Mexico: the Caribbean Coast, Yucatán and Mexico City — Where to Go and What to Try

The Caribbean coast: Cancún, Playa del Carmen and Tulum

In the east of the country lies the Riviera Maya: Cancún with its hotels lined up along a long sandy spit, lively Playa del Carmen, the island of Cozumel with its reefs for diving, and Tulum, where Maya ruins stand right on the cliffs above the sea.

Yucatán: Maya pyramids and cenotes

Inland on the peninsula lies Chichén Itzá with the Pyramid of Kukulcán, one of the most famous sites of the ancient Maya, as well as Uxmal and colonial Mérida. The Yucatán is famous for its cenotes — karst sinkholes and caves filled with clear fresh water that you can swim in. It's best to visit the cenotes in the morning, before the tour groups arrive.

Mexico City: a capital with an ancient history

Mexico City is one of the largest cities in the world. The historic centre, with the Zócalo and the cathedral, stands on the site of the ancient Aztec capital, and right next to it you can see the remains of its main temple. Not far from the city is Teotihuacán with the Pyramids of the Sun and the Moon. It's worth stopping by the National Museum of Anthropology and Frida Kahlo's Blue House, and taking a colourful boat along the canals of Xochimilco.

Oaxaca and the colonial towns

Oaxaca is a city of brightly coloured houses, bustling markets and a cuisine all its own, the home of several kinds of mole sauce and of mezcal. San Miguel de Allende and Guanajuato are colonial towns with narrow streets, multicoloured façades and cosy squares.

What to try

Mexican cuisine is much more than tacos, though they are exactly where you should start.

• Tacos — with all kinds of fillings, from spit-roasted meat to fish.
• Guacamole — a dip made from ripe avocado.
• Mole — a thick sauce with chilli peppers, spices and chocolate.
• Cochinita pibil — pork slow-cooked in bitter orange juice, a dish from the Yucatán.
• Churros with hot chocolate.
• Fresh juices and fruit from street stalls.

Good to know before you go

Mexico is a welcoming country, and a few simple tips will help you feel at ease.

• Tap water isn't for drinking — buy bottled water.
• In cities, it's easier to call a taxi through an app.
• Mexico City sits high above sea level: take it easy for the first few days and drink plenty of water.
• Before swimming in a cenote, you're usually asked to shower and rinse off your sunscreen — this helps protect the water.
• Dishes can be surprisingly spicy: if you don't like heat, ask for the sauce on the side.

Staying connected

In Mexico you need the internet from the very first minutes: to call a taxi, open a map, find a cenote or a restaurant, or show your hotel booking. You can install your eSIM at home over Wi-Fi, so after landing you won't have to hunt for a SIM card at the airport or stand in queues. When a plan's validity begins is shown on the checkout page before you pay: for some plans it starts at the first connection in the destination country, for others on installation or right after purchase. Your main number stays in your phone, and calls and messages to it keep arriving as usual, under your carrier's terms.