Mexico is – if nothing else – huge. And unlike a lot of the world’s biggest countries (Russia, Canada, and the USA – because of Alaska) it is not just a frozen wasteland. Pretty much every part of the country is inhabited, and pretty much every part of the country has things going on. In fact, a trip to Mexico without a guide would not just be foolish – because you would miss out on so much – it would be downright intimidating! The best way to see Mexico is – simply – to make more than one trip. Pick one or two places off this list that sound nice – and limit your touring to them. Find time to relax during your vacation, instead of always running around. Trust that this warm, wonderful country will be calling you back, and that you will return. That said, here are the top, must-see spots for your many visits to Mexico:

Puerto Vallarta There is a lot more here than the wonderful Pacific Ocean. There’s wonderful, authentic regional food. Tequila tastings, even. Check out the landmarks, like Los Arcos and the Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe – all of which make for wonderful photo-ops. And then there is the ocean. There are wonderful beaches – rivalling any in Cancún. Or head to the shore for a cruise to one of the nearby islands, or a whale watching tour.

Cozumel This island is a famous stopping point for Caribbean cruises – but it is a great trip from the mainland, too. The highlights are the wonderful reefs that surround this Caribbean jewel, around which there are wonderful spots for snorkel and scuba. The marine life that you will see is unbelievable.

Cancún, Tulum, and the Playa del Carmen This whole beach – from Cancún to Tulum – is worth a stay of a week, or maybe even a month. The sand is spotlessly white, and coconut palms abound. After all, this is the Caribbean! The Caribbean coast – and the Yucatán Peninsula – is a wonderland of pristine beaches and beautiful jungles, mystical Mayan ruins and sinkholes filled with water where you can plunge in for a swim. Even if you visit nowhere else in the country – Cancún is a must-see!

Mexico City Once the Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan, this mountain city – the country’s most populous – is loaded with culture and history. Aztec sites and ruins, fantastic food, and world-class hotels. Do not miss the Palace of Fine Arts and the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe. And consider a food tour – where you will be introduced to Mexico’s finest. One thing to know is that Mexico City is at a high elevation – 2,240 meters, or 7,350 feet. If you have ever had shortness of breath, keep this in mind before you sign up for any extreme sports in the city!

Cabo Many people – even if they have heard of nothing else in Mexico – know about Cabo San Lucas. But, while it is renowned as a spring break party spot, there is much more here. Go clubbing galore – but also check out this city’s fantastic, luxurious hotels and top-notch golf courses. If you are looking from a respite from Cabo’s nonstop fiesta, stay in nearby San José del Cabo: a great place for relaxation.

There are so many reasons to head to this wonderful country just south of the USA. And maybe you weren’t thinking that nature was one of them. But Mexico has it all – from snow-capped, lofty peaks to incredible beaches, lined with a hundred palm trees! This country has just about every ecosystem you can imagine, and its national parks are incredible. Don’t miss them – not if you make it to the land “south of the border”! Here are some of the best natural sites that you have to see if you get down to Mexico!

Lake Chapala, Jalisco:​ Come for the sunrise and scan the panorama of local boats floating over the water of Mexico’s largest freshwater lake. This is true tranquility.

Calakmul Biosphere Reserve, Campeche:​ Or if you prefer the jungle, try out some bird watching here on the border with Guatemala. Calakmul is one of the country’s largest protected natural areas. It’s also home to the Maya ruins of the same name.

 Hierve el Agua, Oaxaca: ​Petrified ​waterfalls? Yes, you heard that right. These unique geologic formations are eerie and unreal, and make for a wonderful spot for a hike and a picnic!

 Parque Nacional Grutas de Cacahuamilpa, Guerrero:​ I hope you’re not claustrophobic! Because this site – one of the largest cave systems in the world – is simply stunning!

 Las Coloradas, Yucatán:​ True to its name (translation: “the colored ones”), the lake here almost seems painted an unnatural red. Unnatural maybe, but eerily beautiful.

Tepozteco Hill, Morelos: ​The bizarre thumb-shaped formations here are mirrored in the ancient pyramid. Enjoy history and nature all in one!

 Tamul Waterfall, San Luis Potosí: ​Nothing really says “nature” like a waterfall. And this beauty – at over 100m high (almost 250ft) – is one of Mexico’s largest.

Sumidero Canyon, Chiapas:​ Formed around the same time as the Grand Canyon, this is Mexico’s response – and a wonderful, lush one at that! Unlike in Arizona, here you’re surrounded by water and vegetation.

Rosario Sanctuary, Michoacán:​ Butterflies? Each year is witness to a massive migration, where not thousands, but millions, of Monarch butterflies head here, just begging for you to capture them in a photo!

Potrero Chico, Nuevo León:​ If you’re a rock climber, this is probably what your heaven looks like! Even if you prefer to keep your feet on the ground, the crazy, steep cliffs here will inspire awe from any vantage point.

Basaltic Prisms, Hidalgo:​ If you’ve never seen the “Devil’s Postpile” in California, you’ve never seen the likes of this. Even when you get there, you’ll have trouble believing these hexagonal columns are really sculpted by nature – and not aliens!

Popocatépetl-Iztaccíhuatl National Park, Puebla:​ Come to the site of two of Mexico’s most famous volcanoes, and walk the unreal landscape of black lava and sometimes even snow!

