Mexico Holidays

Last updated: September 2026

Mexico holidays deliver one of the most extraordinary combinations of landscapes, history and beach life available anywhere on earth. The Caribbean coastline of the Yucatan Peninsula offers some of the world’s finest white-sand beaches, a vast coral reef system teeming with marine life, and a string of purpose-built resort destinations — from the glittering towers of Cancun’s Hotel Zone to the boutique chic of Playa del Carmen and the clifftop drama of Tulum. Inland, the jungle conceals some of the most spectacular ancient cities ever built: Chichen Itza, Palenque, Uxmal and dozens more testify to the extraordinary civilisations that flourished here for millennia before European contact.

Mexico holidays suit an exceptionally wide range of UK travellers. Families come for the all-inclusive beach resorts and the Mayan ruins day trips. Couples seek out the boutique hotels of the Riviera Maya or the colonial romance of Oaxaca and San Miguel de Allende. Adventure travellers explore the cenotes, dive the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef or trek through the Copper Canyon. And those who want to experience one of the world’s great cities find Mexico City a revelation. This page covers everything you need to plan Mexico holidays from the UK.

Why Choose Mexico Holidays?

Mexico holidays offer remarkable value for the sheer range and quality of experience packed into a single destination. The country is the world’s tenth most visited tourist destination and receives millions of UK visitors each year — drawn by a combination of excellent long-haul flight connections, a well-developed resort infrastructure on both Caribbean and Pacific coasts, world-class food, a unique cultural identity that blends Mayan, Aztec and Spanish colonial heritage into something entirely its own, and weather that provides reliable sunshine throughout the year.

The Caribbean coastline of the Yucatan — the Riviera Maya — is the most popular area for Mexico holidays from the UK and for good reason: the beaches are genuinely among the best in the world, the water is warm and crystal clear, the all-inclusive resort offering is extensive and well-priced, and the proximity of extraordinary Mayan archaeological sites gives even the most dedicated beach holiday an optional cultural dimension. Cancun holidays and Playa del Carmen holidays are the two most popular entry points for UK visitors to this coast.

The Yucatan Peninsula and Riviera Maya

Cancun — The Caribbean Gateway

Cancun is the entry point for the majority of Mexico holidays from the UK. The Hotel Zone — a narrow sandbar island lined with international resort hotels, shopping centres, restaurants, clubs and the longest stretch of accessible Caribbean beach in Mexico — offers an immediately appealing and comprehensively equipped holiday environment. The turquoise water on the Caribbean side of the Hotel Zone, backed by the whitest sand imaginable, is one of the most photographed beach scenes in the world.

Beyond the resort strip, Cancun is an excellent base for day trips to Mayan ruins at Chichen Itza and Coba, cenote swimming, the island of Isla Mujeres and the underwater museum MUSA. Mexico holidays built around Cancun as a hub give access to most of the major Yucatan attractions within a day’s travel.

The Riviera Maya

Stretching south from Cancun for approximately 130 kilometres to the ancient Mayan port city of Tulum, the Riviera Maya is the most developed and most popular holiday coastline in Mexico. The coast is characterised by a continuous stretch of coral-backed Caribbean beach, an extraordinary network of freshwater cenotes (flooded limestone sinkholes) beneath the jungle, and a resort offering that ranges from vast all-inclusive complexes at Playa del Carmen to eco-boutique hotels at Tulum perched on clifftops above the sea.

Mayan Riviera holidays give access to some of the world’s finest snorkelling and diving on the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef — the world’s second longest — and to the cenote network, one of the most extraordinary natural environments on earth. The cenotes, connected by an underground river system that flows beneath the entire Yucatan Peninsula, are crystal clear, cool and hauntingly beautiful — swimming or snorkelling in a cenote is one of the defining experiences of any Mexico holiday.

The Mayan Ruins — Ancient Wonders

Chichen Itza

Chichen Itza is the most visited archaeological site in Mexico and one of the New Seven Wonders of the World — and the reality entirely justifies both the reputation and the crowds. The great pyramid of El Castillo (the Temple of Kukulcan), precisely aligned so that a serpent of shadow descends its staircase at the spring and autumn equinoxes, is one of the most impressive structures built by any pre-industrial civilisation. The site covers several square kilometres of jungle-cleared monuments: the Ball Court, the Temple of the Warriors, the Sacred Cenote and the Observatory are among the dozens of structures on this extraordinary complex.

