Things to do in 

Mexico

Look past big-name ruins and find alternative things to do in Mexico, from chinampa farms and village looms to copper canyons and remote beaches near small fishing towns.

Cultural experiences: In Mexico City, float quietly with a farmer through Xochimilco’s chinampas on a weekday morning and taste fresh herbs right on the boat; seniors appreciate the easy pace. In Oaxaca de Juárez, sit with a family weaver in Teotitlán del Valle to card wool and try the shuttle before a mole lesson—great for curious teens and couples. In Puebla, paint a tile in a Talavera studio near Barrio de Analco and stop for late lunch on the zócalo. Around Mérida, join a backyard tortilla workshop in a Maya village near Valladolid; luxury travelers can finish with a private hacienda dinner back in town.

Day trip ideas: From Mexico City, ride to Tepoztlán (1.5 hours) for morning streetside snacks and the Tepozteco trail, back in time for an evening lucha libre match. From Puebla, hop to Cholula (30 minutes) to climb the church-topped pyramid and sip cacao in the plaza. From Mérida, swim two or three cenotes around Cuzamá on a mellow afternoon, then return for live music on Calle 60. From Guadalajara, day-trip to Tequila (1 hour) for blue agave fields and a distillery tour, swapping tastings for a stroll through the agave landscape if you’re with kids.

Explore Mexico's regions: Across the Yucatán Peninsula, base in Mérida for mercados and cenotes, then add Valladolid for haciendas and quiet evenings near Ek’ Balam. In the Central Highlands, split time between Mexico City’s neighborhoods, Puebla’s courtyards, and Querétaro’s wine route. Along Oaxaca’s Coast, tuck into Puerto Escondido for beach mornings and a mangrove boat at Manialtepec. In Baja California Sur, choose La Paz or Loreto for sea kayaking and seasonal whale watching on the Sea of Cortez. Up in the Copper Canyon, ride the Chepe Express from Chihuahua to Creel, stepping off for short rim hikes and Rarámuri craft markets.

Travel tip: Mexico is big; count 10–14 days per region for culture, food, and a few nature days. Mixing regions needs 3–4 weeks or more, especially if you’re linking the Yucatán, the Central Highlands, and either Baja or the northwest canyons.

More places to see in Mexico

Outside Mexico City, plan time for places that show the country’s range, from highland kitchens and ancient sites to desert coasts and deep canyons. You’ll move at an easy pace, meet local makers, and taste things straight from the source.

Oaxaca: Start early at Monte Albán before the sun gets high, then wander the frescoes and courtyards of the Museo de las Culturas. Around lunch, find a smoky stall at Mercado 20 de Noviembre for mole or tlayudas. After dark, slip into Mezcalería In Situ for a small pour and a chat about agave with the staff.

Yucatán Peninsula: Walk Mérida’s Paseo de Montejo in the cooler morning, then head to the Cuzamá cenotes for a midday swim in clear, shaded water. As the heat eases, explore Uxmal’s Puuc-style temples and watch the stone glow in the late light before dinner back in town.

Baja California Sur: Join a morning boat from La Paz to Isla Espíritu Santo for snorkeling at Los Islotes when the sea is calm, then stretch out at Balandra’s shallow bay. In the evening, stroll the Malecón for sculptures, pelicans, and a plate of fish tacos at a streetside stand.

Copper Canyon: Ride the El Chepe train between Creel and Divisadero for views into Barrancas del Cobre, stepping off to edge out on the glass platform at Parque de Aventura. In Creel, visit the Valle de los Monjes and Cusárare waterfall with a local Rarámuri guide in the afternoon light.

Seasonal activities

Spring: Trace jacaranda-lined streets in Mexico City, linger over mercados without the heat, and slip into cenotes as the dry season keeps water crystal clear. Expect mild days in the highlands for art walks in San Miguel de Allende, easy Copper Canyon views, and family-friendly boat rides in calm morning light.

Summer: Set out early, then welcome quick afternoon showers that turn jungles lush and waterfalls loud in Chiapas. Watch sea turtles nest along Oaxaca and the Riviera Maya, spot whale sharks near Isla Mujeres, and retreat to cool haciendas or mountain pueblos when the sun peaks, a pace seniors and young families appreciate.

Fall: Follow the first monarch butterflies into Michoacán and savour chiles en nogada at their seasonal best. With crowds thinning and temperatures easing, drift through colonial plazas in Guanajuato or San Cristóbal, a relaxed window couples and culture seekers call the best time to visit Mexico.

Winter: Seek warm beach days on the Pacific and Yucatán while the dry season keeps skies clear, then cosy up in highland evenings that stay crisp but comfortable. Glide out to greet grey whales in Baja, browse Christmas markets and neighbourhood posadas, and take slow, crowd-free museum mornings that suit unhurried travellers.

Join Day of the Dead in late October and early November as altars glow and processions wind through cities and villages, then look for the Grito on 15 September when plazas across the country erupt with music and fireworks. In July, Oaxaca’s Guelaguetza fills streets with colourful calendas and community dances, while October brings Cervantino to Guanajuato with open-air performances and lively patios. Holy Week processions add solemn pageantry in Taxco and San Luis Potosí, and Oaxaca’s Night of the Radishes on 23 December turns carved produce into whimsical scenes that locals and visitors admire shoulder to shoulder.