Gateway to Belize, Tikal in Guatemala and the numerous Río Bec ruins, Chetumal is the capital of Quintana Roo state. Buses connect major cities, including those in Belize (hired cars cannot be taken across the Belize border). The busy city's old town boasts a Caribbean feel. The excellent, interactive Museo de la Cultura Maya offers fascinating insights to anyone planning to follow the dramatic Río Bec ruin route. The vine-strewn ruins are rich in wildlife and give the sense of stumbling upon a Lost World.

Just 50 miles from Mexico City, balmy Cuernavaca, Morelos, has been adopted as a place of rest and recreation by many visitors, from Aztec emperors and conquerors to princes, artists and a large number of retirees.