Travel inspiration: five authentic family holidays in Mexico
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From the vibrant art to some of the world’s most exquisite archaeological monuments, if your children have been inspired by 12-year-old Miguel’s Mexican adventures in Disney Pixar's Coco, why not take them there to discover the rich culture, spectacular wildlife and tasty cuisine for themselves?
For a fun-filled family holiday, try one of these options…
Tulum
Bustling Cancun has become the unofficial capital of Mexico’s Caribbean coast, but travel south along the Riviera Maya and exchange big resorts for boutique beach cabanas in Tulum.
This sleepy coastal town is crowned by the magnificent Mayan ruins of the same name, overlooking the turquoise waters and white-sand beaches, while the huge pyramid complex of Chichen Itza – one of the new Seven Wonders of the World – is less than two hours away.
Beyond the beaches and world of the Maya, children can enjoy jungle tours to snorkel in crystalline limestone cenotes (natural sinkholes) and spot flamingos, crocodiles and monkeys.
Chiapas
From the cool highlands to rainforest jungles, the southernmost state in Mexico is one of amazing biological diversity and a strong Mayan culture. From the beautiful colonial capital San Cristobal de Las Casas, you can visit Mayan villages in the highlands, where the women still dress in traditional bright fabrics.
The jungle is perfect for spotting colourful birds and monkeys and gazing at thundering waterfalls, while no visit brings the Maya to life as much as the spectacular ruins of Palenque, perhaps the finest in Mexico.
Oaxaca
Lapped by the Pacific Ocean, this traditional state is home to 17 different ethnic groups, each with their own language. Here you will find some of Mexico’s most colourful fiestas – Oaxaca is particularly known for its authentic Day of the Dead celebrations – and wonderful markets selling traditional handicrafts.
Start with the cobbled colonial streets of Oaxaca city – try mole, the Oaxacan chicken dish cooked in bitter chocolate – then discover villages where most locals are descendants of the Mixtec and Zapotec people, and the amazing ruins of Monte Albán. Finish off at one of the small, laid-back beach towns that dot the coastline.
Mexico City
This vast metropolis is often skipped by families, but Mexico’s capital is a treasure trove of exciting sites. The entire city stands on what used to be a lake and the waterways of Xochimilco date back to Aztec times, when the Aztecs paddled between man-made islands in canoes.
Take a boat trip back in time, then head to the Zócalo main square to discover the ruins of the soaring pyramids that once made this city the Aztec capital.
An hour north of the city, you can scale the huge intact pyramids of Teotihuacan, built by a mysterious civilisation that predates the Aztecs, and Mexico City is easily combined with Oaxaca, which is an hour’s flight away or six hours in the car.
Baja California
A favourite holiday spot of the rich and famous, Baja California is also a peninsula of deserts and mountain ranges, lush oases and golden beaches.
San José del Cabo is home to beautiful beaches but is also a great base from which to see migrating humpback and gray whales, snorkel among reefs of kaleidoscope fish and huge rays and sail to uninhabited Espíritu Santo island to spot sea lions.
Children will love picking out 1,000-year-old rock paintings in the San Francisco mountain range, as well as trying tasty fish tacos – a local speciality – and marvelling at the surreal bendy boojum trees that sprout out of the arid landscape.
Celebrating Mexico's vibrant culture
This Telegraph article, brought to you by Disney Pixar, is about the rich and colourful culture of Mexico.
Disney Pixar’s newest animation Coco sees a young boy’s dream of playing guitar take him all the way to the colourful Land Of The Dead, where he uncovers his secret family history.
Disney Pixar's Coco is in cinemas now.
