Mexico, like its native jalapeno peppers and agave tequila, embodies a spicy fiery passion for la vida. This same spirit overflows from the country's vibrantly colourful art and music, its complex culture, and its history and geography. Mexico's charm is its mix of modern and traditional, the clichéd and the surreal, the ancient and the brand-new. True to the country's contradictory nature, the attitude towards the US, its neighbour to the north, is a combination of uncertainty, envy and longing.

Best time to visit

October to May, to avoid extreme temperatures.

Essential experiences

Navigating your way through massive Mexico City; exploring the worlds largest open air market; eating fish tacos at sunset on the beach of Zipolite; exploring the awe-inspiring ruins at Teotihuacán, Palenque and Monte Alban; being immersed in the Mayan world of the Yucatan; snorkelling at Isla Mujeres and Cozumel.

In a few words, Mexico is

Beaches, margaritas, Dia de los Muertos skeletons and the Diego River.

Did you know?

The Olmecs were the first people to extract chocolate from cacao beans - 3000 years before anyone else, and the Caesar salad was invented in Tijuana