Mexico
"Pyramids, mezcal, and the best street food on the planet"
Mexico at a glance
- Best time to go
- Mexico is too big for one answer. Roughly November to April is the dry season and the easiest time for most trips (beaches, ruins, cities). May to October is the rainy season, but the rain is often afternoon showers rather than all-day washouts. The Pacific and Caribbean hurricane seasons run roughly June to November, and the Caribbean coast can also see sargassum seaweed, usually worst from spring into late summer.
- How long to stay
- We'd suggest ten days to two weeks for one or two regions, for example Mexico City plus Oaxaca, or a Yucatan loop, rather than trying to cover the whole country.
- Who it's for
- Travellers who like layers: food markets, ancient sites, colonial towns, beaches and mountains, just not all in the same week.
- Might not be for you if
- You expect 'Mexico' to be one trip. Jungle, desert, highland cities and two coasts are very different holidays, and safety conditions vary significantly by state and region.
- Worth knowing right now
- Check your government's current travel advice by state before booking, since safety conditions vary a great deal across Mexico and can change.
Mexico is enormous and endlessly varied: colonial highland towns, Pacific surf breaks, Caribbean cenotes and a capital city with more museums than almost anywhere on earth. The food alone — regional, ancient and fiercely defended — is reason enough to go.
Best Time to Visit
November to April (dry season)
Nov – Apr (Dry)
Perfect weather, whale season in Baja, peak Caribbean months.
May – Jun
Hot and increasingly humid, but quiet and cheap.
Jul – Oct (Rains)
Afternoon downpours, hurricane risk on the coasts, lush highlands.
Late Oct – Nov
Día de Muertos in Oaxaca and Michoacán — unforgettable, book far ahead.
Getting Around
Distances are huge: fly between regions, then use buses and colectivos locally.
✈️ Domestic Flights
Volaris and Aeroméxico link Mexico City with Oaxaca, Cancún and Baja for very little.
🚌 ADO Buses
The gold standard for intercity travel in the south and the Yucatán.
🚐 Colectivos
Shared vans for short hops between cenotes, beaches and villages.
🚗 Rental Car
Great for the Yucatán and Baja; drive in daylight and use toll roads.
💡 Use Uber or Didi in cities instead of hailing street taxis — cheaper and easier for both sides.
Suggested Itineraries
Mexico City Arrival
Settle in Roma or Condesa, first tacos al pastor.
Historic Centre
Zócalo, Templo Mayor, Bellas Artes, rooftop sunset.
Teotihuacán
Pyramids at opening, Basilica of Guadalupe on the way back.
Fly to Oaxaca
Zócalo, Santo Domingo church, mezcalería evening.
Oaxaca Valleys
Monte Albán ruins, Teotitlán weavers, Hierve el Agua pools.
Oaxaca Food Day
Market breakfast, cooking class, tlayudas for dinner.
Departure
Morning flight back via Mexico City.
🎈 If it starts feeling like homework, delete a day. Wander a market. Eat a second pastry. That's the itinerary now.
Highlights
Must See
- Teotihuacán
- Chichén Itzá & cenotes
- Oaxaca
- San Miguel de Allende
Local Cuisine
Insider Tip
ADO buses between cities are comfortable, safe and cheap — book the executive class for overnight legs.
Mexico travel questions, answered
When is the best time to visit Mexico?
November to April is usually the most reliable window across the country, though prices and crowds peak around December and Easter. The rainy months aren't a write-off: highland cities such as Mexico City and Oaxaca are far less exposed to hurricanes than the coasts, so June and July can be a good-value time to visit them. For a Caribbean beach trip, September and October carry the highest weather risk.
Is Mexico safe to travel?
It varies a great deal by region, and there isn't one honest answer for the whole country. Government travel advice is usually given state by state, so check your own government's current advisory, for example the UK or US pages, for every state on your route before booking and again before you travel.
Do you need a visa for Mexico?
Many nationalities, including the US, Canada, the UK, EU countries, Australia and Japan, can visit for tourism without a visa. You still need a tourist immigration entry record (the FMM), which at many airports is now handled digitally on arrival. The officer decides how many days you get, up to 180, so it helps to have your onward travel and an accommodation address ready. The process differs between airports and land borders, so check the official Mexican immigration site or your embassy.
What's the easiest way to get around Mexico?
Mexico has an extensive long-distance bus network and many domestic flights. In the southeast, the Tren Maya, which opened in December 2023, links places such as Cancun, Tulum, Merida and Palenque. Foreign visitors book through the official ticket portal and need their passport to board.
Details last checked 22 September 2026.
More sparks for Mexico
Stories, films and books to keep the daydreaming going.
AI-generated editorial illustration — Unofficial AI-generated editorial illustration inspired by the destination and atmosphere of the film or series. Not an official poster or promotional image.
Y Tu Mamá También
A coming-of-age road trip through Mexico's stunning Pacific coast and Oaxacan countryside.
Like Water for Chocolate
by Laura Esquivel · Mexico