5 Mexico Destinations Everyone Should Visit At Least Once

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Mexico is more than people make it out to be. It is not just one giant beach with a Señor Frog’s in the middle.

I have been to Mexico more times than I can count, and the biggest mistake I see travelers make is treating the entire country like it’s just one big all-inclusive resort.

It is a massive, complex country that changes drastically depending on which coast (or altitude) you are on. You have the Caribbean turquoise on one side, the Pacific crash on the other, and a high-altitude metropolis in the center that makes New York feel sleepy.

If you are building your 2026 travel list, these are the 5 Mexico trips I genuinely think you need to take to actually understand the place.

PLUS: I’ve built a quiz for you at the end of the article to find your perfect match, so stick around!

1. Cancun & Riviera Maya (The Heavyweight Champion)

There is a reason this is the #1 international destination for Americans. The water really is that blue. The resorts really are that insane.

People love to hate on Cancun for being “touristy,” but here is the truth: the hospitality game here is untouchable. This region has evolved way past the “spring break” stereotype. In 2026, we are talking about Michelin-level dining included in your room rate and service that makes European hotels feel stiff.

But the real secret to doing this region right is mixing that luxury with the raw jungle. You need to get off the sand and into a Cenote. These freshwater sinkholes are unique to the Yucatan. Swimming in that crystal-clear, cool water in the middle of a hot jungle is a spiritual experience that a pool bar just can’t replicate.

We had a blast at Tankah Park Cenotes near Playa del Carmen. Ziplining, cliff jumping, snorkelling… it was a really fun adventure for an afternoon and we got back to our villa with amazing stories to tell.

@traveloffpath The cenotes at Tankah Park are dreamy 🥰 The perfect day trip during a Maya Luxe vacation 🔆 . #mayaluxe #travel #traveloffpath #fyp #foryoupage #traveler #mexico🇲🇽 #mexico #rivieramaya #vacation #cenote #cenotes ♬ sonido original – Travel Off Path

The Vibe: Effortless Caribbean luxury.

Perfect For: Families who need a “guaranteed” vacation and beach snobs.

The “Don’t Miss” Experience:

• Xcaret Park: Yes, it’s a theme park. Go anyway. The “México Espectacular” night show is arguably the best cultural performance in the country.
• Isla Mujeres: Take the ferry across. Rent a golf cart. Drive to Punta Sur. It is a cliché because it works. Stop at The Soggy Peso for a margarita; it’s a rite of passage.

2. Los Cabos (The Desert Playground)

If Cancun is humid and tropical, Cabo is dry and dramatic. This is where the desert crashes into the sea. And don’t tell the rest of Mexico, but it’s my favorite place to go on vacation (for now).

Cabo doesn’t try to be “authentic colonial Mexico.” It tries to be the most luxurious destination in North America, and it largely succeeds.

The service levels here are incomparable. We even had butler service at Garza Blanca Los Cabos, changing our entire perspective on how luxe an all-inclusive can be.

There is a lot to see in Los Cabos, but my top “musts” would be going on a whale watching tour, going to the Thursday night Art Walk in San Jose, and spending an entire day ordering drinks by the pool while napping and reading a book. (The rooftop pool at Garza Blanca would be the perfect spot, as you can see in our reel below!)

The Vibe: California cool without the taxes.

Perfect For: Couples, golfers, and anyone who hates humidity.

The “Don’t Miss” Experience:

• Farm-to-Table Dining: Flora Farms or Acre Baja. You are eating in a mango grove in the middle of the desert. It’s surreal and delicious.
• Whale Watching: If you are here between December and April, the humpbacks are practically breaching in your hotel pool.

3. Mexico City (The World Cup Host)

2026 is the year of CDMX.

The city is hosting the FIFA World Cup Opening Match at the legendary Estadio Azteca on June 11, 2026. The energy is going to be radioactive.

Even without the soccer, this is the “New York of Latin America.” It has more museums than any city in the world (except maybe London), the food is the best on the planet, and it is incredibly green.

Aside from my self-induced experience with the tap water here, it’s one of the coolest places in Mexico I’ve been, and one I will keep coming back to over and over again.

My favorite things to do in CDMX are grabbing otherworldy food for amazing prices, hitting up local markets for handmade bags and wallets, and taking a day trip to Teotihuacan (a massive pre-aztec ruin that will completely blow your mind).

The Vibe: Cosmopolitan chaos and culture.

Perfect For: Foodies and urban explorers.

The “Don’t Miss” Experience:

• Street Food vs. Fine Dining: Do both. Eat a $1 taco al pastor on the street in La Condesa (look for the longest line), then splurge on a tasting menu at Pujol or Quintonil.
• Lucha Libre: Go to Arena México on a Friday night. It is theater, comedy, and violence all wrapped in spandex. Grab a giant michelada and just scream with the locals.

4. Mazatlán (The Authentic Beach City)

Let’s address the elephant in the room: Mazatlán is in Sinaloa. The State Department has stern warnings for the state.

However, Mazatlán itself (specifically the “Golden Zone” and the Historic Center) consistently maintains a safety exemption for travelers. Why go? Because unlike Cancun or Cabo, which were built for tourists, Mazatlán was a city first.

I love walking the Plaza Machado in the historic center. It looks like New Orleans’ French Quarter, but on the beach, and the seafood is arguably the freshest in Mexico (and affordable).

The beaches here are super nice too, and you can walk along them for miles and miles. You’ll definitely pass one of my favorite things about Mazatlán: the Banda performers belting out incredible Sinaloan music, adding to the destination’s authenticity.

The Vibe: Retro, authentic, and unpolished.

Perfect For: Travelers who want to see “real” Mexico and expats.

The “Don’t Miss” Experience:

• The Malecon: It’s one of the longest boardwalks in the world. Grab a Pacífico (brewed right here) and watch the sunset.
• Pulmonia: Skip the Uber. Take the open-air golf cart taxis unique to this city (Pulmonías). It’s the only way to travel here.

5. San Luis Potosí (The Surrealist Escape)

This is the curveball. When I say San Luis Potosí, I mean more than just exploring the city itself (which is a great weekend getaway in its own right!)

I also mean using the colonial capital as a jumping-off point for the Huasteca Potosina region.

This is the Mexico you see on Instagram and assume is Photoshopped. We are talking about turquoise rivers, massive waterfalls, and the jungle swallowing surrealist concrete sculptures. It is adventure travel at its peak.

The Vibe: Indiana Jones meets Salvador Dalí.

Perfect For: Hikers, photographers, and adrenaline junkies.

The “Don’t Miss” Experience:

• Las Pozas (Xilitla): The surrealist sculpture garden built by eccentric Englishman Edward James. Concrete staircases to nowhere in the middle of the rainforest.
• Cascada de Tamul: A massive waterfall you have to paddle upstream to see. It is humbling.

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Tyler Fox

Tyler is our Managing Editor and Writer. After spending years reading, writing, and obsessing over travel (while taking trips as often as possible of course!), he aims to give readers the best and most balanced experience possible when exploring the site.