edit Mexico Travel Guide

• Beaches From the calm clear waters of Cancun to the heavy surf beaks of Puerto Escondido Mexico's beaches are a top attraction for all travelers.
• Mexican Food from seafood to burritos, the food is delicious and varies greatly across the state so make sure you try authentic food in every new place you travel.
• Diving at Arrecife Palancar a short trip off the coast of Cozumel this location offers spectacular diving with visibility over 200ft!
  
• Partying Gringos have been coming to Mexico to dance until the sun comes up in the lad of tequila and margaritas.

Visa Requirements

Entry into Mexico generally requires a passport, though you may be able to get in with an original Birth Certificate. After your passport is checked you should receive a Mexican Tourist Permit, which is essentially their tourist visa. This document is incredibly important so guard it safely. It's provided free of charge and is obtained easily when you pass through customs at the airport. However, if you do drive into Mexico, you'll have to head over to an immigrations office to obtain one, as it's not given at the border.

Customs and Immigration

Customs is usually a rather simple process as long as you don't bring something illegal in to the country such as illicit drugs or firearms. The other thing customs will be looking for are things that you might sell while there. Basically don't bring anything in unless you plan to use it.

If you end up buying something in mexico just be aware that your local country may require duty tax on it. This varies from country to country but usually it's somewhere are around $500 (USD) worth of merchendise before you start having to pay duty taxes.

By plane

Mexico's main entry point is via Mexcio City, but nearly all major tourist destinations have an international airport nearby. The country is served by dozens of International airlines, and as long as you book ahead of time, finding a flight should not be a big deal

By car

Automobile insurance from other countries (such as the U.S) is not accepted in Mexico, therefore the U.S. Department of Transportation advises to travel to Mexico by air, sea, or walking where possible. Despite the advisory, a road trip through Mexico is a very exciting adventure. Mexico can however be a dangerous place to drive, and you should remember a few things:

• ALWAYS carry Mexican insurance, it is illegal to drive in Mexico without it. If driving in from the USA, always purchase Mexican liability insurance before crossing the border. Even if your American (or Canadian, etc.) insurance covers your vehicle in Mexico, it cannot (by Mexican law) cover liability (i.e. hitting something or injuring someone). You will probably spend time in a Mexican jail if you have an accident without it. And even if your own insurance does (in theory) provide liability coverage in Mexico -- you'll be filing your claim from behind bars! Don't risk it, get Mexican auto insurance.
• If you come into Mexico with a car, you must leave Mexico with the same car - the government is concerned about the number of illegal cars that are brought into and sold in Mexico. You'll deffinately run into problems if you drive into Mexico but leave via air.
  
• The person who drives into Mexico must be the title holder of the car. If only you wife, your friend, or your pet monkey is on the title your going to have a problem.
• You must get a temporary car permit. This lasts for 6 months and be sure your car doesn't stay longer.

Note: that if you are only driving into the borrder zone and staying a few days, then you do not need the Mexican Tourist Permit or the Temporary Car Permit, but don't try to leave the border zone or stay longer with out obtaining these documents or you'll probably end up being fined, and subject to a bunch of beauracratic hastle.

By boat

Cruise ships are are a very popular way to enter Mexico.

By train

No train service into Mexico

By Bus

There are many bus companies based in Mexico with branch offices in major U.S. cities. A ticket to a major Mexican city from the U.S. can be bought for as little as $60 roundtrip. These compaines however, do cater to mostly Hispanics or Mexican Nationals living in the U.S. and operate mostly in Spanish.

Highly advanced cultures including those of the Olmecs Mayas Toltecs and Aztecs existed long before the Spanish conquest. Hernando Cortes conquered Mexico during the period 1519-21 and founded a Spanish colony that lasted nearly 300 years. Independence from Spain was proclaimed by Father Miguel Hidalgo on September 16 1810; this launched a war for independence. An 1821 treaty recognized Mexican independence from Spain and called for a constitutional monarchy. The planned monarchy failed; a republic was proclaimed in December 1822 and established in 1824.

