Mexico City
The capital is one of the great cities of the world. Start at the Zócalo — one of the largest city squares anywhere — where the Metropolitan Cathedral and the ruins of the Aztec Templo Mayor sit side by side, a collision of civilizations made permanent in stone. The National Museum of Anthropology in Chapultepec Park houses the finest collection of pre-Columbian artifacts in existence. The neighborhoods of Roma and Condesa are among the best places in Latin America to eat, drink, and wander. See Mexico City.
Oaxaca
The colonial city of Oaxaca is the cultural and culinary capital of southern Mexico. Its markets sell the best mezcal, mole negro, tlayudas, and chapulines (grasshoppers) in the country. The Zapotec ruins of Monte Albán sit on a flattened mountaintop just outside the city and are best visited early morning before the tour buses arrive. The city is also the center of remarkable textile, pottery, and woodcarving traditions. Base yourself here for at least three days.
Chichen Itza
The Yucatan Peninsula's most famous Maya site and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Pyramid of Kukulcán (El Castillo) is the icon, but the site also includes a ball court, the Temple of Warriors, and a sacred cenote. Visit at opening time (8am) to beat the crowds. See Chichen Itza.
Teotihuacan
The largest pre-Columbian city in the Americas, and one of the most impressive archaeological sites anywhere. The Pyramid of the Sun is the third-largest pyramid in the world. The Avenue of the Dead connects the major monuments over several kilometers. Just 50km from Mexico City, it makes an easy day trip. See Teotihuacan.
The Yucatan Peninsula
The peninsula offers a concentration of highlights rarely matched elsewhere: Maya ruins, turquoise Caribbean waters, world-class diving on the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, and cenotes for swimming and snorkeling. Cancun is the main hub, Playa del Carmen and Tulum are alternatives with more character, and Cozumel is the place to dive. Merida is the peninsula's handsome colonial capital and is increasingly celebrated for its food.
Copper Canyon
The Barranca del Cobre in Chihuahua state is a system of canyons larger and deeper than the Grand Canyon. The Chepe railway through the Sierra Madre Occidental — one of the great train journeys of the Americas — offers the best way to experience it. Get on at Los Mochis on the Pacific coast and ride to Creel or all the way to Chihuahua.
The Colonial Cities
The string of UNESCO-listed colonial cities in Mexico's heartland — Guanajuato, San Miguel de Allende, Querétaro, Zacatecas, Morelia — are each worth several days. Guanajuato is the most dramatic, built into a ravine with a labyrinth of tunnels beneath the streets. San Miguel has become popular with foreign retirees but retains its architectural beauty.
Palenque
Deep in the jungle of Chiapas, the Maya ruins of Palenque are among the most beautifully situated in Mexico. The site was hidden by forest for over a thousand years, preserving extraordinary stucco reliefs and frescoes. The nearby waterfalls of Agua Azul and Misol-Há add to the appeal of a visit.
Baja California
The 1,200-kilometer peninsula dangling south of San Diego offers one of Mexico's most distinct landscapes: desert meeting sea. Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo anchor the southern tip with beaches, sport fishing, and whale watching (December to April). Ensenada and the Valle de Guadalupe wine region are closer to the US border and increasingly popular with food and wine travelers.