Diving & snorkeling
Caribbean reefs, cenote caverns, sea lions in the Sea of Cortez. Where the water actually delivers, what certification you need, and the operators who run it safely.
Yucatán Peninsula
Cancún
Mexico's biggest beach airport, wrapped in an all-inclusive resort strip.
Skip unless…IslandCozumel
Cruise-ship island by day, world-class wall diving just offshore.
Worth itIslandHolbox
Car-free sandbar island, whale sharks in summer, sand streets and no ATMs.
Worth itIslandIsla Mujeres
A golf-cart island 20 minutes off Cancún, calmest at Playa Norte.
Worth itCityPlaya del Carmen
Ferry hub to Cozumel with a walkable, very touristy main drag.
If nearbyBaja
Isla Espíritu Santo
A protected desert island off La Paz with sea lions and empty coves
Must-seeCityLa Paz
An unhurried state capital that's the launch pad for the Sea of Cortez
Must-seePuebloLoreto
The peninsula's oldest mission town on a protected marine park
Worth itBeachLos Cabos
The resort corridor from San José to Cabo San Lucas, for better and worse
If nearby