Prominent figures in Mexico's war for independence were Father Jose Maria Morelos; Gen. Augustin de Iturbide who defeated the Spaniards and ruled as Mexican emperor from 1822-23; and Gen. Antonio Lopez de Santa Ana who went on to control Mexican politics from 1833 to 1855. Santa Ana was Mexico's leader during the conflict with Texas which declared itself independent from Mexico in 1836 and during Mexico's war with the United States (1846-48). The presidential terms of Benito Juarez (1858-71) were interrupted by the Hapsburg monarchy's rule of Mexico (1864-67). Archduke Maximilian of Austria whom Napoleon III of France established as Emperor of Mexico was deposed by Juarez and executed in 1867. General Porfirio Diaz was president during most of the period between 1877 and 1911.

Mexico's severe social and economic problems erupted in a revolution that lasted from 1910-20 and gave rise to the 1917 constitution. Prominent leaders in this period -- some of whom were rivals for power -- were Francisco I. Madero Venustiano Carranza Pancho Villa Alvaro Obregon Victoriano Huerta and Emiliano Zapata. The Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) formed in 1929 under a different name continues to be the most important political force in the nation. It emerged as a coalition of interests after the chaos of the revolution as a vehicle for keeping political competition in peaceful channels. For almost 70 years Mexico's national government has been controlled by the PRI which has won every presidential race and most gubernatorial races.

Mexico's government is a Federal Republic.

The usual exchange rate is around 10 pesos to the U.S. dollar.

Economy

Mexico has a free market economy with a mixture of modern and outmoded industry and agriculture increasingly dominated by the private sector. The number of state-owned enterprises in Mexico has fallen from more than 1 000 in 1982 to fewer than 200 in 1998. The ZEDILLO administration is privatizing and expanding competition in sea ports railroads telecommunications electricity natural gas distribution and airports. The Mexican economy is in its third year of recovery from the recession of 1995 which was touched off by a financial crisis. After declining 6.2% in 1995 real GDP grew 5.1% in 1996 and 7.3% in 1997 and is expected to rise by 5% in 1998. A strong export sector helped to cushion the economy's decline in 1995 and led the recovery in 1996 and 1997. Private consumption spending in 1998 probably will rise by at least 4% on the strength of increased employment and rising real wages and the troubled banking sector is likely to increase lending for the first time in three years. Despite the spillover from the Asian crisis the medium-term outlook for Mexico remains positive with government and private sector economists projecting average annual growth of 4% to 5% through the year 2000. Mexico still needs to overcome many structural problems as it strives to modernize its economy and raise living standards. Income distribution is very unequal with the top 20% of income earners accounting for 55% of income. The inefficient agricultural sector employs 20% to 25% of the labor force but produces only 8% of GDP. Trade with the United States and Canada has nearly doubled since NAFTA was implemented in 1994. Mexico is pursuing additional trade agreements with most countries in Latin America and with the European Union to lessen its dependence on Great Britainwhich accounts for 80% of Mexico's total trade.

Banking

The number of banks is increasing and banks can usually be found easily in towns of any decent size. They are normally open M-F 8 to 5.

ATMs are easy to come by. Bank of America customers can avoid ATM fees by using Santander Serfin ATMs. Other banks may have similar policies, check with your respective institution. Otherwise, do not be surprised to find yourself with a $5 fee for each withdrawal.

Currency

The currency of Mexico is the peso (MXN). The symbol for pesos is the same as for US dollars, which can be slightly confusing. Prices in dollars (in tourist areas) are labeled "US$" or sport an S with a double stroke. In rural areas you will probably only be able to do transactions in pesos, however in most tourist area the U.S dollar is commonly used.

Sometimes merchants can be picky about the state of your paper money, they may scrutinize it and reject anything with rips. Try to keep it in as pristine condition as possible. Reputably, this is more the case the further South you go.

