A Girl's Guide to Mexico

I know this probably isn't the first of these lists you've seen but life in Mexico can be pretty weird and everyone who comes here seems to have unique experiences so I'm going to share my take on some of the crazy stuff that happens here: 1. Mexicans Can't Say No Now, I'm from Britain so I'm familiar with people being overly polite. However, the Mexican version of over-polite is a bit different and takes some getting used to. A lot of Mexican people feel uncomfortable saying no so will give an affirmative response when they don't actually mean it. You could end up getting the wrong directions if you ask someone for them in the street. You could wait around for hours for someone to show up only to discover they never planned on meeting you in the first place! When I first arrived in Mexico, a friend warned me that when two Mexicans bump into each other on the street they feel awkward unless they make plans to meet each other again, perhaps even going so...

Situated in the Sierra Made mountains, Oaxaca is traditional Mexico at its best. Famous for its mezcal and 'mole' sauce, it is known as the culinary capital of Mexico. You can take a stroll down its colonial streets, visit the stunning cathedral or shop for crafts at one of the markets. A must-see day trip from the city is the Hierve El Agua petrified waterfall, one of only two of its kind in the world! You can also take a Mezcal tour and see where the spirit is made or visit the ruins of Monte Alba. To get to Hierve El Agua, take a bus to Mitla, a small roadside town, where you can take a colectivo or open-back truck which drops you off at the entrance. If you sit at the back you can get stunning views of the surrounding mountains. You can take ADO or other coaches to Oaxaca. See schedules here .

The most popular destination in Mexico for international tourists, I myself flew to Cancun on my first trip to Mexico. Its popularity has earned it a bit of a bad reputation for being too commercial and expensive but there are some great places you can visit if you know where they are. Cancun Famous for being a popular with Spring Breakers, Cancun is often maligned as trashy and overpriced. However, flights to Cancun are by far the cheapest from international airports and if you want you can take a coach direct to Playa del Carmen or Tulum. The hotel district is where you'll find the fanciest places but budget travellers can find a lot of cheap hostels in the downtown area of the city. From the centre you can take a bus to Playa Delfines and you won't be disappointed: the water is the clearest and bluest you'll ever see. What's more it's totally free! If you arrived at Cancun airport, take an ADO coach to the city centre. It's waaaay cheaper than taking...

Mexico is surprisingly easy to travel around by public transport and there are many different options depending on where you are and where you're going. Coaches ADO is the main coach company in Mexico and is perfect for medium to long journeys. Usually reasonably priced and always extremely comfortable, if you're feeling extravagant you can even splash out on their premium 'platino' service for extra luxury! Other coach companies serve different destinations. You can buy your tickets at the bus station or book in advance on their website or using clickbus .  Even in tropical climates it's advisable to bring a sweater as the air conditioning is usually on full blast! Colectivo Taxis Colectivo taxis were a strange concept to me when I first arrived in Mexico but they're actually a cheap and quick way to travel short to medium distances. They are basically minivans for about 10 - 15 passengers. Often the destinations they serve will be written on the windsc...

Mexico City has been my home for about a year now and I still feel like I've barely scratched its surface. It's definitely still got a bad rep internationally but when you get here you realise it's actually a great place with so much to offer. Perhaps the lack of hoards of international tourists also adds to its charm. There is way to much for me to list everything here so I'll just go for a few top picks: Centro Historico Zocalo The old town is colonial architecture at its best, especially the impressive Zocalo (central square), which is the largest in Latin America. Here you can see the ancient Aztec ruins of the Templo Mayor alongside the colonial cathedral, built by the Spanish conquistadors as a symbol of their dominance over the old civilisation. Opposite is the National Palace, former place of residence of the president, where you can see fabulous murals by Diego Rivera. You can get there by taking the blue metro line to the Zocalo station. Bellas Art...

Valladolid has to be one of the most underrated destinations in the Yucatan Peninsula. I myself overlooked it on my first trip to the area in favour of the more-popular Merida. However, I found myself there more or less by accident and it surprised me with how charming it is. Unlike Merida, the climate was warm but not unbearably hot - at least in February and September. It has a typically charming central square and attractive colonial architecture. The town has a laid-back feel to it and is not overrun with tourists. What to Do Valladolid has a lot of underground lakes, known as cenotes, close by. In the city itself is cenote Zaci and always seems to be surprisingly quiet. Go early and you might be lucky enough to have the place to yourself for a while! Also highly recommended in the San Lorenzo or Oxman Cenote, located a short taxi ride out of the city. It's deep underground and has long vines hanging down into the water. There's even a swing! When you start to fell chil...

