Mexico

Quick Facts

[edit]

Local name

México

Capital

Mexico City

Government

Federal Republic

Nationality

Mexican

Population

104,908,000

Languages

Spanish, Mayan in the south.

Religions

Christianity (Catholic, Protestant)

Currency

Mexican Peso (MXN)

Calling Code

+52

Time Zone

various (UTC -6 to -8)

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Introduction

Turtle

© All Rights Reserved monkeyboy1

The present day United States of Mexico, usually just called Mexico, has an amazing culture that is the result of centuries of intermingling between the indigenous American cultures and Spanish culture. These cultures have come together to create a modern nation with all the skyscrapers of other Western nations, but with traditional, centuries-old practices still carried on as if white man had never set foot in the New World. For travellers able to tear themselves away from Mexico's metropolitan hot spots and explore the countryside, an engaging insight into Amerindian culture is the reward. But tear themselves away they must, for Mexico's popular tourist spots are popular with very good reason. Whether it be the ancient ruins at Teotihua'an, Spanish colonial towns like Puebla, or the gorgeous seaside resort at Acapulco, Mexico's diversity delights visitors with its brilliant potential.

Brief History

The first major human settlements appeared in Mexico around 9,000 years ago with the domestication of corn, which led to the development of complex agriculture and cities. The most famous of these major civilizations were the Mayans, who built amazing stone cities and temples during their height in southern Mexico from 250 AD to about 900 AD. These city states made of a vast trade network that went all the way to Colorado. After the fall of the Mayans many other cultures came to power and fell until the arrival of the Spanish in 1519. When the Spanish arrived the Aztecs were in control and they were warrior agrarian society with their island capital of Tenochtitlan as their centre. The Spanish conquered the city in 1521 destroying its temple, draining the lake and turning it into the capital of New Spain, which later became Mexico City.

For nearly 300 years the Spanish controlled Mexico. They led a bloody campaign to convert the native population and decimated several different civilizations. The arrival of small pocks destroyed local populations in some areas by as much as 80%. After the appearance of the Virgin of Guadeloupe many native people converted to Christianity. In 1810 Mexico declared its independence from Spain and lead to a bloody 11 year war were half the population fled the country or were killed. In 1845 the United States annexed the northern territory of Texas from Mexico, which caused the Mexican-American War. This war finally ended in 1848 with Mexico losing the northern third of its country that includes all of present day California, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada and Texas, and parts of Utah and Colorado.

In 1858 Benito Juarez became president of Mexico and is considered one of its most important people in Mexican history. The first full blooded Native American to be president and coming from Oaxaca, he instilled reforms that bothered the traditional elite class. This led to a French backed invasion, which occupied Mexico from 1864 to 1867. With the assistance of the United States, Jaurez was able to return and serve out 5 terms in total.

In 1910 the Mexican Revolution started and lasted 10 bloody years. The revolution had no winners and basically all sides just decided to end it. After the revolution the economy of Mexico grew, mainly based around natural resources and oil. Today Mexico is a country of extremes and has a very strong sense of identity and purpose.

Geography

The geography of Mexico is extremely diverse. In the north the country is mainly desert with some low mountain ranges that are home to amazing mineral resources. While the central part of the country is very dry with absolutely stunning mountains and volcanoes, some of them snow capped year round. The southern part of the country is extremely wet that is home to dense jungle with diverse wildlife, amazing ruins and stunning waterfalls.

Regions

Mexico is divided into 31 states and 1 federal district (Mexico City).
The 31 states can be grouped into larger regions.

• Baja includes Baja California and Baja California Sur'.
• Pacific Coast includes Sonora, Sinaloa, Nayarit, Jalisco, Colima, Michoachan, Guerrero, Oaxaca and Chiapas.
• Central Northern Mexico includes Chihuahua, Coahuila, Nuevo Leon, Durango, Zacatecas, San Luis Potosi and Aguascalientes.
• Central Mexico includes Guanajuato, Queretaro, Hidalgo, Estado de Mexico, Morelos, Tlaxcacla and Puebla (State).
• The Caribbean Coast and Yucatan includes Tamaulipas, Veracruz (State), Tabasco, Campeche (State), Yucatan and Quintana Roo.