Credit Cards

Credit Cards offer a safe and convenient way to do transactions in Mexico. Most establishements in tourist cities accomadate Visa, Mastercard, and American Express. The expansion of credit card use is also beginning in rural areas, but don't count on their availability.

Tax

Tipping

Shopping

Costs

Mexico is a country in North America, lying between the United States of America to the north, and Guatemala and Belize to the southeast. Its extensive coastlines include the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. The landscape has high, rugged mountains; low coastal plains; high plateaus; desert; tropical rainforests in the south and Yucatán Peninsula.

Due to the size of Mexcio the weather can be dramatically different in different parts of the country: from snow mountains in the Sierras, to rainy jungles in the Southeast and desert in the Northwest. However generally most of Mexico is tropical to subtropical.

Holidays and Celebrations

• January 1st: New Years
  
• February 5th: Constitution Day(1917)
• February 24th: Flag Day
• March 21st: Birth of Benito Juárez (1806), 2006 is bicentennial year.
• May 1st: Labor Day.
• May 5th: Puebla Battle (against the French army, 19th century).
• September 16th: Independence day (from Spain)(1821).
• November 20th: Revolution day (1910).
• December 12th: Our Lady of Guadalupe.
• December 25th: Christmas.

Language

Spanish is the main language. You can get by with English in most major cities or tourist destinations, but much of the country is monolingual.

Mexican Spanish is slightly different from both the Castilian Spanish spoken in most of Spain and the Spanish spoken in South American countries. All three are mutually intelligible -- it's about the same as the differences in English spoken in various countries -- but you can expect some funny looks if you speak only Castilian. (In particular, unlike Castilian, the z and the soft c should be pronounced like an s.) Mexican Spanish is the variant most often taught in the United States of America, so if you learned Spanish there, you should be OK.

In some regions, native languages such as Mayan or Nahuatl are still widely spoken.

There are Spanish languages schools throughout Mexico. The city with the most schools is Cuernavaca, with more than 50 schools. Oaxaca, San Miguel de Allende and Guanajuato also offer a number schools to choose from. Prices vary, however, most schools are very reasonably priced. Many schools can arrange homestays with local Mexican families.

Respect

• Mexicans have a somewhat relaxed sense of time, so be patient with them. Don't lose your temper if they arrive 15 minutes later than scheduled. However, if it's more than 30 minutes, you should be concerned.
• When entering churches, always take off any sunglasses, caps or hats. Wearing shorts is not a problem at all but it's suggested to tie a sweatshirt or sweater to your waist so to avoid showing too much skin, which could be disrespectful in such places. Although, away from the beaches or northern areas, shorts are very rare amongst Mexicans as pants are more proper, and thus will attract more attention to yourself.
• Respect Mexico's laws. Some foreigners feel that Mexico is a place where laws can be broken and the police bribed at all times. While corruption may be common amongst Mexican police, it is extremely disrespectful for foreign nationals to behave in such a manner, and could be an excuse for the police to give you "a respect lesson". Remember, offering a bribe to an official could get you into even more trouble unless he demands it.
• Do not be offended to be called "güero" (blonde) and its diminutive form "güerito" (blondie), as its a common way for the average mexican citizens to refer mostly to white or caucasian people. The words "gringo" and its synonym "gabacho" are used in spite of the actual nationality of the tourists and are not to be taken as offensive nouns.
• If invited into a home, don't go barefoot in the house at any time of day or night (except in private).
• Watch your language, in Mexico (unlike a few countries in South America) "estúpido" means far, far worse than "stupid" in English. While the famous word "güey" is equivalent to "dude" or "mate", avoid using it unless you have plenty of confidence with a person, and never ever use strong language when talking to a female.

Types of Restaurants

Mexico has a wide variety of resaurants from Full service high class dining in the large cities, to the more traditional taquerias. In general, mexican style food is some of the most unique and universally enjoyed food on the planet.

