Mexico

Mexico combines two ocean coastlines, volcanic highlands and millennia of history. On the Caribbean side lie Cancún and the Riviera Maya: white beaches, turquoise water, cenotes – limestone sinkholes filled with clear fresh water – and Maya ruins such as Tulum, perched right above the sea. Further into the Yucatán Peninsula, around Mérida, old haciendas have been reborn as intimate estate hotels.

The Pacific side has a different character. Los Cabos, at the southern tip of Baja California Sur, sets desert and granite cliffs where the Pacific meets the Sea of Cortez, visited by whales in winter. Punta Mita and the Riviera Nayarit on the Bay of Banderas mean green hills, surf and quiet villas, while Costalegre in Jalisco is a string of wild, barely developed coves. The highlands hold colonial San Miguel de Allende and Mexico City, with world-class museums and one of the most exciting food scenes anywhere.

The best time to travel is the dry season, roughly November to April. Late summer and autumn bring hurricane season to both coasts, while the highlands stay mild all year. Mexico suits honeymooners, families with children, food and history lovers, and anyone combining city, beach and desert in one trip.