Tuesday December 21, 2021 - Posted by admin

Mexico is probably one of the most amazing countries to visit and learn Spanish, so spending Christmas here will be a unique experience. Learn about Mexico’s festive season, as the country will be full of joy, delicious food, music, Christmas decorations and deep-rooted traditions. What are the best places to see Christmas in Mexico? Check it out here.

1. Spend Christmas in Mexico City

Mexican Christmas Traditions Did you know the official start of the Christmas celebrations in Mexico is December 16, when the Mexicans begin with what is known as Las Posadas. The posadas – processions – represent the journey that Mary and Joseph take to find a place to sleep. Posadas culminate at a gathering with food and drinks similar to a typical Christmas party: children break open piñatas filled with candy, toys and sometimes money. The posadas continue till December 24. Christmas Eve is the primary day of the Christmas celebration in Mexico when families get together to have dinner together. Celebrations last well into the evening, and you can expect to hear a few more fireworks around the city into the wee hours of the morning. Christmas Day is primarily for sleeping. Things liven up again on January 6, the day of the Three Kings, when the families get together and share Rosca (or roscón) de Reyes: sweet, round bread with candied fruits on top of it.

Mexico City is an amazing city, and with Christmas, the atmosphere is unique and magical. If you are in Mexico, head to Zócalo first. The Zócalo is Mexico City’s main square, la Plaza Mayor, and it is a great place to start exploring the city. There are beautiful Christmas lights that form ornate mosaics and patterns on some of the city’s biggest and best buildings that surround the central square. For the decoration, 15 thousand LED nodes will be used for a gigantic screen; 6 thousand LED spotlights of various colours, 16 thousand meters of luminous hose, 2,000 meters of garland and 26 thousand meters of festoon and frost of various colours; the installation will be very bright and colourful. In addition, there is (almost every year) a huge árbol de Navidad in the centre of the square and an illuminated Christmas village with snow, giant trees, shepherds and much more.

Other recommendations in Mexico City are a visit to the Diego Rivera murals at the National Palace and the Frida Kahlo Museum. Catedral Metropolitana is a must-do for its stained-glass windows, and you can browse Templo Mayor Museum for its collection of Aztec archaeological finds.

2. Playa del Carmen

Playa del Carmen is one of Mexico’s top resorts and a popular destination for travellers, backpackers, and people who want to learn Spanish in Mexico. Playa del Carmen is located at the Riviera Maya, an 200 kilometres long area, which runs from just south of Cancun until Tulum, and the entrance of the Sian Ka’an Biosphere. Playa – as the locals call it – is a perfect destination for Christmas to enjoy white-sand beaches, turquoise waters, and coral reefs where you can go diving or snorkelling.

Like many other beach towns, Playa del Carmen as once a fishermen’s village. Thanks to the beautiful beaches and the great atmosphere it became a popular tourist destination. It is a great experience to live here for a more extended period and learn Spanish in Playa del Carmen.

3. Chichén Itzá, Palenque & Tulum

Dive further into the Mayan Culture at Christmas and visit Tulum, Palenque and Chichén Itzá.

Tulum is a great place to spend your Christmas Eve in Mexico. This beautiful beach city is located about 80 kilometres from Cancún. Tulum is the prime point of youngsters in the Christmas months, and you will see (or join) many young people at the beach with food, drinks, and music. At Tulum, you’ll find impressive Maya pyramids juxtaposed against radiant Caribbean seas in the “Tulum National park”, suited on 40-foot cliffs.

If you have time, visit the Sian Ka’an biosphere reserve and enjoy the stunning cenotes found here. A Cenote is an underground cave filled with permanent water like a natural sinkhole where the ceiling of the cave has collapsed. Fun Fact: the word Cenote comes from the Yucatec Maya word “D’zonot” or “Ts’onot”.

Another great destination is Palenque, set in Chiapas’ rainforest. Most of this Maya city is concealed by lush green jungle. Therefore, you cannot see much, but the location is impressive and dramatic and what you can see is beautiful.

Finally, Chichén Itzá is probably the best known Mayan city. Founded in 300AD, it reached the peak of its influence around 900AD. This pre-Hispanic city (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) has a fascinating 1,000year-old history. It is the second most visited archaeological site in Mexico, conveniently located nearby Cancun. Chichén Itzá contains iconic examples of Mayan architecture, including ball game courts and stone carvings depicting ritual human sacrifice. the ruins are extensive and cover 740 acres.

Read more:
Best Places to Spend Christmas in Latin America

4 . Playa Gemelas, Puerto Vallarta

Puerto Vallarta is located in Jalisco, a pleasant city on the Bay of Banderas and the Pacific Ocean. The vast 40 miles of coastline of Puerto Vallarta offers great opportunities in Mexico to visit on Christmas. From shopping to surfing, snorkelling to ziplining, Puerta Vallarta gives options for everyone. The 20th-century churches and churches are decorated at Christmas time, and you can admire them while strolling the cobblestone streets of the city centre. The ambience of Puerto Vallarta lit up during Christmas.

Playa Gemelas is located at a 30-minute drive south, and it consists of a pair of small unspoilt beaches – in Spanish ‘gemelas’ means ‘twins’– with clean, lovely golden sands. Swimming and soaking up the sun will keep you entertained, but you might want to pack a picnic and drinks as there are no facilities available on the beach.

Information about Spanish classes in Puerto Vallarta

5. Oaxaca, Mexico

Another great place to spend Christmas Eve in Mexico is Oaxaca. This historical city is located at the foothills of the Sierra Madre mountain range. Thanks to the high number of archaeological sites and Spanish colonial structures, it is a UNESCO Heritage site. Oaxaca is a beautiful city to visit at Christmas: its own way of celebrating this festival. Oaxaca’s archaeological sites and colonial buildings are decorated with lights. There are some unique Christmas activities in Oaxaca, like the “breaking of the plates‘. If you are served a Christmas pastry called a “buñuelos” and hot chocolate in a restaurant Cathedral restaurant between December 16th and 31st , you walk outside and break the plate once you are done with this delicious treat.

For information about Spanish classes in Oaxaca

6. San Miguel de Allende

San Miguel de Allende, situated in the central Mexico highlands in Guanajuato, is one of Mexico’s most culturally rich and romantic cities. Travellers visit San Miguel de Allende to see the antique charm with Spanish colonial atmosphere, awe-inspiring Baroque architecture, and the Parroquia de San Miguel Arcángel. San Miguel is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

San Miguel de Allende is also a beautiful place to watch the posadas that take place every evening of the nine days preceding Christmas. You can see the slow, candle-lit processions with musicians, live animals and costumed children portray Mary and Joseph as they search for shelter in Bethlehem. San Miguel de Allende knows several markets: the San Juan de Dios market is the main market, but you can also visit the outdoor market, Tianguis de los Martes and Tianguis Organico, with homemade tamales, tacos, local cheeses, organic produce, and several Christmassy treats.

More about Popular Mexican food and Mexican Drinks

The central square in San Miguel de Allende, the beating heart of the city, is called El Jardin. With historical buildings and a lush garden in the centre, El Jardin is a place to sit and relax, meet people, hear live music and buy from the street vendors and dance.

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