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Mexico is hot and sunny and a great place to experience culture, history and plain old-fashioned sunbathing.

Mexico pulsates with energy – from the high-profile tourist resorts to its ancient ruins and snow-covered volcanoes. The country seems to have every type of climate, from dry and hot beaches to humid rainforest. The people speak mainly Spanish, but there are many dialects due to the native Indian tribes such as the Mayans.

Pictured (right): The Palacio Nacional is home to the offices of the president, in the Centro Historico of the old city.

Acapulco

Acapulco was Mexico’s first real resort city, but in historical times it was the gateway between the New World and the Orient. The strange blend of the high-rise hotels that disguise the polluted rivers and crowded apartments behind are not everyone’s cup of tea, but the lazy beaches and water sports are a great compensation. This is also the place to see the seemingly suicidal cliff divers of La Quebrada. For the more relaxed individual, try watching the divers from the bar at the El Mirador Hotel.

For an altogether different experience, the Peninsula de las Playas is the underwater shrine where sits the submerged bronze statue of the Virgin of Guadalupe.

Baja California

Baja California is an area of wonderful beaches, bays, cliffs and coastal beauty. However, the interior has been a traditional hideout for many over the years. Today it is not the law breaking who chose to use this as a retreat, but holidaymakers.

Cuernavaca

South of Mexico City is the classy refuge of Cuernavaca. The mild climate and luxury of the hotels and restaurants mean that the wealthy have been using it to get away from the hustle and bustle of Mexico City since colonial times.

One of Mexico’s hidden treasures is Taxco, just over 100 miles away from the capital. Clinging on to a hillside, this old silver-mining town is a maze of tiny streets and fascinating old buildings. The entire town enjoys national historic monument status.

Guadalajara

Guadalajara is the second largest city in Mexico. Mariachi music, tequila, the Mexican hat dance, the sombrero and rodeo all originate from here.

The vibrant culture, museums and galleries, nightlife and restaurants found in Mexico City are all here also, but not the social problems. The clean atmosphere and attractions such as the cathedral, the Instituto Cultural de Cabanas, the Tequila Sauza Bottling plant and the many beautiful plazas mean that there much to do here.

Mexico City

Mexico City is the largest metropolitan area in the world and the world’s second-largest city. What you get is exactly what you might expect: a classic mix of the ghastly and the grand, from fine palaces to appalling slums. The city was built on the site of a former lake and, due to this, many of the older buildings in the city are slowly sinking into the bog-land underneath.

Centro Historico

The Palacio Nacional is home to the offices of the president and a museum and arts centre. The Catedral Metropolitana was built on the site of an Aztec wall of skulls altar, and nearby is the Temple Mayor, which served as the Aztec’s principal temple of worship.

The centrally located Alameda is a pleasant park lined with mansions, skyscrapers, restaurants, shops and markets, but was once an Aztec market place. Other must-sees are the Bosque de Chapultepec, the largest park in Mexico and site of the Museum of Anthropology, a vast museum complex detailing the diverse natural and man-made history of the region. This museum will take you over a day to do - so pick a day when you've seen everything else and fancy some solid culture. A massive collection of treasures from the Aztec nation jostles alongside artefacts from the post conquest period.

Plaza Garibaldi is the place where out-of-work bands gather at night, and the Zona Rosa is the nightlife district. For excellent cheap food just head anywhere!

Be aware that visiting tourists are advised to stay within the area known as the 'Zona Rosa' in the Centro Historico, for reasons of safety.

Teotihuacán

Only 35 kilometres from Mexico City is Teotihuacán, the largest ancient city in the country. Now just ruins, this was once the home to more than 200,000 people and was the capital of Mexico’s first great civilisation.

The Avenue of the Dead, the Pyramids of the Sun and the Moon and the Palace of the Quetzal Butterfly are all wonderous sights to behold. The huge structures give a fascinating glimpse into life in Mexico prior to the Spanish conquest. Visitors to Teotihuacán will want to see more of the former life of this city, which can be seen on display at the Museum of Anthropology. Miss this vast spectacle at your peril!

Oaxaca

Oaxaca is a remote destination that offers a great alternative to some of the more popular areas. This Spanish-built city is in the rugged terrain of the state of Oaxaca, and is still home to many indigenous peoples and fabulous indian markets. The local cafes are a good place to sit and soak up local atmosphere.

Puerto Vallarta

Puerto Vallarta is a unique and picturesque city popular with both the rich and poor. The city itself has plenty of white-sand beaches, lively bars and restaurants and enough galleries and museums to keep everyone happy. Dolphins swim in the bay; whales, such as the pilot and grey, are visible here between February and early May; and in April tourists watch the giant manta rays leap above the sea during their mating rituals.

San Borja

San Borja is a remote village that was founded by Jesuit missionaries and is a place one really ought to see. Also include the Sierra de la Laguna, which is a paradise for plant life - to look at - and hikers - who do the looking.

For a journey you will never forget, the railway between Chihuahua and Los Mochis is beyond compare. The journey takes travellers under 88 bridges, over 38 bridges and darts through the canyons of the Sierra Tarahumara. This feat of engineering took over 90 years to complete. When finished, the sight of Copper Canyon, deeper and more splendid than Arizona’s Grand Canyon, must have made it all seem worthwhile.

The Yucatan Peninsula

The Yucatan Peninsula is the home of the Mayans. They live today where their ancestors lived a thousand years ago, although modern times have seen more stability and less violence in the area. Yucatan is incredibly diverse – colonial cities, ruins, seaside tourist resorts and unpopulated tropical coastlines – it really does give the visitor a wealth of choice.

Flight times from Mexico City to London is around 10 hours 20 minutes. Flights from continental Europe tend to be an hour or two longer. The airport is a substantial taxi journey from the city itself. One thing to be aware of is that the taxis from the airport (ussually made up of the white and green VW Beetles you will see around the city itself) should be hired by first entering your destination into one of the many terminals on the airport concourse - which will then issue a 'chit' for the cost of your journey. This should be handed to the driver - ensuring that your fare is correct. Average summer (July - September) temperature: 23-30C.

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