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Mexico Holidays

No longer the USA's poor neighbour, today's Mexico is a bullish, confident country with a booming economy, lively tourist industry and a new found swagger. Mexicans have always been fiercely proud of their country, but only now has their pride seemed wholly justified. Whichever side you're headed - Pacific or Caribbean - you'll find ultra-swish resorts serviced by cool modern hotels, restaurants of all persuasions and no shortage of Mariachi-fuelled, memorable nights. Both sides of Mexico, however, doesn't just mean 'On which coast should we lie down in the sun?' - it means rich and poor, developed and chaotic, rural and (intensely) urban.

Mexico Culture

Outside of the main resorts, Mexico's population centres are uncompromisingly gritty. Mexico City, the nation's capital, is a sprawling, organic behemoth slowly spreading outwards from the heart of the nation and should only be attempted if you've the time. Spend a day here and, chances are you'll just end up frustrated, footsore and with one heck of a headache. Spend a day in the lush jungles of the Yucatan peninsula, however, and you'll be rewarded by Mayan temples, peace and serenity (if you can stand the heat long enough, that is).

Mexico Resorts

A generation ago, Cancun and the Mayan Riviera were no more than isolated lagoons, lonely jungle-fringed shores and the occasional fishing village. Now the area contains perhaps the most expensive real estate in Central America. This beautiful spot, pinpointed by computer for its combination of mild climate, easy accessibility and fabulous beaches, is now the country's premier holiday playground. But, to see where it all started, you must visit the Pacific Coast's glamorous resorts of Acapulco and Puerto Vallarta. Again, these coastal hotspots were little more than seaside shanty towns. That is until Hollywood came to visit. John Huston filmed Tennessee William's 'Night of the Iguana' along this blissful coast, bringing the movie's star, Richard Burton, and his lover, Elizabeth Taylor. Suddenly the resort became a magnet for jet-set visitors - some of whom have never left.

Mexico History

Of course, Mexico's history stretches back much further than even Elizabeth Taylor's. From 800 BC onwards the Yucatan Peninsula was home to the advanced Mayan civilization. Scattered settlements merged into centralised cities that became highly skilled in science, maths and astronomy. The Mayan calendar measured the solar year and could project dates thousands of years in the past or into the future. Their downfall came long before the Spanish arrived in the 16th century. Visiting their cities, ceremonial centres and pyramids today gives some idea of just how efficient, forward-thinking and successful their society became. Quite why it disappeared remains a mystery.