Mexico

Magnificent Mexico, a country with breathtaking scenery from mountains to canyons; beautiful beaches, from the wild deep blue Pacific Ocean to the bright turquoise waters of the Caribbean; and amazing archaeological sites, temples, pyramids, cenotes and buzzing modern cities.

Regional Highlights

• Stunning coastlines and beaches
• Fascinating archaeological sites
• Gastronomic delights
• Rich in culture and history
• World-class hotels and spas

Mexico is an extraordinary country that offers everything a visitor might want to experience - history, art, wildlife, culture, cuisine, music, as well as those essentials of sun, sand and sea. It also sports some extraordinary towns and cities. Begin a visit in Mexico City, a vast, frenetic and glorious capital, with wonderful sixteenth century Spanish churches, bright green Beetle taxis, shady plazas, chic cafes and amazing world-class museums. Enjoy its vibrancy before heading off to visit the silver town of Taxco, or the pre-Aztec city of Teotihuacn with its Pyramids of the Sun and Moon, Avenue of the Dead and the extraordinary Quetzalcoatl Temple with its serpent carvings.

Alternatively, go west to the colonial towns of San Miguel de Allende, Morelia or Guadalajara, Mexico's second largest city and home of tequila and mariachi bands. Further west and out to the Pacific Ocean, hides a collection of luxury hotels with pampering spas, demanding golf courses and expansive beaches. Secluded and serene, these hotels on the Costa Alegre offer peace, tranquillity and relaxation. North, further up the coast and sticking out from the mainland, is Baja California, legendary for marine wildlife and Los Cabos, home to some of the most exclusive five-star hotels in the country.

The hinterland is just as breathtaking with rivers and waterfalls, forests and canyons - great places for hiking and horse-riding. Best of all take a train ride through the Barranca del Cobre, the renowned Copper Canyon. There are some twenty canyons in total, many of them deeper than the Grand Canyon.

Then of course, there is the Yucatan Peninsula that plays host not only to the most important Mayan sites of Chichen Itza and Uxmal, but also to a discreet and luxurious collection of converted Haciendas, not to mention the opulence of its coastline, the Riviera Maya. (It is also only a short hop from Cancun to Havana, Cuba.) With its golf courses, boutique hotels and lively little towns like Playa del Carmen, the Riviera Maya is fast becoming one of Mexicos little hotspots. Head inland for the peace and tranquillity of Chiapas, the centre of the ancient Amerindian civilisation and the gateway to the Mayan heart of Mexico. Here hides Palenque, ruins peeping out over the mists of the tangled rainforest, with echoes of screeching moneys and flashes of colourful birds.

Between beach and history, Spanish cities and Mayan temples, glorious haciendas and luxury hotels, Mexico as a holiday destination, can easily be labelled, el Magnifico!

Combine Mexico with Cuba and experience vibrant Havana, with its latino music filling every corner bar alongside the world's best Mojitos.

Did you know?

• Peanuts, vanilla, guavas, tomatoes, some forty different chiles, avocados, papayas, chocolate and tobacco originally came from Mexico
• Potatoes are believed to be originated from Peru
• There are more than 14,000 archaeological sites in Mexico