Mexico

Tourism in Mexico is a very large industry. The most notable tourist draws are the ancient Meso-American ruins, and popular beach resorts. The nation's temperate climate and unique culture – a fusion of the European (particularly Spanish) and the Meso-American – also make Mexico a large draw. The peak tourists seasons in Mexico are during December and during the mid-Summer, with brief surges during the week before Easter and surges during Spring break at many of the beach resort sites which are popular with vacationing college students from the United States.

In 2002 Mexico received 19.7 million tourists.

The vast majority of tourists to Mexico come from the United States and Canada and, to a lesser degree, from Europe and Asia. There is also a burgeoning domestic tourism trade as a growing affluent middle class begins to vacation within their own country (and abroad as well). A small number of tourists also come from other Latin American nations.

City destinations

• Mexico City/Federal District (Mexico) – Capital of Mexico and popular with tourists as an ancient Meso-American city, a megalopolis conurbation, and the site of many popular tourist attractions such as the Pyramid of the Sun and the Pyramid of the Moon. The man-made tourist zones of La Zona Rosa, El Palenque and El Zócalo are also here. The city is also home to the Plaza de toros México – the world's largest bullring – and to the Mexican National Palace built on the site of Moctezuma's palace, and the huge Metropolitan Cathedral the largest in the western Hemisphere, built over the even Greatest Teocalli Temple of the Aztecs, unfortunately buried forever by the Spaniards. Mexico City features also one of the great museums in the world: the National Museum of Anthropology and History which is worth a visit to Mexico in itself. • Oaxaca, Oaxaca • Zacatecas, Zacatecas • Santiago de Querétaro, Querétaro • Guanajuato,Guanajuato • Puebla, Puebla • San Cristóbal de las Casas, Chiapas Beaches • Acapulco, Guerrero • Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur • Cancún, Quintana Roo • Ensenada, Baja California • Guaymas, Sonora • Huatulco, Oaxaca • Ixtapa, Guerrero • Mazatlán, Sinaloa • Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo • Playa Miramar. Cd.Madero, Tamaulipas • Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca • Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco • San José del Cabo, Baja California Sur

The coastlines of Mexico harbor many stretches of beaches that are frequented by sun bathers and other visitors. On the Yucatán peninsula, one of the most popular beach destinations is the resort town of Cancún, especially among university students out on spring break. Just offshore is the beach island of Isla Mujeres, and to the east is the Isla Holbox. A day trip to the south of Cancún is the historic port of Tulum. In addition to its beaches, the town of Tulum is notable for its cliff-side Mayan ruins.

On the Pacific coast is the notable tourist destination of Acapulco, once the destination for the rich and famous. The beaches have become crowded and the shores are home to many multi-story hotels and vendors. Acapulco is home to renowned cliff divers: trained divers who leap from the side of a vertical cliff into the surf below.

Further south down the coast are the surfing beaches of Puerto Escondido, the snorkeling, harbor beach of Puerto Ángel, and the naturist beaches of Zipolite. To the north of Acapulco is the resort town of Ixtapa and the neighboring fishing town of Zihuatanejo. Beyond to the north are the wild and rugged surfing beaches of the Michoacán coast.

Along the central and north Pacific coast, the biggest draws are beaches of Mazatlán city and the resort town of Puerto Vallarta. Less frequented is the sheltered cove of Bahía de Navidad, the beach towns of Bahía Kino, and the black sands of Cuyutlán. San Carlos, home of the Playa los Algodones (Cotton Beach), is a winter draw, especially for retirees.

At the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula is the resort town of Cabo San Lucas, a town noted for its beaches and marlin fishing. Further north along the Sea of Cortés is the Bahía de La Concepción, another beach town known for its sports fishing. Closer to the U.S. border is the weekend draw of San Felipe, Baja California.

Meso-American ruins

• Malinalco • Chichen-Itzá • Tulum • Monte Albán • Calakmul and Edzná • Palenque • Xochicalco • Teotihuacan

The central and southern parts of Mexico was host to several pre-Hispanic civilizations, with the most prominent being the Aztec, Mayan, and the Olmec. There are numerous tourist destinations where these ruins can be viewed.

The Yucatán peninsula was home to the Mayan people, and many of the indigenous people still speak the language. The area also contains many sites where ruins of the Maya civilization can be visited. The richest of these are located in the eastern half of the peninsula and are collectively known as La Ruta Puuc. The largest of the Ruta Puuc sites is Uxmal, which was abandoned in the 12th century.

