Mexico City 'a thriving cultural hub'

Gap year volunteers heading to Mexico should ensure they take the opportunity to explore the nation's capital before they head home.

Thousands of people every year visit Mexico to participate in voluntary work abroad, with conservation and community-based projects seemingly ever-popular.

Despite bordering the wealthy US, it is a relatively poor nation, with many families continuing to live in squalid conditions.

But Mexico is also a physically beautiful country, and one with a rich Latino cultural heritage.

Carmen Laborin, romance director at the Mexico Tourism Board, explained there are festivals all year round in Mexico, based around dance, music and traditional cuisine.

Mexico City in particular is a fantastic city to visit for those interested in sampling the local culture, she said.

The capital is rich in history, dynamic and centrally located, he explained - meaning it should be accessible to most people undertaking a volunteering project in the regions.

Ms Laborin said there are a number of world-class museums in Mexico City, while the Palace of Fine Arts, National Palace and Metropolitan Cathedral are also tourist hotspots.

She also urged visitors to spend time exploring the ancient Aztec pyramids and Spanish colonial architecture.

A number of Year Out Group members organise volunteering placements in Mexico, including Outreach International, Projects Abroad, Frontier Conservation, Africa and Asia Venture, GVI and VentureCo.

See the different gap year destinations on offer.