Agua Azul in Chiapas, Mexico © Shutterstock
Five centuries of history
"There are a thousand and one ways to discover Mexico, so rich is this country in culture and experiences. Watching grey whales in Baja California is one of the must-dos, yet it was by chance that I came across the Puerto Lopez Mateos lagoon some fifteen years ago, for a morning that remains etched in my memory: daybreak, magnificent light, an unreal atmosphere, and several whales accompanied by their calves. We spent two intense hours, in quiet, to the rhythm of their breathing. A great travel memory from Mexico!" Laurent Guillot, founder of Etendues Sauvages
Discover this favouriteYes, definitely — and we’d favour Cuba for its cultural appeal rather than its beaches. For beaches, Mexico is unquestionably where you’ll be rewarded. If time is limited, consider combining a few days in Havana with a lodge in Tulum. Flights are direct, and Cuba lies just 200 km from the Mexican Caribbean, a short hop by air. A sharply contrasting Caribbean duo!
Unquestionably, experiences! And we have no shortage of ideas to tailor them to your wishes: watching a lucha libre match, flying over the Teotihuacan site by hot-air balloon, diving into the crystal-clear Caribbean waters or the cenotes, sleeping in a hacienda, floating in the crystal-clear waters of a river and drifting with the current between mangroves and epiphytic plants while listening to birdsong, devouring a few tasty tacos with your fingers, cycling along the trails of the San Kahn reserve, listening to howler monkeys, taking part in a Mayan ceremony…
A large part of Mexico is easily explored with a rental vehicle. Whether it’s the Yucatan, Baja California, the colonial north, the Oaxaca valley or Chiapas, the “self-drive” format suits travelers who value freedom and want to adapt their daily pace to the moment. Some regions remain dangerous, however, and are not recommended. They are not included in the itineraries we offer.
We carefully select accommodations — former colonial residences, hennequen haciendas or distinguished houses — that reveal the history of those who built them. Mexico has a remarkably fine hotel infrastructure.
If we had to pick three, it would be Costa Rica, Mexico and Peru.
Costa Rica, because it’s a small country of nature best explored freely, with a rental car. It offers a genuine playground suited to a host of sporting and fun activities. Each day is punctuated by sightings of turtles, whales, noisy tropical wildlife, volcanoes, bubbling hot springs. We love it!
Mexico, and the Yucatan in particular, because it lets you combine culture, nature and beach without covering long distances, with a rental car.
Peru, because it guarantees a trip punctuated by cultural and sporting activities. And walking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu will stay etched in your memory forever.