The Top Family-Friendly Destinations in Mexico for a Fantastic Vacation

August is a great time to go on a family trip. The weather is beginning to cool down, destinations will likely be less hectic with kids returning to school, and many places are still offering great vacation packages. Anyone with kids knows how difficult it can be to find a place where everyone will enjoy their time and be safe. However, we’re here to make the decision just a bit easier by talking about the 10 top family-friendly destinations in Mexico.

There are many awesome places on this list that your family will love for a variety of reasons. For instance, you can go to traditional vacation destinations like Cancun and get all the perks of a vacation retreat plus the excitement of visiting a new country and enjoying a different culture. There are also many destinations in Mexico that are filled with educational opportunities. In Merida, your kids can enjoy wonderful museums and amazing Mayan ruins. In Tulum, you can explore the jungle and have an amazing adventure.

The best part about all of these destinations is that adults will enjoy them just as much as the kids. Consider one of these family-friendly Mexico destinations. You won’t regret it.

Cancun

• Great for: Relaxation, fun on the beach, and water parks.

One of the first locations many people think of when they consider the top family-friendly destinations in Mexico is Cancun. This is the place where you have access to countless all-access hotels that have amazing pools, tasty food, and activities for everyone. While you and the kids could spend all day on the beach, there are also other places to enjoy, like Ventura Park. While there, you can ride huge waterslides, go on snorkeling tours, and more. Head down the beach, and you can also take boat excursions, including one on a huge pirate ship. There’s truly something for everyone.

Puerto Vallarta

• Great for: Beach vacations, swimming, and fun in the sun.

This is one of the most gorgeous family vacation spots that you’ll see in all of Mexico. There are numerous beaches here that you can walk and explore. Or, if you prefer the sea, you can swim in the clear blue water. For a break, head over to the waterfront promenade, which has many different shops, restaurants, and huge sculptures that are great for photographing. Your kids can even climb on them. Go during the warmer months, and you can also check out the Olas Atlas Farmers’ Market and try some of the amazing food that’s native to the area. For your lodgings, consider the Velas Vallarta all-inclusive resort.

Puebla

• Great for: Shopping, education, and the discovery of new cultures.

If you have older kids or teenagers and you’re looking for different scenery during your Mexico vacation, check out Puebla. This is another of the top family-friendly destinations in Mexico for a fantastic vacation that’s about 80 miles from Mexico City. While there, check out the Zocala public square, where you can check out shops, and concerts, and meet many interesting people. Puebla is home to many colleges, so there are many friendly young people mingling around. Younger kids may get a kick out of the massive Ferris wheel, where they can get a birds-eye view of the city. If you want, you can get a hotel in the area and enjoy the sights during your multi-day vacation.

Merida

• Great for: Educational opportunities, gorgeous landscapes, and unique cultural experiences.

There’s much your kids can learn about the past and present by visiting Merida, which is on the Yucatan Peninsula. Visit here to see the amazing Mayan ruins and learn a lot at the El Gran Museo Del Mundo Maya, which has interactive displays that your kids will love. Walk through the museum, and you’ll see real-life artifacts and incredible multimedia exhibits. This location is also near the world’s largest Mayan population, so it’s an experience they won’t get anywhere else. Try to visit on Sundays. That’s when they close the streets to allow visitors to dance, sing, and enjoy life, and it’s safe for the entire family. When you’re hungry, stop at any of the food booths for tasty cuisine and pick up a souvenir while you’re there. 

Guanajuato City

• Great for: Amazing architecture, museums, and walking tours.

Another of the top family-friendly destinations in Mexico is the historical and majestic Guanajuato City. Bring your camera and take photos of the old, gorgeous buildings, and then head into the buildings for fun activities, including concerts, theater programs, and puppet shows. There’s also a wild mummy museum that the whole family will love. Once you’re done touring the city, bring your kids to the many picnic areas and then rent a bike and see everything this place has to offer. There are also many great hotels in the area where you can rest after your day of excitement.

Tulum

• Great For: Sealife, zip-lining, and vast underground rivers.

Tulum is another great place where your kids can enjoy adventure, fun, and inspiring history and sights. The first place to visit is the Aktun-Chen, where you can spend part of the day in an underground river and then a cave complex and finish it off by zip-lining through the jungle. After that, head to Akumal, where you and the kids can roam the beach and see hundreds of sea turtles in their natural habitat. Finally, head to the Tulum Ruins, which is the location of awe-inspiring ruins that date back to the 13th century. It’s certainly a trip you won’t forget.

Cozumel

• Great for: Nature sightings, beaches, and a famous chocolate museum.

For something different, bring the kids to the island of Cozumel. Easily one of the best top family-friendly destinations in Mexico, it’s a place where you can enjoy luxury and adventure during the same trip. If your kids love to swim, stop by the famous Punta Sur Eco Beach Park. While there, you can snorkel near the reef and see colorful fish. Go back to land, and you’ll see other wild and exotic animals, including pygmy raccoons and crocodiles (from a distance). While you’re at Cozumel, you can visit the Mayan Cacao Company and learn to make chocolate. Finally, check out some of the Mayan ruins and learn a few things in the process.

Oaxaca

• Great for: Adventure, fun parks, and nice museums.

There’s so much history and beauty to behold in Oaxaca. Start your day by visiting El Llano Park, where you can watch your kids jump on trampolines, enter bouncy houses, and more. The park also has tasty food stands where you can get local cuisine. To fill your educational quota, stop by Museu Infantil de Oaxca, which is a museum that was transformed from an old railway station. Your kids can learn about everything from musical instruments to gardening and then play in the huge outdoor playground. Cap off your family fun day by visiting The Zocolo, which is the main square where you can visit the unique shops.

Merida

• Great for: Fun walking tours, tasty meals, and wonderful beaches.

While it’s a big place, Merida is a bit of a hidden gem when it comes to Mexico travel. Your family can enjoy so much just by walking. There are walking tours of the city itself and walking tours past huge Cathedrals and vast houses. If you’re lucky, you can catch one of the many annual festivals that are held in the area each year. Make sure to check out the parks and plazas to really get pulled into the culture. For a real thrill, bring your kids to Celestun Beach, where they can swim and see wild flamingos right there on the sand. For a more sophisticated meal, head to Micaela Mar y Leña for tasty Yucatecan dishes.

Isla Holbox

• Great for: Relaxing on the beach, taking in the sunset, and viewing wild animals.

Our final entry on the list of the top family-friendly destinations in Mexico is Isla Holbox, which is a great place to visit if you have teenagers. Go there for a week, and you’ll never run out of things to do. Animal lovers can go horseback riding on the beach and swim with the whale sharks. Then, you can rest for the remainder of the day by relaxing on the many hammocks that are set up around the island. At night, head out onto the beach and view the most beautiful sunsets in all of Mexico. In the morning, rent a bike or a golf cart and get lost on the dirt roads.

The image featured at the top of this post is ©Denis Moskvinov/Shutterstock.com.