Mexico Holidays

Mexico is a holiday heavyweight: Caribbean beaches, ancient Mayan ruins, some of the best all-inclusive resorts on the planet, and food that'll ruin every taco you eat at home.

Holidays to Mexico 2026 highlights

• Caribbean beaches and cenotes - White sand, turquoise water, and the second-largest coral reef in the world. Inland, thousands of cenotes (natural limestone swimming pools) are scattered across the Yucatan jungle.

• All-inclusive paradise - Mexico does all-inclusive better than almost anywhere. Huge resort complexes with multiple restaurants, swim-up bars, waterparks, and 24-hour food and drink programmes.

• Mayan ruins on the doorstep - Chichen Itza (one of the New Seven Wonders of the World), the clifftop ruins at Tulum overlooking the Caribbean, and the jungle pyramid at Coba are day-trippable from Cancun and the Riviera Maya.

• Food that goes way beyond tacos - Mole, cochinita pibil, ceviche, elote, churros, and yes, tacos that are nothing like what you get at home. Mexican cuisine is UNESCO-listed for a reason.

Good to know

• Weather - The Caribbean coast (Cancun, Riviera Maya) is warm year-round: 25-33°C with most sunshine from November to April. June to November is hurricane season, but direct hits are rare. The dry season (December to April) is peak tourist season with the calmest seas and clearest water.

• Money - Mexico uses the Mexican Peso (MXN). A sit-down meal costs around £8-£15 / €9-€17, a beer is £1-£2 / €1.20-€2.30, and a cocktail at a resort bar runs £4-£7 / €5-€8. Cards are accepted at resorts and tourist areas, but carry cash for markets, taxis, and tips.

• Fun Fact - Mexico gave the world chocolate. The ancient Maya were the first to turn cacao beans into a drink, calling it "xocolatl" (the food of the gods). They also gave us vanilla, chillies, avocados, and the concept of zero. Not bad for one civilisation.

Mexico holiday tips from our expert...

"Swimming with turtles at Akumal was one of those rare experiences that lived up to the hype, clear, warm water and turtles gliding past. The cenotes completely caught me off guard too; nothing prepares you for climbing down into a cave and finding a freshwater pool that's somehow even clearer than the sea above ground. Tulum's beachside ruins are stunning, but go early, there's barely any shade and the heat by midday is unrelenting. The food alone is worth the trip: proper street tacos from a stall with plastic chairs will beat almost anything you eat at the resort, and I mean that as a compliment to the tacos, not an insult to the resort. One genuinely useful tip nobody mentioned to me beforehand: bring reef-safe sunscreen specifically, since a lot of the cenotes and eco-parks won't let you in with the regular stuff."

- Rob Brooks, OtB Holiday Expert

Mexico Holidays are perfect for you if...

• You want Caribbean beaches AND ancient Mayan ruins, and refuse to believe that's too much for one holiday

• You want all-inclusive with multiple restaurants, swim-up bars, and INREDIBLE food avaliable 24-7 (tacos and burritos that will ruin Mexican food at home for you)

• Swimming in an underground cenote is on your bucket list and you're ready to tick it off

• The kiddos want waterparks, you want a proper beach day, and margaritas to go with it

• You've been saying, "We should go somewhere with a bit of history," and Chichen Itza is your answer

Where's the best area to stay in Mexico?

Whether you’re looking for a laid-back family retreat, an epic group adventure, or a romantic escape for two, there’s a perfect spot waiting for you. From dreamy beach holidays to lively towns and cities buzzing with culture and nightlife, it’s all here. Here are just a few of our top-pick destinations for your next Mexico holidays:

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Where should families stay in Mexico?

• Cancun - Yes it's lively, but the Hotel Zone is packed with family-friendly all-inclusives, and the calm Caribbean waters are perfect for kids. Waterparks, aquariums, and pirate ship adventures all on the doorstep.

• Riviera Maya - If you want something slightly quieter, Riviera Maya has bigger, more spread-out resorts with private beaches, waterparks, and easy access to cenotes and Mayan ruins for day trips.

💑 Where should couples stay in Mexico?

