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Best things to do in Mexico
Heading for Mexico’s Caribbean Coast? We’ve got the lowdown to help you plan your adventure.
There’s more to Mexico than velvet-soft beaches and tacos washed down with tequila. Away from the glitzy hotels and palm-dotted sands, you can wander around ancient ruins, trek through jungles and sail over sapphire waves to lively coral reefs. You’ll find some of the best adventures in the world here, and there’s something to suit everyone, from adrenaline junkies to culture vultures. Read on for our top picks for the best things to do in Mexico.
Made your Mexico plan? Check out our Mexico holiday deals.
Made your Mexico plan? Check out our Mexico holiday deals.
Best experiences for adventurers
If you’re after an adrenaline fix, Mexico has loads to keep you busy. On our half-day ATV jungle tour, you’ll ride a quad bike through tropical scenery in the Mayan jungle before refuelling on a packed lunch. Or, if you’d rather try something a little different, you could opt for the Xplor trip with rafting and ziplining. This one takes you to a leafy adventure park where you can zoom down ziplines, take the wheel on a 4x4, swim through underground pools – known to the locals as cenotes – and go rafting through caves. It’s the ultimate combo to get your heart racing and see the flora and fauna of the Mexican jungle.
Find out more about our experiences in Mexico.
Find out more about our experiences in Mexico.
Best experiences for culture vultures
No trip to Mexico is complete without ticking off one of the wonders of the world – Chichen Itza. These Mayan ruins are listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and other than Teotihuacan – known as the City of the Gods – they’re the closest thing to Egypt’s pyramids you’ll see in Central America. The tours to this site tend to be full-day affairs. You’ll get to see attractions like the Kukulkan Pyramid and Temple of the Warriors, all the while learning about Mayan history, culture and legends from your tour guide.
If archaeological sites are your thing, you could try the Tulum Explore tour. You get a couple of hours to explore the ruins, as well as the chance to swim in a cenote. There are thousands of these natural underground pools around Mexico's Caribbean Coast, each with its own story – and they make for a great Instagram shot.
Another way to soak up Mexico’s colourful culture? Take a trip to Isla Holbox and see what life’s like on an island off the coast of Cancun. You’ll board a small boat and head to a huge beach where sandbanks poke up out of the water and pelicans glide above the waves. After some time here, you’ll sail to the island’s town, where the roads are dusted with sand and local watering holes have swings instead of bar stools. You’ll get to ride a golf buggy – there are no cars on the island, so these are the main way people get around – and drive past rainbow-coloured murals and clusters of palm trees. There are market stalls selling everything from tacos to textiles, too, if you fancy spending some pennies.
Find out more about our experiences in Cancun.
If archaeological sites are your thing, you could try the Tulum Explore tour. You get a couple of hours to explore the ruins, as well as the chance to swim in a cenote. There are thousands of these natural underground pools around Mexico's Caribbean Coast, each with its own story – and they make for a great Instagram shot.
Another way to soak up Mexico’s colourful culture? Take a trip to Isla Holbox and see what life’s like on an island off the coast of Cancun. You’ll board a small boat and head to a huge beach where sandbanks poke up out of the water and pelicans glide above the waves. After some time here, you’ll sail to the island’s town, where the roads are dusted with sand and local watering holes have swings instead of bar stools. You’ll get to ride a golf buggy – there are no cars on the island, so these are the main way people get around – and drive past rainbow-coloured murals and clusters of palm trees. There are market stalls selling everything from tacos to textiles, too, if you fancy spending some pennies.
Find out more about our experiences in Cancun.
Best experiences for foodies
Mexico’s cuisine is just as famous as its waterfronts, so sampling some authentic plates is a must. You can do just that on our Day of the Dead excursion. Day of the Dead – AKA Dià de los Muertos – is one of Mexico’s biggest holidays. It takes place each year around Halloween, but with this tour, you can experience the celebrations all year round. You’ll head into the middle of the jungle around nightfall, where colourful bunting hangs from the trees and sugar-skull statues are lit up by lanterns. Then, you’ll learn about Day of the Dead traditions and see a fire-dancing show before you’re led underground for dinner in a cave. Everything’s authentically Mexican, from the guacamole starter to the wine it’s paired with.
If you like to party as much as you like a bite to eat, you can combine Mexican food platters with shots of tequila at Xoxomilco, all while drifting along a canal on a lit-up gondola. This evening experience is lively and fun – your host will host games and rally you into a conga line as you pass by floating mariachi bands. You’ll even have the chance to try fried crickets – a popular snack with the locals.
Find out more about our experiences in Puerto Vallarta.
If you like to party as much as you like a bite to eat, you can combine Mexican food platters with shots of tequila at Xoxomilco, all while drifting along a canal on a lit-up gondola. This evening experience is lively and fun – your host will host games and rally you into a conga line as you pass by floating mariachi bands. You’ll even have the chance to try fried crickets – a popular snack with the locals.
Find out more about our experiences in Puerto Vallarta.
Best experiences for water babies
If you’re staying on the Riviera Maya, you can snorkel, swim and paddleboard along Mexico’s Caribbean coastline on our Inaf Reef luxury catamaran tour. Dive in, and you’ll spy all kinds of sea life hiding among the corals before tucking into lunch. Or, you could head for Isla Mujeres, stopping half-way for a snorkel where you could spot the likes of angelfish and stingrays. When you reach the island, the beach is like a scene from a postcard – the water’s as clear as gin, and it’s backed by leaning palm trees and parasols that look like oversized cocktail umbrellas.
Find out more about our experiences in Riviera Maya.
Find out more about our experiences in Riviera Maya.
Best experiences for animal lovers
Mexico’s Riviera Maya is home to the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve, a 36,000-hectare, UNESCO-protected nature park packed with mangrove-lined waterways and sprawling sandy beaches. Our full-day boat trip takes you into the reserve for a look at its native wildlife, which includes everything from manatees and vultures to sea turtles and crocodiles. Plus, you’ll be with an expert guide who lives in the area around the reserve – they'll get you clued up on the history of the area and the creatures who call it home.
If the mention of turtles piqued your interest, Akumal’s the place for you. The name of this town literally means ‘place of the turtle’ in the Mayan language, so if you’re hoping to see one in the wild, this bay's just the ticket. It’s a protected area with strict rules to keep the turtles safe, so you’ll need to book if you want to swim here. One of our snorkelling tours to Akumal also comes with a cenote swim, so you get to really make the most out of your day.
Feeling inspired? Find out more about Riviera Maya.
If the mention of turtles piqued your interest, Akumal’s the place for you. The name of this town literally means ‘place of the turtle’ in the Mayan language, so if you’re hoping to see one in the wild, this bay's just the ticket. It’s a protected area with strict rules to keep the turtles safe, so you’ll need to book if you want to swim here. One of our snorkelling tours to Akumal also comes with a cenote swim, so you get to really make the most out of your day.
Feeling inspired? Find out more about Riviera Maya.
Ready to make the most of Mexico?
If we’ve convinced you to try some of the country's best activities, take a look at our long-haul deals. And, for more on Mexico, find out when’s the best time to visit.
Get holiday ready and find out more about travel money in Mexico.
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Author: Sophie Heward
Last updated: 28.05.2025