9 Things To Do In Mexico For New Year

In Mexico, as in most of the rest of the globe, people celebrate the arrival of the new year by attending a variety of public and private celebrations and festivities. The festivities traditionally begin with a late-night dinner on the evening of December 31 that begins around 11 p.m. and continues well into the early morning hours of January 1.

You can very well guarantee that you will have a one-of-a-kind experience to ring in the new year no matter where in Mexico you find yourself. Here are some of the best things to do in Mexico for the new year, including celebrating on the beaches of Cancun, partying in the streets of Mexico City, relaxing in the Valle de Guadalupe, and even participating in some peculiar local traditions.

RELATED READ: 8 Things To Do In Mexico for Christmas

9 Things To Do In Mexico For New Year

1. Wear yellow and party in Guadalajara

Locals and visitors alike fill the streets of Guadalajara during celebrations. This city is the birthplace of mariachi music and the location of the world-renowned Guadalajara Cathedral. While you are  here, wear yellow since it is a lucky color.

You should also try some of the regional specialties, such as bacalao (dried salted codfish) served with chilies, tamales, and green olives. Everywhere you look, there are bright lights and fireworks displays, bringing the city to life. There will be live performances and a parade.

During the New Year’s Eve coin-throwing ceremony, the locals toss toy silver coins to children. You can also celebrate the end of the year in Guadalajara with a tequila and a swing at the piñata, as well as all the street fun that the city is famous for.

2. Party in the streets of Mexico City

The Angel of Independence is where you want to be for the night’s largest celebration. This spot has tents with live music, and a prime view of the fireworks. It’s a fantastic party, with DJs and stages set up all the way down the street.

This event often begins at between 2:00 and 3:00 in the afternoon and lasts until far into the new year. If you visit Paseo de la Reforma on the 29th or 30th of December, you can see a schedule of events for all of December 31st.

If the crowds get too much to bear, simply head to one of the nearby streets and take in the show. Make a reservation at one of the nearby rooftop bars or restaurants to watch it from above. Youmay also choose from the various hotel options along the Boulevard,and watch the revelry from your window or balcony.

3. Ring in the New Year in Cancun

This well-known tourist location is famous among travelers for its exciting nightlife, which includes a variety of clubs and bars. Cancun is known for hosting some of the most well-known DJs in the world on New Year’s Eve, and the champagne is known to overflow for the duration of the celebration. After parties are quite prevalent, and it’s not uncommon for them to sell out just as rapidly as the main events.

Make sure you get your tickets for one of the many New Year’s Eve parties that will be held in Cancun and the surrounding area days in advance. Remember also  to wear clothing appropriate for warm weather because December temperatures often range from the low to the middle 70s.

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4. Relax with wine at the Valle de Guadalupe

Do you prefer a low-key way to ring in the New Year instead of going all out?  Make your way to Valle de Guadalupe, which is considered the center of Mexico’s wine country. You may spend your days here wine tasting, dining at some of the best restaurants in the country, taking day trips to Ensenada, or simply relaxing at one of the many boutique hotels that are located in the region.

If you are coming from Southern California,Valle De Guadalupe  is only about 160 kilometers (100 miles) from San Diego, which means that you can travel there in under two hours. It takes longer to get here from Mexico City but nonetheless a must-visit for a relaxing way to celebrate the new year.

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5. Practice some quirky New Year traditions

The New Year is celebrated in a variety of ways in Mexico. Some traditions, such as counting down to midnight and drinking champagne, are observed all around the world, but others are unique to Mexico. While some of these customs (like eating grapes) are becoming less frequent, others (like wearing new clothes) are growing increasingly widespread.

On New Year’s Eve, people in Mexico have a wacky tradition of donning their best color underwear in the hopes of bringing about various outcomes in the coming year.

For example, wearing crimson underwear on New Year’s Day is thought to bring the wearer luck in love and lust. Wearing yellow underpants will bring success and fulfillment to your life.

Lentils, whether eaten oneself or given as a gift in a pretty bag, are said to bring good fortune. Even dry lentils might have surprises like cinnamon, money, and even family photos tucked inside.

And before setting out on your New Year’s excursions, give your bags a good shake by walking them around the block.

6. Eat 12 Grapes for a good new year

Want to ensure a prosperous  new year ahead? Mexican tradition says you should eat twelve grapes sequentially over the course of the midnight bells. This practice is carried out to ensure a prosperous New Year free of harm. The 12 months of the year are represented by the grapes. There will be 12 grapes (uvas) in each celebrant’s glass, and when they eat one, they will each make a wish.

Grapes in wine are another common sight in Mexico City, both at bars and restaurants. It is customary to make a wish for each grape eaten at midnight. In the coming year, all your dreams will come true.

7.  Eat Traditional New Year’s eve meal

Mexicans celebrate the New Year with a traditional meal of dried salted codfish known as bacalao. Bacalao a la Vizcaino, a cuisine with Spanish roots, is the most typical manner it is cooked. It has tomato, olive, and caper ingredients. Some people also eat lentils at this time of year because they believe they will bring financial success and plenty in the new year.

Sparkling cider is used for toasts, and ponche, a hot fruit punch, is a common beverage choice. In fact, many of the dishes typically served on Christmas Day in Mexico are also appropriate for New Year’s Eve.

Oaxacans love their crispy bunuelos fritters, which are traditionally served on a ceramic dish and doused in a sugary syrup. A wish is then made, and the plate containing the sweet is smashed against the floor or a wall.

This practice may have its roots in an ancient Aztec festival celebrated in Atemoztli (the sixteenth month of the Aztec calendar), during which old ways of doing things were shattered in order to make space for the new.

8. Witness Fireworks in Los Cabos

Fireworks on the beach in this picture-perfect tropical paradise are always an exciting spectacle. Playa el Médano has great nightlife, so if youvstill want to party to welcome the new year, this area is a must visit.

If you’re planning on bringing your own bottle of champagne to the party, you might as well try it out the Mexican way. Throw in a gold ring and a hug for good measure before you dig in. Love and wealth are on the way to you.

9. Watch the first sunrise of 2023 in Playa del Carmen

A crown jewel of the Caribbean, Playa del Carmen has emerged as a hotspot for clubgoers in recent years. Since parties aren’t exactly hard to come by in Playa, the only challenge in planning your New Year’s Eve celebration will be deciding which one to attend.

If you want to see the first rays of the 2022 sun while still keeping the party going, you should head to the beachfront after your night out with the many others who will be waiting there.

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