Originally Mexico was a native 'Indian' country, where great cultures lived, and whose remains you can still see. The land connects Central America with the USA. Mighty pyramids, the temples and the ruins left by the Mayan Indians never cease to amaze everybody, and neither do the huge contrasts this country shows - in many ways an extreme country with an immense wealth gap between rich and poor . Yet Mexico is a fertile, colourful, vivacious and incredibly interesting place.Find your travel arrangement to Mexico here
Region and City Guides
Region:
City:
Facts
Local name
Estados Unidos Mexicanos
Capital
Mexico City (20,000,000)
Size
1.953.162 km2
Principal Languages
Spanish
Principal Religion
Roman Catholic
Inhabitants
94.400.000 (1999)
Government
Republic
Geography
Mexico borders with the USA in the north and Guatemala in the south, and is dominated by mountains - of which the two most important ranges are the Sierra Madre in the east and the Occidental, unsurprisingly in the west. The coastlines are flat and sandy, although the Pacific coast has some mountain scenery. Mexico only possesses a few large rivers, of which the biggest is the Rio Grande.
Travel preparation
Best time to visit
Mexico is hot and humid from May to October and especially the southern parts of the country can become unbearable to be in, particularly between July and September. If you just want a beach-vacation, it's okay to go there in this period, but otherwise it's best to go at another time, such as October to May, when it's dry and comfortably warm.
Literature
Lonely Planet Mexico
Lonely Planet Central America on a Shoestring
Lonely Planet Central America on a Shoestring
Local conditions
Weight and Measures
The following units of measurement are used in Mexico:
Length: metre
Weight: kilogram
Length: metre
Weight: kilogram
Photography
You'll experience no problems photographing in Mexico, as the Mexicans are used to tourists. Ask for permission before taking pictures of individuals and be aware of special rules concerning holy and historical places
Drinking water
You should under no circumstances drink the tap water in Mexico, but always buy bottled water, which you can buy almost everywhere. You should also use bottled water, or at least boil the tap water first, when you brush your teeth, make ice cubes or tea.
Electricity
In Mexico, the following current is used:
110 volt AC/60 Hz
110 volt AC/60 Hz
Behaviour
Mexicans are an extremely friendly and warmhearted people who usually welcome guests with open arms. If you show the same friendliness towards them, you will quickly make some fine acquaintances. Casual clothes are perfectly acceptable to wear in Mexico, but do not run around in your bathing clothes anywhere other than the beach. You can smoke anywhere that there are no no-smoking signs.
Business Hours
Banks are open 9.00 to 13.30 (Monday to Friday); some banks are open to 16.00 or 18.00.
Shops are open 9.00 to 20.00, most places close during the warmest hours, in the middle of the day.
Shops are open 9.00 to 20.00, most places close during the warmest hours, in the middle of the day.
Food and drink
Mexican cuisine is famously spicy, and the most famous dish is probably chili con carne, which is beef-flesh or soya in a strong chili sauce with beans. You can also try the Mexican guacamole and tortillas, which are corn-pancakes usually wrapped around a filling. To soothe your throat after these spicy dishes you can have a Mexican beer, such as sól, and flush it down with a shot of tequila, usually served straight up with lemon and salt.
Disabled travellers
Travelling in Mexico isn't always easy if you're disabled, as many of the old hacienda hotels have no elevators or lifts/ramps for the disabled. The Mexicans are helpful, though, but the best thing to do, if you're disabled, is go on an arranged tour.
Holidays
New Year's Day, 1 January
Constitution Day, 5 February
Benito Juaréz' birthday, 21 March
Labour Day, 1 May
Celebration of the Battle at Puebla, 5 May
Independence Day, 16 September
Columbus Day, 12 October
All Saints' Eve, 1 November
All Saints Day, 2 November
Celebration of the Mexican Revolution in 1910, 20 November
Christmas Day, 25 December
Constitution Day, 5 February
Benito Juaréz' birthday, 21 March
Labour Day, 1 May
Celebration of the Battle at Puebla, 5 May
Independence Day, 16 September
Columbus Day, 12 October
All Saints' Eve, 1 November
All Saints Day, 2 November
Celebration of the Mexican Revolution in 1910, 20 November
Christmas Day, 25 December
Accommodation / Hotel
Mass tourism has taken root in Mexico, and the country has a broad selection of overnight accommodation, from five-star hotels to the more humble one-star hotels. Notice that the hotels classify themselves, so the standard isn't always what you expect. There are also modest guesthouses (casas de huespedes), and plenty of places to camp.
Book your Hotel in Mexico here
Book your Hotel in Mexico here
Camping
There are plenty of places to camp in Mexico, and it's free, which of course means that the facilities are not the best. In national parks you are charged a small fee for camping. But the western part of Mexico especially , by the Pacific Ocean, offers plenty of possibilities for camping at no charge.
There is a broad selection of hotels in Mexico, from five-star to one-star hotels. Note that the hotels do classify themselves, so the standard is not always what you might expect.
Bed og breakfast or guesthouse
There are many modest guesthouses in Mexico - look for the sign saying "casas de huespedes".
Hostels
There are no actual youth hostels in Mexico, but lots of hostels where you can sleep in dorms very inexpensively
Local transport
There are domestic Flights between the major cities, and an okay railroad connecting most of the larger cities as well, but most people travel by bus, as this is the fastest way of getting around. There is boat service between the mainland and the Caribbean islands and the mainland and Baja California. Mexico City has a good metro system, but you can also use minibuses, collectivos, combis and peseros in Mexico.
Planes
There's an excellent network of connections between the most important cities and areas, but it isn't cheap to fly nationally
Bus
The bus service in Mexico is quite good as it is also the most widely used means of transport. Long-distance buses have air-conditioning installed and have fairly comfortable seats, and it is faster than the trains.
Trains
The train service in Mexico is good, connecting all the important cities, but it is a rather slow way of getting around. Children under five years are free of charge.
Taxi
There are four different kinds of taxi in Mexico City, and the rest of the country have many as well. There are no taxi-meters; so agree on the price before the ride.
car rental
The major car rental companies operate in Mexico, too, and you can rent cars in all major cities and airports.
Boat or Ferry
There are daily departures between the mainland and both the Caribbean islands and Baja California. There are also connections to La Paz.
Other Transport
The Mexicans also use shared taxis, which are called combis, collectivos or peseros, and which are usually old wrecks transporting tourists over long distances at low costs. Mexico City also has a metro.
Special conditions
Notice that Mexico City is a very polluted city, and that it can be bad for your health to stay there for a long period of time. There have also been a rise in the number of assaults on tourists in Mexico City - and on the highways. Check the current advice from the Foreign Office before you visit.
Region and City Guides
Region
• Baja California
• Southern Mexico
• The Caribbean Coast of Mexico
• The Pacific Coast of Mexico
• Yucatan Peninsula
• Southern Mexico
• The Caribbean Coast of Mexico
• The Pacific Coast of Mexico
• Yucatan Peninsula
City
