Are you in search of a heat escape from the chilly winter climate?
Mexico is the proper vacation spot for a winter trip, providing heat climate, gorgeous seashores, vibrant tradition, scrumptious delicacies, and loads of actions to maintain you entertained.
Plus, if you happen to’re from the United States or Canada, flights to Mexico are fast and reasonably priced.
Here are 12 must-visit locations in Mexico for a winter trip whether or not you’re looking for rest or journey.
Read on to find the most effective winter trip spots in Mexico!
Best Destinations in Mexico for a Winter Vacation
Whether you’re in search of seashores, mountains, colonial cities, or vigorous cities, Mexico has all of it. That stated, in most areas, the winter climate is heat and sunny, making it the proper escape from the chilly.
Here are the highest locations in Mexico for a winter getaway:
1. Cancun
Located on Mexico’s Caribbean coast, Cancun is the quintessential Mexico seaside vacation spot, recognized for its gorgeous turquoise waters, white sand seashores, and vigorous occasion scene. But there’s extra to this well-liked trip spot than simply its world-famous spring break events.
In Cancun, you possibly can discover historical Mayan ruins like Chichen Itza (a UNESCO World Heritage website), store at upscale malls or conventional markets, or just calm down on the seaside with a margarita in hand. And there’s no scarcity of actions, from snorkeling and scuba diving to zip lining by the jungle.
Cancun additionally provides quite a lot of all-inclusive resorts, making it simple to plan a stress-free trip. All meals, drinks, and resort actions are sometimes included within the worth, leaving you with nothing to fret about besides having fun with your trip.
2. Riviera Maya
Just south of Cancun, Mexico’s Riviera Maya is a stretch of Caribbean shoreline and is understood for its gorgeous seashores, vibrant coral reefs, and eco-adventures.
In Riviera Maya, guests can discover the traditional Mayan ruins of Tulum, swim in cenotes (pure sinkholes full of crystal clear water), or snorkel with sea turtles in Akumal Bay.
Plus, the area’s quite a few journey parks supply ziplining adventures, ATV experiences, and quite a lot of adrenaline-pumping actions.
The Riviera Maya additionally provides quite a lot of luxurious all-inclusive resorts together with posh overwater bungalows and beachfront suites. Guests may take pleasure in expansive swimming pools with swim-up bars, pampering spas, and world-class eating places.
3. Puerto Vallarta
Located on Mexico’s Pacific coast, Puerto Vallarta is a seaside city that gives a shocking shoreline and charming old-town ambiance.
Spend your days lounging on Puerto Vallarta’s golden sand seashores or take a ship journey to the close by Marietas Islands, the place you possibly can spot wildlife like whales, dolphins, and sea turtles, and discover hidden caves.
Take a stroll by the cobblestone streets of Puerto Vallarta’s previous city and browse colourful markets promoting conventional Mexican handicrafts and art work.
And don’t miss the possibility to pattern Mexico’s scrumptious delicacies, from contemporary seafood to conventional favorites like tacos and enchiladas.
4. Los Cabos
Located on the tip of Mexico’s Baja California Peninsula, Los Cabos provides each stunning seashores and desert landscapes. Los Cabos is made up of two cities, Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo, every providing a novel vibe.
Cabo San Lucas is understood for its vigorous nightlife, upscale eating places, and luxurious resorts. San Jose del Cabo provides a extra laid-back ambiance with conventional Mexican appeal, artwork galleries, and enjoyable beachfront resorts like Cabo Azul.
In Los Cabos, guests can take pleasure in world-class golf programs, deep-sea fishing, whale-watching excursions, and different journey actions. Although a few of the seashores will not be swimmable because of robust currents, the vacation spot nonetheless provides loads of alternatives to absorb the solar on seaside loungers or poolside at your resort.
And don’t miss a ship journey to see Cabo’s most well-known attraction, “El Arco”, a towering rock formation on the southernmost tip of Mexico. Here, you may as well go to Lover’s Beach, the place the Pacific Ocean meets the Sea of Cortez.
5. Playa del Carmen
Located simply 1 hour south of Cancun, Playa del Carmen is a little more relaxed and laid-back than its northern neighbor and provides an reasonably priced winter escape. There’s loads to do with its gorgeous seashores, close by archeological websites, and lots of freshwater cenotes.