A one hour drive to the northeast of Ruta Puuc are the surviving remains of the city of Mayapán. This settlement was controlled by Chichén Itzá to the east, now a large archaeological site with many interesting ruins. Other ruins on the peninsula include the aforementioned Tulum on the east coast, Cobá to the northwest of Tulum, and Calakmul in the nature reserve along the Guatemala border. However this list by no means exhausts the number of archaeological sites to be found in this area.

To the west, the state of Chiapas includes the temples and ruins of Palenque, the glyphs of the city of Yaxchilán, the painted walls of nearby Bonampak, and the remains of the fortress of Toniná. In the city of Villahermosa to the north is the Parque-Museo La Venta, with a collection of Olmec sculptures.

Along the gulf coast area in the state of Veracruz are more archaeological sites, with the Olmec ceremonial center of Tres Zapotes, the ruins of the large Totonac city of Zempoala, and the ruins of El Tajín with the Pyramid of the Niches. The city of Xalapa contains the Museo de Antropología, a notable museum featuring a collection of massive Olmec head sculptures.

In the state of Oaxaca along the Pacific coast are the ruins of Mitla, known as the "City of Death" and of Monte Albán, the remains of the once extensive Zapotec capital and religious center.

Moving to the north, the central region about Mexico City contains several archaeological sites. To the southwest are the massive ruins of Teotihuacán, including the Pyramid of the Sun and the Temple of Quetzalcóatl. To the southeast near the city of Cholula is the Great Pyramid, visible from the city center. Just to the north of Cholula are the well-preserved ruins of the city of Cacaxtla. Last but not least is the Toltec capital of Tula, to the north of Mexico City. In the capital itself is the largest museum in Mexico, the Museo Nacional de Antropología.

Finally, less visited than the major sites are the mysterious ruins of La Quemada, located south of Zacatecas, Zacatecas. in the northern half of Mexico. Spanish colonial history

• Aguascalientes, Aguascalientes Famous for its world renowned festival San Marcos Fair during which it attracts 7 million tourists. This colonial City has gained prestige and status as a national destination for its colonial beauty, and absolute cleanliness. There are many amazing squares and gardens, surrounded by numerous buildings, from baroque churches to porfirian mansions. • Campeche, Campeche The only walled city in Mexico, is a World Heritage Site. • Cuernavaca, Morelos Historic marvelous architecture, many times hidden behind tall walls, fortresses and monasteries, some UNESCO sites • Dolores Hidalgo, Guanajuato Historical City for the Mexican Independence War originated here. • Guanajuato, Guanajuato – also the Museo de las Momias a wonderful colonial treasure. The whole city is a World Heritage Site. • Mérida, Yucatán Dubbed the white city, with mayan tradition has many colonial Mansions of impressive beauty • Morelia, Michoacán Excellent Colonial architecture can be admired in this City • Oaxaca, Oaxaca Colonial Architecture and Indigenous tradition are mixed here • Puebla, Puebla The city of colorful tiles and Grand architecture, its historic center is a World Heritage Site • Querétaro The state capital has a beautiful baroque downtown, declared a World Heritage Site. Other popular destinations include the third tallest monolith in the world (Peña de Bernal), a city famous for its thermal springs in the middle of a wine and cheese making area (Tequisquiapan), and astonishing natural and cultural beauties in the biosphere reserve of Sierra Gorda. • San Luis Potosí, San Luis Potosí Rich in ancient times from its mines, this colonial city was the capital of Mexico twice. • San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato – one of Mexico's older towns. Many historic churches and the open-air Plaza Allende. An exceptional beauty Gothic Cathedral is located here. • Taxco, Guerrero – Silver jewelry, A very famous baroque church is located here, its interior is the most admired since the baroque ornamentations are all covered in gold. • Tlaxcala, Tlaxcala Four centuries without change are present in this city, famous for its Arabic mudejar open air chapel, next to the cathedral • Valle de Bravo, México • Veracruz, Veracruz Paradise • Zacatecas, Zacatecas – city center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is famous for the astonishing facade of its cathedral, it is baroque in style, and exuberant in its ornamentation. The city is a delight for the national tourism Natural wonders • Barranca del Cobre • Cascada de Texolo • Cozumel • Durango • El Nevado • El Rosario – in the last two months of the year, a mass migration of monarch butterflies reaches the El Rosario sanctuary near Zitácuaro, Michoacán. • Isla Mujeres • Mazatlán • Sian Ka'an • Sea of Cortez (Gulf of California) • Parque Nacional Sierra San Pedro Mártir • Real de Catorce • Río Lagartos • Tzararecuita

