Magical Mexico
SUNSHINE FOR OCT/NOV 8 HOURS AVERAGE TEMP 27°C/25°C FLIGHT TIME 10 HOURS DIRECT
WHY GO THIS CAPTIVATING COUNTRY BLENDS CULTURE, ART AND HISTORY WITH BEAUTIFUL BEACHES, AND A TWIN-CENTRE TRIP IS THE BEST WAY TO BENEFIT FROM ALL OF IT. WHAT TO DO START IN THE BUZZING CAPITAL, MEXICO CITY. IMMERSE YOURSELF IN 20THCENTURY ART AT THE COLOURFUL BLUE HOUSE, FORMER HOME OF FRIDA KAHLO (MUSEO FRIDAKAHLO.ORG.MX), HUNG WITH MANY OF HER ICONIC PAINTINGS, AND PAY A VISIT TO THE STUNNING BELLAS ARTES PALACE, A WEDDING CAKE-LIKE BUILDING WITH A COPPER DOME, HOME TO HUGE MURALS BY FRIDA’S HUSBAND, THE REVOLUTIONARY PAINTER DIEGO RIVERA. DON’T MISS A STROLL AROUND THE VAST ZÓCALO, OR MAIN SQUARE, WHICH JAMES BOND FLEW OVER IN A HELICOPTER IN Spectre; AT ONE END STANDS THE IMPOSING 16TH-CENTURY METROPOLITAN CATHEDRAL. WE
LOVED GETTING LOST IN THE VIBRANT,
ARTSY NEIGHBOURHOOD OF
COYOACÁN, FULL OF LITTLE BOUTIQUES,
COFFEE SHOPS AND MARKETS
(BRING HOME HAND-PAINTED
CERAMICS AND BRIGHT, PATTERNED
TEXTILES). HEAD AN HOUR OUT
OF THE CITY TO SEE REMNANTS
OF MEXICO’S AZTEC PAST AT
TEOTIHUACÁN, WHERE THE
TOWERING PYRAMIDS OF THE SUN
AND THE MOON DOMINATE THE
LANDSCAPE, AND TAKE A DAY
TRIP TO THE SPANISH COLONIAL
CITY OF SAN MIGUEL DE ALLENDE,
WITH ITS COBBLED STREETS AND PASTELCOLOURED HOUSES. THEN GET AWAY FROM IT ALL BY THE CARIBBEAN COAST, AT A SUNNY RESORT IN PLAYA DEL CARMEN, CANCUN (MAIN PICTURE). WHERE TO STAY THE FIVE-STAR PARADISUS LA PERLA IN PLAYA DEL CARMEN IS FOR ADULTS ONLY, WITH 14 RESTAURANTS AND 16 BARS, TWO POOLS AND A SPA. BUT YOU’LL WANT TO SUNBATHE ON THE GOLDEN STRETCH OF SAND THAT MAKES UP THE HOTEL’S PRIVATE BEACH – WE ORDERED PIÑA COLADAS AND MARGARITAS TO OUR SUNLOUNGERS… HEAVEN.
GET THERE KUONI (01306 747008; KUONI.CO.UK) OFFERS TAILOR-MADE HOLIDAYS TO MEXICO CITY ON REQUEST. SEVEN NIGHTS AT THE PARADISUS PLAYA DEL CARMEN LA PERLA ON ALL-INCLUSIVE BASIS IN A PARADISUS JUNIOR SUITE, INCLUDING BA FLIGHTS FROM LONDON GATWICK AND TRANSFERS, COSTS FROM £1,999PP, BASED ON TWO SHARING.