10 hidden gems in Mexico

Planning a trip to Mexico and want to discover the best hidden gems ? You’re in the right place!

In this article, you’ll discover ten of Mexico’s best hidden gems—from colonial towns to hidden underwater caves, including stunning beaches.

These are the kind of spots that don’t always show up on the classic travel itineraries and that most tourists miss, but they are more than worth the detour! Whether you’re looking to swim in crystal-clear water, explore colourful streets, or simply find spots far for the crowds, this article will help you explore a different side of Mexico.

Let’s dive in and find the best hidden gems in Mexico ! 

Puerto Morelos is a small village with a stunning beach : turquoise water, white sand, local restaurants serving fresh fish on the beach – everything you can dream of. This area feels still untouched by mass tourism, there is a calm, local vibe to it, which we preferred to the Tulum/Playa Del Carmen coastline.

If you feeling hungry after your morning swim, I cannot recommend enough having lunch at El Merkadito, the fresh tuna is the best I ever had and the crab is really tasty as well. Plus, you will be overlooking the sea while eating, what more could you ask for?

Playa Punta Esmeralda is a peaceful beach near Playa del Carmen, frequented by locals only. There is a cenote that flows right into the sea, perfect for a more refreshing dip before swimming in the sea.

We went there for sunset and were not disappointed: colourful sky, clear water from the cenote, locals having a picnic and enjoying the beautiful nature.

We all know Tulum is one of the most famous place along the coastline, so there is indeed a hotel zone packed with all-inclusive resorts and tourist shops. BUT Tulum has more to offer if you know where to look.

Tulum’s town center is full of colourful murals, authentic taquerias, and little cafés. Those little quiet streets reveal the real Tulum:

And if you still want to explore the road along the coast with the clubs and hotels (“Zona Hotelera” on Google Maps), a bike ride is a great option to avoid wasting time on the touristy areas and rather explore the local shops :

And you are looking for a nice place to eat, Botanica Garden Café is a local gem, and we almost had the place to ourselves when we came.

Hotel recommendation : Zanza Studios – located a bit further away from the center and the hotel zone, this high-end secure apartment-hotel was our little paradise for a few days. Private pool/jacuzzi on the balcony,

Laguna de Kaan Luum is a paradise near Tulum. This turquoise lagoon with a deep cenote at its center (as you can see on the last picture below) is hidden in the jungle, making it another gem far from the touristy spots.

We visited the lagoon at 10am and were alone for almost two hours, which made the place feel even more like a secret and remote gem.

Here are the different areas to explore : a tower to get the best view of the lagoon, many pontoons, swings and hammocks in the water to fully relax while enjoying the scenery :

Bacalar is known for its incredible lagoon – if you want to know more about it and plan a boat day on the laguna you can check out my article “The best catamaran tour in Bacalar. BUT the center is very much worth discovering as well:

Wandering in the colourful streets, discovering the street art, the local cafés and shops will make you love Bacalar even more!

If you are looking for nice places to eat, for breakfast I would suggest La Cabanita, they make some mean French Toast (picture 3 & 5) and fresh juices!

Another great place is El Manati, both for breakfast and lunch, their vegan ceviche with shredded coconut is a delight, as well as their pancakes. Plus, the setting is really calm and relaxed – you are surrounded by lush vegetation, and if you’re lucky you might even spot some squirrels in the trees above you!

Finally, for the location on the water, the cocktails and their great empanadas, I can mention the restaurant “La Playita“, but it is quite known in the area, you definitely won’t be alone.

Hotel recommendation : AMarBacalar – One of our favorite hotel during our stay. Tree huts nestled in the lush vegetation, hammocks and terraces for each room, this hotel is secret paradise :

Those two places deserved a chapter to themselves because those are truly hidden gems in Bacalar, and some of our best memories there.

First location is Los Aluxes Hotel. You can head there for dinner or drinks only, but as we wanted to experience it both during the day to enjoy the lagoon and their pontoon and stay for sunset as well, we opted for an early dinner.

Because it is fairly unknown, you will feel like you have a piece of the lagoon for yourself. Whether it is from the swings, the hammock, the lounge chairs or the elevated terraces, you won’t miss a minute of this amazing view and sunset:

For the second location, you’ll need to wake up early and head to Bacalar’s Muelle Ecológico. You are in for a magical moment above the Lagoon of Seven Colors. This wooden pier is the perfect spot to enjoy the sun rising, the still blue water, and the total silence in this secret spot.

