With hashtags such as #instatravel and #travelgram hugely popular on Instagram, it’s no wonder the app has become a haven for travel photography. And with an increase in users sharing their vacation photos comes the opportunity to see where Instagrammers are traveling and where they’re encouraging others to go.
Below are some of the top destinations in Mexico featured on Instagram, along with approximately how many posts have been made about them (at time of publishing), as well as hot spots around these places.
Cancun (Posts: 2,600,000+; Hot Spot: Isla Mujeres)
Cancun is synonymous with spring break, so it’s no wonder that the resort town takes the top spot for Instagram users. The #cancun hashtag shows Instagram users are all about the beaches, such as Playa Delfines and Playa Tortugas; the ruins of Tulum and El Rey; and Isla Mujeres, the perfect escape from Cancun’s party atmosphere.
Mexico City (Posts: 1,300,000+; Hot Spot: Palacio de Bellas Artes)
Instagram travelers to Mexico City love its historical sites and artistic flourishes, as well as its luxurious hotels. Snaps of Monumento a la Independencia and Palacio de Bellas Artes (also found on #bellasartes) are common on the #mexicocity tag, as are hotels such as Gran Hotel Ciudad de Mexico. Other hotspots in the capital include Chapultepec Castle, the only castle in North America to actually be used as a residence for royalty, and the Artesanal Mexicano de Coyoacan bazaar.
Guadalajara (Posts: 1,020,000+; Hot Spot: Centro Historico)
Guadalajara is a great destination for clients with more of a taste for urban life, which is reflected in what Instagram users love about the city. The most heavily Instagrammed spot around the city is its Centro Historico, which features all of the historical buildings to be found in Guadalajara: El Cabildo Eclesiastico, Edificio Luis Manuel Rojas, Escudo de Armas de la Ciudad de Guadalajara and El Palacio de Justicia, just to name a few. It’s clear that travelers to Guadalajara are all about its history. (Or, at least, their Instagram feeds are.)
Playa del Carmen (Posts: 799,000+; Hot Spot: Chichen Itza)
This resort town has been a popular destination for years, and Instagram users rave about its beautiful beaches and world-class entertainment. Hot spots around Playa del Carmen include Portal Maya, a sculpture created by Jose Arturo Tavares to commemorate the end of the Mayan calendar; the Mayan ruins in Chichen Itza; Gran Cenote, from which Instagrammers often post scuba-diving pics; and popular clubs such as La Santanera, whose neon sign decorates many an Insta feed.
Oaxaca (Posts: 744,000+; Hot Spot: Monte Alban)
Pictures under the #oaxaca tag showcase the city’s colorful architecture, vibrant art scene and delicious food. Among the posts of Oaxaca’s bright parades and envy-worthy mole are snapshots of Teotitlan del Valle, Monte Alban, Playa Carrizalillo and Guelaguetza, a cultural parade celebrating the indigenous people of Mexico.
Puerto Vallarta (Posts: 537,000+; Hot Spot: Malecon boardwalk)
Puerto Vallarta has it all: breathtaking sights, historical buildings and tons of great shopping. Instagram users agree, as Puerto Vallarta hotspots such as the iconic Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Rafael Zamarripa’s famous “Caballito de Mar” (little seahorse) statue and the charming Isla Rio Cuale market are all over #instatravel.
Art in particular is a common feature in the #puertovallarta tag — other statues on the Malecon boardwalk (#malecon) are also common subjects, such as “La Fuente de la Amistad” (the friendship fountain) and “Angel de la Esperanza y Mensajero de la Paz” (angel of hope and messenger of peace).
