5 Places in Mexico Everyone Should Visit Once in Their Lifetime

No matter how many times you’ve been there, you’ll always want to return

Mexico is magical, regardless of what you hear in the news. Most people welcome visitors, the weather is fantastic, and the food is always a king’s feast.

Every region has its particular cuisine and famous dish, where you’ll always ask for a second plate, from simple street tacos to the most elaborate dish.

Besides, if you like to visit archeology sites, colonial towns, beautiful calm blue beaches, or maybe retire in the best small city in the world, there is a place waiting for you in Mexico. Hence, it isn’t easy to choose only five, but I’ll do my best to sample the best places I’ve visited in Mexico.

Table of Contents
· For the Beach Lover
  ∘ The Best Beach Destination
· For the Archeological Adventurer
  ∘ The Best Archeological Site
· For the Colonial Architecture Lover
  ∘ Best Small City In The World
· For the Foodie
  ∘ The Best Place to Eat
· The Place You Should Visit
· Take Away

For the Beach Lover

Mexico is a privileged country. Its geographical position allows beautiful beaches on four oceans.

On the West, the Pacific Ocean runs from Baja California to Chiapas. You will find beaches from Tijuana to Cabo San Lucas to enjoy your favorite water sport.

I used to work in Los Angeles, and whenever I had the chance, I’d always try to get to places like Rosarito or Puerto Juarez, where you can sample its famous lobster dishes, like lobster tacos with beans. It sounds strange, but you won’t regret it.

Ensenada has La Bufadora (The Blowhole), the world’s largest ocean geyser. On Baja, California’s southern tip is Cabo San Lucas, where the Pacific Ocean meets the Sea of Cortez at The Arch, or “Land’s End.”

My wife and I love going south to Jalisco, especially to Puerto Vallarta, which became famous in the 1960s thanks to the film “The Night of the Iguana,” also for Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton’s romance. They even bought a house in Vallarta, like John Huston, who lived there until his death.

South of the Pacific Ocean in Oaxaca lays Huatulco and Puerto Escondido, with the fascinating beaches of La Escobilla, La Ventanilla, and Maszunte considered sanctuaries for turtles. Where the Mexican Turtle Center incubates turtle eggs, we took our kids to free them.

Another place we cherish is the Caribbean Sea, with fantastic beaches on Playa del Carmen, Riviera Maya, and Cancun on the lower Eastern side of Mexico. Also, Paraiso Beach near Tulum or Holbox, where you can swim with whale sharks, and Akumal, which means “the turtles’ place,” where several species lay their eggs.

The Best Beach Destination

However, there is no place like Acapulco, and my family and friends all mentioned it as one of our three favorite beaches.

Acapulco is the place to go if you could only visit one beach in Mexico. And before you argue about the crime rate, consider that the number of homicides in Acapulco in 2021 was 442 is less than Chicago’s 797 or New York City’s 485.

Acapulco’s population is 789,124 people, but it is the most visited destination for weekends, spring break, Summer, and December. This means 200 days per year, 52 Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, 10 days on Easter, 10 in Summer, and 10 for New Year’s break, 220 days in total.

It is more than half a year, so from the three million visitors per year, you could add 1.62 million people, making Acapulco’s population 2.4 million.

Therefore, the murder rate per 100,000 people is 17% (422/2,400 thousand), which is lower than in 17 United States cities, including New Orleans, Washington, Atlanta, Chicago, Newark, and Philadelphia. According to the Center for Public Safety Initiatives 2021 Homicide Statistics for 24 U.S Cities

Besides, these crimes were against the local population, not tourists.

Furthermore, neither of those U.S. cities has 27 beaches, four fishing areas, 14 diving places, three aquarium/water parks, eight Golf courses, five Museums, four marinas, 51 Night clubs, 11 Casinos, seven ecotourism sites, and More than 30 typical dishes in the same place.

For the Archeological Adventurer

The National Institute of Anthropology and History is responsible for 187 archaeological zones. Of these sites, eight are on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Among these is the City of El Tajín, in the state of Veracruz, with its best-known Pyramid of the Niches and its astronomical and symbolic significance.

City and National Park of Palenque, in Chiapas. A Mayan sanctuary with a construction full of paintings of the Mayan mythology. Near you can also visit Bonampak and Monte Albán.

Chichen Itzá, in Yucatán: One of the most significant urban centers of the Mayan cultural region, it is one of the New 7 Wonders of the World. With examples of pre-Hispanic architecture in southern Mexico.

On March and September 21st, during the Equinox, a phenomenon makes the sun casts a shadow onto the stairway resembling the serpent’s body traveling down the stairs.

