Mexico Favorites

  smugglers canyon
by machomikemd
 
  • smugglers canyon
      smugglers canyon
    by machomikemd
  • Los Ruinas de Tulum
      Los Ruinas de Tulum
    by upsouthvolleyball
  • Beach at Tulum
      Beach at Tulum
    by upsouthvolleyball
  • Sign of Tenochtitlan
      Sign of Tenochtitlan
    by Kuznetsov_Sergey
  • Map of Tenochtitlan
      Map of Tenochtitlan
    by Kuznetsov_Sergey
 

Most Viewed Favorites in Mexico

76.

Hotel Zone   Cancún

Hotel Zone, Cancún

 54 Reviews  There are lots of excellent hotels in the 20 Km long line of sand that gave notoriety to Cancun. But I was told that, in same sections of it, the sea could become treacherous. Krystal hotel had the... 

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77.

Weather   Puerto Vallarta

Weather, Puerto Vallarta

 6 Reviews  The boat pulled into the bay around 6 in the morning...the city was asleep, but you could see the sun coming up over the mountains...what a beautiful sight. Today was going to be a great day and the... 

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78.

Around Town   Mexico City

Around Town, Mexico City

 43 Reviews  Mexico City is a * H U G E * city; you would need a lot of time to get to know it (like most interesting cities) because there is so much to see. However, the main and most beautiful attractions are... 

 See All 215 Favorites in Mexico City

79.

Beaches   Cabo San Lucas

Beaches, Cabo San Lucas

 6 Reviews  La Playa de los Enamorados is a must if you visit Cabo. You have to take a short 20-minute boat ride to reach this small island. It's location is unusual. On the west side huge Pacific Ocean waves... 

 See All 46 Favorites in Cabo San Lucas

80.

The Border   Tijuana

The Border, Tijuana

 9 Reviews  Simply the sanity and order at US Customs on our return compared with Tijuana. From the moment you step across the border into Mexico you are bombarded with Taxi drivers wanting to take you into town... 

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81.

Siteseeing   Mazatlán

Siteseeing, Mazatlán

 15 Reviews  checking around no one certain hostel is open. Go to whasupmaz.com for a 'high' end hotel on Stone Island. There are a few hotels on Stone Island.. the place , Mazatlan, is empty. Everything is a... 

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82.

Macroplaza   Monterrey

Macroplaza, Monterrey

 6 Reviews  The heroes square is a remember of our history, monuments to great mexican history personalities can be founded here. This is the governors palace, made from pink stones, you can see inside some... 

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83.

Cliff Divers   Acapulco

Cliff Divers, Acapulco

 7 Reviews  Visit La Quebrada to see the famous Acapulco cliff divers. They put on one show at 1pm in the afternoon, and then four more in the evening. It costs 12 pesos to watch them. Get there early and get to... 

 See All 57 Favorites in Acapulco

84.

Zócalo&Streets   Oaxaca de Juárez

Zócalo&Streets, Oaxaca de Juárez

 15 Reviews  Oaxaca, in spite of the pedestrianised area, is quite a bustling little place, attracting a lot of tourists (and many travelling in groups). Worth identifying a quiet shady spot for yourself to escape... 

 See All 41 Favorites in Oaxaca de Juárez

85.

Food / Drink   Ensenada

Food / Drink, Ensenada

 4 Reviews  Coming off the toll road there is first a sharp right turn, just beyond the turn there are ferocious steel speed bumps. When you see this building you'll know you've arrived. Ensenada is a fishing... 

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86.

Chichen Itza   Cancún

Chichen Itza, Cancún

 41 Reviews  As of January 2006 climbing is no longer allowed at Chichen Itza. The Castle, the warriors temple and the high priest temples are all closed. Apparently an older woman fell off the castle and all the... 

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87.

Siteseeing   Puerto Vallarta

Siteseeing, Puerto Vallarta

 24 Reviews  There is so much to do and see in Puerto Vallarta that you should never get bored. If this is your first time here, don't try to do too many tours...you'll be back for more. But do attempt to take at... 

