Mexico is one of the most fascinating and rich destinations for international tourists. The country offers a perfect blend of culture and tradition. You can experience here the white sandy beaches, endless sunshine, and turquoise waters.
Cultural Activities in Mexico!
Mexico will awe you with its vibrant colonial cities, ancient Mayan ruins, and many cenotes. Visitors get to encounter a wide range of cultural events organized by the locals throughout the year.
Their special festivals scream the vibrant culture of Mexico. Mexicans celebrate them throughout the country in honor of its revered practices, beliefs, and customs. If you are still unsure of what to do in this beautiful country, continue reading.
We will help you come up with a decision by providing some of the best places in Mexico. So if you are in the United States or any other country, don’t miss out on these most popular cultural activities to do in Mexico!
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Chichen Itza
Chichen Itza is another popular tourist destination in Mexico. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most significant archaeological cities in the world. The site is located on the Yucatan Peninsula, known for its tropical weather and beautiful beaches.
Chichen Itza was the main Mayan city between 600 and 1200 AD. The site has many different buildings, such as temples, altars, ball courts, and residences. Some of its structure contains limestone blocks that were quarried from rock formations nearby.
The impressive ancient ruins include a series of steps that lead up to each building. This helps people walk up to them more quickly than just flat surfaces. This one-of-a-kind archaeological site was popular among Mayan architects.
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Golfing in Mexico
Mexico is a premier golfing destination with over 160 courses. The range of courses here is incredible. They have golf options on the beach, in the desert, or among beautiful jungle landscapes.
Los Cabos, Puerto Vallarta, and the Riviera Maya are among the top golf destinations in Mexico. Some experts have called the Riviera Maya “the Riviera of North America” because of its beautiful beaches and scenery.
The cost of golf in Mexico is often less than half of other countries which makes it a better place for golf lovers. This makes it an affordable option for travelers looking to experience some world-class golf.
The area also offers an exciting mix of activities ranging from snorkeling to deep-sea fishing to whale watching.
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Museo Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera
The National Palace and Museum of Fine Arts house has some of Rivera’s most famous murals. This includes the contentious man at the Crossroads. Make sure to seek the narrative behind that painting since it’s fascinating.
Of course, you’ll want to visit the Frida Kahlo Museum, popularly known as La Casa Azul (the Blue House). Surprisingly, the well-known artist was both born and died at this home.
The museum is a fitting homage to her and her achievements throughout her life. Prepare yourself for crowds, as this is one of Mexico City’s most popular places.
If you’re an art lover, check out the National Museum of Art (MUNAL). You may also want to see the Museum of Anthropology (MAAM) and the Mexican Cultural Institute.
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Los Islotes
About an hour’s boat trip from La Paz, are home to about 400 sea lions. Snorkelers are welcome to swim with them. It’s simple to execute because the depth is shallow (25 to 50 feet).
If you’re not a good swimmer, don’t worry. The water is warm and calm. You can float above the sea lions on a snorkel tube. Also, you can sit on the boat and watch them swim around you.
The sea lions move in small groups of 10 to 15 individuals. They’ll usually let you get close enough for some great photos. You may take video footage before they swim away from you. If one group leaves, another will soon arrive.
Los Islotes is a great spot for divers and snorkelers; however, it isn’t easy to find dive operators who offer day trips here that are suitable for novices.
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Cenote Diving or Snorkeling
The Yucatan Peninsula is home to thousands of natural sinkholes called cenotes. The cave ceilings collapse and leave a pit that fills with rainwater creating these deep, freshwater pools.
Cancun, Playa del Carmen, or Tulum, has one of the best cenotes. You’ll find that they’re often just a short drive from your hotel or Airbnb rental. Most tours include transportation from town. Their tour guides also offer snorkeling equipment if you want to explore deeper into some of the caves.
Cenotes are all over Mexico, and most of them are in the Yucatán Peninsula. It’s now the best time to plan your trip around visiting these incredible natural features.
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Puebla Tunnels
For years, the underground tunnels connecting Puebla’s historic center with Fort Loreto have been a local legend.
The tunnels are part of the Secrets of Puebla Museum, which opened in December 2018. The museum includes guided tours through the underground passageways.
The tunnel is lengthy, starts in Puebla’s old center, and leads to Fort Loreto. On May 5, 1862, the Battle of Puebla against the French occurred here.
They discovered guns, bullets, and gunpowder in this area. The tunnels imply a fight worth remembering during the Cinco de Mayo celebration.
The site is now “Los Túneles de la Victoria.” This translates to “The Tunnels of Victory.” It is now open to visitors who want to learn more about this vital part of Mexican history.
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Day of the Dead
The Day of the Dead (Dia de Los Muertos) is a multi-day holiday in early November. This is to honor the lives of loved ones who have died. People call it All Souls’ Day and celebrate it with parades, music, dancing, fireworks, and food.