Cities

Mexico City

Mexico City is the nation's capital and one of the largest cities in the world. It is home to amazing museums, art and one of the best old towns in the world. Just remember to check out some of the lighter side of Mexico City like marchi bands, catina's and lucha libre!

Other Cities

• Guadalajara
• Monterrey
• Cancun
• Tijuana
• Oaxaca (City)
• Veracruz is the main port of Mexico.

Patzcuaro (The fact that this city was not even listed previously in this excellent guide just adds to a reason to go before it is discovered by the masses.

Sights and Activities

Beaches

The beach

© All Rights Reserved lauralh4

Mexico has some of the best beaches in the world. Most of the coast of Mexico is white sand with desert or jungle mountains in the background. Some of the beaches have the best nightlife of any tourist scene, were people can drink all night long. Other places are more quiet, romantic or secluded. And for the real trail blazer there is still lots of coastline with nothing on it at all.

• Acapulco is on the Pacific Coast.
• Cabo San Lucas in Baja California Sur.
• Cancún is on the Yucatán Peninsula in Quintana Roo and is the center for some great scuba diving.
• Huatulco is on the South Pacific.
• Mazatlán is on the Pacific coast in Sinaloa.
• Playa del Carmen is on the Caribbean Coast in Quintana Roo.
• Puerto Vallarta is on the Pacific Coast in Jalisco.
• Rocky Point is at the northern tip of the Sea of Cortez.
• Tulum is on the Yucatán Peninsula, approx 130 kms south of Cancún and also home to some amazing ruins.

Calakmul

Maya Tempel

© All Rights Reserved The Two

Calakmul, also known as Kalakmul, is one of the largest Mayan cities ever discovered. Located deep in the Calakmul Biosphere Reserve near the Guatemalan border in the state of Campeche, this ancient city is well preserved. Only found in 1931 the city was a major seat of power for the Kaan dynasty and had a population of over 50,000. The city was a rival to Tikal during the late classical period with the Caracol as an alley. The city was occupied from the 6th century to the 10th century and today is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Other Archeological Sites

The central and southern parts of Mexico were home to the Aztec, Mayan and Olmec civilizations among others and numerous ruins from these civilizations can be visited.

• Calakmul. One of the largest Mayan cities ever uncovered.
• Chichen-Itzá. Located on the Yucatán Peninsula, Chichen Itzá is a large Mayan archaeological site. It is a popular day trip from the resort town of Cancún.
• Monte Albán was one of the oldest Mesoamerican cities and is in Oaxaca.
• Palenque Ruin is an amazing ruin and main rival of Tikal. It is located outside of the city of Palenque
• Tajín. Found in the heart of the gulf of Mexico, north of Veracruz.
• Teotihuacan
• Xochicalco

Spanish Colonial History

With a long colonial history, Mexico has some amazing places to see from that era. There are wonderful 16th and 17th century churches to explore. There are town squares that look like they should belong in Spain and historic old towns to explore in most of the larger cities. Remember that some of the areas have started to deteriorate, so be careful.

• Campeche
• Cuernavaca
• Guanajuato
• Puebla
• Querétaro
• Zacatecas
• San Cristobal de las Casas

Barranca del Cobre

Sunrise in Copper Canyon

© All Rights Reserved ride165

Barranca del Cobre, also known as Copper Canyon, is a series of 6 different canyons in the Sierra Tarahumura, which is in the southwestern part of the state of Chihuahua. All the canyons added together are larger and some parts are deeper then the Grand Canyon in the USA, although no individual canyon in Barranca del Cobre is larger then the Grand Canyon. The Chihuahuah Pacifico railroad goes up and down the canyon, which is known by the nickname Chepe. The canyons are the traditional home of the Tarahumara people, which are known for their long distance running ability. These people have been known to run 160 km in order to run down an animal to kill it. The Tarahumara people still live a traditional lifestyle and practice a traditional religion with a Roman Catholic twist.

Other Natural Sites

• Calakmul Biosphere Reserve. The largest reserve in the country (South of the Yucatan Peninsula).
• Cozumel is very popular for its scuba diving.
• La Bufadora is a blowhole on the Punta Banda Peninsula in Baja California.
• Sian Ka'an is a national park in Quintana Roo.

