The question “Is Mexico worth visiting?” time and again makes the rounds across the internet, which to me is always a bit surprising. With one of the tastiest cuisines, richest histories, and most exciting cultures on Earth, Mexico should make the top of everyone’s bucket list.
To settle the matter once and for all, today I’ll give you a list of as many as 16 reasons why you should keep Mexico in the back of your mind for the next time you’re planning a trip abroad.
First, though, let’s be fair and look into some issues that end up keeping a few travelers away from this fascinating Latin American nation.
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Why some travelers avoid Mexico
1. Security is often a problem.
Unfortunately, the bad rap Mexico gets isn’t exactly baseless. Turf wars between drug cartels and clashes with the police have pushed several cities in the country to the top of worldwide murder rate rankings.
Still, the issue hardly affects travelers, as the most dangerous cities are overall concentrated along the US border.
What’s more, in destinations that are popular with tourists like Cancun and Guadalajara, gun violence is kept at bay in the richer districts where visitors tend to stay. Mexico City, by the way, is considered extremely safe.
2. Hurricane season can be a drag.
Both Mexico’s Pacific and Atlantic coasts are struck by harsh storms between May and November — which of course includes all of the summertime.
Ironically, that means peak season in Cancun runs between December and April, i.e. from winter to the beginning of spring, while Cabo is best enjoyed later in spring.
So when you’re planning your trip to Mexico, always check out what the weather conditions are like at that time of year for the specific destination you want to visit.
3. You may have a hard time communicating.
The percentage of Mexicans who speak English hovers around 10%, about half of which are fluent. That can seem striking given the country’s proximity to and deep ties with the US, yet public schools are frequently underfunded nationwide.
The numbers are tricky, though, as anyone in the hospitality industry will be perfectly able to communicate with you.
You may struggle to interact with folks on the street and in places like craft markets, but in most cases, the famed Mexican warmth and helpfulness will save the day anyway.
Besides, if you want to find above-average English fluency outside the Anglosphere, you’ll only get to visit northern Europe!
Is Mexico worth visiting? Absolutely!
1. Mexican food is to die for.
Crunchy, creamy, and zesty all at once, Mexican cuisine is full of flavor and personality. Its flawless combination of stuff we all love and stuff that is good for you has prompted the opening of Mexican eateries in major cities across the globe.
Yet the endless offer and variety of authentic Mexican food you’ll be able to stuff yourself with in Mexico is impossible to beat and is a big draw to thousands of travelers who land in Mexico each year.
Also read: 19 Essential Spices from Mexico and How to Use Them
2. The coast is simply gorgeous.
Mexico boasts not one, but three separate coastlines: the Caribbean, the Gulf of Mexico, and the northern Pacific (which on top of everything spans the all-Mexican Gulf of California).
While the shape of the coast varies widely from one shore to the other, beaches typically have soft white sands and teal to deep-blue pristine waters.
What’s more, Mexico seems to have found the ideal balance between preserving unspoiled stretches of coast and building luxurious seafront resorts to let visitors share in a piece of paradise.
3. The ancient landmarks are monumental.
Mexico is dotted with thousands of archeological sites, though only 150 to 200 are open to the public. That’s of course way more than most countries have within their borders and enough material for maybe a year-long vacation.
You have multiple Maya cities like Chichen Itza and Tulum, Mexico City’s Aztec temple complex, and imposing ruins by several other civilizations that thrived in Mexico for an astonishing 3000 years before the Spanish conquest.
4. Mexican culture is colorful and festive.
Mexicans are well-known for both the joie de vivre and the passion that run in their blood in equal measure. Music, color, and high spirits mark even their infamous celebration of the dead, which honors the tradition of first nations of honoring the ancestors in a merry way.
5. The little towns are really charming.
The Mexican government has designated around 130 towns as ‘magical pueblos’, a recognition awarded to stunning towns which unlike San Miguel de Allende haven’t been listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
20+ are located in the states that surround the capital and can be visited on a day trip, but all 31 states of the country have between one and 10 pueblos mágicos.
6. Locals will welcome you with open arms.
This is a trait Mexicans share with the majority of Latin Americans, who’ll go out of their way to make visitors feel comfortable and welcome.
When you need directions, expect detailed explanations. And if it’s just a short walk, don’t find it weird if the friendly stranger insists on seeing you to your destination.
Before you know it, you’ll be invited to dinner in your new friend’s house and perhaps even bring home a lovely gift.
7. The weather is mild year-round.
Proof of that is the fact that winter is the most popular time of the year to visit Cancun. True, we can’t overgeneralize, as Mexico has several climate types: the north is mostly arid, the center is chiefly temperate, and the south is predominantly tropical.