Mexicans observe this kind of holiday worldwide. They dedicate it to remembering those who have passed away. In Mexico, this holiday takes place on November 1st and 2nd every year.
The name for this holiday comes from “El Día de Los Muertos,.” This means “the day of the dead.” The word Muertos comes from Spanish, meaning “dead.” The word “muerto” can also mean “deceased” or “died.”
During the Day of the Dead, Papel Picado represents the fragility of life. The yellow and purple hues commonly used during Dia de Muertos represent purity and grief. The perforations in the tissue paper allow the spirits to travel and visit us.
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Lucha Libre match
Lucha Libre is a Mexican wrestler. But this isn’t your typical wrestling match. It’s more of a vibrant mix of humor and acrobatics (and many costume changes).
Lucha libre wrestlers wear colorful masks. This makes it hard to tell who’s who, which adds to the excitement of the fight. They also have signature moves like flying kicks and dropkicks.
Wrestlers wore masks so fans couldn’t see their faces. The masks represent the soul or essence of their character.
The masks also helped protect their identities from rivals and enemies outside the ring. Today, Lucha libre continues to be popular in Mexico. They are popular among children — thanks to its playful spirit, colorful costumes, and acrobatic fights in open spaces.
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Watching football in Mexico
Mexico has several professional football leagues playing at different levels throughout the country. You can find matches played by men or women from any of these leagues during the year.
In Latin America, football (soccer) is almost a religion. It is undoubtedly Mexico’s most popular sport and a significant aspect of its culture. Attending a football game in person is a fantastic experience. You should take this as an advantage if you have the opportunity.
The Mexican National Team is one of the most successful teams in the world of football. The team has won nine Gold Cups and three Confederations Cups.
You can watch matches at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City. You can also watch it at other stadiums in the country if you have time to go to see them play while on vacation.
If you want to spend time with your family, attending a match will give you all the entertainment you need.
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Palacio de Bellas Artes
The Palace of Fine Arts (Palacio de Bellas Artes) in Mexico City is a site to see a folkloric ballet. The gorgeous architecture and lovely gardens of the building set the tone for the evening ahead.
The ballet starts with a parade through the gardens, then onto the stage. The costumes are in bright colors and are more elaborate. The dance moves are intricate and complex and embody Mexican traditions. It feels like you are back in time to another era where people dance to celebrate life and love.
This is not just any Folklorico dance; it’s one of the top things to witness in Mexico City. If you have ever wanted to see these dances up close, this is an excellent opportunity for you.
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Waterways of Xochimilco
Xochimilco is famous for its canal system, which covers over 170 km2. Immigrants of Mexico City enjoy these canals. They enjoy it on Sundays when they go out for some relaxation and entertainment.
The Aztecs built canals to irrigate their crops and provide transportation. After the Spanish conquest, Xochimilco is now farmland. It grew into a prosperous area producing corn and other products.
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The National Museum of Anthropology
With more than 150 famous museums, Mexico City is the world’s second-largest museum city behind London. The National Museum of Anthropology is the most popular. It displays the legacies of Mexico’s various indigenous cultures.
It had one of the largest collections of pre-Columbian artifacts in North America. The building is also an architectural masterpiece, with a large courtyard surrounded by ornate columns and sculptures.
Other museums worth visiting include Museo Soumaya. This museum features a collection of Mexican and European art, including works by Rodin, Monet, and Picasso.
The Museo de Arte Moderno is also worth visiting. This museum has a small but impressive collection of modern visual arts. They are from Latin America and Europe, like the works of Pedro Linares Lopez.
You may also experience Museo Nacional de Antropología. This museum houses thousands of artifacts from around Mexico. This includes the pre-Hispanic relics from Teotihuacan. Also, you can see some artifacts from Oaxaca’s Mixtec culture, Oaxaca City. Lastly, there is the famous Maya city of Chichén Itzá in Yucatán state.
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Mexico City, Metropolitan Cathedral
The Metropolitan Cathedral of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary’s Assumption into Heaven (Catedral Metropolitana de la Asunción de la Santísima Virgen María a Los cielos) is the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Mexico’s cathedral church. You can visit this fantastic cathedral in Mexico.
People built this church in a neoclassical style with French influences. The main façade is adorned with two statues by Domingo Mora and two columns by Manuel Tolsá. One of them represents Faith and the other Hope.
The interior is richly decorated and features paintings by Miguel Cabrera, Juan Correa, José de Ibarra, and Joaquín Clausell.
It hangs above the main altar inside the cathedral. The painting depicts Mary as she ascends into heaven after her death on earth. It is surrounded by angels and saints who admire her natural beauty and purity.
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Chamula
San Juan Chamula is an autonomous town of Tzotzil indigenous people in Chiapas. They have their own religious beliefs, a bizarre mix of Catholicism and ancient pagan practices.