Chichen Itza is approximately two to two and a half hours from Cancun by coach — a straightforward day trip from any Cancun or Riviera Maya base — and is an essential inclusion in any Mexico holiday on the Yucatan Peninsula. Early arrival is strongly recommended to beat the midday heat and the tour bus crowds.

Tulum

The ancient Mayan city of Tulum occupies one of the most dramatic positions of any archaeological site in the world — perched on a cliff 12 metres above the Caribbean Sea, with the ruins looking out over the turquoise water and a beach below that is consistently ranked among the most beautiful in Mexico. Tulum was a major Mayan trading port from approximately the 13th to 15th centuries and remains remarkably well preserved. The descent to the beach after exploring the ruins — and the swim in the sea directly beneath the ancient walls — is one of the quintessential Mexico holiday experiences.

Palenque and the Southern Sites

For those on Mexico holidays who want to venture beyond the Yucatan to the more remote archaeological sites, Palenque in Chiapas state is widely considered the most beautiful Mayan city — partially excavated jungle-covered pyramids rising from the forest floor, with a humid, atmospheric setting entirely different from the sun-scorched plains of Chichen Itza. The Temple of Inscriptions at Palenque contains the famous tomb of the ruler Pakal, discovered in 1952 with a jade death mask that is now one of the treasures of Mexico City’s National Museum of Anthropology.

Mexico City — The Capital

Mexico City rewards Mexico holidays that include time in the capital with one of the most complete and overwhelming urban experiences in the world. At an altitude of 2,240 metres in a high mountain valley, the city of 22 million is built on the drained lake bed of the ancient Aztec capital Tenochtitlan — whose ruins lie directly beneath the historic centre. The Zocalo, one of the world’s largest urban squares, is surrounded by the Metropolitan Cathedral and the National Palace, whose murals by Diego Rivera are among the masterpieces of 20th-century art.

The National Museum of Anthropology in Chapultepec Park is simply one of the great museums of the world — its collection of Aztec, Mayan and pre-Columbian artefacts is unequalled, and the Aztec Sun Stone (the so-called Aztec Calendar) alone justifies a full afternoon’s visit. The trendy neighbourhoods of Roma and Condesa, with their Art Deco architecture, excellent restaurants and vibrant café culture, show a thoroughly modern and cosmopolitan side of Mexico City that surprises many first-time visitors on Mexico holidays.

The Pacific Coast

Mexico’s Pacific coast, from Puerto Vallarta in the north to Los Cabos at the tip of Baja California, offers a dramatically different beach holiday experience from the Caribbean side. The Pacific water is slightly cooler and wilder, the scenery more rugged, and the resort towns have a more authentically Mexican character. Puerto Vallarta, a cobblestoned colonial-era beach town tumbling down verdant hillsides to a bay of deep-blue Pacific water, is one of the most charming resort towns in all of Mexico and makes an excellent alternative base for Mexico holidays.

Acapulco holidays on the Pacific coast made the city internationally famous in the 1950s and 1960s as the playground of Hollywood stars, and the legendary La Quebrada cliff divers — plunging 35 metres into a narrow rocky inlet — remain one of the most dramatic spectacles in Mexico. Los Cabos, at the southern tip of Baja California, combines desert scenery with a turquoise bay and some of the most luxurious resort hotels in the entire country.

Mexican Food and Culture

Mexican cuisine was inscribed on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list in 2010 and is one of the great food cultures of the world — far removed from the simplified Tex-Mex versions that most UK visitors are familiar with before their first Mexico holiday. Regional cuisines vary enormously: the moles of Oaxaca, the seafood ceviches of Veracruz, the cochinita pibil of the Yucatan (slow-roasted pork marinated in achiote paste and sour orange), the street taco culture of Mexico City, and the extraordinary complexity of traditional Mexican sauces all reward serious culinary exploration.

