Most beautiful places in Mexico
Mexico is a very popular travel destination for budget travelers as well as luxury travelers.
The country offers everything you might wish. Beaches, cenotes, canyons, caves, waterfalls, colonial towns, … and so much more.
Don’t forget to read our complete guide to backpacking in Mexico!
Learn how to get from one place to the next with our guide to public transportation in Mexico.
If you plan on traveling to Mexico or you still need convincing, check out these natural Highlights in Mexico!
These are the best places to visit and natural highlights in Mexico.
Puente de Dios Tamasopo Mexico
Puente de Dios is located in the town of Tamasopo in the state of San Luis de Potosi.
This marvellous swimming hole is the end of a series of waterfalls that flow through a narrow gorge.
The clear blue water looks very inviting and you can swim through different caverns and the tunnel. Puente de Dios is one of the best places to visit in Mexico.
Las Coloradas and Rio Lagartos
Rio Lagartos or Alligator River is a Nature Reserve in the north of the Yucatan peninsula. As you can guess, there is a lot of wildlife to be spotted.
Close to the river, you can visit the pink colored salt lakes with its pink flamingos.
Las Coloradas are used for salt production and are currently off-limits for swimmers. It’s still one of the best places to visit in Mexico, just for the magnificent views!
Yucatan Cenotes
Yucatan and Quintana Roo are the place to be to visit cenotes.
These clear water pools are usually sinkholes, filled up with groundwater. Some of them are actual caves, while others are elliptical holes in the ground.
The cenote at Chichen Itza is considered sacred and was used by the Mayans in rituals.
Some cenotes look more idyllic than others and some are more frequently visited.
We really loved the Jardin del Eden Cenote, close to Tulum. Diving in cenotes is usually possible, but it’s recommended to do this with a local guide.
Sotana de Golondrinas - Cave of Swallows
Sotano de Las Golondrinas or The Cave of Swallows is a sinkhole in the north of Mexico.
It is the largest known cave shaft in the world.
This pit in the earth is 370 meters deep and it looks pretty creepy to me. But other people rappel or even base jump into it.
So this place is excellent for adventurous folks. It looks pretty impressive from the sky.
Agua Azul Chiapas
The highly mineral water of Agua Azul is as blue as it seems.
These waterfalls look like they have been heavily edited to look this turquoise, but they are really blue, hence the Spanish name.
Agua Azul consists of a series of falls, of which the highest is about 6 meters tall.
In short: a perfect location for an afternoon swim! Agua Azul can be visited in a day trip from the magnificent Palenque.
Playa Escondida
This amazing hidden beach is located on one of the islands before the coast of Puerto Vallarta.
Also known as Marietas Hidden Beach or the Lover’s beach, this place was probably created during military testing and it looks stunning.
The only way to get there is by swimming through a tunnel.
Sounds pretty off the beaten track? Well, it isn’t. The beach has recently been closed for visitors due to damage by mass tourism.
Mexico will change a few rules about visiting this gem, like maximum daily visitor counts.
Tamul Waterfall Mexico
In the state San Luis de Potosi, Tamul waterfall is a true Mexican highlight.
This 102-meter waterfall is the biggest in the area and it can be visited by boat from below.
It’s possible to rappel down these falls and climb back up with some ladders and stairs.
Camecuaro Lake Mexico
This nature reserve is home to a number of natural springs and a lake with crystal clear water.
The lake is surrounded by beautiful trees and when there’s a fog over the lake, you’ll think you’re in a fairytale.
This place is a hotspot for photographers and nature lovers. Lago de Camécuaro is located in a protected area.
Las Posas Xilitla
Las Posas Garden is the vision of the Garden of Eden, constructed by Edward James.
He started building it in 1949 and worked on it for years. The project started out as a quest to grow an orchid garden.
The sculptures and buildings soon followed. The place has a very surreal look and feel. The domain also has quite a few natural springs and smaller falls.
Sumidero Canyon Chiapas
Sumidero Canyon is a steep and deep canyon in the Chiapas region in the South of Mexico.
The narrow canyon has walls up to 1000 meters tall and is surrounded by a National Park.
You can take a boat trip up the river on a day trip from San Cristobal Las Casas.
Swimming is not recommended since there is a huge range of lethal wildlife swimming in the river and at this time there’s a lot of plastic floating in the water.
Tolantongo Caves
Tolantongo hot springs and pools are located in the state of Hidalgo.
The scenic hot pools belong to one of the hotels, but the nature park has a lot more to offer.
There’s a sauna cave, a series of hot pools, more caves, and waterfalls.
Different parts of this area can be visited, with different entrances and fees.
Check the Grutas Tolantongo Website for more information.
Naica Mine - Hottest Place in Mexico
The Naica mine is a very cool phenomenon that happens underground.
The selenite crystals in this mine are huge.
A little over 300 meters underground, these crystals keep growing.
Temperatures can rise up to 56 degrees Celsius and humidity is suffocating.
This is not a place where humans can generally survive and it is not open to visitors.
BBC shot a documentary in the mines. See a short clip below.
Santa Elena Canyon
Very close to the US border, in the Chihuahua region, Santa Elena Canyon is the tallest and largest canyon in Mexico.
It’s located in the desert and has a very hot and dry climate.
Geologically, this region is a part of the Big Bend National Park, US.
You can visit the canyon and get a raft to float through the canyon.
Basaltic Prisms
Basalt prism rocks are the result of lava cooling down and cracking the rocks.
They can be found in multiple locations in Mexico. The most famous are in Santa Maria Regla, in the state of Hidalgo.
These black basalt prism shapes line up next to the stream of water coming down the rocks.
Some of the columns are up to 40 meters tall.
Check this page to find other places with columnar jointed volcanic rocks.
Best places to visit in Mexico - Natural highlights
Apart from natural beauty, Mexico has a lot more to offer to travelers.
The Mayan heritage and ruins, the cute, cobblestone towns and the perfect beaches.
Tell us your favourite destination in Mexico in the comment section below!
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