Mexico’s rich cultural history, diverse wildlife and 9,330 kilometres of golden beaches make it ideal for vacationing families. If you’re planning a trip to Mexico, here are five kid-friendly destinations with activities sure to please everyone.
Acapulco was custom-made for families. Your first stop will be the Papagayo Park, a 52-acres facility with a roller skating rink, an aviary and a Spanish galleon. The children will enjoy the kid-sized cars on a racetrack and bumper boats on a lagoon. When you’re ready for Acapulco’s legendary powdery sand and crystal-clear waters, you can visit Playa Caleta, a family-oriented beach with calm waters. You can rent a small sailboat, paddleboats and kayaks. For moderate waves, you can check out Icacos. It is perfect for windsurfing, waterskiing, sailing and paragliding. The most popular Acapulco attraction is the La Quebrada Cliff Divers, a group of professional divers. They perform stunts as they dive 35 metres from soaring cliffs above the city into the sea below.
Nestled in the heart of Mexico City is Chapultepec Park, the largest city park in Latin America. A former royal Aztec hunting ground, Chapultepec Park has a zoo, museums, a castle and amusement parks. Families can picnic beneath ancient cypress trees, tour the park on Segways, ride the miniature train or take a rowboat across the lake. The Chapultepec Zoo is the most popular attraction in the park and is the most significant zoo in Latin American. It has a botanical garden, a large aviary, pandas and thousands of other animals.
There are several world-class museums in the park. Children will enjoy El Papalote, a children’s museum. You can explore a labyrinth, the rain forest or take part in an archaeological dig. The exhibits are in Spanish, but there are English-speaking staff members available to answer questions. The National History Museum is a castle and former home of Emperor Maximilian and Empress Carlotta. It has more than 150,000 flags, uniforms and other items related to Mexico’s history.
Cancun is the ideal base for ecotourism and adventure. It is within driving distance of Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve, Calakmul Reserve and the other protected areas in the Yucatan Peninsula. Families can observe endangered jaguars, flamingos and spider monkeys as they kayak and hike with experienced guides. You can observe whale sharks and sea turtles while diving and snorkelling over the world’s second largest barrier reef. There is also an interactive aquarium where you can swim with the dolphins and feed the sharks. For onshore adventures you can mountain bike, rappel, ride a zip line or explore a cave at Aktun Chen.
Merida is a vibrant cultural center with close proximity to some of Mexico’s most important Mayan archaeological ruins. The city celebrates its heritage with free nightly events of music and theatre. On Sundays, there are fairs with puppet shows, live music and food. You can travel like a local and take a horse-drawn carriage on the tree-lined streets and tour elegant colonial-era buildings. Families will enjoy the Parque Centenario, a park with a skateboarding rink and a free zoo. There are two major Mayan archaeological sites within an hour’s drive of Merida, Chichen Itza and Uxmal. Chichen Itza, the largest archaeological city in Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, has the fabled Great Ballcourt, Temple of the Jaguars and other fascinating landmarks.
The Sierra Madre Mountains, Pacific Ocean and cascading rivers are the backdrop for Puerto Vallarta, the quintessential Mexican seaside resort. One of the most beautiful stretches of territory on the planet is El Malecon, the mile-long seaside boardwalk that runs along the main street into the city. It is a festive destination for sightseeing, dining, shopping and watching performances at the Los Arcos, the open-air theatre. Banderas Bay, the deepest and largest natural bay in Mexico, provides endless opportunities for observing giant sea turtles, manta rays and dolphins. From December to March, you can watch humpback whales when they migrate to these crystal-clear waters. The deep, calm bay is popular with swimmers, windsurfers, snorkelers, kayakers and boaters. English is widely spoken and the residents are very accommodating to tourists. Families will love Puerto Vallarta’s spectacular views, world-class attractions and activities.
Mexico is a wonderful Canadian travel destination for families with children.
Ryan McKenzie is a social media expert who specializes in Canadian Travel who loves to write about travel opportunities around the world. Image by Gorski