The Temple of San Juan Chamula, the town’s church, is one of the oddest you’ll ever see. Its interior is painted red with images of saints and angels. It also has pictures of strange animals and creatures that may or may not exist.
It’s said that some of these creatures were seen by villagers during a visit from the Virgin Mary — who told them to paint them on their church walls so she could recognize them.
The church has been visited by many notable people over the years. This includes Pope John Paul II (who blessed it) and a young Carlos Santana (who performed there).
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Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe
According to legend, the Virgin Mary appeared to St. Juan Diego in 1531 and told him that she wanted a church built on Tepeyac Hill in Mexico City, which she did.
The ancient basilica stood for centuries before it became apparent that it was crumbling and that a new basilica was required. Both the old and new Roman Catholic churches are considered Mexican National Shrine and are located on the same square.
The ancient basilica was completed in 1709, with its façade facing westward toward the city center. The façade is notable for its ornate design. Which includes an image of Our Lady of Guadalupe in bas-relief on top of two columns and flanked by two towers topped with domes.
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Isla Mujeres
Isla Mujeres is a lovely and laid-back island. It is a small island off the coast of Cancun and Cozumel. It’s about a 15-minute boat ride from Isla Mujeres to Cancun and 40 minutes from Cozumel.
The island has no cars; everything is walked or cycled. It’s quiet and relaxed, with beautiful beaches and great restaurants.
The main town is called La Playa del Carmen. This is where most people stay when they come to Isla Mujeres. There are plenty of amazing places to stay here or walk around and enjoy the atmosphere.
There are also plenty of activities to do if you’re feeling adventurous:
- Snorkeling
- Swimming with dolphins
- Seeing sea turtles
- Deep-sea fishing
- Horseback riding
- Exploring Mayan ruins or visiting other nearby islands
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Mexican hat dance
Jarabe Tapatio is Mexico’s national dance, often known as the Mexican hat dance. The name “jarabe” comes from the Spanish word for syrup because of the sweet sound made by castanets.
This cultural performance originated in Mexico City during colonial times. It was performed by indigenous populations and enslaved people who were forced to work in sugar cane plantations. It was initially performed at parties and celebrations and has become a popular part of Mexican culture.
Jarabe Tapatio is traditionally played with two or four small wooden or metal clappers called “cascabeles” that are held in each hand. They are used to keep time with the music as well as add rhythm to the dancers’ movements.
The dancers move their feet in a basic step-ball-change pattern while holding the cascabeles with their free hands. They clapped them together on every third beat. This is one of those amazing things you see in Mexico.
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Street Food Tour
It can be scary to eat street cuisine in an unfamiliar place. Rather than entirely avoiding street food, take a private tour of the city and learn something about its rich culture while stuffing your cheeks in the local markets of Mexico!
In Mexico City, there are three main areas where you can find street food: La Merced Market, El Parian Market, and El Chopo Market. Although they are technically separate markets, they are all located in the same area. Each has its specialty foods that cannot be found anywhere else.
If you’re not sure what something is, ask someone who speaks Spanish or another language you know well (like French or German).
If it’s something simple like a piece of fruit or bread with butter or jam on it, try it! Remember not to overdo it with exotic foods to experience the local culture— if you’re going to risk getting sick from street food, make sure it’s worth it!
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Boat tour to Yelapa
Puerto Vallarta is a resort city found on the Pacific coast of Mexico. It is located in the state of Jalisco, which is a popular tourist destination in the country.
Puerto Vallarta is a great place to visit, especially if you are looking for adventure and fun. The city has so much to offer that it can be hard to decide what to do first. Here are some of the best things to do in Puerto Vallarta:
Take a boat trip to Yelapa: Yelapa is a tiny village located about 30 minutes from Puerto Vallarta by boat. Many restaurants serve Mexican cuisine and experience their traditional foods.
There are also several beaches where you can relax under the sun and enjoy the beautiful scenery.
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Cliffs in Matacanes
The Matacanes Canyon is a stunning stalagmite-studded canyon in Cumbres de Monterrey National Park in northern Mexico, near Santiago.
It’s the place to go “canyoneering” in Mexico. You can hike through the canyon on foot or rappel down its walls with a local guide. It’s an exhilarating authentic cultural experience that will leave you breathless.
The Matacanes Canyon has been called “an underwater cave on land.” This is because the mineral deposits are similar to those found underwater. The water flows through the canyon and creates beautiful pools where you can swim and relax after your trek through the canyon.
Matacanes is one of several canyons located within Cumbres de Monterrey National Park. The park protects more than 600 species of birds and other wildlife, such as deer, foxes, bears, and mountain lions.
