Top Things to do in Mexico
10 Nature & Wildlife Areas in Mexico That You Shouldn't Miss
With 26 UNESCO-declared world heritage sites, charming colonial towns and dozens of thrilling cities, there's plenty to explore in this country of 109 million. Outside the cities, stunning Pacific beaches, stark deserts, mangrove swamps and swimming holes provide all you need for a relaxing, romantic or adventurous vacation. Captivating, cosmopolitan and chaotic Mexico City and the 32 states offer an incredible abundance of experiences, from laid-back and leisurely to upbeat to adrenalin-charging.
Restaurants in Mexico
1. Calakmul Archaeological Zone
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 687 reviews
Ancient Mayan city historians now believe to have been bigger than Chichén Itzá.
Reviewed By giblinVanBauzanum
Saying that Calakmul is breathtaking will not give this place enough justice. It has beautifully preserved ruins, clad in vegetation, which gives them this mysterious and adventurous look. Waliking amids the jungle and discovering all this ancient places is totally a different experience compared to any other ruin. The site is also so huge and vast , that is likely that you will see very few tourists even in crowded periods. The site is reachable by a 40km bumpy road, which will take you 1h and a half from the main road. Be prepares to stay there at least 3 hours and bring lots of water. You will need them. A bit off hand but totally worth it
2. Jardin Botanico Culiacan
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 253 reviews
Reviewed By renecX1549RY
Well I think the botanical garden is a great place to go walk, with family, alone, its just amazing. It is not just a garden where you go see plants and thats it, you can actually interact with different activities or services that this garden provides you. You can take pictures and learn about the different plants that you can find there. This garden also provides a lot of different cultural activities such as concerts along the year, movie nights and other different events. Recently this place has been remodelated for a better experience for the people go. Schools also can have access to this center by going on a learning trip, this includes a person wich gives you the tour of all the center it very cool. In this garden you can also do excercise by running around the garden and there are also groups of crossfit training, in wich you can sign up.
3. Homun Cenotes
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 128 reviews
Reviewed By BrittanyMExplores - Winnipeg, Canada
I visited five amazing and unique lesser known cenotes in the town of Homun which is an area of the Yucatan known for its many cenotes. I didn't use a tour to go here and just figured out a DIY version on my own, which was a fun adventure in itself! I started off by taking a colectivo van from Merida to Homun, which took around an hour to arrive. The colectivos were located on Calle 67 across from the Noreste Bus Terminal. The drivers were often yelling out Homun, so just confirm with the driver that this is where they are going before getting in. The one-way ride was around 30 pesos. I had told the driver that I wanted to see cenotes, so he dropped me off on the edge of town at the corner of Calle 19 and the Restaurante El Cenote. I followed the gravel road a short ways which led to two beautiful cenotes (Cenote Pool Uinic and Cenote Tza-Ujun-Kat), which appeared to be located on a local family's property. The family came out and was eager to show me to the first cenote - Cenote Uinic - as I was their first visitor of the day. The mother of the family led me down a gravel pathway which led to the entrance of the cenote. There was a small hole in the ground with a large tree growing out of it and the entrance to the cenote was down a steep set of stairs down a second small hole. The stairs led to an open area with a few more steps leading further down to the completely closed cenote in a small cave area with a small pool of crystal clear freshwater to swim in! It was absolutely beautiful and so refreshing. The second that I visited, Cenote Tza-Ujun-Kat, was located directly across the road from the first one. The stairs led to a large circular platform in the cenote that was surrounded by water. In the centre of the platform were tropical plants and trees reaching up to the small hole above them in the rock ceiling. I once again found myself alone in this cenote and it was lovely! There were lots of stalactites hanging from the rock ceiling here. After visiting these two cenotes, I found a few moto-taxis (half motorcycle on the back and small cart with bench on the front) waiting along the main road and I hired one to take me on a tour of three more cenotes. The cost was 250 pesos for the local to drive me to the cenotes and wait while I swam, which I thought was pretty reasonable. The final three cenotes that I visited - Cenote Canchunen, Cenote Bal-Mil and Cenote Hool Kosom - were all located along the same bumpy gravel road just outside of Homun, about a 10 minute drive on the moto-taxi. My driver played fun upbeat music on his stereo as we bounced along through the jungle to these off the beaten path, hidden cenotes. All three cenotes were close to one another and they were all partially closed cenotes, with only a small hole at the top. The entrance for all of them was 35 pesos. Accessing these cenotes consisted of a steep metal staircase through a small hole in the ground to a rocky platform at the bottom. Each cenote was very quiet and there were only a couple of locals there when I visited. It was almost a completely private experience which was great! I loved how these cenotes were not built up for tourism at all and they maintained a natural, authentic, simple and rugged feel. Each of these cenotes was beautiful and unique. I loved swimming in all of them. Cenote Hool Kosom was my favourite though, as it had interesting white rock on the walls of the cenote with small holes scattered throughout. It was absolutely the most stunning! The cost to enter each cenote ranged in price from 25-35 pesos (super cheap). This was in addition to the cost of the moto-taxi guide. After my tour of these cenotes, my moto-taxi driver dropped me off at the colectivo stop in the centre of Homun (across from the main plaza on the main road through town), where there were benches for waiting. I didn't have to wait long before a van showed up and brought me back to Merida for another 30 pesos. Overall, I felt safe in Homun as a solo female traveler on this DIY adventure. Homun is a very peaceful and friendly town and the locals are proud of their cenotes and eager to show them to you. I would highly recommend visiting some of the many cenotes in and around Homun! It's an easy day trip from Merida that you can do on your own without a tour. This is a really authentic and off the beaten path adventure, as these cenotes have a more natural feel which I loved.
