With a Native American heritage and a distinct Spanish flavour, Mexico is vibrant, colourful and unique. Its varied terrain ranges from cactus-studded deserts to white sandy beaches and blue waters, tropical rainforest and jungle-clad hills to steep rocky canyons and narrow gorges, and from snow-capped volcano peaks to bustling cities.

Since the height of Mayan and Aztec civilisations, Mexico has suffered the destructive force of the Conquistadors, European colonial rule, civil and territorial wars, rebellions, dictatorships, recessions and earthquakes. Yet its people remain warm and friendly, much of the countryside remains unspoilt by development, and its cities display a unique style of architecture. The extraordinary history is reflected in the ancient Mayan temples strewn across the jungles and ruins of Aztec civilisations, rural indigenous villages, Spanish colonial cities and silver mining towns, and traditional Mexican ports.

Buildings display a unique combination of colonial and pagan architecture, blending together Art Nouveau, Baroque, Art Deco and Native American design into the structure of their churches and public structures. The country's culture displays a similar blend of the traditional and modern, where pagan meets Christian in a series of festivals, or fiestas throughout the year. Despite recent reports of drug wars and safety issues Mexico remains a hugely popular and predominantly safe tourist destination. Violence linked to the drug cartels is not aimed at tourists and does not spill over into the resort areas.

Besides a combination of unique culture and fascinating cities, Mexico also boasts several hundred miles of coastline extending down through both the Pacific and the Caribbean, which has branded the country as a popular summer retreat destination. Beach resort cities such as Acapulco, Cancun and those of the Baja California peninsula are accepted vacation havens. The countryside is also rich in archaeological treasures with pyramids, ruins of ancient cities and great stone carvings of ancient gods standing as testament to a country once ruled by the Aztecs and Mayans.

Sierra de la Laguna Biosphere Reserve

Address: Baja California

El Zocalo

Address: Mexico City

Templo Mayor

Address: Seminario 8, Historical District Mexico City

Admission: The museum charges a fee for adults, but children under 13 are free. Tuesday to Sunday 9am-5pm.

Telephone: +52 55 4040 5600

Palacio de Bellas Artes

Address: Eje Central Lázaro Cárdenas and Av. Juárez Mexico City

Admission: Tuesday to Sunday 10am-6pm

Telephone: +52 55 5512 2593

Bosque de Chapultepec and the Museo Nacional de Antropologia

Address: Avenida Paseo de la Reforma and calzada Ghandi, Chapultepec Park, Mexico City Mexico City

Admission: Museum: $51 (adults), children under 13 free. Free admission on Sundays to Mexican citizens. Tuesday to Sunday 9am-7pm.

Telephone: +52 55 5553 6332/6266

San Angel

Address: Southwest of Mexico City Mexico City

Zona Rosa

Address: Mexico City

Teotihuacan

Address: Mexico City

Admission: Tuesday to Sunday 9am-5pm.

Telephone: +52 59 4956 0276/0052

Chichen Itza

Address: Cancun

Admission: MXN 98, including show. Translation headphones are MXN 25 each. Daily 9am-5pm. Lighting and sound show begins 7pm (8pm in spring and summer).

Santo Domingo

Address: Lázaro Cardenas Street San Cristóbal de las Casas

San Juan Chamula and Zinacantan villages

Address: San Cristóbal de las Casas

Palenque

Address: Four miles (6.5km) from Palenque town San Cristóbal de las Casas

Admission: Daily 8am-5pm.

Guanajuato

Address: Mexico City

Creel

Address: The Copper Canyon

Isla Mujeres

Address: Cancun

Diving

Whale watching

Cruises

Wedding and Honeymoon

Izote

Address: 513 Av. Presidente Masaryk, Polanco Mexico City

Food Type: Mexican

Café de Tacuba

Address: 28 Tacuba, Centro Histórico Mexico City

Food Type: Mexican

Cantina La Guadalupana

Address: 2 Higuera and Caballo Calco, Coyoacán Mexico City

Food Type: Mexican

La Opera

Address: 10 Cinco de Mayo, Centro Histórico Mexico City

Food Type: International

Restaurant Danubio

Address: 3 República de Uruguay, Centro Histórico Mexico City

Food Type: Spanish