Uxmal, in Yucatan, is a unique manifestation of constructive and decorative characteristics, particularly in the buildings of Las Monjas, the Governor, and the Pyramid of the Magician.

In Campeche, the City of Calakmul was with Tikal, one of the two most important Mayan cities. Abandoned after the great Mayan collapse, it stayed unnoticed due to the impenetrable jungle until an American Botanist named Cyrus Lundell re-discovered it in 1931.

The Best Archeological Site

Since we were young, my family took us to Teotihuacan to bring some relatives from Spain or visit my uncles who worked as tourist guides.

The City of Teotihuacán, State of Mexico, or “The place where the gods were created,” is the most important city in ancient Mexico. It is considered one of the biggest cultural cities in Mesoamerica. The Pyramids of the Sun and Moon Pyramids align with the Orion Belt, just as the ones in Egypt.

You could argue that Egypt has three pyramids, while in Mexico, there are only two. But if you see Teotihuacan’s layout, you will find a space at the Palace of the Jaguar, big enough to fit the third pyramid so that both layouts would align.

Whether you believe it or not, every archeology aficionado should visit The place where the gods were created at least once in their lifetime.

For the Colonial Architecture Lover

Mexico had the largest territory during the Spanish colonization, from southern Canada to Central America. Hence, the number of colonial cities within.

Many of them are recognized by UNESCO on their World Heritage List. Among the ones I could visit are:

— Guanajuato — Founded by the Spanish in the early 16th century, it became the world’s leading silver extraction center in the 18th century. Its history can be seen in its subterranean streets and the ‘Boca del Inferno,’ a mine shaft that plunges 600 meters.

The church of La Compañía is regarded as one of the most beautiful Baroque architecture churches in Central and South America. Guanajuato is the venue for the Cervantes festival, with artists from around the world in October.

— Oaxaca and Monte Albán — The terraces, dams, canals, pyramids, and artificial mounds of Monte Albán were carved out of the mountain over 1,500 years by Olmec, Zapotec, and Mixtec people.

The nearby city of Oaxaca has a grid pattern, serving as an example of the excellent Spanish colonial town planning, with solid buildings designed to withstand the common earthquakes in the region.

— Puebla — Founded in 1531, it is about an hour’s drive from Mexico City, at the foot of the Popocatepetl volcano. It has great religious structures, such as the cathedral, the old archbishop’s palace, and its famous tiled-walled houses (azulejos).

Nearby is Cholula, which houses Piramide Tepanapa, the world’s largest pyramid in volume, dwarfing Egypt’s Great Pyramid of Cheops.

— Guadalajara and Hospicio Cabañas — Guadalajara is famous for many things besides Mariachis, birria, and tortas ahogadas (Mexican version of the Au juice sandwich). Its marvelous Cathedral or Catedral de la Asunción de María Santísima (Cathedral of the Assumption of Our Lady).

Built-in a Spanish Renaissance style, it is in Guadalajara downtown, but you can see its tween pikes from almost every part of the city.

Guadalajara is also home to the Hospicio Cabañas (Cabañas Hospice), built in the early 19th century to provide care and shelter for orphans, older people, and chronic invalids. It has José Clemente Orozco’s murals.

Best Small City In The World

If someone asked me what the best small city to live in is, I would undoubtedly say San Miguel.

You’d say this is a bold remark. However, it is not only my opinion. San Miguel de Allende was considered one of the prettiest small towns in the world by Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards three times.

San Miguel is a jewel glowing in pastel colors. With its tianguis and small craft workshops, you can spend hours browsing and buying pottery, paintings, tin mirrors, or candy.

The many art galleries, scenic plazas, and restaurants make it the preferred place for thousands of ex-pats worldwide. Though Spanish is the official language, you can easily get by in English.

Its climate and the fact that there is no international airport in San Miguel (there is one within an hour’s drive in Leon and Querétaro) make it the perfect place to relax. No wonder 10,000 ex-pats retired there.

In 2020 Forbes reported that from the over 715,000 reader submissions, San Miguel was the number one destination, followed by Chiang Mai in Thailand, Mérida, Yucatán, and Monte Carlo in Monaco.

It is why you won’t ever get tired of visiting this place.

For the Foodie

Latins have fame for being foodies, but in Mexico, eating is almost a religion. With family recipes passing from generation to generation, Mexican cuisine is regarded as one of the best worldwide. Virtually every Mexican region has its unique flavors and dishes.

You will find a variety of fish and seafood from its shores, farm, and game animals. As well as the immense variety of grains, vegetables, and fruits, make Mexican cuisine a preferred choice for the meat lover, vegan, vegetarian, pescatarian, and macrobiotic dieter.