• Riviera Maya - Yes there are big family resorts, but there are also swanky adults-only resorts & jungle spas. Tulum's beachfront ruins and Akumal's sea turtles are proper romantic day-trip material.

• Playa del Carmen - Boutique feel with Fifth Avenue's restaurants, bars, and shops. Beach by day, cocktails and strolling by night.

🎉 Where should groups stay in Mexico?

• Cancun - Beach clubs by day, Coco Bongo and the Hotel Zone clubs by night. The nightlife here is built for groups who want to go big.

Best Beaches to visit on your Mexico holidays

From the iconic sands of Tulum to the serene shores of Bahía Balandra, Mexico boasts some of the world's most stunning coastal gems you should definitely check out on your 2026 holidays. Whether you're after a bustling beach party, a tranquil retreat, or a chance to swim with turtles, there's a perfect spot waiting for you. Here are a few of our faves:

• Playa Norte - Fine white sand made of ground-up shell, coral and marine algae, which is why it stays cool underfoot. Shallow, paddle-friendly water, a quieter feel and the best sunsets in the region. On Isla Mujeres, a short ferry from Cancun.

• Playa Paraiso - The sandy stretch below the Tulum ruins, with the clifftop Mayan site above it and good snorkelling offshore. One of the most photographed spots in Mexico for a reason.

• Playa del Carmen - A buzzing beach town with soft white sand and bright blue water, and the Cozumel reef a ferry ride away for the best diving on the coast.

• Playa Tortugas - Lively and family-friendly, in Cancun's Hotel Zone, with shallow water, food and drink, watersports, beach volleyball and a bungee jump off the pier.

• Playa Mujeres - A long sandy stretch north of Cancun, quieter than the Hotel Zone, with some of the best luxury resorts on the coast behind it.

• Akumal Beach - The place of the turtles, and the reason snorkellers come. Green sea turtles graze in the shallows and the reef is close in. Go in the morning.

• Playa Maroma - Regularly ranked among the most beautiful beaches in the world. Powder-soft sand, clear water and a properly exclusive feel.

All Inclusive Holidays To Mexico

Ready to spice up that holiday game? We're talkin' all inclusive holidays to Mexico where your toughest decision will be: margarita or piña colada? 🍹 (Or, you know, just get both. We won't judge!) Dive into a fiesta of flavours, dance off that guacamole with some salsa (the dance not the dip), and say 'hola' to endless sun, sand, and siestas. And the best bit? The only wallet-opening you'll be doing is to show off those embarrassing family photos, because when you book one of our all-inclusive Mexico holidays, everything's included, from the flights, to the fifteenth pork pibil taco that afternoon.

The resorts in Mexico are built to do all-inclusive rather than converted to it, so you get a dozen restaurants rather than one buffet, swim-up bars, waterparks, and a kitchen open at three in the morning when you get back from Coco Bongo.

It is also how almost everyone books Mexico, which means the competition between resorts is fierce and the standard is high. A four-star on this coast will out-eat a five-star in most of the Mediterranean.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 What are the best all-inclusive hotels in Mexico for families?

• Dreams Sapphire Resort & Spa at Puerto Morelos has a new waterpark, a Mayan-inspired spa for the grown-ups and a café open around the clock. Very well reviewed, and it sits on the quieter stretch between Cancun and Playa del Carmen.

• Iberostar Waves Paraiso Beach is on the sand at Playa Paraiso with a beach bar, a space-themed club for teenagers and enough for the younger ones that nobody asks what happens next.

💑 What are the best adults-only all-inclusive hotels in Mexico?

• Secrets Akumal Riviera Maya is adults-only with nine places to eat, three pools including an infinity one, and the turtle bay at Akumal on the doorstep. One of the highest-rated hotels we sell in Mexico.

• Paradisus La Perla is the adults-only half of the Paradisus complex at Playa del Carmen: fourteen restaurants, a swim-up pool bar, and Fifth Avenue walkable when you want a night out that is not in the hotel.

💰 What are the best value all-inclusive hotels in Mexico?

• Grand Oasis Cancun is a lot of resort for the money, right in the Hotel Zone, with beach clubs, a mega pool complex, a kids' zone and a spa. The easy pick if you want Cancun's nightlife within walking distance.