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88.

Zocalo   Mexico City

Zocalo, Mexico City

 22 Reviews  If you like history, you must check out the Historic Center. You'll find the Aztec ruins of their main temple, the cathederal that Cortes built in the early 1500s on top of the main Aztec pyramid, the... 

 See All 215 Favorites in Mexico City

89.

Random...   Cabo San Lucas

Random..., Cabo San Lucas

 8 Reviews  I am not going to write much about this place since everybody can imagine how this place must look like and what you can expect from it when you go there. It's a beach resort with all kind of typical... 

 See All 46 Favorites in Cabo San Lucas

90.

Avenida Revolucion   Tijuana

Avenida Revolucion, Tijuana

 15 Reviews  When shopping along Revolution, you need to keep in mind that the shopkeepers NEED to sell their items and you DO NOT NEED to buy them. If you remember this key fact, it gives you more bargaining... 

 See All 63 Favorites in Tijuana

91.

Nightlife   Mazatlán

Nightlife, Mazatlán

 7 Reviews  Gus Gus is by far my favorite thing in Mazatlan. Great bar with excellent service and great prices!!!!! The beach is the best!!!!!The trip to stone Island was Awesome!! We had fun banana boating! The... 

 See All 55 Favorites in Mazatlán

92.

Shopping   Monterrey

Shopping, Monterrey

 5 Reviews  Behind the Mexican History Museum youn can walk around the Santa Lucía River, a little boats wait for you, this is a romantic place, with many restaurants and coffe shops. Please find the craftmanship... 

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93.

Beaches   Acapulco

Beaches, Acapulco

 5 Reviews  This is a very popular spot in the outskirts of Acapulco, out of the bay area... it's very famous for its BIG and strong waves: indeed its name comes from the Spanish verb "revolcar", which means... 

 See All 57 Favorites in Acapulco

94.

Chocolate & Mezcal   Oaxaca de Juárez

Chocolate & Mezcal, Oaxaca de Juárez

 2 Reviews  One block south of Mercado Juarez you will find numerous chocolate grinders / mixers. You can try it either hot or cold, with milk or with water. The Mayordomo store has a bar which you can sit at,... 

 See All 41 Favorites in Oaxaca de Juárez

95.

Isla Mujeres   Cancún

Isla Mujeres, Cancún

 9 Reviews  For years we vacationed in Cancun....Then we found Isle Mujeres. What a perfect vacation spot. The shopping is great, especially when you get off the main drag. The food is fantastic. There are so... 

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96.

Beaches   Puerto Vallarta

Beaches, Puerto Vallarta

 9 Reviews  Puerto Vallarta was so beautiful & the Dreams Resort by far had the best beach. The best thing about it, was that it was private, with a rock cove blocking the beach off at both sides! No one could... 

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97.

Religious Places   Mexico City

Religious Places, Mexico City

 12 Reviews  I was raised Catholic my whole life even though I now go to a Christian Church. Still, going to the Basilica was very emotional for me. I read a sign near the top of the Basilica that said that"you... 

 See All 215 Favorites in Mexico City

98.

Lands End (Beach)   Cabo San Lucas

Lands End (Beach), Cabo San Lucas

 4 Reviews  visit the Arch at land's end. Photos of it appear in most travel ads and articles about Cabo, so it's easy to point out to friends and say 'I've been there.' Lounging beside the pool with a book and a... 

 See All 46 Favorites in Cabo San Lucas

99.

Information / Sources   Tijuana

Information / Sources, Tijuana

 11 Reviews  Visitors to the northern part of Baja California do not need passports or tourist cards if staying in the country for 72 hours or less. If you plan to stay longer or travel beyond Ensenada, you'll... 

 See All 63 Favorites in Tijuana

100.

Relaxing   Mazatlán

Relaxing, Mazatlán

 7 Reviews  The beach between the Zona Dorada and town is often called "the locals' beach". It's rockier and less crowded, and sometimes you'll find a few locals catching a bit of wave action on their surfboards.... 