4. Mirador Cuatro Palos
5. Mayan Bee Sanctuary
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 45 reviews
The Mayan Bee Sanctuary it´s a place to discover the stingless bee and the Melipona honey. The Mayan Bee Sanctuary, is an interactive place in which you become in an explorer of the history of one of the most nutritional food in the world. Behind The Mayan Bee Santuary there is one of the largest operators of tourism of Mexico, Aviomar Adventours, a company with over 50 years of experience and hig
Reviewed By invitationOvoyage - Milwaukee, United States
Happened to pass this place on the way to the East side of the island. Glad we stopped! Joined a family and listened/saw to some Mayan history and legend as well as learn about the awesome bees that be on the island. Nice little gift shop with bee-themed authentic Mexican pottery and lots of different honey products. Staff and guide very friendly, welcoming and knowledgeable. Tour in Spanish and English. Thumbs up!
6. Cabo Pulmo Marine Preserve
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 480 reviews
A sanctuary to the only living coral reef on the western side of the continent.
Reviewed By N-WALES-TRAVELLER - Rhuddlan, United Kingdom
We travelled in a mini rental vehicle on the dirt roads that lead south from La Ribera towards San Jose Del Cabo via Cabo Pulmo and a host of other small settlements. It’s an arduous journey in a standard small vehicle ???? but after seeing the beaches the bird life and most of all the numerous breaching humpback whales ???? from the coastline it was a road trip of a life time. You really need a 4x4 but our little car managed it with a gold star. ( probably more to do with the driver ????) I’d recommend it to all as it was simply an amazing drive. ****Word if warning***** Don’t attempt this in a normal vehicle if it’s been raining or in the dark. You won’t make it. Give yourself a good 6 hours to complete the journey
7. El Rosario Monarch Butterfly Preserve
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 149 reviews
Located next to the tiny village of El Rosario, this sanctuary is the winter nesting grounds for millions of monarch butterflies that migrate from the U.S. each year.
Reviewed By KLight_12
Getting to see the hundreds of millions of Monarch Butterflies at the El Rosario Monarch Butterfly Reserve was a dream come true! My husband and I went there with Natural Habitats Adventures in January 2020. We stayed in Angangueo for two nights. It is a charming town high in the mountains (about 9000 feet). The butterfly reserve is a few miles above the town near the top of the mountain. When we arrived at the reserve, we rode horses up the trail for a mile or so, then walked about half-mile to the area where the Monarchs were roosting in the Oyamel Fir trees. It was breath-taking to see the masses of monarchs hanging in the branches, thickly covering the tree trunks, and flying about when they were warmed by the sun. Seeing this spectacle was a bucket list adventure, I highly recommend going!
8. Reserva de la Biosfera Ria Celestun
9. Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,908 reviews
Sian Ka'an (Mayan for "Where the sky is born") is a 1.3 million-acre biosphere reserve.
Reviewed By glotaub - Denver, United States
We just took a tour here with Cancun Bay and it was magical. First the basics: This is a long day - a long ride on a dirt road - BUT it is beyond worth it Our guide (Hernan) and driver (George) were excellent- always checking in on us with great stories and making sure we were comfortable. We traveled south from Playa Del Carmen past Tulum to reach this paradise - once there we had lunch, then got in a boat, saw turtles, dolphins and snorkeled seeing loads of fish, lobsters and rays. Then we went to a sand bar where we relaxed in the bluest/clearest waters It was heavenly Bring organic/bio safe sunscreen, a hat, glasses, your swimsuit and money for tips You won’t need anything else - food and drinks are provided This is a Mayan treasure - one you can’t miss!
10. Piedra Herrada Sanctuary
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 302 reviews
A sanctuary for viewing Monarch Butterflies in central Mexico.
Reviewed By IamSydney
What a way to say goodbye to 2019 and hello to 2020. We visited on 31 Dec and what a perfect sunny day it was. From the moment we got to the car park we were surrounded by the butterflies floating through the air. The walk up to the trees where they ‘roost’ was magnificent- beautiful forest and flowers and (wherever there was sun) the butterflies- in their millions. It is surreal, magical, amazing and totally mesmerising - and when you see their trees you cannot believe your eyes! Millions of them! To me one of the most incredible things was to stand quietly and listen to them - you find you can easily hear the wings flapping! Logistics - as you come toward the sanctuary there are a few groups of guides on roadsides. The original sanctuary will be a bit further on and is obvious. As you enter some people will try to wave you into their parking area - they are not part of the original and caretaking cooperative just behind. The cooperative that run the Sanctuary are well organised as a group and everything is well run from clean toilets to great guides and really good food. They are from the local area and take care of the sanctuary whilst sharing the income. It is really interesting and fun to talk to them and find out more. They call the people / guides outside ‘clandestinos’ which is I guess correct but I also guess everyone is just trying to make a living. Whatever you think, the people here are wonderful to chat to (in Spanish). Costs - for what you get it’s very cheap! 30pesos parking (car should be safe and secure while you’re away) 70pesos per person entry which includes your guide 250ish to take a horse up the hill - a good idea if really unfit! 5pesos for the loos! Don’t miss it!!
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