Palenque
On the river, overlooking the Baño de la Reina, this small group has a lovely jungle setting.
Must-see attractions in Mexico
Central Pacific Coast
On Bahía Tenacatita, the shore break here can be steep and fast, perfect for bodyboarding.
Guadalajara
The cathedral in Guadalajara includes a Gothic crypt, where three archbishops are buried.
Mazatlán
North of town, this appealing beach has a cluster of seafood restaurants and decent surf.
Palenque
Palenque's ball court is towards the center of the site, and overlooked by Templo X.
Mérida
This 18th-century church stands on the north side of Parque de Santa Ana.
Mexico City
So named because it symbolizes the fusion of pre-Hispanic and Spanish roots into the Mexican mestizo identity, this plaza displays the architectural…
Isla Mujeres
A 19th-century slave trader and reputed pirate, Fermín Antonio Mundaca de Marechaja fell in love with a local woman known as La Trigueña (The Brunette)…
Museo Nacional de las Intervenciones
Mexico City
On August 20, 1847, Mexican troops defended this 17th-century former monsatery against US forces advancing from Veracruz in a dispute over the US…
Museo Regional de Guanajuato Alhóndiga de Granaditas
Guanajuato
Built between 1798 and 1808 as a grain storehouse, the Alhóndiga became a fortress in 1810 when 300 Spanish troops and loyalist leaders barricaded…
Museo del Juguete Antiguo México
Mexico City
Mexican-born Japanese collector Roberto Shimizu has amassed more than a million toys in his lifetime, and this jumbled four-floor museum showcases about…
Tabasco
The beautiful jungle park Villa Luz mixes botanical wonders with sulphur-blue waterfalls, blind 'sardines' living in dark caves, swimming pools, monkeys,…
Guanajuato
Narrowest of the many alleyways in Guanajuato's streets is this callejón, where the balconies of two houses practically touch. In a local legend, a fine…
Cholula
About 2km from Cacaxtla, the much older ruins at Xochitécatl include a wide pyramid dedicated to a fertility god, and a circular pyramid. Because of its…
Cuernavaca
Cortés’ imposing medieval-style fortress stands opposite the southeast end of the Plaza de Armas. This two-story stone palace was built in 1535 on the…
Central Pacific Coast
The little-visited ruins at Los Toriles, on the outskirts of Ixtlán del Río, give a rare glimpse into the lives of Nayarit's pre-Hispanic inhabitants. The…
Dolores Hidalgo
Previously the Presidencia Municipal, this museum was inaugurated in 2010 for Mexico's bicentennial celebrations. Despite its name, the majority of its…
Mexico City
On August 20, 1847, this former convent was the scene of a historic military defeat, when Mexican troops defended it against US forces advancing from…
Isla Cozumel
This Maya ruin, a fertility temple, is the oldest on the island. It’s the size of a small house and has no ornamentation. El Cedral is thought to have…
Polanco & Bosque de Chapultepec
Mexico's largest aquarium holds 1.6 million liters of water and 280 well-cared-for marine species, including barracuda, manta rays and five types of…
Guanajuato
The main building of this university, whose ramparts are visible above much of the city, is one block up the hill from the basilica. The distinctive…
San Miguel de Allende
A splendid church with a fine altar and several magnificent old oil paintings. Painted on the interior doorway are a number of wise sayings to give pause…
Dolores Hidalgo
The town's main square naturally boasts a statue of the man himself, Hidalgo (in Roman garb, on top of a tall column). Here too is a tree that, according…
Cuernavaca
This extravagant property, inspired by Versailles (though with mere park-like results), features gardens formally laid out in a series of terraces with…
Guanajuato
Templo de San Francisco was built in 1741 in a late baroque style, as noted in its decorative motifs and stone entrance, though neoclassical features were…
Ensenada
Atop the Colinas de Chapultepec, El Mirador offers panoramic views of the city and Bahía de Todos Santos. Climb or drive (note: there’s no off-street…
San Miguel de Allende
Built in the early 18th century, this chapel, like the Templo de San Francisco, was part of a Franciscan monastery complex. The main facade shows St…
San Miguel de Allende
El Chorro was the spring where San Miguel was founded. Today it gushes out of a fountain built in 1960, and there are public washing tubs here that are…
Museo de la Basílica de Guadalupe
Mexico City
The Museo de la Basílica de Guadalupe, at the rear of the Antigua Basílica, has a fine collection of colonial art interpreting the miraculous vision.
Museo de la Amistad México-Cuba
Veracruz
This modernist house is now a small museum commemorating the colonial histories of Mexico and Cuba and their significance to Fidel Castro's ill-fated…
