Tropical beach resort in Cancun, Mexico, with crystal-blue water on a beautiful spring day

Holidays to Mexico

Mexico holidays are the ultimate fiesta, and everyone’s invited. With white-sand beaches, Mayan ruins, margaritas on tap and tacos to drool over, Mexico is the piñata of holidays – all you have to do is hit it up!

Bangin’ beaches

With sun-kissed shores and turquoise seas, Mexico takes beach holidays up a notch. So grab your favourite sombrero and celebrate the sunshine.

On the Caribbean side, Cancun’s beaches are where paradise meets party central. The Pacific coast, meanwhile, is all Baja California and beaches – think Los Cabos, Puerto Vallarta and Acapulco.

Party ‘til the tequila sunrise

If fun times and fiestas are the focus of your cheap Mexico holiday, you can’t beat Cancun. Nights out here start with cervezas for pre-drinks in the Zona Hotelera, the city’s wild party district.

You can then continue the party with happy hours and salsa dancing at Señor Frogs. And make sure not to miss a cabaret show at the iconic Coco Bongo, Mexico’s mecca of madness.

Temples of swoon

Exploring Mexico’s ancient ruins is like stepping into a real-life Indiana Jones adventure. Meander around the Mayan temples of Chichén Itzá, where El Castillo (the Pyramid of Kukulkan) stands like the world’s most impressive birthday cake.

Or check out those Aztec legends who built their pyramids at Teotihuacan, just outside Mexico City.

Less talk, more tacos!

Mexican food is the stuff of citrus-soaked dreams: tacos oozing carnitas, saucy enchiladas, buckets of guac with tortilla chips (pro tip: mezcal is not a full meal!).

Try a tamale or a tasty ceviche, a zesty dish of fresh fish or shrimp marinated in lime juice and coriander. But save room for churros, doughnut fingers dusted in sugar and cinnamon. It’s the grand finale of Mexican cuisine.

Sneak Peek

Best for... Beach-loving party people who love an ancient ruin or two 🎉

Go... In November to get swept up in the Día de los Muertos madness 🧟‍♂️

You have to... Relax with a salt-rimmed margarita on a palm-fringed beach 🍸

Mexico holiday deals

Magic Blue Spa Boutique Hotel

4.3

Excellent

Playa del Carmen, Cancun, Mexico
  • 3 Sept 2026
  • 7 nights
  • Room only
  • From Manchester

Prices from

£969 pp

Catalonia Riviera Maya

4.8

Excellent

Puerto Aventuras, Cancun, Mexico
  • 1 Sept 2026
  • 7 nights
  • All-inclusive
  • From Gatwick

Prices from

£808 pp

Grand Palladium White Sand Resort & Spa

4.9

Excellent

Riviera Maya, Cancun, Mexico
  • 1 Sept 2026
  • 7 nights
  • All-inclusive
  • From Gatwick

Prices from

£936 pp

Ocean Riviera Paradise, Riviera Maya

4.9

Excellent

Riviera Maya, Cancun, Mexico
  • 1 Sept 2026
  • 10 nights
  • All-inclusive
  • From Gatwick

Prices from

£928 pp

The Fives Beach Hotel & Residences

4.8

Excellent

Playa del Carmen, Cancun, Mexico
  • 1 Sept 2026
  • 10 nights
  • All-inclusive
  • From Gatwick

Prices from

£991 pp

Hotel Riu Lupita

4.5

Excellent

Playa del Carmen, Cancun, Mexico
  • 5 Feb 2026
  • 7 nights
  • All-inclusive
  • From Gatwick

Prices from

£959 pp

Viva Wyndham Maya

4.3

Very Good

Playa del Carmen, Cancun, Mexico
  • 1 Sept 2026
  • 10 nights
  • All-inclusive
  • From Gatwick

Prices from

£881 pp

Flamingo Cancun Resort

3.9

Good

Cancun, Mexico
  • 1 Sept 2026
  • 7 nights
  • All-inclusive
  • From Gatwick

Prices from

£984 pp
Prices and availability shown can change. Always check pricing with the provider before booking.

Top Destinations in Mexico

Cancun

Mexico’s beach party paradise is big, brash and proper buzzing, with massive margaritas always the order of the day.

Playa del Carmen

Stylish, chic but ultimately fun, Playa del Carmen on the Riviera Maya is the Elizabeth Taylor of Mexico holidays.

Prices from

£881 pp
Playa del Carmen holidays

Puerto Vallarta

Puerto Vallarta is less foam parties and more boho beach shacks. It’s pretty laidback, so you’ll sink into holiday mode asap!

Details

Currency

Mexican Peso ($)

Language

Spanish

Time difference

GMT-6

Cost of a beer

$20-75

3-course meal

$150-500

Flight time

12h

Beachy babylon

There’s a good reason spring breakers from the US swarm to Cabo San Lucas – on the tip of Baja California, is a party paradise! Surfers usually prefer the waves at Playa Acapulquito, while Santa Maria Beach is a peach for those hangover days. Fed up with foam parties? It’s time for Puerto Vallarta, Mexico’s swish beach resort on the Pacific coast. After relaxing on the main beach of Playa los Muertos, potter along the mile-long boardwalk known as El Malecón. It’s lined with fish shacks and tequila bars so there’s no shortage of places to stop and set up shop.

Follow Frida

Aztec ruins, sultry salsa bars and more mariachi bands than you can shake a maraca at, Mexico City is as fizzy with fun and colour as a piñata filled with Smarties and Fanta. Get all Stephen Fry and Sandi Toksvig by learning all sorts of stuff in bohemian Coyoacán’s Museo Casa Azul, the birthplace, residence and now museum of Frida Kahlo. History buffs will also be interested in the nearby Museo Casa de León Trotsky. If the learning, culture and AC don’t appeal, hang at the vibey pavement bars in El Zócalo, one of the largest city squares in the world.

Nacho average dinner!

Get ready to eat, drink and fiesta like there’s no mañana. But do pack elasticated shorts and some Alka-Seltzer because the food and drink in Mexico is epic. We’re talking tacos stuffed with juicy carnitas and irresistible enchiladas smothered in cheese and mole, a rich chocolate chilli sauce. The drinks in Mexico are as bright as the culture, and tequila (aka liquid courage) has the power to transform even the most timid of wallflowers into dancefloor legends. Go straight for mezcal shots at the bar or slowly sip an ice-cold margarita by the beach.

When to go to Mexico

Here’s a tough one: a cold, wet British winter or sipping margaritas on a sun-drenched beach? Mexico’s dry season runs between December and April, so it’s really a no-brainer! January and February are by far the best months to visit, but it's usually cheaper after the holiday crowds have left.

If you don’t fancy getting drenched, avoid the monsoon season on the Pacific coast (August to October) and hurricane season on the Caribbean (May to November).

And if you’re keen to celebrate the Día de los Muertos in November, just be warned: it can get pricey.