Baja California offers a thousand and one cactus-photographing opportunities

Stretching the length of the 1300-km peninsula, the Transpeninsular Highway is a world-class drive that's best taken at a leisurely pace, and those with enough time (and the steely motoring nerve) to do so will reap huge benefits, not to mention a thousand and one giant cactus-photographing opportunities.

It's not hard to be overwhelmed by Mexico's sprawling capital

At the heart of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed historic centre is the impressive main square or zocalo, an Aztec ceremonial site that was paved over by the Spanish conquistadors and is now home to the presidential palace, the federal government's office, a grand if slightly wonky cathedral and, invariably, some kind of free concert or political protest i

Surfing the 'Mexican pipeline' at Puerto Escondido

Yet while the tourists are only just beginning to trickle back to the state capital, the rest of this southern state, safe, peaceful and unaffected by the troubles, has more than enough to keep visitors busy.

The Mayan remains of Chichén Itzá

Since the 1970s, glitzy mega-resorts like Cancun and nearby Playa del Carmen as well as the coral island of Cozumel have capitalized on the state's idyllic tropical setting and continue to pull in the fly-and-flop tourist hordes in their millions every year - from starry-eyed honeymooners and hormone-fuelled teens on spring break to r

If the hat fits... browsing the markets in Tijuana

It is one of the northern-most cities in Latin America and the largest city in the Mexican state of Baja California.

Beach bum on Puerta Vallarta's palm-fringed beaches

Once a quaint fishing village, Puerto Vallarta is now a world-class holiday destination that has lost little of its "Old Mexico" charm.

Backed by lush mountains, the town itself boasts white-washed houses, palm-fringed beaches, a modern marina and diverse shopping, dining and clubbing opportunities.

Cozumel is one of the world's most popular dive spots

Cozumel is Mexico's largest inhabited island, and measures 48km by 16km. The island, which is part of the Mexican state of Quintana Roo, enjoys an average daily temperature of 27°C, making it a great year-round beach holiday destination.