Beach Fun and Culture in Mexico

I was lucky enough to visit Mexico as a child when we visited the border town of Tijuana just south of California. I don’t remember much of our visit apart from the bustling main street which was lined with souvenir shops and most randomly a C&A which I had not expected to see and still sticks in my memory.
Three decades on, Mexico is a place I would love to revisit and see more of what delights it has to offer and you can now fly there from airports all over the UK and Ireland.
Top of my thrill seeking list is Xplor Park near Cancun with its unique underground world where you will enjoy unparalleled adventure. During the day fly between trees and bridges, discover amazing caves and extraordinary rock formations created by a huge asteroid which hit the peninsula millions of years ago; and at night, the moon and stars will guide your way as you marvel at the mysteries that Xplor Fuego has for you.

My second must visit is the UNESCO World Heritage site of St Miguel. The main attraction of the town is its well-preserved historic centre, filled with buildings from the 17th and 18th centuries.

I know my teens would love the vibrant beaches of Cancun with its party atmosphere, but I would prefer the quieter Tulum, which is the backdrop to some of the best-preserved Mayan ruins in the Western Hemisphere, that have the cerulean waters of the Caribbean Sea as a backdrop.  And there are other out-of-this-world wonders, including several cenotes (or underground water-filled caverns) and bioreserves.

No visit to Mexico would be complete without a visit to the vibrant Mexico City, which I am reassured has cleaned up its act in recent years. The ancient city is built over a filled-in lake, has Aztec canals, pyramids, Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo’s old studio, and hipster dining in chic eateries of the Condesa and Polanco.

Although many people associate Mexico with hot weather, it’s a big country with a wide range of climatic zones. I have had friends have holidays cancelled due to hurricanes so it is worth bearing in mind that hurricane season is June to November. Its beach resorts tend to be most pleasant between October and May as June to September can be very hot and humid. The weather at sea-level tends to be warm to hot throughout the year, making for year-round beach weather whereas at higher elevations the weather can get chilly especially in the winter months.
Image Credit: Shutterstock.com

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