 See All 55 Favorites in Mazatlán

Reviews from VirtualTourist Members

Entrance requirements -- Passport/Hotel?/visa

by melosh

The days when you could travel from the US by plane to Mexico and return to the US without a passport are over. Since return to the US now requires a US passport, you can expect airlines and Mexican authorities and to require a passport for entrance into Mexico. The tourist card that serves as you visa should continue to be available upon arrival for travellers from many countries.You do not need a hotel reservation. You can expect to be asked on the entrance form where you are staying in Mexico. My favorite answer is "Hotel Colonal". There is one in Mexico City and it seems almost every other city in Mexico. I do recall once leaving that space blank and being asked verbally where I planned to stay. My answer that I "would be looking for my hotel near the cental plaza" was accepted without any further questions.As an aside, If there is any chance that you might stay for more than a...

Money: How to take it.

by melosh

I do not carry $500 in cash as suggested by one VT member. It would make me nervous. I carry a couple hundred stashed in a very safe place and another hundred for immediate exchange upon arrival. I find a credit card is particularly useful, but beware that some cards charge awful fees, and there is a risk of fraud. Never let you card out of your sight. Some experienced VT travelers never use their cards for restaurants or entertainment in Mexico. Some do not even use them for hotel bills. I do all of the above in selected situations, but I am very careful and I always also carry travelers checks in case the ATMs breakdown or my card fails to function. Again, you have to consider any fees charged for purchase of the checks. My bank sells me the checks without a fee.

Money: How much to take.

by melosh

How much money is really two questions-- 1)For satisfaction of the immigration law: I do not know of an official amount to satisfy the official requiremnt for sufficient funds for your stay. I would guess about $500 a month. I think a credit card with a $5,000 limit would be more than enough to cover for 3 months. Traveler's checks are another safe solution. (I would never show cash to a Mexican official.)As noted in another tip: I believe the chance that you might have to prove "sufficient funds" upon arrival is neglible. 2)For your visit: This, of course, depends on your travel and living style. I can live happily for a month in Mexico on $500 but this would require hostels, the cheapest of hotels or a longterm room rental; limited transportation and entertainment expenses; and lots of "street food". You will recognize that with just a little increase in lodging (from $10 to 20 a...

Trojes

by madamx

Pronounced tro-HAY, these little cabins are traditional dwellings for the people around the highland areas in the Michoacan. Very different from the adobe we are used to seeing, I found them so quaint and fascinating, and not out of line with a little cabin you would find in the hills of Alberta. The posts are distinctively carved, and it seems no two are alike.They are built in two styles: the "chalet" style we see in some cabins, with two steep slopes that they call "two waters" or like the one pictured here, with four parts to the roof, called "four waters". This particular one in the picture was at the museum in Patzcuaro, as I didn't have the nerve to tell our driver to pull over when I saw one on the road to take a picture. I now regret being so shy.

Tip Photo
The Sierra Madre del Sur

by madamx

Driving inland to Patzcuaro, Michoacan, the landscape of shrubby jungle changed dramatically to the Sierra Madre del Sur mountain range, and about 70 km from Patzcuaro the air noticeably cooled.We asked our driver to pull over for a moment and we looked out at the dramatic mountains, which are so different from what we have back home. The distinctive mountainous terrain certainly made the 3 1/2 hour drive pass by quite quickly.

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Truly exquisite

by TheWanderingCamel

Oaxaca's Regional Museum has to be one of the most beautiful buildings I think I've ever seen. Once a monastery attached to the incredibly grand and floridly decorated Iglesia de Santo Domingo next door, its restrained and elegant beauty is a complete contrast. The collection of artifacts pertaining to Oaxaca's history is fascinating, but the building itself is the real star. Remnants of faded fresco decorate some of the columns, niches and ceilings of the central cloister - two stories high with a glorious staircase and colonnaded balcony - an absolute gem of colonial architecture. Some walls are mellow terracotta brick whilst others have a delicate pearly sheen - the result of the plaster being treated with a wash of cactus juice. The building just oozes with history and atmosphere. Even if you make it a point never to visit museums, this really should be the exception.

