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Many people I know have been to Mexico exactly once. A week at an all-inclusive, drinks unlimited, brain fully offline. I get it. I’ve done it, and I’ve loved it. But if the Cancun strip is the only Mexico you know, you’ve seen about 1% of the country. I could write a novel on all the incredible things Mexico has to offer. Here are five reasons why Mexico should be your next vacation, even if you’ve already been.
Gran Cenote in Tulum
1. Getting There Is Easy
People consistently underestimate how close Mexico actually is. Mexico City is roughly five hours from Toronto and about five and a half from Vancouver, non-stop (read my review of Air Canada Economy YVR – CUN here). That’s almost the same as flying Vancouver to Toronto. Air Canada, Aeromexico, and Flair all serve the route directly from both cities. Montreal has direct service with Air Canada, and Calgary with WestJet.
And it’s not just Mexico City. Guadalajara – Mexico’s second-largest city – now has direct service from Toronto and Vancouver via Flair, from Montreal via Air Canada, and from Calgary via WestJet. Los Cabos and Mazatlán are also reachable non-stop from Calgary.
A flight to Mexico City is shorter than Toronto to London or Paris – trips many Canadians book without a second thought. Flying to Mexico means no layovers, no red-eyes (unless you want, there are options), and no full day burned in transit. You can land in the early afternoon and still make dinner reservations.
The coast is just as accessible. Cancun, Tulum, Puerto Vallarta, and other beach destinations have direct service from many Canadian airports, like Ottawa, Victoria and even Hamilton. Mexico is, logistically speaking, one of the lowest-friction international trips a Canadian can take.
2. Mexico (City) Is Not What You’ve Been Led to Believe
Mexico’s safety reputation is legitimate, and I won’t pretend otherwise. But context is important. Colombia has serious crime statistics and a history most people know well, yet Medellín and Bogotá are now firmly on the global tourism circuit. People go, take reasonable precautions, and come back raving. The logic is no different for Mexico.
Museo del Palacio de Bellas Artes in Mexico City
Across five trips and eight cities, my experience has never matched the headlines. I’ve never once felt unsafe in Mexico. That doesn’t mean I’m careless; obviously, I don’t wander alone at night, and I know which areas to avoid, but that’s not a Mexico thing. That’s just how you should travel anywhere.
Zona Arqueologica de Teotihhuacán in Mexico City
Basic common sense applies here the same as it would in any foreign city. Letting headlines make this decision for you means missing out on one of the most exciting, culturally rich destinations in the Americas. Mexico City is a world-class metropolis, and it’s one that consistently surprises people who visit, including myself.
Castillo de Chapultepec in Mexico City
3. The Food Scene is Incredible
Carne Asada
Mexico City does two things exceptionally well at opposite ends of the spectrum, and either one is worth the trip on its own.
El Pastoor Tacos
On one end: multi-course dinners – mole negro, chiles en nogada, food with centuries of technique behind it – at beautifully designed restaurants where you spend roughly what you’d pay for a mid-range night out in Toronto. On the other: a taquería a few blocks away, plastic chairs, handwritten menu, paint peeling off the walls. Al pastor straight off the trompo, carnitas that fall apart, and a swipe of the best salsa. Four of us ate at several during my 2024 trip, and the bill never broke $35 CAD. Three tacos each, (non-alcoholic) drinks included. Both experiences are exceptional.
Traditional Taquería
Head to the coast and it’s whatever came out of the water that morning. Ceviche bright with lime and chilli, whole grilled snapper, aguachile that blows your mind. In places like Puerto Vallarta or along the Yucatán, some of the best seafood of your life costs next to nothing at a beach shack.
Authentic Mexican Street Corn
The range of fine dining, street tacos, and fresh coastal seafood is something I haven’t encountered quite like it anywhere else. You don’t need to look far or spend a lot of money to have amazing food in Mexico.
4. The Interior Cities and Day Trips Are Extraordinary
Querétaro, a few hours northwest of Mexico City, is a UNESCO World Heritage colonial city built around pedestrian plazas, grand fountains, and streets designed for wandering. I stayed there for four nights in 2024, and it offered some of the best day trips I’ve ever done.
San Miguel de Allende
San Miguel de Allende is one of my favourite places I’ve visited in the world. The closest I can get to describing it is like if a small European mountain town transplanted into Mexico and painted in every colour imaginable. Cobblestone streets wind past baroque facades, bakeries, restaurants, and artisan shops. The centrepiece is the Parroquia de San Miguel Arcángel – a towering pink church that looks extraordinary. You don’t need a plan or anything when you visit San Miguel. You wander, eat, take in the beauty and rich history, and buy things you didn’t know you needed.
Parroquia de San Miguel Arcángel
Bernal is a really fun one. The town sits at the foot of the Peña de Bernal, one of the largest freestanding monoliths in the world – over 1,400 feet of volcanic rock rising straight out of the valley. We rented ATVs and spent a morning driving through the streets and up into the mountain pathways, views getting better the higher we climbed. Another town filled with vibrant colours and rich history.
Peña de Bernal
5. If You Want the Beach, Do It Differently
None of the above means skipping the coast. If you want warm water and sunshine, Mexico offers some of the best. You can have a beach, sunshine and surf trip that’s better than an all-inclusive, and it’s not harder to pull off.
Tulum
Stay in the towns. I’ve done it in Cancun and Tulum, and the experience is completely different – local restaurants, streets with actual character, the beach still right there when you want it. Isla Mujeres and Puerto Vallarta offer the same.
Public Beach in Cancun
Mexico is bigger and more varied than most people give it credit for. It’s also closer, cheaper to reach, and more accessible than the hesitation around it suggests. You should go.
Isla Mujeres