These are the best places I’ve found the best Mexican cuisine.

— Merida, Yucatan — On the Yucatan Peninsula lies Merida. Recognized among the best cities to travel to in 2020.

The capital of Yucatan is well known for its food, a reason why in 2019, UNESCO declared Mérida a “creative city.” Among its delicious dishes, you can taste:

Cochinta Pibil (marinated pork with spices, cooked in a barbecue pit) Codzitos (rolled, fried tortillas with red salsa, sour cream, and fresh cheese) Frijol con Puerco (pork and beans) Motulenos Eggs (eggs, on tortillas, beans, sauce, ham, peas, and plantains) Pan de Cazón (layers of fried tortillas filled with dogfish and tomato sauce) Panucho (stuffed tortilla with mashed, refried black beans, then fried) Papadzules (rolled tortillas with hard-boiled eggs and pumpkin seed sauce) Poc C​​huc (marinated slices of pork in a sour orange and achiote sauce) Sopa de Lima (chicken broth, lima, a fruit similar to lime, and fried tortilla)

— Morelia, Michoacán — Morelia is another UNESCO World Heritage Site in Mexico. Its pink stone cathedral, historic center, colonial buildings, and aqueduct are a treat for the architecture fan.

You can spend hours wandering its streets or visit one of the eight Pueblos Mágicos (magic towns) around the capital.

In November, Michoacán becomes the capital of the Dia de Muertos festivities (Day of the dead), with houses and pantheons decorated with cempasuchil flowers and candles in memory of the deceased.

At the end of your pilgrimage to streets and graveyards, you can enjoy its delicious dishes such as:

Carnitas (braised pork with tortillas, guacamole, and salsa) Corundas (tamal in a triangular shape with cream, cheese, and salsa) Enchiladas Placeras (tortillas, sauce, potatoes, and seared or grilled chicken) Sopa tarasca ( beans and tomato purée, pasilla chili, tortilla strips, cotija cheese, sour cream, epazote, and chopped serrano peppers) Tamales de Ceniza (smoky masa flavored with wood ash and salsa) Uchepo Tamales (corn husks with cream, Cotija cheese, and green sauce) Ate (quince or guava pulp cooked with sugar in a copper pan, generally eaten with cheese) Chongos Zamoranos (curd with sugar and cinnamon)

— Oaxaca, Oaxaca — As I mentioned, it is one of Mexico’s UNESCO World Heritage List cities, famous for its colonial and Pre-Hispanic sites. The colors of their clothes and the hospitality of their people are a banquet for the soul.

But besides its Guelaguetza festival full of dance and color, its food is something you will cherish forever.

Oaxaca’s seven moles are Rojo (red), Coloradito (reddish), Amarillo (yellow), Verde (green), Negro (black), Chichilo, and Manchamantel (tablecloth strainer). They combine chiles and spices, including chocolate and pumpkin seeds, to garnish all kinds of food, such as chicken, beef, vegetables, or enchiladas. Caldo de Piedra /Stone soup (fish or shrimp, plus water, tomatoes, onions, lime, and cilantro cooked with scorching river rocks) Chapulines (crunchy grasshoppers toasted with chili, lime, and garlic) Chileatole (corn masa soup with epazote, salt, salsa, and pumpkin leaves) Memelas (pan-toasted corn rounds, pork, beans, cheese, or even eggs) Tasajo (marinated dry beef) Tlayudas (fried tortilla, beans, tomato, lettuce, pork, chorizo, and cheese)

— Veracruz, Veracruz — The most important seaport since the Spaniards arrived in Mexico has many colonial sites, beaches, and small cafés such as La Parroquia, where you can sit and relax while drinking your Café con Leche.

With fish and seafood dishes, Veracruz offers a variety of options such as:

Arroz a la Tumbada (rice and seafood prepared with a spicy tomato sauce) Camarones en Verde (shrimps, garlic, tomatillos, jalapeños, avocado leaves) Chiles Rellenos a la Veracruzana (jalapeños filled with crabmeat, red sauce) Chilpachole de Jaiba (spicy soup made with crab meat, potatoes, carrots, hot peppers, tomatoes, onions, garlic, epazote, and olive oil) Huachinango a la Veracruzana (red snapper in a spicy tomato sauce doused with onions, garlic, olive oil, capers, bay leaves, oregano, and parsley) Pollo Encacahuatado (chicken in peanut sauce) Salsa Macha (combination of chili peppers, peanuts, garlic, and sesame) Sopa de Mariscos(seafood soup)

The Best Place to Eat

Puebla is best known for its Talavera ceramics, being the highest city in Mexico, or having the largest Volkswagen factory outside Germany, where in 1981, they built the 20-millionth Beetle.