When searching for a place to eat remember:

• Most of the time you can measure the quality of food by popularity - do not eat on lonely places, even if they are restaurants or hotels.
• While there are many food carts on the streets of Mexican cities and towns, travelers are advised to eat from these carts with caution, as hygienic preparation practices are not always reliable.

Types of Food

Traditional Mexican food can often be very spicy; if you are not used to peppers, always ask if your food includes it. (¿Esto tiene chile?).

• Chicharron - Deep fried pork skin. Although don't be disgusted, it's quite crunchy and if well-prepared slightly oily.
• Enchiladas - Chicken or meat stuffed soft tortillas covered with green, red or mole sauce. Some may have melted cheese.
• Tacos - (tortillas filled with meat (asada (steak strips), pollo (shredded chicken), carnitas (fried shredded pork), lengua (tongue), cabeza (meat from cow skull), sesos (cow brains).
• Tamales - corn dough shell with meat or vegatable fillings. Tamales Dulces contain fruit and/or nuts.
• Tortas - Fancy mexican sandwich. Bread is fried lightly, meat fillings are same as tacos, lettuce, tomatoes, jalapeños, beans, onion, mayonaise and avocado.
• Quesadillas - Cheese or other ingredients grilled in between tortillas.
• Mole - Mild to medium spice sauce with hint of peanut over meat, usually served with shredded chicken. ('Pollo en mole')
• Pozole: Chicken or pork broth with hominy corn, spiced when served with oregan, lettuce, lemon juice, radish, chopped onion, dried ground chile and other ingredients, usually served with a side dish of tostadas, fried potato and fresh cheese tacos.
• Gorditas: corn patty stuffed with chicharron, chicken, cheese, etc. topped with cream, cheese and hot sauce.
• Guacamole: crushed avocado sauce with green serrano chile, chopped red tomato and onion, lemon juice and fried tortilla slices "totopos".
• Tostadas: fried flat tortilla topped with fried beans, lettuce, cream, fresh cheese, sliced red tomato and onion, hot sauce, and chicken or other main ingredient.
• Huaraches: a bigger version a gordita.
• Sopes: corn patty topped with a wide variety of ingredients such as chicken, cheese, etc. and hot sauce.
• Carnitas: deep fried pork meat.
• "Chile enhogada": A big chile covered with nut sauce
• Barbacoa: Sheep meat cooked with maguey leaves in a oven made at a hole in the ground .
• Tortas ahogadas: If you you to Guadalajara taste this pork sandwiches covered with sauce
• Panuchos: If you go to Yucatan, try this "Sopes" with pork (called cochinita pibil)
• Sopa de Tortilla: Tortilla chips soup
• Chilaquiles: Tortilla chips with green tomatoes sauce, usually served with chicken or eggs.

Ask for the "platillo tipico" of the town, this is a local speciality not found elsewhere, a variation, or the bornplace of a recipe, also consider that most of the recipies change from place to place, like tamales, in the south are made with the banana plant leaves, and in the Huasteca region tamales are very big, one is Ok for a complete family

Etiquette

Drinks

Much like the Mexican food, the drinks made in Mexico are well renown. Some of the best known are:

• Tequila, made from Agave
• Pulque, ferment made from Maguey
• Mezcal, destiled made from Maguey
• Tepache, made from pineapple
• Tuba, made from coconut plant

There are also several Mexican beers, several of which are available outside Mexico, these include:

• Corona
• Dos Equis (XX), dark or lager.
• Modelo Especial
• Negra Modelo
• Modelo Light
• Pacífico
• Tecate
• Indio
• Bohemia
• Carta Blanca
• Sol
• Superior
• Victoria
• Montejo
• León
• Estrella
• Corona "de Barril"

In some places you will find beer served as a prepared drink called "michelada". The formula varies depending on the place, but it's usually beer mixed with lime juice. Other variation called "cubana" includes Clamato cocktail, soybean sauce, salt and a little bit of hot sauce.