• Bluebay Grand Esmeralda is a five-star at a four-star price, with six a la carte restaurants, beachside pools with loungers in the water, and jungle gardens between you and the sea.

Best Hotels to stay at on your holidays to Mexico

Looking for the perfect spot to soak up the sun in Mexico? Whether you're planning a last-minute beachside escape in Cancun, a luxury resort in the Riviera Maya, or a boutique stay in Tulum, we’ve got you covered with our top hotel picks:

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 What are the best family hotels in Mexico?

• Barcelo Maya Grand Resort is a beachfront complex in the Riviera Maya with four buffet restaurants, fifteen bars, a waterpark, a kids' club and a round-the-clock all-inclusive. Access to the other hotels in the complex means you will not run out of things to do.

• Dreams Sands Cancun Resort & Spa is in the Hotel Zone with outdoor pools, jacuzzis, a private beach with an ocean trampoline, movie nights and watersports. Brilliant for families who want a bit of everything.

💑 What are the best hotels in Mexico for couples?

• Secrets Maroma Beach Riviera Cancun is adults-only on one of the most celebrated beaches in the country, with an infinity pool, several restaurants, yoga and cocktail-making, and a spa worth the trip on its own.

• Dreams Tulum Resort and Spa sits on white sand in tropical gardens with nine restaurants, a serious spa and the Tulum ruins minutes away. Romance with a side of history.

🎉 What are the best hotels in Mexico for groups?

• Grand Oasis Cancun has beach clubs, adults-only bars, pool parties and Cancun's nightlife on the doorstep. Built for groups who want the full-on version.

• Hard Rock Riviera Maya has its own private beach, the Rockaway Bay waterpark and ten bars and restaurants, on a stretch of coast quiet enough that a big group is not on top of anyone.

✨ What are the best luxury hotels in Mexico?

• El Dorado Casitas Royale is adults-only with twelve restaurants, seventeen bars and butler service on the beach. The top of the market on this coast and priced accordingly.

• Bluebay Grand Esmeralda is a five-star with six a la carte restaurants, beachside pools with loungers in the water, and a spa for when you need proper pampering.

💰 What are the best value hotels in Mexico?

• Grand Sirenis Riviera Maya Resort & Spa has seventeen bars, eight a la carte restaurants, four pools, a kids' club and evening shows, at a price that makes the five-star label look generous.

• Melia Cozumel is the island option, with all-inclusive, watersports and a slower pace than the mainland mega-resorts. Cozumel has the best diving in Mexico.

👉 See all Mexico hotels

Last minute holidays to Mexico

Last-minute holidays to Mexico are next level. Mexico rewards booking late more than most long-haul destinations, because the resorts here are enormous and a big all-inclusive with rooms left would rather fill them than fly them empty.

Where the late deals sit. Cancun's Hotel Zone and the bigger Riviera Maya complexes have the most rooms and therefore the most movement. The adults-only resorts tend to hold their price better than the family ones, so the family complexes tend to be where the biggest drops are last-minute.

When to look. September and early October are the quietest weeks of the year on this coast and the cheapest, with the trade-off that it is the tail of hurricane season. Late January into early February, once the Christmas rush clears, is the other window, and the weather then is the best of the year.

What to check before you book late. Which board basis you are getting, because nearly everything here is all-inclusive and the handful that aren't might look cheaper, until you factor in food and drink.

Mexico holidays 2026 travel guide

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 What are the best things to do on a Mexico family holiday?

• Xcaret Park, Riviera Maya - An eco park on the coast south of Playa del Carmen with underground rivers you can swim through, a butterfly pavilion, a coral reef aquarium, snorkelling in a natural inlet, and an evening show with traditional Mexican music and dance. A genuine full day out that works for all ages.

• Chichen Itza day trip - One of the New Seven Wonders of the World and about two and a half hours from Cancun. The Kukulkan pyramid is extraordinary, and the site is big enough that kids can explore without feeling like they're on a museum visit. Go early to beat the heat and the coaches.

• Xel-Ha, Riviera Maya - A natural all-inclusive waterpark where the entry fee covers food, drink, snorkelling gear, and access to a huge natural inlet full of tropical fish. Zip lines, cliff jumps, and a lazy river through the mangroves. Genuinely one of the best family days out in Mexico.