On the Oaxacan coast lies the small fishing town of Puerto Escondido. As one of the closest beaches to Mexico City, it's advisable to visit outside of peak times such as Easter and Christmas in order to avoid the crowds. It's a popular destination for surfers and indeed, some beaches, such as Playa Zicatela, have waves far too strong for just taking a dip! Those more interested in taking it easy are better off heading to the scenic Playa Carrizalillo. If you go during the hatching season, you can take part in releasing baby turtles into the sea. However, although this assisted ritual increases the rate of survival for the turtles, there is still a high chance a crafty seagull might swoop down before your turtle has a chance to get into the ocean... Close by is the Manialtepec Lagoon where you can see the beautiful bioluminescence: take a night time boat trip and experience the shimmering lights in the water while looking up at the star-illuminated sky. The best time to go...

Nestled in the Lacandon Jungle of Chiapas you can find Palenque, a small town famous for its spectacular Mayan Ruins. I would strongly recommend staying in El Panchan, a small community of cabins right in the heart of the jungle. Starting at $150 a night you can have your own private jungle experience, with the sounds of howler monkeys, humming birds and crickets all around you. There are two bar - restaurants on site (although there is no internet access). Beware of hungry monkeys paying a visit to your table during breakfast! The ruins are a short collectivo-taxi ride away and pass every few minutes. From Palenque you can take a trip to stunning nearby waterfalls and rivers. Most impressive of all are the Cascadas de Agua Azul (Blue Water) and you can see why they got their name - the water is indeed an almost unbelievably bright blue colour! A tour there can also take you to the Misol - Ha waterfalls. For a slightly quieter option you can visit the smaller but still lovely Cas...

Bacalar is probably my all-time favourite place in Mexico. Despite its unbelievable natural beauty, it remains relatively quiet in comparison to other tourist destinations in the area. Also known as the Lake of Seven Colours, Bacalar is a fresh-water lagoon with impressively crystal-clear blue waters. The best way to enjoy yourself is by taking a boat-tour around the different areas of the lake or rent a kayak and do it yourself. Don't forget to wear sunscreen! There are several places to stay around the lake, the best ones have access to the water. Casa LaHar has water hammocks - where better to relax and enjoy the magnificent sunsets? How to Get There You can take a bus to Bacalar from Tulum bus station, the journey takes around 3 hours (4 hours from Playa del Carmen). Bacalar is also close to Chetumal where you can take a boat to Caye Calker, Belize or further transport to Belize City.                       ...

Taxco is a small, hill-top town in the state of Guerrero, approximately 2 hours from Mexico City. It's famous for it's silver and you can find plenty of shops selling it all around the town. The former colonial town has an impressive cathedral in it's central square or 'Zocalo'. Around this area you can find a lot of bars and restaurants. It's pleasant to spend the afternoon or evening watching people gather there.  A short mini-bus ride (ask for 'el teleferico') takes you to the Hotel Los Arcos where you can take a cablecar and see the impressive view of the area. You can take either a one-way or return trip to the hotel at the top of the hill where you can check out the view from the mirador, take a dip in the pool or have a drink at the restaurant. How to Get There From Mexico City, buses to Taxco leave regularly from the Taxquena Termal (Terminal de Sur). You can check schedules and reserve tickets in advance here:  https://www.clickbus.com.mx...

The Prismas Basalticas of Santa Maria Regla are located in the municipality of Huasca de Ocampo in the state of Hidalgo. Huasca was the first of 111 'Magical Towns' in Mexico and it's easy to see why: the prismas are spectacular columns of rock lining a valley with a river fed by waterfalls. The site is thought to have been formed in the ice age when erupting volcanic lava was cooled rapidly by ice. The park was developed by locals who wanted to turn the site from a grazing ground for cattle into the major tourist attraction it is today. Now you can visit the site for $70, enjoy outdoor swimming pools for an additional $25 and even take a night-time tour of the forest and surrounding areas, complete with tales of local myths and legends, campfire and marshmallow-toasting and more (approx. $100). There are other activities availing on-site including ziplining across the valley and horse-riding. How to Get There From Mexico city you can take a coach from the Central...