Nowhere else in the Americas does the combination of ancient history and vibrant colourful culture exist as forcefully as in Mexico. Everything is exotic in the country, from the customs and rituals, the unique food and beverages, the range of landscapes from arid deserts to lush tropical beaches, and the exuberant history stretching back beyond the Aztecs and Mayas through civil wars to the present day. Each region is quite different, with its own attractions and charms, yet all blend cohesively into the rich panorama of Mexico.

The country's indigenous people, among them Maya, Mixtec, Zapotec, live almost as they have done for centuries, speaking their own languages and farming in ways little different from their ancestors. Monuments of ancient cultures are everywhere, whether the great Mayan sites of Uxmal, Chichen Itza and Palenque, the imposing Aztec sites of Tenochtitlan and Teotihuacan, or the Zapotec sites of Yagul and Monte Alban. Mexico also has one of the continent’s richest legacies of colonial architecture, including ornate churches and well-preserved cities.

Overlaid on this is the wealth of natural riches, from the northern arid canyons and cactus-littered deserts to the tropical rainforests of the south,  bordered on both sides by the vast stretches of Pacific and Caribbean coastline.

Mexico City The country's spiritual and geographical heart, it is a compelling mix of pre-Columbian, colonial and modern architecture and culture. Attractions include the captivating colonial Zocalo, the world-famous Anthropology Museum, and Diego Rivera's celebrated murals of historic events, along with alluring markets, street life, and restaurants.

Oaxaca  A colonial town, south of Mexico City, of considerable charm in a very traditional region. The main square has much character, with live music in the evenings and local Mixtec and Zapotec Indians selling brightly-decorated textiles. Also the Santo Domingo church, and the traditional Saturday market.

Guanajuato The most beautiful of stunning colonial cities founded by the Spanish with silver and gold mining wealth, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A labyrinth of steep narrow streets and leafy squares with grand colonial residences of the mine-owners and lively street cafe life. Under the city there is an amazing series of underground streets. Also the noteworthy but macabre Mummy Museum with its display of mummified bodies, some buried alive.

Yucatan The best of Latin America's amazing pre-hispanic ruins are Maya cities in the Yucatan Peninsula. An excellent circuit known as the Ruta Maya offers ready access to sites such as Chichen Itza, Calakmul, Tulum, Uxmal and. Palenque. The Caribbean coast has long stretches of white sand and azure sea, some of it still off the beaten track,  and faces the worid's second largest coral reef, with its brilliant scuba diving and snorkelling.

Baja California Outside the few centres of population, such as Tijuana and Los Cabos, lie the vast desert expanse and imposing mountainous spine of Baja, becoming popular for nature visitors seeking remote places. The endless bays are attractive for diving and snorkelling. Watching California gray whales that come from Alaska is an amazing experience.

Copper Canyon The half day train ride from the Pacific coast to Chihuahua is one of the most scenic in the Americas. Crossing the Sierra Madre, it offers spectacular views over the 2000-metre deep Copper Canyon. The town of Creel is a great base, with good lodges, to explore the surrounding canyons, pine forests and the Basaseachic Falls, one of North America's highest single waterfall.