Travel Highlights Mexico

Acapulco
Going "loco" down in Acapulco: Mountain views, wonderful nightlife and a C-shaped bay with numerous beaches make Acapulco a great beach destination. The city's charms are many: Pie de la Cuesta is a quiet village perfect for a moonlit stroll. Swim with dolphins and thrill on the rides at CiCi water park. And of course, watch the divers soar off the magnificent cliffs at La Quebrada.

Chichen Itza
Chichen Itza has one of the most spectacular Maya temples in Mexico, second in the world only to the one in Tikal in Guatemala . It is a very impressive sight and even more impressive if you dream away and think about all the rituals that were performed on the top of that temple by Maya priests.

Mexico City
Mexico City impressed the Spaniards when they first arrived because of the beautiful setting in the middle of a lake. The present day Mexico City is sure to impress you, but for completely different reasons. Nightlife in Mexico City is amazingly diverse. There are many museums, green parks, colonial palaces, modern high rise buildings, an Aztec pyramid, great restaurants and the longest street/avenue in the world. Mexico City is simply a world onto itself.

Oaxaca
Oaxaca, (World Heritage Site by UNESCO), owes its fame to the beauty and harmony of its architecture, its rich cultural traditions, the wide variety of its typical foods, and its pleasant climate - spring-like throughout the year. Oaxaca has a large indigenous population, flourishing markets and some superb colonial architecture. One of Oaxaca's attractions is the abundant local handicrafts. There are many fascinating places within day-trip distance of the city, notably the Zapotec ruins at Monte Albán, Mitla, Yagul and Cuilapan.

Palenque
Set in the foothills of the Tumbalá mountains, surrounded by an emerald jungle, Palenque is situated on a ledge overlooking the swampy plains that stretch all the way to the Gulf coast. Palenque, an ancient Maya site, has a mystical charm that enchants scientist and tourist alike. Other attractions close to Palenque are the colourful cascades of Agua Azul, the crystal clear river at Agua Clara and the Misol-Ha waterfall.

San Cristobal
San Cristóbal de las Casas in the state of Chiapas is one of the most beautiful colonial cities in Mexico. Lying in the Valley of Jovel, in the heart of the Chiapas Highlands, San Cristóbal de las Casas still preserves its traditional churches, squares, cobbled streets, red-tiled roofs, houses with patios overflowing with flowers and magnificent buildings constructed between the 16th and 19th centuries. Formerly known as the Royal City, it was founded in 1528 by Diego Mazariego. San Cristóbal is also synonymous with colourful handicrafts, exquisite gastronomy, and popular fiestas. Its many facets can be discovered by venturing into the highlands to explore its traditional markets, touring Indian villages on the outskirts of the city to buy textiles, ceramics and other handicrafts or visiting natural sites of unusual beauty that will delight ecotourists.

Teotihuacan
Teotihuacán, just an hour's drive northeast of the capital, was Mexico's biggest ancient city and the capital of the country's largest pre-Hispanic empire, boasting 200,000 inhabitants at its peak in the 6th century. The ancient city of Teotihuacan is the most visited of Mexico's archaeological sites and a must-see if you're in Mexico City. The site is impressive for its scale, both in the size of the Pyramid of the Sun (the third largest pyramid in the world) and the majesty of the Calle de los Muertos (Street of the Dead) - originally 4km long and flanked by temples, palaces and platforms. Look for amazingly well preserved murals in the Palace of the Jaguars or the Palace of the Quetzal-butterfly and bold sculptures in the Temple of Quetzalcoatl.

Yucatan
The Yucatan peninsula is packed with history. This was the heartland of the Mayan civilization and you will find many temples in Yucatan: ranging from the small but romantic temple of Tulum - it is almost on a white beach -to the most impressive Mayan temple of Mexico: "El Castillo" at Chichen Itza. Cancun is quite likely to be your place of arrival in Yucatan. It is a beach resort with little to offer but sun, sea, sand, good hotels and a convenient place to take the bus to somewhere else. Cozumel is one of the best places to go if you enjoy scuba diving. Merida, the capital city of the state of Yucatan, is located in the heart of Yucatan and the oldest city in the Americas, founded in 1542 by the Spaniards on top of a Mayan city called T'ho. Campeche with its old fortifications and "Pirates of the Caribbean" feel is also worth a visit.