Mexico has world-famous destinations such as Cancún, Mexico City and Tulum, but some of the country’s most memorable experiences can be found away from the obvious tourist trail.
Pink lagoons, surrealist gardens, turquoise waterfalls, remote coastal villages and unusual museums reveal just how varied the country can be.
If you’re looking for places to visit in Mexico that offer something a little different, these eight destinations deserve a place on your itinerary.
1. Las Coloradas, Yucatán
Of all the places to visit in Mexico, few landscapes look quite like Las Coloradas.
Located on the northern coast of the Yucatán Peninsula, this small fishing community is famous for the extraordinary pink water of its salt lagoons.
The colour isn’t artificial.
Microorganisms living in the highly saline environment produce pigments that help create the distinctive pink shades. The intensity can vary according to factors including sunlight, weather and the salt-production process.
That means photographs showing intensely pink water shouldn’t be taken as a guarantee that it will look exactly the same during every visit.
Can You Swim at Las Coloradas?
No.
The lagoons are part of a working salt-production area and visitors aren’t permitted to enter the pink water.
Treat Las Coloradas as somewhere to admire, photograph and learn about rather than as a swimming destination.
The surrounding region adds another reason to visit.
Nearby Ría Lagartos is known for its wildlife, including flamingos and numerous other bird species.
Combining the two can turn Las Coloradas into a much more complete day trip.
Yucatán Tourism recommends the period from March to August for seeing the famous pink shades, when stronger sunshine can intensify their appearance.
Among the unusual places to visit in Mexico, Las Coloradas is certainly one of the most colourful.
Find out more through the official Yucatán tourism website.
2. Las Pozas, Xilitla
Imagine walking through a subtropical forest and discovering concrete staircases climbing towards nowhere, enormous sculptures among the plants and architectural structures that seem to belong in a dream.
That’s Las Pozas.
Located near Xilitla in San Luis Potosí, the extraordinary surrealist garden was created by British poet and surrealist Edward James.
James worked on the site over several decades, combining architecture, sculpture and the surrounding natural environment.
What Makes Las Pozas Special?
Among the places to visit in Mexico, this isn’t a conventional landscaped garden.
Concrete structures rise among lush vegetation, waterfalls and natural pools.
Staircases, arches, columns and strange architectural forms deliberately blur the boundary between art and nature.
Mexico’s tourism authority describes Las Pozas as a National Artistic Monument and one of the country’s great surrealist attractions.
It’s difficult to compare it with almost anywhere else.
That makes Las Pozas one of the best places to visit in Mexico for travellers interested in art, architecture and unusual experiences.
You can learn more from Visit Mexico’s guide to Las Pozas.
3. Huasteca Potosina, San Luis Potosí
Las Pozas isn’t the only reason to explore San Luis Potosí.
Of the adventurous places to visit in Mexico, Huasteca Potosina stands out for its rivers, caves, forests and waterfalls.
It’s an excellent choice for travellers who prefer outdoor adventures to conventional resort holidays.
One of the region’s most impressive sights is Tamul Waterfall.
Visit Mexico describes Cascada de Tamul as a 105-metre waterfall and the highest in San Luis Potosí.
But Tamul is only one attraction.
The wider region offers opportunities for swimming, rafting, hiking and exploring striking natural landscapes.
Tamasopo
Tamasopo, which appeared in the original version of this guide, remains worth considering.
The area is particularly known for waterfalls and vividly coloured water surrounded by vegetation.
Instead of treating Tamasopo as an isolated attraction, however, I’d include it as part of a wider Huasteca Potosina itinerary.
You could combine several locations over multiple days rather than travelling all the way to the region for a single waterfall.
If nature and adventure are priorities, Huasteca Potosina deserves to rank among the most exciting places to visit in Mexico.
4. National Museum of Death, Aguascalientes
Of all the unusual places to visit in Mexico, a museum dedicated to death might sound rather grim.
Mexico’s National Museum of Death is actually a fascinating way to explore how death has been represented through the country’s history, art and culture.
The Museo Nacional de la Muerte opened in Aguascalientes in June 2007 following the donation of a collection belonging to artist and engraver Octavio Bajonero Gil.
Its exhibitions explore death iconography and funerary art within Mexican history.
That includes some of the colourful imagery many international visitors associate with Mexican traditions surrounding death.
The museum is operated by the Autonomous University of Aguascalientes.
It’s a very different experience from Mexico’s beaches, archaeological sites and natural attractions, which is precisely why it belongs on this list.
For travellers interested in culture, art and history, it’s one of the most unusual places to visit in Mexico.
Check current opening times and admission information on the official Museo Nacional de la Muerte website before visiting.
5. Yelapa, Jalisco
Not all coastal places to visit in Mexico need enormous resorts.
Yelapa sits on the southern side of Banderas Bay, south of Puerto Vallarta, and offers a very different atmosphere from the region’s larger tourist centres.
The coastal village is commonly reached by boat, which immediately gives the journey a sense of escape.
Once there, you can spend time on the beach, eat beside the water or walk inland towards waterfalls.
Yelapa isn’t completely undiscovered, so don’t expect to have the village to yourself.
Its appeal comes instead from its setting and comparatively relaxed character.
Make Yelapa Part of a Longer Trip
Puerto Vallarta provides an obvious base for exploring the region.
That means you can combine the restaurants, nightlife and facilities of a major holiday destination with a day trip or longer stay somewhere quieter.
Check return boat schedules carefully, particularly if you’re visiting independently rather than on an organised excursion.
If you’re searching for coastal places to visit in Mexico beyond the biggest resort areas, Yelapa provides an appealing alternative.
6. Grutas de Cacahuamilpa, Guerrero
When choosing places to visit in Mexico, accessible attractions are important, which is why we’ve replaced the Giant Crystal Cave at Naica.
