If you’re trying to narrow down the best places to visit in Mexico, it helps to know that each destination offers something very different. Mexico isn’t just all-inclusive resorts and beach towns (though there are plenty of those, too!). You’ll find relaxed coastal cities, small islands, colonial towns, unique natural landmarks, and places that feel far more local than touristy. The right choice really depends on what kind of trip you want.
Puerto Vallarta – Best Sunsets & Walkability
Backed by lush mountains and facing the Pacific, Puerto Vallarta feels intimate and scenic rather than overdeveloped, despite being one of Mexico’s more touristy areas. Sunsets here are genuinely breathtaking, and many beaches are walkable, clean, and uncrowded compared to larger resort hubs.
It’s also one of the easier beach destinations in Mexico to enjoy without constantly relying on a car. Areas like the Malecón, Zona Romántica, and Centro are very walkable, with beach access, restaurants, shops, galleries, and nightlife all close together.
You can spend your mornings doing beach walks or yoga by the ocean, your afternoons at a spa or poolside with a book, and your evenings enjoying live music, art walks, or candlelit dinners. It’s one of those destinations that can be as laid-back or lively as you want it to be.
English is also widely spoken, and it feels as comfortable for solo travelers as it does for couples, families, and large groups.
If you’d like to stay close to the city, Dreams Vallarta Bay Resort & Spa is a wonderful choice right on Banderas Bay with multiple pools, kids’ clubs, and beachfront access.
Isla Mujeres – Best Place to Relax on the Beach
Located just a 30-minute ferry ride from Cancun, Isla Mujeres works beautifully for both day trips and longer stays. That said, the island’s beaches and scenery are best experienced in the off-season or later in the day, once the day-trippers have left and everything feels a little more relaxed. And, as a bonus once you’re there, you can rent a golf cart to get around, which is always way more fun than renting a car.
Playa Norte is consistently ranked among the most beautiful beaches in the world, and it earns the distinction! The water is shallow, warm, and crystal clear, with soft white sand. You can float, wade, or swim without waves or crowds overwhelming you.
Impression Isla Mujeres by Secrets is a high-end, adults-only all-inclusive resort perched on the southern tip of Isla Mujeres – a short, scenic catamaran ride from Cancun. It’s known for breathtaking ocean views, attentive service, and a serene, romantic atmosphere that feels worlds away from the mainland hustle.
Zoëtry Villa Rolandi Isla Mujeres is a boutique all-inclusive resort located on the exclusive Sac Bajo peninsula of Isla Mujeres. With just 35 oceanfront suites, it feels far more like a secluded hideaway than a large resort.
Las Coloradas – One of Mexico’s Most Unique Landscapes
When you catch Los Coloradas at the right time, it’s visually extreme and genuinely rare. The pink water is the result of salt, algae, and light conditions that you just don’t see in many places, and it looks even sharper in person than in photos.
It’s a high-impact, low-time stop, and you’re in and out in under an hour. It’s the kind of place you’re glad you saw once because there’s nothing else quite like it! If you like places that feel unusual, almost science-fiction level strange, this checks that box.
With that being said, there are no resorts directly in or around Las Coloradas, but several in Cancun and the Riviera Maya offer day trips and excursions. It’s about a three-hour drive from Cancun, so plan to wake up early if you’re visiting from the resort areas.
Valladolid – Best Place to Explore Cenotes and Culture
Valladolid is a great choice if you want to see real, everyday Mexico without feeling like you’ve dropped into the middle of nowhere. It’s colorful, walkable, and calm, with a lived-in feel, and people going about their day. You can wander colonial streets, eat very good Yucatecan food, and sit in the main square with a drink without feeling rushed.
It’s also an ideal base for cenotes and ruins without the chaos of staying right next to them. You can swim in Cenote Zací, literally in town, or drive to others that are quieter (and often just as, if not more, beautiful) than the famous ones. Chichén Itzá is close enough to visit early (and leave before the crowds), then come back to a relaxed dinner and a good night’s sleep.
Alternatively, many tours leaving from larger hubs like Cancun and Tulum offer stops in Valladolid as part of all-day excursions to Chichen Itza.