General tourism

• Monterrey, Nuevo León • Guadalajara, Jalisco – and nearby Lake Chapala • Papantla, Veracruz – vanilla • San Cristóbal de las Casas, Chiapas • San Luis Potosí, San Luis Potosí • Saltillo, Coahuila • Tequila, Jalisco • Tijuana, Baja California • Torreón, Coahuila • Puerto Vallarta festival

Ski resorts

Beach resorts

Acapulco, Guerrero; Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur; Cancún, Quintana Roo; Ensenada, Baja California; Guaymas, Sonora; Huatulco, Oaxaca; Ixtapa, Guerrero; Mazatlán, Sinaloa; Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo; Playa Miramar. Cd.Madero, Tamaulipas; Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca; Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco; San José del Cabo, Baja California Sur; Along Costera and on to Revolcadero; Caleta, Caletilla and La Roqueta; Pie de la Cuesta, Akumal, Cancun, Conzumel, Isla Mujeres, Ixtapa, La Paz, Los Cabos, Rosarito, Tulum

Spa resorts

Rio Caliente, Ceiba del Mar Hotel and Spa, Spa Las Quintas, Indulgence Retreat, Presidente InterContinental Cozumel Resort & Spa, Dreams Cancun Resort & Spa, Grand Oasis Cancun, Quintana Roo, Habita Hotel; Paraiso de la Bonita Resort & Thalasso, Bahia Petempich, Cancun; Las Ventanas al Paraiso, San Jose del Cabo, Baha California; Marquis Los Cabos, Los Cabos; Marquis Reforma, Mexico City; Hosteria Las Quintas Eco Spa, Cabañas Copal , Bella Vita Retreat - Bella Beach Boot Camp & Weight Loss Spa , Amansala, Paraiso de la Bonita Resort & Thalasso, Casa Contenta Bed and Breakfast Inn; Golden Parnassus Resort & Spa; Gran Caribe Real Resort & Spa; Dreams Cancun Resort & Spa; Grand Palladium Colonial Resort & Spa; Grand Palladium Riviera Resort & Spa; Grand Palladium White Sand Resort & Spa; Great Parnassus Resort & Spa; Nichupte Destination Spa Dreams Los Cabos Suites Golf Resort and Spa, Desire Resort & Spa, Grand Gala Esmeralda Beach Resort & Spa, Dreams Puerto Vallarta Resort & Spa, Grand Velas All Suites and Spa Resort; Palladium Vallarta Resort & Spa; Villa Premiere Hotel & Spa; Azul Blue Hotel & Spa

