ATOL Protected
A country the size of Mexico obviously has thousands of destinations, each with their own appeal. Cancún holidays are one of the best. This diverse city is brimming with white-sand beaches, fine-dining restaurants, and raucous nightclubs. Once you’ve had your fix of lazy days by the hotel pool, head downtown and you will find a spicy mix of salsa clubs and laidback taco joints – perfect for people who want to immerse themselves in Mexico’s local culture.
Travellers who have their hearts set on seeing Mexico in its purest form should consider Tulum holidays. Located on the Caribbean coastline of Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula, this utopic town is a medley of jade-green waters, quaint fishing villages and tranquil beachside bungalows. It’s here that you will also find the Ruins of Tulum: an ancient Mayan city that once functioned as a seaport, trading mainly in turquoise and jade. Just 65 kilometres north of Tulum is the trendy city of Playa del Carmen. Perched coolly on the lee side of Cozumel, Playa del Carmen welcomes daily cruise-ship visitors and is home to some of the country’s finest coral reefs.
Nature lovers should head to state of Michoacán, where the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve attracts thousands of visitors every year. Visit the highlands between November and March, and you're likely to see the millions of butterflies who travel south into Mexico from Texas. This is a rare spectacle that is deserving of a few epic camera shots!
The Sea of Cortez is always popular among swimmers and sunbathers. Its warm waters are located east of the Baja California peninsula, close to La Paz. You can swim with dolphins, spot whales in the waves and set out in a sea kayak to pit your paddling strength against the pull of the ocean tides. While in the area, head to San Carlos or Puerto Penasco and look to the west at the end of the day; the golden sun setting into the ocean at dusk is a remarkable sight.
For the party revellers heading on holidays to Mexico, try taking a trip to Guadalajara. This is where many of the most iconic aspects of Mexican culture originate, and the state capital of Jalisco is home to mariachi bands that play celebratory tunes and provide the soundtrack to many Mexican festivals. The city is also one of the best places to sample some authentic Mexican tequila, while downtown Guadalajara still retains much of its colonial heritage. The city has a climate all of its own, reinvigorating even the most tired of souls and leaving visitors feeling renewed and energised - and not just because of the tequila.
MEXICO HOLIDAY DEALS
Top Destinations In Mexico
Cancun
Cancun offers the perfect mix of both ancient history and contemporary resort facilities. Plus, this mainland destination boasts the kind of lush vegetation and white sandy beaches usually synonymous with a Caribbean island. Expect an average of 200 sunny days a year and temperatures of 26C on the ultimate tropical retreat.
Mexico has a huge number of indigenous languages and local dialects, but generally it is Spanish that is used most often. English is the most common foreign language used, especially close to the border with the USA, and naturally you can expect to encounter more of an American dialect than English. Major tourist centres are more likely to have English-speaking staff too, whereas if you are heading away from these, you're more likely to need at least a basic understanding of Spanish. If you're planning on booking package holidays to Mexico, it might be worth investing in a small phrase book.
The Mexican currency is the Nuevo peso, but everybody just calls it the 'Peso'. Think of it as being like the way the UK had 'new pence' after decimalisation, but now people just refer to pennies as they did before. Cash can be exchanged at banks and at bureaux de change, but you might find it easier to exchange US dollar banknotes. There are ATMs where you can use major UK debit and credit cards though, and card payments are widely accepted in businesses - just beware of any fees for using your card abroad.
You may not need a visa for Mexico holidays. The UK is one of many countries on an approved list which permits that, if you arrive by air, you can simply fill out a form upon landing and obtain a tourist card. You will of course need to present a valid passport on arrival, and it is always worth checking that this rule is still in place, before you make the long trip to Mexico without a visa. A word of warning, if you lose your tourist card you will be required to pay for a replacement, as one is needed to leave the country.
Unlike the USA, Mexico has fully adopted the metric system, which means all weather forecasts should provide temperatures in Celsius, just as they do in the UK. It's worth checking in advance what the temperatures are likely to be in the region you intend to visit, as they can vary considerably. This is partly due to the large size of the country and its mixture of different landscapes. Even on the Baja Peninsula alone, the climate varies from Mediterranean in the north-west, to arid on the side that faces the Sea of Cortez. Near Cancun, conditions are more tropical, and this is the case along mainland Mexico's Pacific coast too. This is also true in the north of the country, where the mountainous terrain can lead to lower temperatures.