Morelia – Best Architecture and Outdoor Excursions
Morelia is one of Mexico’s most beautiful colonial cities, yet it flies under the radar compared to places like San Miguel de Allende. The historic center is a UNESCO World Heritage site, and once you’re there, it’s easy to see why. Pink stone buildings, a massive aqueduct, and wide plazas give the city a grand but welcoming feel.
It’s also a fantastic food destination. This is the birthplace of traditional carnitas, and you’ll find excellent bakeries, cafés, and markets without inflated tourist pricing. Morelia feels elegant but approachable, and it’s especially appealing if you enjoy architecture, quieter evenings, and cities that cater more to locals than touristy experiences.
Because Morelia sits in a mountainous part of Michoacán, it’s also a great choice if you want city time with easy access to nature. There are plenty of nearby hiking areas, forested trails, and scenic viewpoints, so you can spend one day wandering colonial streets and the next getting outside without having to travel too far.
Mazatlán – Best Mix of City & Beach
Mazatlán blends beach town energy with real city life better than almost anywhere else on Mexico’s Pacific coast. Its malecón (one of the longest oceanfront promenades in the world) is perfect for walking, biking, or sunset watching, and the historic center has been beautifully restored without feeling staged.
This is a popular stop on many Mexican Riviera cruise itineraries, but the city is a lot more relaxed when the ports are empty. You can eat shrimp pulled from the ocean that morning and listen to live banda music drifting through the streets at night. It’s lively without being overwhelming, affordable without feeling cheap, and ideal if you want beach time paired with culture and great Mexican food.
La Paz – Best for Low-Key Outdoor Adventures
La Paz is the quiet counterbalance to Cabo. It’s the capital of Baja California Sur, but it feels relaxed and spacious, with a strong connection to the sea. The malecón is clean and scenic, the water is turquoise blue, and the pace is laid-back, with smaller boutique hotels and resorts rather than big all-inclusives.
Playa Balandra, just outside the city, is the highlight of La Paz. It regularly ranks among Mexico’s most beautiful beaches. The shallow water, curved shoreline, and desert-meets-ocean landscape make it feel almost unreal. But La Paz is not just a beach destination. It’s one of the best places in Mexico for low-key outdoor adventure, with whale watching, marine life encounters, snorkeling, kayaking, island day trips, desert scenery, and nearby hikes all within easy reach.
It’s perfect for those who want nature, calm, and authenticity over nightlife and strenuous travel days. However, it’s definitely possible to visit La Paz and Playa Balandra on an excursion from the resort hub of Los Cabos, less than three hours away.
Secrets Puerto Los Cabos Golf & Spa Resort is a beachfront, adults-only, all-inclusive resort in San José del Cabo with golf, beach access, and spa amenities. Breathless Cabo San Lucas Resort and Spa is another adults-only all-inclusive on Medano Beach with lively entertainment, pools, and marina views. Le Blanc Spa Resort Los Cabos, along the San José del Cabo corridor, is known for its polished service, oceanfront setting, upscale dining, elegant pools, and spa-focused atmosphere.
Unless your trip is centered around visiting La Paz specifically, you may find it more comfortable to enjoy the amenities of an all-inclusive resort when you aren’t exploring the beach.
Puerto Escondido – Best Place to Visit in Mexico for Surfing
Puerto Escondido has long been known as a surf town, but it’s evolved into something broader and more balanced. You’ll still find powerful waves at Zicatela, but there are also calm beaches, yoga retreats, excellent coffee, and some of the best sunsets on Mexico’s Pacific coast. Unlike some other coastal towns in Mexico, this one has no large cruise ports, so you typically won’t have to deal with big crowds or marked-up prices.
If you’re planning to explore more of the Oaxaca state, nearby Huatulco makes a great home base. It’s home to a selection of great all-inclusive resorts, including Secrets Huatulco, located a couple of hours away from Puerto Escondido by car.
There are numerous tour companies offering day trips to other locations and beaches throughout the state to help you make the most of your trip.
Ready to Pack Your Bags?
Key to the World Travel® Advisors will help you plan all the details of your Mexico vacation – that includes finding the best deals, booking rooms, coordinating transportation, and more!