Mexico
Ancient pyramids, the world’s best tacos, and colour that hits you before the plane landsOne of the World’s Great Travel Countries — and Still Underestimated
Mexico is consistently one of the most visited countries on earth, yet most international tourists see only a small slice of it — the Cancún resort strip, a day trip to Chichén Itzá, maybe a few nights in Mexico City. That’s a shame, because Mexico is genuinely vast and wildly varied: ancient Maya and Aztec ruins, Spanish colonial cities with cathedral-lined zocalos, Pacific fishing villages that attract surfers and foodies, Oaxacan highlands with a market culture and cuisine unlike anything else in Latin America, and a Caribbean coastline that still has pockets of extraordinary beauty if you venture off the all-inclusive corridor. The food alone — a UNESCO-recognised culinary heritage — is reason enough to go.
Mexico City (CDMX) deserves particular mention because it’s had a genuine transformation in the last decade. It’s now one of the most exciting food, art, and culture cities in the Americas — the Condesa and Roma neighbourhoods feel like a creative hub that’s arrived at a confident identity entirely its own, distinct from Europe and distinct from the US cities that have influenced it. Combine that with Teotihuacán an hour away, world-class museums, and some of the world’s best tacos at prices that feel almost unfair, and CDMX as a standalone destination is one of the best travel decisions you can make.
Mexico Weather Month by Month
Note: Data below reflects Mexico City averages. Coastal destinations (Cancún, Oaxaca coast) vary significantly by region.
| Month | Temp °C / °F | Conditions (Mexico City) | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 14°C / 57°F | Dry, cool, clear skies, low crowds | Best |
| February | 16°C / 61°F | Dry season, pleasant, fewer tourists | Best |
| March | 18°C / 64°F | Warm and dry, spring break crowds | Good |
| April | 20°C / 68°F | Warm, some haze, excellent weather | Good |
| May | 21°C / 70°F | Hot, transitioning to rainy season | Mixed |
| June | 19°C / 66°F | Rainy season begins, afternoon storms | Mixed |
| July | 18°C / 64°F | Rainy, green, mornings often clear | Mixed |
| August | 18°C / 64°F | Wet, humid, hurricane risk on coasts | Poor |
| September | 17°C / 63°F | Wettest month, hurricane season peaks | Poor |
| October | 16°C / 61°F | Rains ease, Día de Muertos prep | Best |
| November | 15°C / 59°F | Dry season back, Día de Muertos | Best |
| December | 13°C / 55°F | Cool, festive, Christmas season | Best |
6 Things You Have to Do in Mexico
Eat Your Way Through Mexico City
CDMX has a legitimate claim to being one of the world’s great food cities. Tacos de canasta at a street corner in the morning. Tamales outside the metro. Long lunch at a Condesa bistro doing modern Mexican. Mezcal flights at a Roma Norte bar. A tasting menu at Pujol or Quintonil (two of the world’s top-ranked restaurants) if your budget allows. Mexico City feeds you at every price point and the ceiling is extraordinarily high.
Climb Teotihuacán
The Pyramid of the Sun at Teotihuacán — an hour northeast of Mexico City — is one of the largest pyramids ever built, and unlike Chichén Itzá you can still climb to the top. Go for the first entry slot at 9am to beat the heat and the tour groups. The view from the summit of the Avenue of the Dead stretching away below you is one of those images that stays with you permanently.
Experience Oaxaca’s Market Culture
Oaxaca City in southern Mexico is one of the country’s great pleasures — a colonial city surrounded by indigenous Zapotec villages, each with its own craft speciality. The Mercado Benito Juárez and the Sunday market at Tlacolula are extraordinary. Oaxacan cuisine is distinct from anything else in Mexico: tlayudas, chapulines (toasted grasshoppers), mole negro, mezcal from producers who’ve been distilling for generations.
Visit the Maya Ruins of Palenque
While Chichén Itzá gets all the visitors, Palenque in Chiapas state is arguably more impressive architecturally and far less crowded. The jungle grows right up to the temple platforms, howler monkeys call from the canopy overhead, and the site museum houses extraordinary carved reliefs and jade burial masks. Stay in the nearby town of Palenque and visit at dawn for the best experience.
Swim in a Cenote in the Yucatán
The Yucatán Peninsula sits on a vast limestone shelf riddled with cenotes — underground freshwater sinkholes that were sacred to the Maya and are now among the most beautiful swimming spots on earth. Cenote Ik Kil near Chichén Itzá is spectacular but crowded. For something more pristine, the cenotes around Tulum and in the Ruta Puuc area are extraordinary and see a fraction of the visitors.
Spend Día de Muertos in Oaxaca or Pátzcuaro
Mexico’s Day of the Dead festival (November 1-2) is one of the great cultural experiences in the Americas — not a macabre event but a joyful, elaborate ritual of remembrance. Families build elaborate ofrendas (altars) decorated with marigolds and the favourite foods of the deceased. Oaxaca’s cemetery celebrations and Pátzcuaro’s candlelit lakeside vigil are the most authentic and moving. Book accommodation months ahead for these dates.
Travel Guides for Mexico
5 Travel Tips for Mexico
Research Safety by Neighbourhood, Not by City
Mexico’s safety situation is hyperlocal. Mexico City’s Roma, Condesa, Polanco, and Coyoacán neighbourhoods are among the most pleasant and safe urban environments in Latin America. Other areas require more care. Research specific neighbourhoods and use Uber (which works excellently in CDMX and most major cities) rather than hailing street taxis at night. The country is enormous — safety conditions vary enormously by region.
Only Drink Bottled or Filtered Water
Tap water in Mexico is not safe to drink for visitors, including in Mexico City despite its size. Hotels provide purified water; restaurants use filtered water for cooking and ice. Carry a reusable bottle and refill it from hotel dispensers. Brushing teeth with tap water is generally fine for most visitors. Buying single-use plastic bottles is functional but wasteful — a filtered bottle (LifeStraw, Grayl) is more sustainable.
Use the Metro in Mexico City — It’s Excellent
Mexico City’s metro system is extensive, cheap (about 5 pesos per journey, roughly 25 US cents), and reasonably reliable. It connects all major tourist areas including the Zócalo, Chapultepec, Coyoacán, and Xochimilco. Avoid it during rush hours (7-9am and 6-8pm) when carriages become extremely crowded. Use Uber or the metrobús for off-peak travel if you prefer more space.
Carry Small Bills for Street Food
The best food in Mexico — tacos from a street cart, tamales from a morning vendor, fresh fruit from a market stall — costs almost nothing but vendors rarely have change for large notes. Keep a stock of 20 and 50 peso notes ($1-3) for street food transactions. Paying for a 15-peso taco with a 500-peso note causes genuine problems and delays.
Altitude Takes Adjustment in Mexico City
Mexico City sits at 2,240m (7,350ft) above sea level. Altitude sickness is uncommon for most visitors but fatigue, headaches, and breathlessness are common in the first day or two, especially if you’ve flown from sea level. Drink extra water, avoid alcohol on day one, and plan lighter activities for your first afternoon. Most people acclimatise fully within 48 hours and don’t notice it again.