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Sabbatical & Experiential Travel to Mexico

Holidays & Sabbaticals to Mexico – In a Nutshell

With its perfect tropical landscapes and colourful blend of indigenous and modern cultures, Mexico enchants all who visit. Idyllic white-sand beaches are lapped by turquoise water; there are snow-capped volcanoes, cactus deserts, canyons, banana plantations and forests teeming with butterflies. Archaeological monuments and ruins of the pre-Hispanic civilisations are everywhere, including Teotihuacan’s enormous Aztec pyramids and the beautiful Mayan temples of Palenque. Sleepy fishing villages are offset by buzzy cosmopolitan cities and the vast urban sprawl of Mexico City. Whilst in the interior you’ll find laid-back colonial towns where friendly locals sweep you up in an infectious mariachi rhythm; fiestas are frequent!

How to Get to Mexico

Although you can drive or bus across the border from the US, Guatemala or Belize, most will fly here. There are regular direct flights from major US cities (1.5-2.5 hours) and across Europe (around 12 hours). You’ll likely arrive in Mexico City, though Cancun, Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara are major international hubs, too. To get around, hop between domestic airports then private transfer, self-drive, or long-distance buses are excellent and offer you a chance to tune out and admire the stunning landscapes.

When & Weather – Mexico

Mexico is generally sunny and the climate varies between Pacific and Caribbean coasts as well as tropical lowlands and mountainous highlands. Peak Season, and the most popular time to visit, is December – April however the shoulder months of October and November are also a good time to visit. There’s a rainy season from May to early October, but it tends to be just short bursts of rain, in the afternoon. It can get very hot and humid in high summer (June to August). Temperatures are very varied and range between 6°C (42.8 °F) and 26°C (78 °F).

Who will Mexico Appeal To?

The idyllic landscapes and fascinating history and modern-day influences offer an enormous range of varied and unique experiences. In particular, it’s suited to:

  • Honeymooners
  • Culture lovers
  • Active travellers
  • Solo travellers
  • Families

Accommodation

We work with boutique hotels in the cities, colonial casas in the smaller towns, luxury resort hotels, rustic beach cabanas, glamping and everything in between!

Off The Beaten Path

  • Swim in the secret cenotes of the northern Yucatan — magical sunlit limestone caves with springwater pools. Ek Balam, X’keken and
  • Samula are our favourites
  • Bypass over-touristy Chichen Itza and head to lesser-visited Uxmal or south to Palenque, where you can explore atmospheric Mayan ruins enveloped in jungle
  • Puerto Escondido is charming – a laid-back little town with rustic seafood palapas and world-class surfing
  • Lake Bacalar is dubbed ‘Lake of the Seven Colours’, due to its extraordinary hues, from emerald to royal blue to cyan
  • Arty Oaxaca (both a region and town) is home to 15 indigenous groups. Visit regional markets to buy their beautiful handwoven textiles, silver jewellery, Mayan chocolate and famous black pots
  • The eastern stretches of Baja California (north of Los Cabos) have a boho vibe and emptier beaches
  • Swap hectic Mexico City for elegant Guadalajara, and watch traditional mariachi bands at the Plaza de los Mariachis (the birthplace of this fiesta music)

Wildlife

  • Watch humpback whales breach from Puerto Vallarta (Jan and Feb)
  • Or watch the annual grey whale migration in the Baja lagoons of Guerrero Negro and San Ignacio
  • From November to March, walk amongst thousands and thousands of monarch butterflies during the annual migration in Michoacan
  • Admire flocks of flamingos and sea turtles on the East Yucatan coast and in the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve
  • The wild and untouched areas of the Pacific Coast are host to astonishing biodiversity: manta rays, turtles, whales, iguanas and a huge array of bird species

Mexico Experiences you shouldn’t miss:

  • Hot-Air Ballooning over the Aztec pyramids of Teotihuacan
  • Eating street food tacos at local taquerias in Oaxaca – try the pibil (slow-roasted pork)
  • Celebrating Day of the Dead in Lago de Patzcuaro
  • Bathing in the Hierve el Agua waterfalls
  • A train trip through the Copper Canyon
  • The postcard-perfect white-sand beaches of Tulum
  • Watching the Acapulco cliff divers, dazzling in their bravery
  • Following in the footsteps of the conquistadors through Queretaro and Guanajuato

Giving back

Visit the ‘chinampas’ or floating gardens in Xochimilco where the Red Indígena de Turismo de Mexico (RITA) is working to preserve the cultural and environmental link to the indigenous people as a floating vegetable and flower garden as well as a being an important ‘lung’ of Mexico City.

Visitors can experience the various development stages of the chinampas, their formation by plants from the willow family and the cultivation of the fertile floating fields.

In the small research centre of the indigenous community, observe the axolotl (a caudate of the mole salamander family) which is worshipped by the Aztecs and which is now threatened with extinction due to the introduction of tilapia.

Start Planning

Our experienced team will guide you through a number of ideas based on how you would like to experience Mexico.

Consider visiting Mexico in combination with Guatemala, Belize or the US and Canada.

Browse our gallery for inspiration and read the sample itinerary below to whet your appetite.

No matter how long you have to travel, we’ll guide you through the planning process to ensure a trip is carefully pieced together to suit your interests, pace of travel and budget.

Contact us to start planning a holiday or sabbatical to Mexico.

Signature Sabbatical Itinerary: Intrepid Mexico – Central Highlands & Pacific Coast

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Signature Sabbatical Itinerary – Intrepid Baja
California

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