Nevertheless, nothing compares to its rich food traditions. Mexican avocados, beans, chilies, corn, squash, tomatoes, and tomatillos blend with herbs, grains, greens, fruit, spices, and seeds from South America, Africa, and Asia, to create the most delicious food.

People say that many Mexican dishes originated in Puebla and spread all along the country. Mole is the most traditional, blending spices, seeds, herbs, and even chocolate.

Its origin is unclear. Some say it dates from the Aztecs, who called it “molli,” which means sauce. Others say it was Sister Andrea de la Asunción of the convent of Santa Rosa. Another legend says it was Fray Pascual, a cook, who once served it to Juan de Palafox, Viceroy of New Spain.

No matter its origin, it is the quintessential dish in Mexican cuisine. Besides the seven varieties of Oaxaca’s mole, Mole Poblano (from Puebla) is the king and father of all the rest.

Apart from the scrumptious Mole Poblano served with chicken, guajolote (turkey), or transforming simple tortillas into marvelous “Enmoladas,” there are hundreds of different sweet and salty dishes in Puebla such as:

Cemitas (sandwiches with beans, breaded beef, carnitas, or cheese avocado, and jalapeños or chipotle chile) Chalupas (fried tortilla in lard, green or red sauce, onion, beef, and cheese) Chileatole (a soup made of corn dough, corn kernels, epazote, chile, and pumpkin leaves) Memelas (tortillas smeared with lard, beans, cheese, and green or red sauce) Molotes (closed quesadillas filled with cheese, Poblano pepper strips, potatoes, shredded beef, etc.) Rajas Poblanas (strips of Poblano pepper, onion, cream, corn, and cheese) Tacos Arabes (pita bread filled with al Pastor’s pork-style meat) Chiles en Nogada (Poblano peppers stuffed with mincemeat, raisins, dried fruits, and covered with a walnut sauce, pomegranate seeds, and parsley resembling the green, white, and red of the Mexican flag) Camotes de Santa Clara (sweet potatoes flavored with fruits or vanilla) Jamoncillo (a milk sweet, sugar, and walnuts, seeds, or pine nuts) Tortitas de Santa Clara (cookies topped with a sugar frosting glaze) Rompope (an eggnog-like drink made with eggs, milk, and vanilla flavor)

The Place You Should Visit

If you could only visit one place, I would tell you Ciudad de Mexico is where you should go. Among the largest cities in the world, Mexico’s capital gathers everything (but the beaches) mentioned before.

Its rich colonial buildings downtown, such as the Metropolitan Cathedral, the Basilica de Guadalupe, and el Palacio de Bellas Artes (Palace of Fine Arts), Mexico City’s most important performance space.

Also, over 150 museums showcase Pre-Hispanic artifacts, like the Museo de Antropología e Historia (Anthropology and History Museum) or Frida Kahlo’s work in the Blue House.

Also, Museo Soumaya features art by Dalí, Picasso, da Vinci, Renoir, Miró, van Gogh, Matisse, Monet, El Greco, Tintoretto, and the largest collection of sculptures by Auguste Rodin outside France.

For the archeological enthusiast, there is el Templo Mayor (Main temple) with some Aztec ruins, and Teotihuacan is only 90 minutes away from downtown.

Mexico City has boutiques and shopping malls for those who like to shop. You can find brands like Armani, Bulgari, Cartier, Gucci, Hermes, Louis Vuitton, and Tiffany & Co, among many others, or the traditional and folk art markets.

But not everything is museums, colonial buildings, or shopping. When hunger strikes, you can visit Enrique Olvera’s Pujol, one of the best restaurants in the world, some of its thousands of taquerías (Taco Place), or try some regional cuisine in places like:

Fonda del Recuerdo (Veracruz) Pasillo de Humo (Oaxaca) Lu Cocina Michoacana (Michoacán) La Poblanita (Puebla) Hanal Ku (Yucatán) El Bajío (featuring dishes from Aguascalientes, Celaya, Guadalajara, Irapuato, Leon, San Luis Potosí, Querétaro, and Zacatecas)

Take Away

There are so many places worth visiting in Mexico that it is almost impossible to choose the best locations.

Even if you survey with your friends and family (which I did), you will find there is almost no consensus on the best beach, archeological site, colonial city, or dish.

Therefore, whether you are a foodie, beach lover, archeological enthusiast, architecture fanatic, or plan to retire in the best city in the world. Mexico has a place for you.

They say a thousand-mile journey begins with a single step, so take your first one and visit Mexico.

“Travel brings power and love back into your life.” ― Rumi Jalalud-Din