Now moving on to cities! Campeche is often neglected in itineraries but is a true hidden gem on the Gulf coast. With its pastel-colored colonial houses and quiet cobblestone streets, it is definitely a city to visit.

I would suggest spending a night there, It’s a nice stop on the way, and it looks beautiful at night as well – particularly after a storm :

Hotel recommendation : Casa Mineli on Airbnb – located in a quiet and pretty street, this hotel was a hidden gem with its beautiful pool area, hammock in the bedroom and beautiful furniture :

Another city we loved is Valladolid. This Yucatán town has it all : colonial colourful houses, great places to eat and a lively local culture.

Valladolid is the perfect base for a few days to explore the many cenotes nearby and the Chichen Itza, while discovering a pretty city and its cute cafés and restaurants.

For a nice place to eat, I’d recommend TresVanBien, delicious empanadas and salsas :

Definitely try Pak’Al for their refined breakfast and lunch. Their mushroom soup and zucchini gnocchis are excellent, and we loved everything on the breakfast menu, particularly their carrot pancakes :

Hotel recommendation: Hotel Casa Bamboo – perfectly located in Valladolid, with a nice pool area :

If you have the chance to spend a couple of days on Holbox island, one of the best thing to do is to walk on the beach all the way to the western tip of the Island, Punta Coco.

Before talking about Punta Coco, It’s worth mentioning the walk to get there. You will walk past many cute beach cafés and restaurants, you can buy fresh coconuts or enjoy the sunbeds under the thatched umbrellas :

Once at Punta Coco, you will have the unique chance to see countless flamingos in the water very close to the beach, and very few people go all the way to Punta Coco so you might have the place to yourself as I we did :

The second best thing to do in Holbox, is admire each sunset as they are truly unique and beautiful every evening :

Hotel recommendation: Casa del Viento by ÓOL Hotels – another hidden gem, beautiful rooms, pool area and high quality, perfectly located as well.

I did published a complete article about the 9 best cenotes in Mexico, but I thought I’d mention here the 3 best cenotes, the ones I consider as true hidden gems.

• Cenote Corazon del Paraiso, which translate into “heart of paradise” because it is shaped like a heart from above. This has been one of our favorite, mainly because it is not very touristy and makes it a quiet and serene paradise in the middle of nature. The clear and deep water is also very impressive.

Entrance Fee : 200MXN per person (9,2€).

Opening Hours : Everyday from 9am to 4:30pm.

Location : Close to Tulum – Quintana Roo. Click here to see it on Google Maps.

• Cenote Ik Kil is a circular open-air cenote, surrounded by hanging vines. Even thought it is quite touristy, it is truly a must visit. This is a one-of-a-kind decor, which makes you feel like you stepped into the Avatar movie.

Entrance Fee : 220MXN per person (10€).

Opening Hours : Everyday from 9am to 5pm.

Location : Few minutes from Chichén Itzá, 45 minutes from Valladolid – Yucatan. Click here to see it on Google Maps.

• Last but definitely not least, Cenote Cexcanahaltun is a true hidden gem, and our personal favorite.

With very few visitors (we were alone the whole time when we came), an entrance fee more than fair, dreamy blue-green water, and a heaven-like atmosphere, this secluded cenote has won our hearts.

Entrance Fee : 100MXN per person (4,6€).

Opening Hours : Everyday from 9am to 5:30pm.

Location : 50 minutes from Valladolid – Yucatan. Click here to see it on Google Maps.

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And that wraps up our list of 10 hidden gems in Mexico! We could have added more, but we wanted to list only the ones that truly stood out—places that stole our hearts and were less touristy, more off the beaten path.

If you get the chance to visit even a few of these spots, you’ll experience a more authentic and unforgettable side of Mexico.

That’s it for my recommendations on the best hidden gems in Mexico. We had a wonderful time exploring and discovering them all, and I’m sure you will too ! 

If you plan on visiting Mexico any time soon, check out my article about the best boat day in Holbox, a catamaran tour in Bacalar or a day in Sian Kaan Reserve.

If you need a custom itinerary, you can fill this form and I’ll make your own personalised itinerary.