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Mexican markets

by TheWanderingCamel

The buzz and vitality of the markets we saw in Mexico was intoxicating, the colour and smells overwhelming. Best were the vast main markets in Oaxaca and Merida and the wonderful Indian markets in the Valles Centrales of Oaxaca. We spent hours wandering up and down the crowded aisles checking out everything and anything that caught our eye - or our nose. Mountains of chiles of every colour (and heat) imaginable; wonderful displays of vegetables, fruit, and flowers - and grave-faced Indian women with just a basket of herbs or a bundle of courgette flowers their only produce for sale; more varieties of dried fish and shrimp that I thought could exist; tall columns of white panama hats ( even one big enough to fit me - hats never fit over my wild head of curls); shoes and sandals and bags and belts; handicrafts and kitchen pots; a rainbow of ceramics and snacks of fried grasshoppers;...

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Internet Cafes

by dreamtraveller

If during your trip, you need to send an email, or just cant go without checking your mail, you'll be relieved to know there are internet cafes in many of the small towns. Since many people don't have computers - at least in the Yucatan, the locals also use this service. Price is inexpensive - $2 or $3 for 1/2 hour. They are open long hours. People on my tour went before breakfast and as late as midnight. You don't have to be a technowizard to access your email. I certainly wasn't and it was easy to get into.

Ancient mexicans CODICES worldwide

by pedroebc

ALL Codice Moctezuma , Palacio de Cortes, Cuernavaca , MexicoCodice Mendoza, Univ Oxford, UK.Codice Fejervary-Mayer, Liverpool muesum, UkCodice Cospi, Biblioteca Univ. di Bolognia, ItalyCodice Magliabechiano, Biblioteca Nacionale Laurenziana, Firenze, ItalyCodice Florentino , Biblioteca Medicea Laurenziana, Firenze, ItalyCodice Aubin, British museum,LondonCodice Tepetlaoztoc, British museum,LondonCodice Doctrina cristina, British museum,LondonCodice Azcatitlan, Biblioteque nationale de France, ParisCodice Dresde, GermanyCodice Vaticano , Italy

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Los mercados.....

by PolishChick

.......is where you go if you need something to eat, if you`re looking for fun or if you have nothing to do. It is where the social life goes on, it`s where you get the freshest stuff, it`s the place to write a thesis on people-watching...it`s also the place where you should avoid the raw meat section ;-). There are different kinds, the one on the photos is a small mountain town kind, where there is just a street full of stands, but in bigger towns it can be a closed hall, but even if so, the mercado grows and grows and spills on the neighbouring streets....Check it out !!!NOTEIf you`re as white as I am you`re probably going to be taken as a "gringo" (North American) and this leads to the obvious conclusion that you have pockets full of dollars, which leads to the obvious conclusion that they are a burden to you and you need to spend them and where better then there and in which better...

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Top 3 Hotels in Mexico

Four Seasons Mexico City  Mexico City

 6 Reviews and 219 Opinions  If you are there over the weekend, do forget to check-out the rate. We paid about US$165 excl tax... 

 Hotels in Mexico City

Club Med Cancun All Inclusive  Cancún

 4 Reviews and 958 Opinions  I spent a week at the Club Med from 18-25 May 2008 with my 12-yr old daughter and thoroughly enjoyed... 

 Hotels in Cancún

Marival Residences & World Spa Puerto Vallarta  Puerto Vallarta

 6 Reviews and 313 Opinions  We had a DREAM VACATION at the Marival Resort. We will be going back once or twice a year. The... 

 Hotels in Puerto Vallarta

Questions and Answers

Hermanater profile photo

Q:  Going to Puerto Vallarta for Cino de Mayo. Never been to PV before. Any tips you can provide me? 

lmkluque profile photo

A: I have not been to Puerto Vallarta but know about it as a popular tourist resort town. I do live next to the Mexican border and have experience with Mexicans and... 

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