Golf regions

AGUASCALIENTES :Club Campestre de Aguascalientes, Country Club Pulgas Pandas; ENSENADA: Baja Country Club, Bajamar Ocean Front Golf Resort, Lagos/Vista, Oceano/Lagos, Vista/Oceano; MEXICALI: Club Campestre de Mexicali, Laguna Country Club; ROSARITO: Real Del Mar Golf Club; TIJUANA: Club Campestre de Tijuana; CABO SAN LUCAS: Campo de Carlos, Cabo San Lucas Country Club; LORETO: Campo de Golf Loreto; SAN JOSE DEL CABO: Cabo Real Golf Course, Ocean Course at Cabo Del Sol, Campo de Golf Los Cabos, Palmilla Golf Course, Arroyo/Mountain; CAMPECHE: Club de Golf Playa Palmas; CHIHUAHUA: Club Campestre Chihuahua, San Francisco Country Club; CIUDAD JUAREZ: Club Campestre Juarez; CHIAPAS: Club Campestre Tuxtla; MONCLOVA: Club de Golf El Socorro; SALTILLO: Club Campestre Saltillo, Club Campestre Lourdes; TORREON: Club Campeatre de Torreon; MANZANILLO: Las Hadas La Mantarraya Course, Isla Navidad Golf Course Marina & Resort; SANTIAGO: Club Santiago Country Club; DURANGO: Club Campestre de Durango, Centro Campestre Lagunero; CELAYA: Club Campestre Celaya, Alamo Country Club; IRAPUATO: Club de Golf Santa Margarita; LEON: Club Campestre Leon, Country Club Los Naranjos; SALAMANCA: Club Campestre Riama; SAN MIGUEL: Club de Golf Malanquin; ACAPULCO: Acapulco Princess Golf Club, Club de Golf Pierre Marqués, Club de Golf Acapulco, Vidafel Mayan Palace; IXTAPA: Camp de Golf Ixtapa, Camp de Golf Marina Ixtapa; TAXCO: Taxco Country Club; PACHUCA: Club de Golf Pachuca; CHAPALA: Chapala Country Club; CIHAUTLÁN: El Tamarindo; NUEVO VALLARTA: Mayan Island; GUADALAJARA: Club Atlas Golf Club, San Isidro Country Club, Santa Anita Country Club, Club Deportivo Atlas de Guadalajara, Guadalajara Country Club, San Isidro Club de Golf; PUERTO VALLARTA: Marina Vallarta Club de Golf, Club de Golf Flamingos; CHAPULTEPEC: Club de Golf Chapultepec, Club Campestre/Cd. de Mexico, Madeiras Country Club, Club Campestre/Ciudad de Mexico, Club de Golf Campestre Del Lago; TLALPAN: Club de Golf Mexico; COL. POLANCO: Club de Golf Campestre Del Lago; CABO SAN LUCAS: Eldorado Golf Course; ATIZAPAN: Club de Golf Chiluca; ATIZAPAN DE ZARAGOZA: Club de Golf Bellavista, Club De Golf Vallescondido, Club de Golf La Hacienda; EDO. DE MEXICO: Coral Golf Club, Club de Golf San Carlos; IXTAPAN: Campo de Golf Ixtapan; LERMA: Club de Golf Los Encinos; NAUCALPAN: Club de Golf Chapultepec; VALLE DE BRAVO: Avandaro Country Club, Club de Golf Avandaro; VIA SANTA CLARA: Club de Golf Copal; MORELIA: Club Campestre Morelia; ZACAPU: Club Campestre Zacapu; COCOYOC: Club Campestre Lomas de Cocoyoc, Club Deportivo Cocoyoc; CUERNAVACA: Country Club de Cuernavaca, Club de Golf Los Tabachines, Club de Golf Santa Fe, Club de Golf San Gasper; NAYARIT: Flamingos Beach and Golf Resort, Punta Mita Golf course; APODACA: Real del Desierto; GARZA GARCIA: Las Misiones Country Club; MONTERREY: Club Campestre Monterrey, Hacienda el Mirador, Club de Golf Valle Alto; HUATULCO: Campo de Golf Tangolunda; OAXACA: Club de Golf Brenamiel, Oaxaca Country Club; OCATLAN: Club Campestre Camcel A.C.; ATLIXCO: Club Campestre El Cristo; PUEBLA: Club de Golf Las Fuentes, Club de Golf Puebla, La Vista Country Club; TEHUACAN: Club de Golf Penafiel, Club de Golf Tehuacan; QUERETARO: Club de Golf Provincia Jurica, Club Campestre Queretaro, El Campanario Country Club; SAN JUAN DEL RIO: Club Campestre San Gil; TEQUISQUIAPAN: Club de Golf Tequisquiapan; CANCUN: Club de Golf Pok-Ta-Pok, Caesar's Park Golf Course; COZUMEL: Cozumel Country Club; PLAYA DEL CARMEN: Playacar Club de Golf; PUERTO AVENTURAS: Puerto Aventuras Resort Course; SAN LUIS POTOSI: Club Campestre San Luis Potosi; CULIACAN: Country Club de Culiacan; LOS MOCHIS: Country Club Los Mochis; MAZATLAN: El Cid Golf & Country Club, Club Campestre Mazatlan, Estrella del Mar; SAN CARLOS: Country Club San Carlos; HERMOSILLO: Club Campestre de Hermosillo, Club de Golf Los Lagos; NOGALES: Club de Golf Nogales; VILLA HERMOSA: Campestre Villa Hermosa; MATAMOROS: El Sausito de Matamoros Club; NUEVO LADERO: Club Campestre de Nuevo Ladero, Club Campestre Riviera Del Bravo; REYNOSA: Club Campestre Reynosa; TAMPICO: Club Campestre Tampico, Club Refinera Madero; VICTORIA: Club Campestre Victoria; COATZACALCOS: Club Campestre Coatzacalcos; CORDOBA: Club Campestre Cordoba; MINATITLAN: Asociacion Deportivo Minatitlan; VERACRUZ: Club de Golf La Villa Rica; XALAPA: Club de Golf de Xalapa; MERIDA: Club de Golf La Cieba, Club de Golf Yucatan; CONCEPCION DEL ORO: Club Campestre Macocozac; FRESNILLO: Club de Golf Fresnillo; GUADALUPE: Club de Golf Zacatecas; ZIHUATANEJO: Campo de Golf Ixtapa