Events and Festivals

Mexico's rich history and blend cultures gives birth to many amazing festivals and events. Like most Latin American countries everything means somethings and has a purpose. Many festivals are extremely local and are a blend of Spanish, Moorish and Native American traditions and beliefs.

• The Day of the Dead (Spanish: El Día de los Muertos) takes place on the 1st and 2nd of November honouring lost ancestors. Traditions vary from town to town.
• San Marcos Fair in Aguascalientes
• Puerto Vallarta festival

Weather

Mexico's climate is divided by the Tropic of Cancer. North of it, the climate is temperate and experiences cooler months during winter. In this part of the country north of the 24th parallel, summers are hot and humid and winters are mild.

South of the 24th parallel, temperatures are fairly consistent year round and vary based on elevation. Areas up with elevations up to 1000 metres average between 24 °C and 28 °C. Many of Mexico's cities are located in the Valley of Mexico or adjacent valleys with altitudes above 2000 m. The climate at that altitude is more temperate averaging 16 °C to 18 °C throughout the year, with cool nights.

Most of Mexico experiences a rainy season during the summer. Regular rains are most likely from June to September. Mexico's northern regions have a dry climate, while the tropical lowlands in the south of Mexico have an average annual rainfall of 200 cm.

Getting There

By Plane

These are the main gateways to Mexico, with the busiest being at its capital, Mexico City.

• Mexico City International Airport (IATA: MEX, ICAO: MMMX), Mexico City
• Cancún International Airport (IATA: CUN, ICAO: MMUN), Cancun
• Guadalajara International Airport (IATA: GDL, ICAO: MMGL)
• Monterrey International Airport (IATA: MTY, ICAO: MMMY), Monterrey

Apart from these cities, there are a few dozen of Mexican cities with direct international connections, mostly from neighbouring countries like the USA, Canada and Central American and Caribbean countries. Check the Aeropuertos Mexico website for more details.

National carrier Mexicana operates services to North America, Central America, the Caribbean and South America. AeroMéxico, the largest airline in the country, has connections to Asia, Europe, Central America, South America and USA.

By Train

There is no international rail connection to Mexico, but Amtrak provides a few services up to the border, where you can cross into Mexico and travel further, mostly by bus. There are a few luxurious tourist trains though, including the Sierra Madre Express connecting from Tucson, Arizona to the Copper Canyon.

By Car

There are plenty of crossing spots (about 40) between Mexico and the USA. San Diego/Mexical, El Paso/Ciudad Juarez, Tucson/Nogales and Laredo/Nuevo Laredo are the busiest ones.

Cars from other countries need a special permission to go further than 20 miles. It is recommended to buy Mexican car insurance, even for day visits, when driving in Mexico. Most USA insurance plans do not cover driving in Mexico. There are several companies offering competitive rates for short term Mexican car insurance.

By Bus

If coming from the USA Greyhound has connections with some bus companies in Mexico. There are other border lines also that will take you between 2 cities in both countries and direct bus rides mainly operate from Texas to cities in the north of Mexico. Autobuses Americanos offers cross border services between southern USA and northern Mexico as well, while Autotransportes Tufesa has connections from Phoenix and Tucson and Transportes InterCalifornias travels from San Diego across the border to Mexicali and Tijuana.

In many other cases, you have to take the bus to the border, cross it by foot and then jump on another bus on the other side. Buses will wait for all the travelers to cross the border.

Still, there are also many more direct connections from other countries, mainly from Belize and Guatemala. To and from the latter, there are about 10 border crossings with frequent direct services from Guatemala City and a few other Guatemalan cities to Tapachula, Chiapas and Chetumal. Chetumal is extremely well connected to Belize, with many companies offering direct connections from Belize City and a few other towns in the north and central parts of Belize, like Belmopan and San Ignacio.

By Boat

There are no real regular passenger services by ferry to and from Mexico. There are however a few options to get from Palenque, Chiapas, to both Flores/Tikal area in Guatemala by a combination of riverboats and (mini)buses. The route via the Río Usumacinta is the most popular one, with the best connections.