There’s one major problem with recommending it in a travel guide: the famous Cave of the Crystals isn’t an ordinary tourist attraction you can simply add to your Mexico itinerary.
So we’re replacing it with an extraordinary cave system travellers can actually plan to experience.
Grutas de Cacahuamilpa National Park in Guerrero contains one of Mexico’s most impressive cave systems.
Inside, enormous chambers feature stalactites, stalagmites and other rock formations created over immense periods of time.
The scale is difficult to appreciate until you’re actually underground.
Artificial lighting highlights formations throughout sections of the cave open to visitors.
Why Visit Cacahuamilpa?
Caves provide a completely different perspective on Mexico’s natural landscape.
Beaches, jungles and deserts might receive more attention, but the country’s geology can be equally spectacular.
Wear comfortable footwear and remember that conditions underground can be very different from those outside.
Check current access arrangements and tour information before making the journey.
For anyone looking for natural places to visit in Mexico that go beyond beaches and waterfalls, Cacahuamilpa deserves consideration.
7. Isla Aguada, Campeche
Isla Aguada is one of the quieter places to visit in Mexico along the Gulf Coast.
Located in Campeche, the community sits close to Laguna de Términos and is associated with fishing, coastal scenery and wildlife.
This is somewhere to visit for a slower experience rather than a long checklist of famous attractions.
Spend time beside the water, enjoy fresh seafood and explore the surrounding coastal environment.
Boat excursions can provide opportunities to experience the lagoon and its wildlife, depending on current conditions and local operators.
The area around Laguna de Términos has significant ecological importance, so responsible tourism matters.
Avoid disturbing wildlife and choose reputable operators for excursions.
I’ve deliberately removed the old article’s specific claim about a “$9 per head” vehicle charge because prices and access arrangements can change and shouldn’t be presented as permanent information.
Isla Aguada makes our list of places to visit in Mexico because it offers something increasingly valuable: the opportunity to slow down and experience a less hectic coastal destination.
8. Río Secreto, Quintana Roo
Some of the most extraordinary places to visit in Mexico are hidden beneath the Yucatán Peninsula.
The region’s limestone geology has created caves and cenotes filled with remarkably clear water.
Río Secreto, near Playa del Carmen, provides an opportunity to experience part of this underground world.
Visitors travel through caves containing stalactites and stalagmites, with sections involving walking and swimming through underground water.
It’s a completely different experience from spending the day on the beaches above.
Why Include Río Secreto?
Many UK travellers already visit Cancún, Playa del Carmen and the Riviera Maya.
That makes Río Secreto relatively straightforward to incorporate into a trip without requiring a separate journey across Mexico.
It also demonstrates why some of the most interesting places to visit in Mexico aren’t necessarily above ground.
If you’re visiting caves or cenotes anywhere in the Yucatán Peninsula, follow local conservation rules carefully.
These environments can be fragile, and protecting water quality is particularly important.
What Happened to the Giant Crystal Cave?
The Cave of the Crystals at Naica in Chihuahua is absolutely real.
It contains enormous selenite crystals and is one of the most extraordinary geological discoveries in Mexico.
But it shouldn’t be confused with a conventional show cave.
The extreme underground conditions and the cave’s relationship with the Naica mine make it unsuitable to recommend as an ordinary tourist stop.
Our original article also repeated a claim that touching the crystals could provide healing or anti-ageing effects.
There is no good reason to present that as fact.
It’s an extraordinary geological location, but if you want a cave experience you can realistically incorporate into a holiday, places such as Grutas de Cacahuamilpa are far more useful recommendations.
Planning a Trip Around Mexico
When choosing places to visit in Mexico, remember that the country is enormous.
One of the biggest mistakes you can make is looking at a map and assuming you’ll easily visit attractions spread across different parts of the country during a short holiday.
The eight destinations in this guide aren’t intended to form a single itinerary.
Instead, choose places that fit naturally into the region you’re already exploring.
For example:
- Combine Las Coloradas with a Yucatán itinerary
- Visit Río Secreto from the Riviera Maya
- Combine Yelapa with Puerto Vallarta
- Explore Las Pozas and Huasteca Potosina on the same regional trip
- Visit the National Museum of Death while exploring central Mexico
This approach reduces unnecessary travel and gives you more time to actually experience each destination.
When Is the Best Time to Visit Mexico?
There isn’t one perfect month for the entire country.
Mexico’s size, altitude and geography mean conditions can differ enormously between destinations.
The best time depends on where you’re going and what you want to do.
Beach conditions on the Caribbean coast won’t necessarily match the climate in Mexico City, the mountains or northern Mexico.
Before booking, research the weather for your specific destination rather than relying on a single nationwide average.
UK travellers should also check the latest GOV.UK travel advice for Mexico before travelling.
Travel advice can vary significantly between Mexican states and regions, making this particularly important when planning a multi-stop trip.
Discover More Places to Visit in Mexico
Mexico rewards travellers who look beyond its most famous resorts.
You can photograph the pink lagoons of Las Coloradas, walk through Edward James’s surreal world at Las Pozas, chase waterfalls through Huasteca Potosina or explore Mexico’s relationship with mortality at the National Museum of Death.
Head underground at Grutas de Cacahuamilpa or Río Secreto, slow things down beside the water at Isla Aguada, or take a boat to Yelapa.
These places to visit in Mexico demonstrate just how varied a single country can be.
If you’re planning a longer Mexican adventure, our guide to affordable travel destinations has more inspiration for making your travel budget go further.
You can also use our international packing guide before departure.
When you’re ready to explore these places to visit in Mexico for yourself, you can find flights, search for hotels and compare car hire through TravelHype.
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