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As one of the more progressive countries in Latin America, Mexico has long been a popular choice with LGBTQIA vacationers. Its sun-soaked beaches, historic colonial towns, and soaring urban metropolises offer an array of activities and attractions, and every region offers its own unique appeal.

It’s easy to fall in love with one Mexican destination and keep going back. But why limit yourself? To help you grow your wish list, here are the 10 best destinations in Mexico for LGBTQIA travelers.

RELATED: Visit our LGBTQIA travel hub for welcoming hotels, the ultimate queer events calendar, inspiration, and more!

Cancun

Cancun | Photo by Quintana Roo Tourism Board

Mexico’s biggest mass-market tourism destination is also a surprisingly enjoyable place for LGBTQIA travelers. The range of hotel choices is unmatched, so you can choose the style and budget that suits your taste, whether it’s adults-only properties like the Live Aqua Beach Resort Cancun or family-friendly resorts like the Hyatt Ziva Cancun All Inclusive. The Iberostar Selection Cancun All Inclusive is one of the closest to Playa Delfines, the gayest beach. LGBTQIA-specific nightlife is mostly downtown, away from the Hotel Zone, and it tends to attract a more local crowd—which is a plus for those who want to avoid an overly touristy night out. Top downtown venues include 11:11 and Laser Hot Bar, both of which offer generous drink specials and lively drag shows.

Guadalajara

Marcha de la Diversidad, Guadalajara Pride | Photo: Government of Jalisco

Mexico’s second-largest city is considered an LGBTQ mecca and also an ideal place to explore Mexican culture—especially mariachi, tequila and charreria (Mexican rodeos), all of which are long-standing traditions in the region. Check into a trendy boutique property like the sleek Hotel Demetria or a luxurious hotel with hacienda-style elegance like the Quinta Real Guadalajara. The bulk of the LGBTQIA nightlife is in the historic downtown; dance clubs like California’s and Caudillos Disco Bar are longstanding favorites. For a more youthful, upscale vibe, head to Envy, a gay nightclub in the hip Americana neighborhood. The city also hosts an impressively large Pride march in June.

Mazatlan

Lolly nightclub | Photo: Mark Chestnut, LatinFlyer.com

The so-called “pearl of the Pacific,” Mazatlán offers something that few beach destinations can: a truly historic city center, complete with the beautifully restored Angela Peralta Theater hosting live music, dance, and theater. The lovely Casa Lucila Hotel Boutique offers stunning sunset views as well as great proximity to the restaurants and art galleries downtown, while beachfront resorts like Pueblo Bonito Mazatlan and the budget-friendly El Cid hotels are closer to LGBTQIA nightlife. Two LGBTQ dance clubs—PP Club and Lolly Pop—are both located in the Golden Zone, where most of the resort-style hotels are located. Mazatlan’s Pride celebration takes place in June, and the city also stages one of Mexico’s largest carnival celebrations.

Mexico City

Mexico City Pride

The first major Latin American city to legalize same-sex marriage (way back in 2009), Mexico City is a sophisticated hub for culture, the arts, shopping, and culinary creativity. Noteworthy accommodation options include gay-owned Condesa Haus B&B, located in one of the city’s hippest neighborhoods, and the St. Regis Mexico City, which offers a sumptuous stay just steps from the Zona Rosa, the city’s lively epicenter for LGBTQ nightlife. Kinky and El Taller are among the popular dance clubs here, while Vaqueros is a fun, cowboy-themed gay bar and Nicho Bear & Bar is designed for bears but welcomes all. The city’s massive annual Pride march, which takes place on the last Saturday of June, is one of the best in Latin America.

Riviera Maya

Tulum, Mexico

Mexico’s Riviera Maya, a nearly 100-mile stretch of Caribbean coastline that runs south of Cancun, attracts all sorts of sun worshippers, and the two most popular places for LGBTQIA vacationers are Playa del Carmen and Tulum. Both are strollable, laidback towns, and in Playa del Carmen you’ll find LGBTQ nightlife at Playa 69, a dance club with drag performances and DJs. In Tulum, LGBTQIA-friendly beach clubs like Conestesia and Gitano Beach Tulum attract an array of vacationers with an artsy vibe, beachfront drinks and dining. Tulum’s next major LGBTQIA event is slated for November 4–7, when Mystiko will bring more than 20 international DJs for a series of music-fueled parties. The Riviera Maya welcomes yet another LGBTQIA celebration on February 2–8, 2022, when the Arena Festival takes place at multiple locations.

Puerto Vallarta

Almart Resort

By far the highest-profile destination for international LGBTQIA visitors, Puerto Vallarta is known for its bustling gay beach, Blue Chairs, vibrant LGBTQIA nightlife (nearly all of which is in the easily walkable Zona Romántica) and array of gay and LGBTQIA-friendly hotels, like Blue Chairs Resort by the Sea and the Almar Resort Luxury LGBT Beach Front Experience, which recently debuted the new, 50-room Mantamar Tower as well as a new pool and garden. The next Vallarta Pride takes place May 23-30, 2022.

Riviera Nayarit

W Punta de Mita

Puerto Vallarta may provide one of Mexico’s biggest LGBTQIA beachfront party scenes, but the region just north of the airport, the Riviera Nayarit, lures travelers with an enticing blend of luxurious accommodations, relaxing beach towns, and natural beauty. Friendly properties include the gloriously private Imanta, the hip W Punta de Mita and the sumptuous St. Regis Punta Mita, and visitors usually make time to explore beach towns like Sayulita, which attracts an impressive number of celebrities. The Riviera Nayarit is an excellent option for romantic getaways and LGBTQIA destination weddings, which can incorporate fascinating indigenous Huichol traditions.

San Miguel de Allende and Guanajuato

San Miguel de Allende

Like the Riviera Nayarit, much of San Miguel de Allende’s appeal lies in its ability to provide relaxing and luxurious getaways. The town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is dotted with what is likely one of the nation’s largest concentrations of luxury hotels—properties like the Rosewood San Miguel de Allende and two members of the Design Hotels portfolio: Hotel Matilda and Dos Casas Spa & Hotel. San Miguel doesn’t offer LGBTQIA-specific nightlife; this a place to relax, indulge and savor the cuisine, arts scene and outdoor activities like hot-air ballooning, hiking, and horseback riding. For bars and nightclubs, consider a stay in the picturesque nearby city of Guanajuato, which also has a UNESCO-recognized downtown, as well as an array of cultural activities, plus two LGBTQIA venues: My Crush, a lounge bar with an outside terrace, and W Club, a dance club that hosts colorful drag shows.

Zipolite

Playa Zipolite

Home to Mexico’s only officially recognized nude beach, the tiny Pacific coastal town of Zipolite, located near Huatulco in the state of Oaxaca, attracts free-spirited travelers, a sizeable percentage of whom are LGBTQIA. Playa del Amor is the gayest section of the beach, but it’s not uncommon to see diverse orientations and identities around town. Friendly accommodations include Buda Mar Zipoolite and El Alquimista Yoga & Spa, both of which sit on the beach, while ChiZme is a cute LGBTQIA bar that often hosts live music.

Tagged: Cancun, Mexico