Mexico

Mexico rewards picking the right region for the trip you want. Los Cabos, on the Baja Peninsula, has the highest concentration of luxury resorts and dramatic desert coastline; Riviera Nayarit and Sayulita bring Pacific jungle and surf-town charm; Tulum leads for design-forward boutique hotels; Isla Holbox is the car-free Yucatán island we return to with our kids; Valle de Guadalupe is the wine country 90 minutes from San Diego; and Mexico City is one of the world's great food cities. Cabo and Baja are best October–May; the Pacific coast November–April; the Yucatán November–March; and Mexico City is pleasant year-round.

Mexico is one of the world's great luxury travel destinations — and one of the most misunderstood. Beyond the all-inclusive resorts of Cancún lies a country of extraordinary variety: dramatic desert coastlines in Baja California, lush Pacific jungles in Nayarit, charming colonial cities, a car-free island in the Yucatán, and some of the best hotel properties in North America. We've traveled extensively across Mexico with and without kids, stayed at dozens of properties, and eaten our way through the country's best restaurants. Everything here is based on real experience — no hotel paid to be featured, and no review is sponsored.

Start here — If you're deciding where in Mexico to go, our guide to the best luxury hotels in Mexico ranks the country's top resorts across every region, all based on firsthand stays. Traveling with kids? Our best luxury family resorts in Mexico covers the properties that actually deliver for families, and for travelers who prefer character over scale, the best boutique hotels in Mexico collects the small properties we'd cross the country for. Where we cover in Mexico:

Los Cabos — The southern tip of the Baja Peninsula is home to some of Mexico's most impressive luxury resorts, and it's the region we know best. We've reviewed One&Only Palmilla, Chileno Bay, Montage Los Cabos — home to what may be the best swimmable beach in Cabo — and the Four Seasons at Costa Palmas on the East Cape. Torn between the big two? Our head-to-head on Costa Palmas vs. One&Only Palmilla settles which is actually worth it, and our best hotels in Cabo guide covers the full field. Most visitors stay along the Tourist Corridor between Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo — two towns twenty miles apart that feel completely different. Start with our full Cabo travel guide, then dig into the best beaches in Cabo (not all are swimmable — it matters), the best day trips from Cabo, and our review of glamping on Isla Espíritu Santo — the wildest overnight in Baja.

Tulum — Tulum has evolved from bohemian backpacker destination into one of Mexico's most design-forward hotel scenes. Our picks for the best hotels in Tulum cover the beach road and jungle both — we loved La Zebra — and the food has become the best restaurant scene outside Mexico City: jungle tasting menus, beachfront omakase, wood-fired everything. And yes, it works with children — our guide to exploring Tulum with kids covers how.

Isla Holbox — This tiny, car-free island off the Yucatán coast is one of our favorite places in all of Mexico. Golf carts and sandy streets make it especially great for families — read our one perfect week — and the food punches far above the island's size: our guide to the best restaurants on Holbox covers where to eat.

Riviera Nayarit & Sayulita — Sayulita is a laid-back surf town on the Pacific Coast and one of the best places in Mexico to travel with young kids: small enough to walk everywhere, charming enough to keep you longer than planned, and full of great eating — here are our favorite restaurants in Sayulita, from taco stands to churro carts. North of town, the jungle coast turns luxurious at One&Only Mandarina, which arrived rated the best hotel in North America — our review covers whether it lives up to the hype. Choosing between Mexico's two One&Onlys? Our comparison of Palmilla vs. Mandarina breaks down which is better for families.

Valle de Guadalupe — Mexico's answer to Napa Valley, 90 minutes south of San Diego in Baja California, and one of the most underrated destinations in North America. World-class wineries, exceptional outdoor restaurants, and a handful of beautiful boutique hotels among the vines. Start with our full Valle de Guadalupe travel guide.

Mexico City — One of the great cities of the world, and easier than its size suggests once you know where to base. Roma Norte and Condesa are the neighborhoods worth knowing — walkable, full of excellent restaurants, and surprisingly easy for families. Short on time? Our perfect long weekend in Mexico City covers how to do it right in three days. .

Best time to visit Mexico: Cabo and Baja are ideal from October through May, avoiding summer heat and hurricane season — our month-by-month guide to the best time to visit Cabo breaks it down in detail. Pacific Coast destinations like Sayulita are best November through April. Tulum, Holbox, and the Yucatán are loveliest November through March. Mexico City is pleasant year-round.