face with mexico flag

As destinations go, doesn't Mexico darn near have it all?

An astonishingly varied geography, ranging from the harsh deserts of the north with its atmospheric mining towns, via lushly verdant mountains, snow-capped volcanos and steaming jungles teeming with life to the perfect beaches of the Caribbean.

A turbulent and intoxicating history which has thrown up some of the great heroes and villains of our time, from the great pre-Hispanic civilisations of the Aztec and Maya to the bloodshed and revolution of the post-colonial period.

A pulsating passion for the arts and some of the most colourful cultural traditions on the planet. Then there's the people, the food, the music... in short, it's big, it's beautiful and it's about time you visited.

Survival guide

Travelling in Mexico isn't the hassle that some might imagine: the bus network is good, and while potholes, rainy season mudslides and the odd errant chicken will inevitably hamper your progress in remoter corners, investment in infrastructure has brought shiny new toll motorways that will drastically reduce your journey time between major centres.

Ongoing political unrest in the south makes it advisable to keep up-to-date in order to avoid demonstrations or unexpected roadblocks.

Your travels will be considerably more hassle-free if you have even the most basic Spanish - or a phrasebook at least.

Temperature and climate vary greatly, so if you're touring around the country, make sure you pack for hot, cold and wet conditions.