The cultural heritage of Mexico holidays is equally rich. The Day of the Dead (Dia de los Muertos) — a joyful and profoundly meaningful celebration of deceased loved ones held on November 1st and 2nd — is one of the most remarkable cultural events in the world. The muralist tradition of Rivera, Orozco and Siqueiros, the craft traditions of silver jewellery, ceramics, textiles and folk art, and the living traditions of indigenous Mayan and Nahuatl communities across the country all add layers of cultural depth to any Mexico holiday.

Getting There

Cancun International Airport (CUN) is the main gateway for Mexico holidays from the UK, with direct long-haul flights operated by Virgin Atlantic from London Heathrow, and connecting services via the US, Amsterdam and other European hubs with American Airlines, British Airways, KLM and others. Flight times from London to Cancun are approximately 10 to 11 hours direct. Charter flights during the peak winter season also serve Cancun from regional UK airports.

Mexico City’s Benito Juárez International Airport (MEX) is served from London Heathrow by Aeromexico and connecting services via the US. For Mexico holidays combining beach time on the Yucatan with exploration of Mexico City, flying into one airport and out of the other makes for an excellent and efficient itinerary. Always check the latest Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) travel advice for Mexico before booking, as security situations can vary significantly between regions.

Mexico at a Glance

Book Your Mexico Holiday

Look for ABTA membership, ATOL protection or ABTOT cover — these schemes protect your money if an operator ceases trading before or during your holiday. For a plain-English guide to what each scheme covers, read our holiday protection guide.

For last-minute Mexico holiday deals, check LastMinute.com for the latest availability and rates.

Frequently Asked Questions About Mexico Holidays

When is the best time to visit Mexico?

The best time for Mexico holidays on the Caribbean coast (Cancun, Riviera Maya, Tulum) is from November to April — the dry season, with reliably sunny skies, warm temperatures in the high 20s and calm seas ideal for diving and snorkelling. The Caribbean hurricane season runs from June to November, with peak storm risk in September and October.

The Pacific coast has its own weather pattern and is drier in summer, making Mexico holidays to Puerto Vallarta and Cabo San Lucas perfectly pleasant year-round. Mexico City enjoys spring-like temperatures throughout most of the year due to its altitude. For most UK visitors, November to March represents the sweet spot — warm, dry and coinciding with the UK’s coldest months.

Is Mexico safe for UK tourists?

Mexico holidays are enjoyed safely by millions of visitors each year, and the main tourist destinations — Cancun, the Riviera Maya, Playa del Carmen, Puerto Vallarta and Los Cabos — have well-established tourist infrastructure and generally good safety records. The resort areas receive significant investment in tourism security and the vast majority of Mexico holidays proceed without incident.

However, Mexico has complex and regionally variable security issues, and the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) advises against travel to or through several Mexican states due to gang-related violence. Always check the current FCDO Mexico travel advice at gov.uk before booking and ensure your travel insurance covers the specific regions you plan to visit. Sticking to established tourist destinations and avoiding road travel at night are the most important practical precautions.

Do I need a visa for Mexico?

UK passport holders do not require a visa to visit Mexico for tourism purposes. On arrival, visitors complete a tourist card (Forma Migratoria Múltiple or FMM) which allows a stay of up to 180 days. Most airlines now include the FMM in the check-in process or it can be completed online before travel. Ensure your passport has at least six months’ validity beyond your planned return date.

Mexico holiday packages typically include all necessary arrival paperwork guidance. If travelling independently, complete the FMM online before your Mexico holiday departure to save time on arrival at Cancun or Mexico City airport. Tourist cards are free of charge and processed quickly at immigration.

What vaccinations do I need for Mexico?

No vaccinations are legally required for entry to Mexico for UK passport holders, but several are recommended depending on the regions you plan to visit. Hepatitis A and typhoid vaccinations are advised for most Mexico holidays. Hepatitis B, rabies and some others may be recommended for specific activities or rural regions.

Consult your GP or a travel health clinic at least four to six weeks before departure. Malaria prophylaxis is recommended for some rural and jungle areas, though not for the main Yucatan resort areas. The NHS Fit for Travel website provides up-to-date health guidance for Mexico holidays and is the best starting point for medical preparation.

Are Mexico holidays ATOL protected?

Many Mexico holiday packages listed on Search4Sun are offered by ATOL-protected UK tour operators. Always check your holiday protection before booking — our guide explains exactly what cover applies to your Mexico booking.