There’s no escaping the fact that American travelers have a long-lasting love affair with the sunny neighbor to the south.
Mexico always rates highly as one of the most popular tourism destinations, and despite breaking its all-time record on that front in 2023, it looks like this year could be even bigger.
New data from the Mexican Ministry of Tourism shows that the country attracted more than two million international tourists in January this year, tracking ahead of the same period last year – and visitors from the U.S. make up the largest group at more than 55%.
So, where are travelers heading in Mexico and why?
Let’s see what the data says…
Mexico City
The capital city of Mexico will always be a draw – not only due to its impressive attractions, amazing food, and chic neighborhoods but also because there are so many flights that arrive nonstop from the United States.
Cities such as Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, and Houston all have multiple daily nonstop flights to the Mexican capital, and most of the time it won’t set you back too much – at the time of writing, it was easy to find flights from as cheap as $200.
The allure of CDMX is just how much there is to do there, it’s really hard to run out of things to do no matter how long you stay.
This makes it just as hospitable for a weekend getaway as it does for a longer break – whether you’re just here for the museums and fantastic restaurants, or you want to take a deeper dive into neighborhoods such as Roma.
Mexico City actually attracted around 4% fewer international visitors this January compared to 2023, but that figure is likely to tick up significantly as we move further into the year.
Cancun
Regularly ranked as the single most popular international destination for American travelers, Cancun really is the king of travel in many respects.
This year could be the best time ever to visit Cancun if you haven’t been before or if it’s just been a while since your last visit.
The all-new Maya Train is up and running and will continually be expanded throughout the year, allowing you to use Cancun as a base to explore the wider Yucatan Peninsula.
And if you’re tired of the same old places to stay, then perhaps the opening of one of the largest all-inclusive Caribbean resorts in Cancun this year will interest you?
Despite the state of Quintana Roo being rated as a Level 2 Travel Advisory by the U.S. Department of State, Cancun is generally a safe place for tourists, especially if you are sensible and follow these precautions.
Cancun, which was also recently named the best beach destination on the planet, attracted 4.1% more international visitors this January than it did in 2023, proving that this coastal Caribbean charmer is still very much on the map.
Puerto Vallarta
Like Cancun, Puerto Vallarta also saw a more than 4% increase in the number of foreign tourists this January compared to last.
This is pretty impressive when you consider that this iconic Mexican destination already enjoyed a record-breaking year for tourism in 2023.
Puerto Vallarta offers you a little bit of everything all in one place – from world-leading wellness spas to fantastic bars and nightlife, this destination caters for all and is very welcoming to all people (it’s well-regarded as one of the most LGBTQ-friendly destinations in Mexico).
Perhaps the thing it is best known for is its pristine, sargassum-free beaches, which are just as good for lounging around on as they are for taking part in various watersports.
If you want to get away from the all-inclusive vibe, then be sure to take a stroll around the colonial old town, which features many beautiful buildings and churches.
Puerto Vallarta is generally regarded as safe, especially in the main tourist areas – perhaps the thing you need to be most aware of as a traveler is being safe while swimming or bathing in the sea.
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