The winter holidays are long gone, and people are starting to think about their next vacation. Where should they go for spring break? Thinking longer term, what are the best destinations this summer? I spoke to some travel agents to discover which destinations in Mexico are travel trends in 2025 and why.
From relaxing beach destinations to immersive cultural experiences, these places offer travelers exactly what they’re looking for. Which one will you pick for your vacation this year?
Where to go for leisure
Punta Mita
“Without a doubt, Punta Mita is currently the trendiest destination in Mexico,” Travel Advisor Nayeli Godínez, who’s been advising travelers around the world ten 10 years, told me over the phone.
Located on the north end of Bahía de Banderas, about 10 miles north of the resort city of Puerto Vallarta, Punta Mita has become the ultimate luxury travel cluster in the Riviera Nayarit, and arguably, in Mexico’s Pacific Coast. Some of the biggest names in hospitality are settled there, from Auberge to the Four Seasons and St. Regis.
Tourism in the area has rocketed since the opening of the One & Only Mandarina.
“Several luxury hotels have opened there in the last few years, including the One and Only Mandarina. But what’s really drawing attention now is the upcoming Rosewood Mandarina, which will open this year,” Godínez says.
Rosewood in Punta Mita will be the group’s fourth resort in Mexico. All its rooms will feature a private pool and terrace, restaurants specializing in different world cuisines and beachfront food places.
But despite the peninsula’s rapid development, Punta Mita’s exclusive resorts have ensured low-density tourism, keeping the region’s authenticity alive.
Riviera Maya
With its lush jungles, pristine waters and Maya cultural heritage, the Riviera Maya has remained a top global beach destination since its tourism boom in the seventies. Blending jungle and beach, a vibrant party scene and ancient culture, the Yucatán Península offers something to every type of traveler.
“The appeal of destinations like Cancún is that you can relax on the beach, and on the same day take a drive to Mérida and eat at Chablé, a beautiful hotel in an old hacienda nestled in the jungle,” travel advisor Daniela Arregui told me.
With still untouched beaches set afar from populous resorts, the Riviera Maya has also emerged as a wellness destination beyond its image as a spring-break hotspot.
SHA Wellness is one example of this, says Nayeli Godínez. Offering its guests various wellness programs, the European wellness retreat brand opened two years ago and has attracted hundreds of international travelers who seek to improve their lifestyle and health in paradisiac settings.
Where to go for culture
Mexico City
“There’s so much to do in Mexico City,” Daniela Arregui says. “We have everything from museums to multiple restaurants serving international cuisines, and more.”
Mexico City, which was underperforming in terms of tourism about a decade ago, is now one of the most visited destinations in the country. In 2024, Mexico City International Airport ranked as the busiest airport in Mexico, with passenger traffic of 37 million last year.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the city has not only become popular among international tourists but also remote workers who earn in dollars or euros and spend in pesos. “And one attraction that has propelled the city’s popularity is Soho House,” Nayeli Godínez said.
The members-only Soho House Mexico City sits in an early-20th century mansion at the heart of La Juárez, one of the neighborhoods booming with foreigners. The house has made national headlines thanks to its iconic parties and art agenda for major art events.
San Miguel de Allende
“We’re seeing a lot of requests for cultural trips,” Nayeli Godínez told me, adding that San Miguel de Allende has stayed at the forefront of tourism since it was named the best city in the world by Travel and Leisure readers.
People go to Guanajuato city to experience Mexico’s charm, a combination of colonial heritage and Indigenous roots. The city is popular for the iconic Parroquia de San Miguel, and its cobblestone streets lined with colorful houses.
“You can see the destination’s popularity with the level of hospitality and of course, the prices,” Godínez said.
Some high-end luxury hotels include Rosewood, renowned for its terrace overlooking downtown San Miguel or Casa Sierra Nevada, named Mexico’s best hotel by Condé Nast magazine. Others include Hotel Matilda and Live Aqua Urban Resort.
Oaxaca
Oaxaca city has flourished among foreigners as a cultural destination, Godínez says.
“Since the World’s 50 Best Restaurants and the Michelin Guide arrived in Oaxaca, tourism has rocketed,” she told me.
The Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurant Awards were held in Oaxaca for the first time in November 2021. Two local restaurants entered the list: Pitiona, by chef José Manuel Baños, and Casa Oaxaca, by chef Alejandro Ruiz.
Choosing Oaxaca for the 50 Best events highlighted the city’s status as a premier gastronomic destination with an exciting food scene focusing on Mexican cuisine. The city is also home to two one-star Michelin restaurants: Los Danzantes Oaxaca and Levadura de Olla.
Gabriela Solis is a Mexican lawyer turned full-time writer. She was born and raised in Guadalajara and covers business, culture, lifestyle and travel for Mexico News Daily. You can follow her lifestyle blog Dunas y Palmeras.
