Mexico Attractions

Best Things to Do in Mexico: 15 Private Experiences

The best things to do in Mexico are seeing Maya pyramids such as Calakmul and Chichén Itzá at opening time, swimming in Yucatán cenotes, taking a boat through the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve, eating your way around Oaxaca and Mexico City, and watching whales in Baja California. Earth Trip arranges each one privately, with your own driver and expert local guides, timed to avoid the crowds.

Mexico experiences at a glance

Ancient Maya and pre-Hispanic sites

1. Calakmul’s jungle pyramids Calakmul is one of the largest Maya cities ever found, deep inside the Calakmul Biosphere Reserve in Campeche, near the Guatemalan border. It sees a fraction of Chichén Itzá’s visitors. You can still climb Structure II, its great pyramid, and look out over unbroken forest. Howler monkeys, spider monkeys and toucans are often seen on the walk in. We pair it with an eco-lodge stay nearby so you arrive when the gates open.

2. Chichén Itzá at opening time Chichén Itzá is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. By midday it is hot and crowded, so your private guide takes you in at opening time to see El Castillo, the Great Ball Court and the Sacred Cenote in the quiet early light.

3. Uxmal and the Puuc Route Uxmal, south of Mérida, is famous for the rounded Pyramid of the Magician and finely carved Puuc-style stonework. Combine it with the smaller Puuc Route sites of Kabah, Sayil and Labná, which you will often have almost to yourself.

4. Palenque ruins and Chiapas waterfalls Palenque sits in rainforest in Chiapas and holds the tomb of the Maya king Pakal. Add a swim at the turquoise cascades of Agua Azul or Misol-Ha, then continue to the highland town of San Cristóbal de las Casas.

5. Teotihuacán and a sunrise balloon flight Teotihuacán, an hour north-east of Mexico City, was built long before the Aztecs. Walk the Avenue of the Dead between the Pyramids of the Sun and Moon with an archaeologist guide, or see the site from a hot-air balloon at sunrise.

6. Monte Albán, Oaxaca The Zapotec capital of Monte Albán sits on a flattened mountaintop above Oaxaca City, with views across three valleys. Visit early, then continue to the craft villages of the Oaxaca Valley.

Colonial cities, food and culture

7. Mérida’s architecture and craft workshops Mérida, the capital of Yucatán, has a 16th-century cathedral and a grand boulevard, the Paseo de Montejo, lined with mansions built during the henequen boom of the late 1800s. A private historian shows you the city, and you visit workshops making hammocks and embroidered huipil dresses. In the evenings, trova musicians play in the squares.

8. Mexico City food and museums Mexico City has one of the world’s great food scenes, from street tacos to award-winning restaurants. Add the National Museum of Anthropology, the Frida Kahlo Museum in Coyoacán and a boat ride on the canals of Xochimilco.

9. Oaxaca markets, cooking and mezcal Oaxaca is known for its seven moles, chocolate and mezcal. Shop the market with a local cook, make mole in a family kitchen, and visit a small family-run mezcal distillery in the valley.

10. San Miguel de Allende and Guanajuato These two UNESCO-listed colonial towns in the central highlands are full of pastel streets, churches and boutique hotels. San Miguel has a lively art and food scene; Guanajuato has underground streets and a famous university town feel.

11. Day of the Dead Día de Muertos, from 31 October to 2 November, is Mexico’s most famous festival and is on UNESCO’s cultural heritage list. Families build altars and decorate graves with marigolds and candles. Oaxaca, Pátzcuaro and Mexico City are the best places to see it. Hotels sell out early, so book a year ahead.

Nature and wildlife

12. Sian Ka’an boat trip Sian Ka’an, south of Tulum, is a UNESCO-listed biosphere reserve of mangroves, lagoons and reef. A small-boat trip with a local guide from a community-run cooperative takes you through mangrove channels to look for dolphins, turtles, manatees and some of its 300-plus bird species. You can also float down an ancient Maya canal.

13. Cenote swimming Cenotes are natural limestone sinkholes filled with clear fresh water, sacred to the ancient Maya. Your driver takes you to quieter, family-run cenotes away from the tour-bus stops. Use no sunscreen before swimming, to protect the water.

14. Whale watching in Baja California From January to April, grey whales give birth in the lagoons of Baja California Sur, and mothers and calves often swim right up to small boats. Humpback whales pass Los Cabos from December to March.

15. Monarch butterflies Every winter, millions of monarch butterflies fly from Canada and the USA to the fir forests of Michoacán and the State of Mexico. The reserves are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visit between November and March; January and February are usually best.

Travelling responsibly

We choose community-run cooperatives, family-owned workshops and local guides wherever we can, so that your money stays in the places you visit. Our wildlife trips follow park rules on group size and distance from animals.

Ready to plan? Speak to our Mexico specialist Izabela on 020 8935 5685 or send us an enquiry.

Mexico experiences FAQs

What are the best things to do in Mexico? The best things to do in Mexico include visiting Maya sites such as Calakmul, Chichén Itzá and Palenque, swimming in Yucatán cenotes, taking a boat trip in the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve, exploring the food and markets of Oaxaca and Mexico City, and watching whales in Baja California.

Can you still climb the pyramids in Mexico? At some sites, yes. You can still climb Structure II, the great pyramid at Calakmul. Climbing has been banned at Chichén Itzá since 2006, and many other sites limit climbing to protect the buildings, so the rules depend on the site.

When is the best time to visit Chichén Itzá? The best time to visit Chichén Itzá is at opening time between November and April. Early mornings are cooler and much quieter, before tour groups arrive from Cancún and the Riviera Maya.

Can you swim in cenotes? Yes. Many cenotes in the Yucatán Peninsula are open for swimming. Most ask you to shower first and not to wear sunscreen or insect repellent, to protect the water. Some also require a life jacket.

When can you see whales in Mexico? Grey whales gather in the lagoons of Baja California Sur from January to April to give birth. Humpback whales can be seen off Los Cabos from December to March.

When can you see the monarch butterflies in Mexico? The monarch butterflies are in the forests of Michoacán and the State of Mexico from November to March. January and February are usually the best months.

Where is the best place to see Day of the Dead in Mexico? Oaxaca, Pátzcuaro and Mexico City are the best places to see Day of the Dead, which runs from 31 October to 2 November. Hotels fill up early, so book around a year ahead.

Are these Mexico experiences suitable for families? Yes. Cenote swimming, the Sian Ka’an boat trip, Mérida’s craft workshops and the Maya sites all work well for children. Because every Earth Trip holiday is private, we adjust walking distances and the pace of each day to suit your family.

Can dietary needs or mobility needs be catered for? Yes. Every Earth Trip holiday is tailor-made, so we plan meals, walking distances and transport around your needs, from gluten-free or vegan food to step-free routes where the site allows.