and hot springs.

Spend a few days exploring Oaxaca: a taste of the real Mexico.
Here you can enjoy fantastic street food, colorful architecture, bustling markets, day trip options, and the stunning nature that surrounds it – what’s not to love about Oaxaca!

Spend a few days here exploring the indigenous cultures, history, food, art, and architecture, we guarantee you won’t want to leave if you put it on your list of Mexico destinations.