Things to do in Mexico: Top attractions and more

Are you looking for what to do in Mexico for your upcoming vacation? As a country full of traditions, archaeological sites, and beautiful natural places, there are endless possibilities.

Some of the best places to visit in Mexico are at Cancun and Riviera Maya. The Mexican Caribbean offers astounding sites for every taste. The Mexican Caribbean offers astounding sites for every taste. No matter if you travel with family, seniors, or a group of friends, there is always fun things to do in Mexico.

Natural landscapes of Mexico

Yucatan Peninsula is home to spectacular natural landscapes. Places such as Rio Lagartos or Las Coloradas are growing popular. The first one is a haven for pink flamingos nearby a fishermen’s village. Las Coloradas is a salt mine with a characteristic pink color on the shallow waters, which is perfect for taking the most beautiful pictures.

While enjoying a vacation in Cancun or Riviera Maya Mexico, activities such as snorkeling, scuba diving, and adventure tours are available.

Akumal in Riviera Maya is a terrific place for snorkeling since it has a stunning bay with calm waters and a reef barrier. There are sea turtles, starfish, sea urchins, and tropical fish, among other species. It is also a great spot to have lunch and rest for a while.

Theme parks in Cancun and Riviera Maya

Among the things to do in Cancun, Mexico, is taking a tour to Xcaret from Cancun and enjoy an astounding park where nature and Mexican culture combines. Get into its aviary and butterfly pavilion to discover some of the species that live in the area, and then visit the aquarium that is home for numerous specimens from the Caribbean. To end an unforgettable day at this beautiful park in Riviera Maya, attend Xcaret México Espectacular, a show full of music and dance through 500 years of history, and more than 300 artists on stage.

If you are looking for an adventure, visit Xplor Cancun, a park located only minutes south of Playa del Carmen. Have a thrilling day gliding by zip-lines, driving through jungle trails and caves, or swimming in underground rivers, plus having a delicious buffet lunch.

Natural attractions

Isla Contoy is an amazing National Park located less than 20 mi from Isla Mujeres. This island and the surrounded sea are a protected area due to the enormous amount of species living there. Contoy has limited visits every day to visit its secluded beaches, besides watching the bird species that live there. Every year, from June through September, whale sharks arrived in this area and is a fabulous activity to snorkel in their habitat.

If you are looking for scuba diving, Cozumel is a fantastic option. The east side of its coastline has several coral reefs that are home for thousands of fish, and due to its clear waters, the visibility is outstanding, plus having warm weather all year round. Many experienced divemasters offer their services to visit the numerous reefs. If you are a beginner, it is possible to start with a lesson in Cozumel and start practicing this outstanding activity.

Tourist Attractions in Mexico

Some of the coolest things to do in Mexico are in the Caribbean and include colonial cities such as Valladolid Mexico. This city of almost 500 years old is close to Chichén Itzá and is the gastronomical capital of Yucatan. Places such as the San Gervasio Church, the San Bernardino de Siena Convent, and the Calzada de Los Frailes street are good examples of this era. If you take Xichén Deluxe Tour, you have a stop at La Casona de Valladolid, which is a former mansion from the 18th Century and nowadays a fantastic restaurant featuring the best of the Yucatecan cuisine.

On the outskirts of this Magical Town, there are several cenotes, which are freshwater, natural pools. Due to the limestone terrain in the Yucatan Peninsula, there are no surface rivers, but hundreds of them run beneath the earth. Many of them are connected and form the vastest underground river system in the world. Cenotes are places where the ground collapsed, creating entrances to the bowels of the Earth or Xibalba, as the Pre-Hispanic named the underworld.

South of Riviera Maya is Bacalar, which is known as the Seven Color Lagoon due to the different blue tones of its waters. This gorgeous Mexico attraction was once a pirate area and nowadays is a place of astounding beauty and peaceful ambiance.

Archaeological Sites

Pre-Hispanic archaeological sites in Mexico receive visitors from all over the world every year. Chichén Itzá is the most famous and a Mexico must see since twice a year takes place the light and shadows show during the equinox. The ancient inhabitants built the Pyramid of Kukulcan to the sun project figures on the north side of it as it goes down, to represent a feathered snake that descends from the top of the building.

Tulum in Quintana Roo, Mexico is another excellent example of the cool things to do in Mexico since it is the only ancient inhabitants city built facing the Caribbean Sea. It houses a well-preserved fresco that still has stucco elements. El Castillo, which is the principal construction built on the top of a cliff facing the sea, was a lighthouse to guide canoes safely through the coral reef barrier.

Parks and Tours

There are many things to do in Mexico, especially in the Caribbean area, where culture, archaeological zones, and natural sites are waiting for you. There are also impressive parks for families and couples, or unforgettable tours to discover the underwater world either in cenotes or the nearby reefs. Come to Mexico and spend amazing days you will always treasure.

Parks and Tours

The state of Quintana Roo received 50% of the international tourism that visited Mexico in 2022, why? Here you will find Cancun, Riviera Maya, Playa del Carmen and other beach tourist destinations; lots of culture and history with the archaeological sites of Chichen Itza, Tulum and Coba; nature in mangroves, jungle and the underwater world; and, above all, accommodations for all budgets.

Mexico is a country with a lot of natural beauty in mountains, forests, jungle, sea, in addition to its great historical and cultural legacy, as well as millenary and contemporary traditions. If you are looking for a place that has a great variety of attractions, in the Yucatan Peninsula you will find the Caribbean Sea, archaeological sites, jungle and mangrove tours, among many more attractions.

According to official data from the Mexican Ministry of Tourism, the following destinations are the ones with the highest hotel occupancy during 2022.

Top 10 tourist destinations with the highest hotel occupancy:

1- Playacar in Quintana Roo
2- Akumal in Quintana Roo
3- Cabo San Lucas in Baja California Sur
4- Cancun in Quintana Roo
5- Puerto Vallarta in Jalisco
6- Ciudad Juarez in Chihuahua
7- Playa del Carmen in Quintana Roo
8- San José del Cabo in Baja California Sur
9- Tijuana in Baja California Sur
10- Nuevo Vallarta in Nayarit

Maybe the most visited places are the nicest, it’s up to you to decide.

Its beaches; amusement, adventure, water and nature parks; tours to archaeological sites with thousands of years of history; swimming in all types of cenotes; snorkeling and diving in its reefs; enjoying a Mexican fiesta with live music.

It all depends on what you prefer for your vacations. If you want to visit Riviera Maya and avoid big crowds, the lowest season of the year is in October and November. The best weather happens in April and May since it's warm and there aren't many chances of raining. If you like the weather a bit cooler, December, January and February are the best. But rest assured that no matter which month you are visiting Riviera Maya, you will find the same beaty and fun attractions.