Cuatro Ciénegas Biosphere Reserve, Coahuila:​ A verdant marsh right at the base of grey, barren mountains? Yep – that’s Mexico for you!

Firefly forests, Tlaxcala:​ Exactly what it sounds like. Come in June, July, or August and prepare to be amazed

Everyone has heard of Cabo and Cancun, but Mexico has more. So much more! Here are some of the lesser-known gems in this wonderful country – and each one of them could be worth a week-long trip in itself.

Huatulco:​ Or, in other words, a beachgoer’s paradise. This charming town near Oaxaca is a wonderful place to spend a week on the beach. And it’s one of Mexico’s most forward-thinking destinations, loaded with rules to protect the environment and preserve the ambiance. Buildings cannot be more than six stories tall, and the wonderful, lush surroundings are mostly untouched.

Punta Mita: ​Just sixteen kilometres north of Puerto Vallarta, you will feel like you’ve entered into another world. And a world loaded with glam! From vacation rentals to high-end hotels like the Four Seasons, golf courses, and private beaches, here you’ll be able to lay down for a week and truly relax.

Guanajuato:​ If you Instagram a picture of yourself standing in this central Mexican city, before a hill piled with houses in every color – vibrant and bright like the feathers of tropical birds – your followers will be convinced that you hacked into Photoshop. And you might have trouble believing this place yourself. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, this Guanajuato is a kaleidoscope in every sense of the word: from the bustling plazas to the lovely Mercado Hidalgo, where you can buy authentic souvenirs aplenty. Do not miss the city’s famed underground streets and tunnels, which you can explore on a walking tour or at your own leisure.

San Miguel de Allende: ​Visit this wonderful mountain city, part of the state of Guanajuato, and ninety kilometres east of the city of that name. Walking the cobblestoned streets, it will feel like you have stepped back in time. And there’s history here for sure: from the days when this was a stopover point for transporting silver out of the mountain mines, to when it fell into disuse, until it was revived by a Chicago native who transformed it into the artist’s and expat’s hub that it is today.

Zacatecas: ​Also in Mexico’s center, this wonderful, colonial city is a must for history lovers – or anyone who wants to see how the real Mexico is, away from the crowds. The city got its start as a silver mining hotspot – and some of the old mines have become museums today. There’s also a nearby hill, the Cerro de la Bufa, where you can ride a cable car to the top and be rewarded with sweeping vistas of the city below.

Mérida: ​The capital of the Yucatán is sadly overlooked as a tourist destination, with everyone flocking to Cancún and missing out on the wonderful history here. But everything you can do from Cancún – Mayan ruins or pristine beaches – you can do from Mérida. And then some! Wander the Paseo de Montejo, lined with stone mansions, and get a sense of the colonial times at the Sunday Market. Then wrap up the day in one of a dozen quaint boutique hotels.

Okay, you don’t really need five reasons to go to Cancún. One should suffice: the beach in this city, if you’ve ever seen photos of it! But here are five reasons more that you should be packing your bags and setting out on a trip to the glorious Mexican Caribbean:

 1. Check out – or, better yet, check into – the Moon Palace: one of the region’s top ten beach resorts, and all-inclusive to boot. Swimming pools? How about ten. Places to eat? The resort has a good twenty. Golf? Check. Spas? There are several. When you come to Cancún, you’re going to be at a premiere spot right on the Caribbean ocean. So let yourself get pampered a little!

 2. If you’re at all into ancient history, one of the best sites – and by far less crowded than the more well-known Chichen Itza – is Tulum, an easy day trip from the tip of the peninsula. You can wander these wonderful ruins alone or with a guide. (But if you actually want to learn anything about the ancients who built it, you’ll need a guide!) On the stone, iguanas pose so that you can take selfies. Overall, it’s an appropriate place on the shores of the Caribbean: relaxed.

3. Right off the coast from Cancún, the Isla Mujeres isn’t only for women. (And that’s despite the name meaning “women’s island” in Spanish!) Here you can enjoy the relaxed vibe of a Caribbean, while keeping the skyline of the city in sight. Spend a relaxing afternoon at the beach, between two of the best meals you’ll eat in Cancún. This island is renowned for its food, and you’ll find everything – from superb Italian and French flavor’s to wonderful, local Mayan and Yucatecan cuisine.

 4. While the Tulum ruins are right on the beach, the ruins of Cobá are tucked away in the jungle. However, they are well worth the extra effort to get to. At Cobá, you’re allowed to climb one of the ancient Mayan pyramids, and get the reward of a spectacular vista across the Yucatán jungle. Furthermore, you’ll be enveloped by the feeling of authenticity: these ruins today are as surrounded by the ever-encroaching forest as they must have been ages ago. Cobá is a must-see – and the drive from Cancún is less than two hours!

5. Tired of beaches and ruins? Then it’s time to hit the clubs! The best club in Cancún, by far, is Coco Bongo – a huge dance club with a thousand incredible acts, any one of which will make you forget that you’re not in Las Vegas! Tickets come with unlimited drinks, and the club stays open well past the USA’s mandated closing time e for such establishments. Dance the night away – and then sleep all day at the beach. You’re in Cancún!