• WaterWorld at the resorts - Most big all-inclusive resorts in Cancun and the Riviera Maya have their own waterparks, splash zones, and kids' clubs included in the package. The Barcelo Maya, Moon Palace, and Grand Oasis complexes are particularly well set up.

• Interactive Aquarium, Cancun - In the Hotel Zone's La Isla Shopping Village. Touch pools, shark tanks, a dolphin encounter programme, and air-conditioned relief from the midday sun. Combine it with lunch and shopping in the mall.

💑 What are the best things to do in Mexico for couples?

• Tulum ruins at sunrise - The clifftop Mayan ruins overlooking the Caribbean are Mexico's most photographed site. Arrive when the gates open (8am) to have the place almost to yourself before the tour buses arrive from Cancun. The beach below the ruins is swimmable.

• Cenote swimming - Thousands of natural limestone sinkholes are scattered across the Yucatan jungle, filled with crystal-clear freshwater. Cenote Dos Ojos and Gran Cenote near Tulum are the most photogenic. Cenote Ik Kil near Chichen Itza has vines hanging from the opening 26 metres above. Swimming in one is properly magical.

• Isla Mujeres by ferry - A 20-minute ferry from Cancun to a laid-back island with golf-cart transport, Playa Norte (one of Mexico's best beaches), and waterfront restaurants serving fresh ceviche. The pace is completely different from the Hotel Zone.

• Mezcal tasting - Mezcal is tequila's smokier, more complex cousin, and the Riviera Maya has bars and distillery experiences where you can learn the difference. Pair it with a sunset at a beach bar in Playa del Carmen.

• Akumal turtle snorkelling - Swim alongside green sea turtles in the shallow bay at Akumal, about 30 minutes south of Playa del Carmen. Guided tours run daily and sightings are almost guaranteed in the morning.

🎉 What is there to do in Mexico for groups?

• Coco Bongo, Cancun - Part nightclub, part Cirque du Soleil, with acrobats, light shows, confetti cannons, and open-bar packages. The signature night out in Cancun's Hotel Zone and built for groups who want a big night. Book in advance, it sells out.

• Catamaran party cruise - Booze cruises run from Cancun marina with open bars, DJs, snorkelling stops at the reef, and a beach break at Isla Mujeres. The afternoon sailings tend to be more chilled, the sunset ones louder.

• Xplor Park, Riviera Maya - Zip lines through the jungle canopy (the longest is over a kilometre), amphibious vehicles through mud trails, underground river rafting, and cliff jumps. All-inclusive entry covers food and drink. Works brilliantly for groups who want an active day out.

• Fifth Avenue bar crawl, Playa del Carmen - The pedestrianised strip runs for over 20 blocks with cocktail bars, mezcal joints, rooftop terraces, and live music venues. More boutique and varied than the Cancun Hotel Zone scene.

• Cenote day trip - Hire a minivan and hit three or four cenotes in a day. Cenote Azul, Cenote Cristalino, and Casa Cenote are all within an hour of Playa del Carmen. Swimming in underground caves with your mates is properly memorable.

Local Lingo: talk like a local

• Hola – Hello

• Gracias – Thank you

• Una cerveza, por favor – A beer, please

• ¿Cuánto cuesta? – How much does it cost?

• ¡Qué padre! – That’s cool!

• ¿Dónde está la playa? – Where is the beach?

• Lo siento, no hablo mucho español – Sorry, I don’t speak much Spanish

Mexico Destinations

• Cancun - The big one. Caribbean beaches, mega all-inclusive resorts, and a nightlife scene that goes until sunrise. The Hotel Zone is a 14-mile strip of pure holiday.

• Riviera Maya - Stretching south from Cancun along the coast. Bigger resorts, cenotes, Mayan ruins, and a more laid-back feel than Cancun itself.

• Playa del Carmen - Boutique beach town with Fifth Avenue's restaurants and bars, Caribbean diving, and a more walkable, independent vibe.

• Mexico City - One of the world's great cities. Ancient Aztec ruins, world-class food, rooftop bars, and Frida Kahlo's Blue House. Brilliant as a city-break add-on.