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Ogle Orozco’s murals in Guadalajara
With an estimated population of 1.4 million, Guadalajara is the second-largest city in Mexico. It’s also home to some of the country’s most famous artists and writers. This includes Orozco, whose work can be found throughout the city.
One such piece is “Man of Fire,” a mural that Orozco painted on the dome of the Hospicio Cabanas, a museum and cultural center in Guadalajara. The painting depicts a man engulfed by fire as he crosses his arms over his chest. The image represents man’s ability to create and destroy life at will.
The building was initially constructed in 1793 to house orphans and poor children abandoned by their parents or sold into slavery by their families. It later became home to an orphanage run by order of nuns known as The Sisters of Charity of Our Lady Jesus.
The dome was initially painted white with gold leaf detailing around its edges. Still, during renovation work completed in 2012, it was discovered that Orozco had painted directly onto plaster walls using oil paints.
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Town of San Miguel de Allende
The small town is famous for its colonial architecture, cobblestone streets, and parks. It is also home to a thriving arts community.
The city’s historical center is one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The historic center has many narrow cobblestone streets that lead to plazas and churches. Several museums in town showcase local artisans and artists who work at their shops there.
Residents love living in San Miguel de Allende. One of the reasons is that there are no traffic jams or crowds like they would find in other major cities like Mexico City or Guadalajara.
It’s also easy to get around since there are very few cars on the road. This is due to strict rules about driving within the historical center of town.
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Restaurants in Mexico City
If you’re looking for a culinary adventure, Mexico City is your destination. From the streetside taco stands to the most expensive restaurants in Latin America, this city has a massive variety of flavors and styles.
Mexico Metropolis, the country’s largest city (population of 22,000,000 in the metro area), is the place to go for fantastic dining, with some of the world’s best restaurants.
Food is an integral part of one of Mexico’s cultural things, and it shows. In Mexico City, you can try every type of food, from street snacks like tacos, quesadillas, and tamales to hearty steaks and seafood. You can also find some of the world’s best cuisine.
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Temazcal
Temazcal is another unique experience to have in Mexico. It’s a sweat lodge that promotes healing and physical well-being. People utilize it for cleansing their minds, body, and soul.
A temazcal “the womb” is an ancient Aztec ceremony. It involves sitting in a small dome structure made of clay and stones. It has hot rocks and water in it. The steam produced by the rocks helps create an atmosphere for cleansing the mind, body, and spirit.
The ceremony begins with participants gathering around the temazcal (or womb). The next step is to heat up the temazcal by burning copal incense on top of the rocks inside it. Once it is hot enough, they step inside and sit down, with their legs crossed or straight out in front of them.
People add water over the hot rocks to create steam and add moisture to the air inside the womb. Participants then meditate while they wait for their bodies to heat up from the steam to sweat out all their negative energy — both physically and emotionally — through their pores.
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Surf in Sayulita
The waves are calm, and the beach is relaxing. Many surf shops provide classes to try surfing – and if you’d rather sit on the beach and watch others ride the waves, that’s fine too.
Sayulita has become known as one of the best places to learn how to surf in the regions of Mexico. It offers two different types of waves for beginners: flat water and reef breaks.
The flat water is one of the great things for learning how to stand up. It teaches you to balance yourself on a board without worrying about getting rip in currents.
The best part is that this is ideal for children who want to learn how to surf without dealing with any potential dangers from powerful waves or strong currents (like in Malibu or other popular surfing destinations).
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Listen to Mariachi
The Mexican state of Jalisco introduced Mariachi music. The traditional mariachi ensemble consists of 10-20 musicians, who traditionally include violins, trumpets, guitars, and guitarrón (a prominent bass guitar).
The lead singer sings while standing up. He performs most often while wearing a charro outfit, including a black hat with a silver concho and a large belt buckle.
Today, mariachi music has become popular worldwide. You may hear it at many restaurants, weddings, and special events.
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Zócalo
Another essential aspect of Mexico is street art. It contributes to the aesthetic value while also creating eternal art. The Zocalo, in the heart of Mexico City, is where one can see exquisite art.
Street art is not only a beautiful way to express yourself but also the best way to learn about the culture and history of a country.
There are many kinds of street art, but Mexico has its style: “Murales” or murals are one. Groups make these murals of artists who paint on walls and buildings. They usually have social messages and use colors that contrast with the surrounding environment.
The best place for Murales is Mexico City. It is due to its rich history and culture related to muralism and having an actual number of murals in its streets.
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Tequila
There are so many things to do when you travel to Mexico. One of them is tasting a variety of tequilas and mezcals.
Tequila is a Mexican heritage town in the western state of Jalisco. Since the 16th century, the process of making tequila is by distilling blue agave juice. The town was named after an Aztec Warrior, Tēcuahuitl in 1456 AD.
Tequila and Mezcal are different alcoholic beverages. The difference between them lies in their production methods and the kind of plant used for making it.