Other than that, it will be by cruise ship when you will arrive in one of Mexico's ports. Although the Caribbean area is the most popular one, with Cozumel and Cancun as hot spots, there are also many ports on the Pacific side, including Ensenada, Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlán, Puerto Vallarta and Acapulco.

Getting Around

By Plane

There are dozens of airports in Mexico, many of them having international connections, which enable travellers to choose from a wide range of cities for onward transport to smaller regional airports. The biggest carriers within the country are Aero California, Mexicana and AeroMéxico.

By Train

Almost all passenger trains have been suspended since 2000 but several trains remain which are of particular interest. These are operated by Ferromex and basically include only 2 trains:

• The Tequilla Express operates two tourist trains a week doing the Guadalahara-Amatitán route as a roundtrip on Saturdays and Sundays.
• The Chepe, which is the most used and most impressive train ride and handles most traffic. It travels on the Chihuahua-Los Mochis route 2 times a day in each direction, travelling across the beautiful Copper Canyon.

For several other services that might be operating (either for locals, or very touristy trains), check the Mexlist website, which has detailed information about local trains, tours etc.

By Car

Although renting a car gives you maximum flexibility, driving in Mexico can be a bit of a challenge sometimes. There are very good toll roads, but rural roads can be in a bad potholed condition, or aren't even tarred at all. If you feel adventurous though, there are many international and local companies offering cars in resort areas, bigger cities and airports. Yucatan is one of the more popular areas to rent car, especially if you want to visit the historical inland treasures from the coastal zones. The major cities can seem to have very hectic driving rules and can intimidate many drivers.

By Bus

Buses are the way to go in Mexico, combined with a few plane rides now and then to avoid spending too much time in buses. There are loads of companies, but a few examples of bus companies having extensive networks include Estrella Blanca and Autotransportes Tufesa.

The larger cities will have multiple cities, sometimes even for the different bus companies. Most smaller cities will only have one bus station and central counter representing all the different companies. Most bus stations will have ATM's, food options, and bathrooms for 3 to 4 Pesos.

Buses are divided into different classes and can very greatly. Most foreign travellers will mainly use 1st class buses, which have bathrooms and a movie. 1st class buses will only stop at major cities and towns. Elite class buses are much nicer then 1st class buses but the tickets are very expensive. 2nd class buses usually don't have bathrooms and stop in every small town.

Collectivos

Collectivos are small vans that usually link small towns to each other and cities. Usually costing 10 pesos per hour these rides can be very tight but sometimes are the only option. Most collectivos will be at different stations or street corners depending on their destination with a large sign in the window with the name of town on it.

By Boat

Popular routes include ferries operating regularly between Mazatlán and La Paz (Baja California) on a daily basis. There are also services between Guaymas and Santa Rosalia, across the Gulf of California and between La Paz and Topolobampo three or four times weekly. From Puerto Vallarta to Cabo San Lucas there are two ferries a week.

On the Caribbean coast, there are two companies offering ferries between Playa del Carmen and the island of Cozumel of the coast of Yucatan. Crossings are about 15 times a day, with very early (starting at 5am) and late (up to midnight) sailings being a possibility to do some long day trips. There are also ferries from the mainland to Isla Mujeres.

Red Tape

People from North America, Japan, South Korea and most people from Europe will be granted a 90 day tourist visa upon arrival. People from Eastern Europe, Africa, other Asian countries and the Middle East need to check with a Mexican Embassy or Consulate for more information. On arrival you will receive an entry card that you must keep with you. If you lose this card it there will be a 50 USD fine. Although oddly, if you fly out of Mexico, no government official will take this card, the person at the ticket counter will take it from you when you get your boarding pass.

Money

See also: Money Matters

Mexico uses the New Peso (MXN). One Peso is made up of 100 centavos. In general people don't like to break notes over 200. This makes breaking those 500 and 1000 notes extremely hard.

• Banknotes: $20, $50, $100, $200, $500, $1000
• Coins: 5¢, 10¢, 20¢, 50¢, $1, $2, $5, $10, $20, $50, $100

Work

Working in Mexico can be an interesting experience. Most expat jobs are hired from abroad then brought into Mexico. There is a growing demand for computer experts and people involved in telecommunications. It is also possible to do NGO/Non-profit work in Mexico. As in most countries in the world, were English is not the mother tongue, there is always a demand for English teachers.

