Travel Mexico

The Zocolo in Mexico City

To travel Mexico is to visit a land steeped in history, art, architecture, and natural beauty. America's neighbor to the south offers two coasts with long stretches of white sand beach, historic Mayan ruins and artifacts, and vibrant, bustling cities. Mexico is the world's 15th largest nation and home to approximately 107 million residents. From the arid shores of Cabo San Lucas at the tip of the Baja Peninsula to the mountain retreat of Cuernavaca to the sunny tourist meccas along the Caribbean coast, Mexico is a varied, affordable, and easily accessible vacation destination for US and Canadian travelers.

The Yucatan Peninsula

Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula, the farthest eastern part of the country, juts into the Caribbean Sea. It was home to the important Mayan cities of Tulum, Chichen Itza, and Palenque, and remnants of these elegant metropolises still exist, waiting to be explored.

The Yucatan Peninsula, today, is home to the popular beach resort of Cancun, with its plentiful watersports, international shopping, and over 24,000 hotel rooms. Just down the coast lies Playa del Carmen, a stretch of sleepy Mexican villages punctuated with lavish beachfront hotels. About 20 miles offshore from Playa del Carmen is the island of Cozumel, home to the world's second largest coral reef network (after Australia's Great Barrier Reef) and world renown for its excellent scuba diving and snorkeling.

The Pacific Coast

Mexico's Pacific coast includes a host of peaceful and picturesque seaside towns. Among the most popular are:

• Acapulco – Located midway along Mexico's Pacific coast, Acapulco is distinguished by its long crescent beach, framed by the nearby mountains. The city, home to around 640,000 residents has been a resort favorite for generations. Highlights include watching the daring cliff divers, shopping for silver jewelry and objects, and dining in one of the city's many romantic open-air restaurants.

• Puerto Vallarta – Made world famous by Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton who feel in love with the town while they were filming The Night of the Iguana there in the 1960s, Puerto Vallarta still retains much of its sleeping fishing village charm. Today, the area also boasts many international hotels, a lovely waterfront dotted with casual seafood restaurants, and enticing duty-free shopping.

• Mazatlan – Mexico's largest port city is more than just a tourist resort, although its white beaches draw hundreds of thousands of visitors each year. The city is home to over 400,000 residents and boasts thriving fishing and mining industries. Mazatlan is also home to the world's third largest Carnival (after Rio and New Orleans).

• Cabo San Lucas – This desert-like oasis at the tip of the Baja Peninsula is known for its excellent sports fishing, rugged rock formations, and sparkling beaches. Just recently accessible by land, the area still has the ambiance of a sleepy fishing village while offering visitors "big resort" amenities.

Travel the Heart of Mexico

Mexico is more than just beach resorts. The interior of the country is filled with the country's history, culture, and soul. To travel Mexico without venturing inland is to miss a large part of the country's identity.

Mexico City is the capital of Mexico and its largest city. Here history lives side-by-side with the 21st century. Highlights include touring Chapultepec Park, the city's version of Central Park, complete with a zoo, an amusement park, sweeping views of the city, and a museum, filled with artifacts and exhibits depicting the region's rich history. The Zona Rosa, in the city center, is the place to go for world class shopping, intriguing restaurants, and restored one-of-a-kind hostelries. The Zocolo (pictured above), officially called Constitution Square, is the historic center of Mexico City and the third largest square in the world (after Moscow's Red Square and Beijing's Tiananmen Square). Buildings there include the 17th century Metropolitan Cathedral and the National Palace, the seat of the executive branch of the Mexican government.