Mexico is a country of extraordinary contrasts — from the ancient pyramids of the Maya and Aztec civilisations to the turquoise cenotes of the Yucatán Peninsula, from the buzzing food markets of Mexico City to the white-sand Caribbean beaches of the Riviera Maya. As the world's seventh most-visited country, Mexico offers UK travellers direct flights, no visa requirements, year-round sunshine, and one of the planet's most celebrated cuisines. Whether you're exploring Oaxaca's indigenous markets, diving in the Mesoamerican Reef, or watching whales off Baja California, Mexico delivers experiences that rival anywhere in Latin America — and it's closer and easier to reach than you'd expect.
RUINS · CENOTES · MEZCAL
Mexico
Ancient Ruins, Cenotes & World-Class Cuisine
North America
5 holidays available
WHERE MEXICO BEGINS
Where Mexico begins
Mexico City sprawls over the ruins of Tenochtitlán, the Aztec capital that once rivalled any city in Europe. Its historic heart is a UNESCO World Heritage Site — the vast Zócalo, the Metropolitan Cathedral, the Templo Mayor's excavated steps, and the National Museum of Anthropology with the largest pre-Columbian collection on earth.
Coyoacán, Roma and Condesa pulse with independent restaurants, galleries and Frida Kahlo's Blue House. An hour north, the pyramids of Teotihuacán — once home to 100,000 people — predate the Aztecs and remain one of the great monuments of the ancient Americas.
Beyond the capital, the central highlands unfold into colonial silver towns: San Miguel de Allende's pastel courtyards, Guanajuato's painted alleyways, Puebla's tiled facades. This is where Mexico's old and new keep finding new ways to overlap.
RUINS & REEFS
The Maya coast
The Yucatán is where Mexico's Maya past and Caribbean present sit side by side. Chichén Itzá — one of the New Seven Wonders — anchors the inland; at the spring and autumn equinoxes, the setting sun casts a serpent of light down its central pyramid.
South of Cancún, the Riviera Maya unfurls into powdery white-sand beaches and the Mesoamerican Reef, the second-largest coral system on the planet. Inland, thousands of cenotes — limestone sinkholes filled with crystal freshwater, sacred to the ancient Maya — open into underground caverns you can swim in.
Tulum sits high on a clifftop above turquoise water, the only Maya city ever built on the coast. The Sian Ka’an Biosphere protects 1.3 million acres of mangrove and forest just to the south.
INDIGENOUS HEART
Mexico's cultural heart
Oaxaca is the cultural heart of Mexico — a colonial city in a high mountain valley that has become one of the country's most compelling destinations for food, art, and indigenous culture. Oaxacan cuisine — mole negro, tlayudas, mezcal, chapulines (toasted grasshoppers) — was declared an Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO.
The city's markets are legendary. Mercado Benito Juárez and Mercado 20 de Noviembre overflow with fresh produce, chocolate, cheeses, and street food. During the Day of the Dead (1-2 November), Oaxaca comes alive with marigold-strewn altars, candlelit cemetery vigils, and comparsas (street parades) — one of Mexico's most authentic and atmospheric celebrations.
Nearby, the Zapotec ruins of Monte Albán — a hilltop city dating to 500 BC — offer panoramic views across the valley. The petrified waterfalls of Hierve el Agua cascade over mineral-encrusted cliffs, and the village of Santiago Matatlán is the epicentre of artisanal mezcal production. South of Oaxaca, the Pacific coast beaches of Huatulco and Puerto Escondido (famous for its massive surf) offer a quieter alternative to the Caribbean side.
Practical Information
UK citizens do not need a visa for tourist visits of up to 180 days. You will receive an electronic immigration form (FMM) — keep this safe as you need to present it when departing Mexico. Your passport must be valid for the duration of your stay. No vaccinations are compulsory, but hepatitis A and typhoid are recommended. Mexico is one of the easiest Latin American countries for UK travellers to visit.
WHAT TO SEE
Mexico's highlights
Explore the ancient pyramids of Chichén Itzá and Teotihuacán — two of the world's greatest archaeological sites
Swim in crystal-clear cenotes, the sacred sinkholes of the Yucatán Peninsula
Discover Mexico City's world-class museums, Frida Kahlo's Blue House, and vibrant food scene
Taste UNESCO-recognised Oaxacan cuisine — mole, mezcal, and market-fresh tlayudas
Dive or snorkel the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef off Cozumel and the Riviera Maya
Watch humpback whales off the Pacific coast or swim with whale sharks near Isla Holbox
Wander the clifftop Maya ruins of Tulum above turquoise Caribbean waters
Experience the Day of the Dead in Oaxaca — one of Mexico's most atmospheric traditions
Real reviews
What our customers say
From travellers who visited Mexico with us
“
The Colonial Treasures tour was outstanding. Guanajuato completely stole our hearts — the coloured houses climbing up the hillside, the underground streets, and the mariachi bands in Jardín de la Unión every evening. The tequila tasting in Jalisco was a real highlight too. Fabian arranged everything perfectly, including a private guide for the Teotihuacán pyramids on our last day in Mexico City. We came home already planning our next trip.
Rachel & Tom H.
Colonial Treasures & the Secrets of the Tequila
“
Mexico completely exceeded our expectations. The Mayan ruins at Chichén Itzá were breathtaking, the cenotes magical, and the food absolutely incredible. Travelfab planned every detail perfectly.
Sarah & James T.
“
Our 12-day Mexico tour was the trip of a lifetime. From Mexico City to the Pacific coast, every day brought something new and wonderful. The local guides were outstanding.
David R.
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Tailor-made · ATOL 10898
Plan your tailor-made Mexico trip
Tell us when you want to travel, who with, and roughly what budget you have in mind. A Latin America specialist replies within one working day with a bespoke proposal.
Plan a tailor-made Mexico tripPlan Your Mexico Holiday
From the ancient pyramids of the Yucatán to the culinary treasures of Oaxaca, our Mexico specialists will design a tailor-made itinerary around your interests, pace, and budget. Every trip includes flights from the UK and ATOL financial protection.
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