That said, the average temperature doesn’t vary that much nationwide: in the hottest regions, that’s usually in the high 70s, while in the coldest areas, it’s around the low 70s. Summers however can be quite hot around the country, which means you may want to visit some other time of year.
8. Mexico City is the place to be.
With its pyramids and man-made islands, the legendary Tenochtitlan was the capital of the Aztec Empire until the Spanish founded Mexico City on top of it.
Hectic, gigantic, and full of personality like any global city worth the title, the Mexican capital is where you should head if you truly want to bask in the glorious culture, the rich history, and the amazing cuisine of the country.
You’ll get to wonder at Frida Kahlo’s masterpieces, shop till you drop in the upscale Polanco district, dance the night away in Roma-Condesa, and a lot more.
9. The art scene is world-famous.
Mexico was the birthplace of painters like Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera, writers like Octavio Paz, and filmmakers like Alejandro González Iñárritu and Alfonso Cuarón.
Though the official culture that you can see in museums and theaters is impressive enough, the country is home to a thriving contemporary art scene as well.
Swing by an art gallery in the capital or wander the streets of any large city — where huge murals are all over the place — to understand exactly what I’m talking about.
10. Tourism infrastructure is first-rate.
Tourism accounts for about 15% of Mexico’s GDP, which is the highest rate on the planet. That is only possible because the country fully understands the economic power of the sector and makes it a priority to attract ever more travelers — and get them to feel like visiting again.
So Mexico has some of the most comfortable airports, best-maintained road networks, and tourism-friendly attractions in the developing world. All you have to do is enjoy!
11. Visiting can be pretty affordable.
Mexico isn’t as affordable as certain Southeast Asian or South American nations, but it’s consistently ranked among the 10 or 15 cheapest destinations to visit.
You can get a roundtrip air ticket to Cancun or Guadalajara from the capital for less than $80 or rent a car and fill up for prices that, while higher than the US average, are lower than what you’d be charged in Europe.
There are plenty of budget-friendly accommodations, food, and tours too, especially if you’re exchanging strong currencies like dollars, euros, or pounds for your pesos.
12. Mexico is filled with natural wonders.
Mexico’s dazzling beaches get a lot of well-deserved attention, yet the entire territory of the country is packed with breathtaking landscapes and natural wonders.
If you have a few extra days in Mexico to go beyond the basics, you can try to include in your itinerary fantastic sights such as the Basaltic Prisms of Santa María Regla, the cenotes, or natural sinkholes of Yucatán, and dramatic canyons like Sumidero.
13. There’s no shortage of exciting activities.
Flying over Teotihuacan in a hot-air balloon, snorkeling or scuba diving with sea turtles and dolphins, going on a speed boat tour of the Cancun coast, riding a camel on sand dunes,… the list goes on forever.
Mexico is the land where nature and fun mingle in harmony, which makes it a huge playground for single travelers, couples, and families.
14. History is visible all over the place.
The earliest civilization originating in Mexico dates back to 1600 BCE — the Olmecs were sculpting their iconic colossal heads in 1200 BCE.
Then you had the Mayas, the Aztecs, and several lesser-known civilizations before the Spanish made Mexico the capital of the Viceroyalty of New Spain.
The country’s history wouldn’t get any less troubled following its independence in 1821. All that millennia-old heritage is clearly reflected in ruins, palaces, and monuments and displayed in museums across Mexico.
15. Chances are you won’t need a visa.
Mexico currently exempts nationals of 68 nations from applying for a visa before entering the country for tourism purposes and staying for up to 180 days.
Among those, you have European Union member states, the US and Canada, most South American nations, as well as Australia, Israel, Japan, Malaysia, South Korea, and the UAE.
In addition to that, Russian, Turkish, and Ukrainian citizens can obtain an electronic permit to spend as many as 30 days in Mexico.
16. The language is beautiful.
This is a totally personal take, I’ll give you that. Still, most of you will agree Spanish is a sexy and sweet-sounding language. Mexican Spanish, in particular, has a certain flair to it; locals seem to almost sing as they speak.
Even more unusual is the influence Náhuatl, the language of the Aztecs, had over the Mexican dialect, as in unique place names like Popocatépetl and Ecatepec.
You may not notice any of that if you don’t speak Spanish, but perhaps the adorable Mexican speech might drive you to learn it.
Wrap-up
I honestly don’t know of one single traveler who’s regretted visiting Mexico. Sure, as a developing nation, Mexico is not without its challenges. Yet the country is extremely welcoming to visitors and treats them to its marvelous landscapes, eye-popping culture, and one-of-a-kind culinary tradition.
It’s no wonder Mexico is the most popular country in Latin America, and seventh overall, in terms of foreign tourist arrivals. Don’t you think it’s about time you joined those millions of travelers who land in Mexico every year?