Playa del Carmen is understood for its vibrant nightlife and upbeat seaside golf equipment, in addition to its retailers, eating places, and bars alongside fifth Avenue. This pedestrian-only road is essentially the most taking place a part of city and provides quite a lot of eating choices, from conventional Mexican delicacies to worldwide fare.
There are many various sorts of lodging choices in Playa del Carmen to suit any funds. You can keep in one in every of Playa del Carmen’s all-inclusive resorts or lease a beachfront apartment for a extra intimate trip expertise. And you’ll be inside simple strolling distance to the city’s seashores and sights.
6. Tulum
If you’re in search of an alternative choice to the bustling seaside scene of Cancun, head to Tulum. This smaller resort city has a hippie-chic vibe, drawing in yoga fans and eco-conscious vacationers.
Visit the well-known Mayan ruins of Tulum, perched on high of a cliff overlooking the turquoise waters of the Caribbean Sea.
In addition to its ruins and gorgeous seashores, Tulum can also be recognized for its cenotes–pure sinkholes full of crystal-clear water. Cool off with a refreshing swim or go snorkeling to identify underwater cave formations.
And for a novel expertise, keep at one in every of Tulum’s beachfront accommodations produced from sustainable supplies and providing yoga lessons and holistic spa therapies.
While a winter trip to Tulum received’t come low cost, the vacation spot provides a extra upscale and enjoyable ambiance with a give attention to wellness.
7. Cozumel
Just off the coast of Playa del Carmen, Cozumel is Mexico’s largest Caribbean island recognized for its gorgeous coral reefs. It’s a preferred vacation spot for scuba diving and snorkeling, with many dive retailers providing journeys to discover the colourful reefs and dive websites across the island.
Aside from wonderful snorkeling and diving, Cozumel provides loads of different water sports activities and actions like kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, and deep-sea fishing.
On land, discover the island’s retailers and eating places in its essential city, San Miguel de Cozumel. And don’t miss a go to to the San Gervasio Mayan ruins, as soon as a pilgrimage website for Mayan girls.
Accommodation on Cozumel ranges from budget-friendly accommodations to luxurious all-inclusive resorts. And with direct ferry entry from Playa del Carmen, it’s simple to go to Cozumel for a day journey or add it onto a Mexico winter trip itinerary.
8. Mexico City
Mexico’s bustling capital could not instantly come to thoughts as a winter trip vacation spot, however the metropolis provides loads of cultural and historical sights, in addition to a vigorous meals scene.
Visit Mexico City’s essential sights like the traditional ruins of Teotihuacan and the National Anthropology Museum, or discover the town’s colonial-era buildings just like the magnificent Palacio de Bellas Artes. And don’t miss out on Mexico City’s well-known road meals, from tacos and quesadillas to tlacoyos and elote.
Stay within the fashionable Roma or Condesa neighborhoods, full of colourful road artwork, hip bars and cafes, and boutique retailers. While it received’t be as heat as Mexico’s seaside locations, the temperatures in Mexico City are nonetheless comfy and delicate within the winter months. Plus there are many interesting day journeys from Mexico metropolis to maintain you entertained.
9. Holbox Island
Located off Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, Holbox is an island providing a distant and tranquil winter escape. The island is understood for its gorgeous seashores and calm turquoise waters, in addition to its numerous wildlife–together with flamingos and whale sharks.
Relax on the seaside, take boat excursions to identify these wonderful animals of their pure habitat, and even view the bioluminescence that lights up the waters round Holbox at night time.
Holbox Island has a really laid-back ambiance, with small boutique accommodations and eating places lining the beachfront. There aren’t any vehicles on the island so that you’ll need to discover by bike or golf cart.
And whereas the island could not have essentially the most secure infrastructure, it’s one in every of Mexico’s most gorgeous seaside locations and the proper place to calm down and unwind on a Mexico winter trip.
10. Isla Mujeres
Located only a brief ferry journey from Cancun, Isla Mujeres provides a tropical island escape from the busy vacationer scene.
Relax on the island’s tranquil seashores or take a catamaran sail or boat tour to discover its clear turquoise waters or underwater sculpture museum.
You may go to the Mayan ruins of Ixchel on the island’s southernmost level or discover the island’s colourful streets, full of native retailers and eating places.
