Mexico

Mexico is one of the year’s hottest destinations, with its secret island escapes, Caribbean coastline, and cosmopolitan capital city, as well as its thriving restaurant scene and quirky colonial towns that are ideal for day trips. Everyone can agree that Mexico has friendly, helpful locals who are always happy to assist with anything from directions to recommendations for the best street food stalls. Mexico also recently ranked second-highest out of 140 countries on the Happy Planet Index.

Mexican culture is a mishmash of influences, from the Mesoamerican to the indigenous to the Spanish, and that makes the country all the more fascinating. To learn more about the native people living in rural, indigenous communities and speaking in languages other than Spanish, you can head to Oaxaca or the mountains of Jalisco and Chihuahua, whereas Spanish Colonial history can be explored in Taxco, Querétaro, and Guanajuato. Pretty much the entire country shows signs of its mestizo heritage though.