Study

Many people come to study Spanish in Mexico. Although the Spanish is not as pure as some other countries in South or Central America, Mexican Spanish is fun and good. There is also many private language schools that offer classes all over the country. Therefore a student has plenty of choices about were they want to study. Some places along the coast will offer programs that give Spanish classes in the morning then surfing or yoga lessons in the afternoon.

Language

Related article: Spanish: Grammar, pronunciation and useful phrases

Spanish is the most commonly spoken language in Mexico, although it is not an official language. It is spoken by 97% of the population. There are 62 indigenous Amerindian languages which are considered national languages.

Eat

Many travellers come to Mexico for the food. Mexican food is amazing and anyone can find something they like. Some areas are more famous for their food such as Oaxaca and Puebla. Most of the food involves different meats and sauces wrapped in tortillas. Some dishes just have meats in different sauces. One things that not to be missed are avocados. Mexico is the home to the avocado and they put is on everything. Make sure to add it when possible and to eat plenty of guacamole.

Tortas are a sandwich like thing that can be found in any city in Mexico. They range from 15 to 30 pesos depending on the area and can have completely different things in them depending on the location. Tortas are a good reliable meal in most cities in Mexico.

Sleep

The tourist industry in Mexico is massive. There are hotels, hostels, guesthouses and B & B's for anyone on any budget. Some of the high end resorts cost just as much as any high end resort in the United States or Europe. Although plenty of good cheap accommodation can be found in the more popular tourist areas. In smaller cities or places rarely visited by foreign tourists one can still find moderately priced local hotels that range in cleanliness.

Drink

Beer

Mexico has several brands of national beer that is quite good. Corona, Rio Negro and Pafico are some very popular brans. One of the traditions in Mexico is to add lime to beer and is very good.

Tequila

When many people think of Mexico they think tequila. There are countless different brands of tequila ranging from the absolute horrible to smoother then water. Remember you don't have to eat the worm.

Mezcal

Mainly drank in the southern part of Mexico Mezcal is very intense. Some of the poorer varieties have a terrible after taste, while the nicer ones can be ok.

Health

Water

Do not drink tap water ever in Mexico, unless it has been boiled for 3 minutes. Only drink bottled water and make sure the cap has been sealed.

Safety

Some of the larger cities can be a bit dangerous while most smaller towns are pretty safe. The border areas with Guatemala and the United States can be very dangerous, especially during the night. Although most of the crime is focused around drug smuggling, gun running and human trafficking therefore making it very easy to avoid.

Where there's tourists, there's pickpockets and petty crime, which is why you should consider the following tips:

• Leave unnecessary valuable items (like jewellery) at home. Leave valuable documents (passport, tickets etc) in the hotel safe - don't forget them when you leave! Scan your passport, driver's licence and ticket and send a copy by email to your own address. That way you can download and print a copy wherever you are.
• Don't carry too much cash around, or keep your valuable camera in plain sight. Keep a close eye on your money, camera and backpack and stow your money in a money belt or carry it round your neck. On the beach, don't leave your bag lying behind you but use it as a pillow.
• When travelling by car, on your stops take any visible bags (e.g. on the back seat) out of the car and make sure you lock the car. Be wary of anyone approaching you the moment you're parking the car or if you've broken down. When travelling by bus, keep an eye on your bags.

Keep Connected

Internet

There are internet cafe's in most cities and towns in Mexico. In the cheaper places they cost around 2 pesos an hour while the more expensive places cost up to 5 pesos an hour. Sometimes photocopy stores or photo processing stores will double as an internet cafe with a couple of computers.

Phone

Phone cards can be purchased anywhere in the country and are needed for the majority of public phones. To call any number outside your region you have to dial 01 then followed by the area code. If calling a cellphone from a normal phone start with with 044. If calling cellphone to cellphone just dial the 10 digit number. To make an international call dial 00 followed by the country code then the local number.

Post

The post service in Mexico is pretty good although not super cheap. All cities have large post offices and some are actually very pretty buildings. To buy stamps it is best to go to the post office.