Stay in one of many island’s beachfront accommodations or lease a villa for a extra intimate trip expertise with gorgeous ocean views. And don’t miss out on visiting the spectacular Playa Norte, thought of one in every of Mexico’s finest seashores.
11. San Miguel de Allende
If you’re in search of an enthralling small city in Mexico with colonial structure, an artsy ambiance, and implausible meals, then look no additional than San Miguel de Allende.
Nestled in Mexico’s central highlands, San Miguel de Allende provides colourful cobblestone streets, historic buildings, and gorgeous mountain views.
Explore the city’s many artwork galleries or take a cooking class to study Mexico’s scrumptious delicacies. And don’t miss a go to to the Parroquia de San Miguel Arcángel, the gorgeous pink church that dominates the city’s essential plaza.
Stay in one of many city’s stunning colonial-style accommodations or guide a stylish Mexican-style trip rental. The climate in San Miguel de Allende in winter is cool with delicate temperatures, good for exploring the city’s charming streets and sights.
12. Sayulita
Located on Mexico’s Pacific coast simply north of Puerto Vallarta, the small seaside city of Sayulita provides a laid-back ambiance, gorgeous seashores, and wonderful browsing.
Relax on Sayulita’s picturesque seaside or take surf classes at one of many many surf faculties on the town. Explore the colourful streets lined with boutiques, artwork galleries, and scrumptious eating places.
Stay in one in every of Sayulita’s charming beachfront accommodations or lease a villa for a extra personal trip expertise.
Visiting Mexico in Winter: FAQs
Here are the solutions to a few of the most incessantly requested questions on visiting Mexico in winter:
Is winter a very good time to go to Mexico?
Winter is a good time to go to Mexico, as it’s usually dry and delicate with the least quantity of humidity. Beach locations on Mexico’s Caribbean coast will probably be heat and sunny with comfy water temperatures all 12 months spherical.
Mexico’s winter temperatures on the Pacific coast will probably be barely cooler with colder water, however it’s nonetheless a good time to go to as there will probably be loads of solar.
Central Mexico locations like Mexico City and San Miguel de Allende could have cool however comfy climate in winter, good for exploring the cities’ sights and cultural choices.
Where is the most effective place to spend winter in Mexico?
Mexico’s Caribbean coast will usually have the warmest temperatures throughout winter. However, the most effective locations to spend winter will rely in your preferences. In truth, you is perhaps shocked that it does snow in Mexico!
Mexico has a various vary of locations, from bustling seaside cities to vibrant cities to charming colonial cities.
Consider what sort of trip you need – rest, journey, or tradition – and select a vacation spot accordingly.
Is Mexico a very good place to go to in December?
Yes, Mexico is a good place to go to in December. The climate will probably be delicate and dry, making it a good time for outside actions and seaside holidays.
The warmest place in Mexico in December will usually be on the Caribbean coast, though Mexico’s Pacific coast can even be heat and sunny.
December can also be the height season for a lot of vacationer locations in Mexico, providing a variety of vacation occasions and actions for Christmas and the New Year. Be positive to guide lodging prematurely as they’ll replenish shortly throughout this busy time of 12 months.
Can you go to the seaside in Mexico in January?
Yes, Mexico has many seaside locations which are pleasurable in January. Mexico’s Caribbean coast could have the warmest water temperatures throughout this time, making it a good time for swimming and water actions.
Keep in thoughts that some areas could also be cooler throughout this time of 12 months, so think about bringing a jacket or mild sweater for cooler evenings.
Conclusion: Mexico Winter Vacation Destinations
Overall, Mexico provides quite a lot of high winter locations–from seaside cities to charming colonial cities to small surf retreats.
Consider which kind of trip you’re in search of and select the most effective vacation spot for you–whether or not it’s the nice and cozy Caribbean seashores, cultural sights of Mexico City, or laid-back ambiance of Sayulita.
And don’t overlook to guide lodging prematurely as Mexico’s high locations can replenish shortly through the winter season. No matter which vacation spot you select, Mexico is certain to supply a memorable and pleasurable winter trip.
–
Allison Sicking is a journey blogger with a ardour for Spanish and a love of Latin American journey. She created the journey weblog Viva La Travelista after shifting to Playa del Carmen, Mexico to empowering others to journey safely and confidently in Spanish-speaking international locations. Follow her weblog to learn the way to journey Mexico like a neighborhood along with her insider journey ideas!