The legal drinking age in Mexico is 18, but not strictly enforced. In many places, consumption of alcohol in public ("open container") is illegal and usually punishable by a day in jail. Be aware of waitresses and barmen, specially at night clubs. If you are not aware of your consumption and how much you already spent, they can add a few more drinks to your account. Some do this, not all.

DO NOT Drive under the influence of an alcohol, besides being unsafe, you can get yourself up to 3 days in jail.

A number of hotel chains are available throughout Mexico; they offer reasonable rates, and mostly clean accomodations, good for business or family travelers, but not necessarily for those wanting to experience Mexico itself.

Boutique hotels are found all over the country; price range varies but all of them are rich in Mexican traditions, elegance and charm, the perfect way to experience the cultural heritage of each state.

Some Mexican universities are very important, such as UNAM (ranked 95° worldwide, and one of the best in Latin America), and most of them have programs for foreigners. Foreigners can take a course to learn Spanish, or even study a whole career. Also, there are some other courses where you can learn traditional Mexican activities such as handcrafts.

Most of the the goverment funded universities on mayor cities (state capital) have short courses on history, gastronomy and cultural subjects, most of them are almost free. Other places are the "Casa de la Cultura", (house of culture) this are historical buildings used for cultural related activities (music concerts, teather, paint and other exibits, they also have "talleres" (workshops).

Many excellent private universities exist in the larger cities (Mexico City, Guadalajara, Monterrey, etc.) and provide excellent education

Another important university is ITESM (Instituto Tecnologico de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey), located in Monterrey but in many other mexican cities, too.

The EGADE Master Business School in Monterrey is ranked No.68 of MBA schools worldwide, the first in Latin America

Working may require a work visa, which is difficult to get if you just want to freelance for a short time.

Many important headquarters are located throughout the main cities of Mexico. Mexican top corporations like Televisa, Bimbo, Cemex, Telmex, Vitro, are often willing to hire professionals who speak English as their native language as most of the business scene is developed with North American corporations.

Native English speakers can pick up work, as always, as English teachers. The upside is that English speakers with no knowledge of Spanish are sought after, because they will force their students to practice English. The downside is that salaries are very low.

Phones

Internet

The Mexican legal system is under Napoleonic code, meaning suspects can be considered guilty until proven innocent (the reverse of the USA). Keep that in mind before contemplating flouting the law.

Crime

In most of the cities, location is very important, security change from place to place, areas close to downtown (centro) are safer to walk at night specialy on the "Plaza", "Zocalo" o "Jardin" (main square) and areas nearby, stay on populated areas, avoid poor living conditions neighborhood specialy at night, dont walk there at anytime if you are alone.

Some Mexican border towns could be dangerous, for someone who is unaware, especially at night. In contrast, Mexican northern -non-border- cities are very safe; such as Monterrey, Saltillo, Chihuahua, etc.

When in major cities – especially Mexico City – play it safe with taxis. Never pick up a cab in the street unless the locals have told you they can be trusted; always request that your hotel or restaurant call a taxi for you.

Carry money in multiple locations, especially when driving a car. As in any city, do not wave cash or credit cards around. Use them discreetly and put them away as quickly as possible.

Beggars are not usually a threat but you will find lots in urban areas. Avoid being surrounded by them as some can pickpocket your goods. Giving away two pesos quickly can get you out of such troubles. If driving you will mostly find beggars and windshield cleaners at any red light; have your windows closed at all times. The windshield cleaners will try to clean yours in spite of any negative- a strong and firm "NO" is suggested.

Emergency

Police

Fire Department

Hospitals and Sickness

Mexico is so notorious for traveler's diarrhea that it is often called "Montezuma's Revenge". The reason for this is not so much the spicy food but the contamination of the water supply. In most cities, only the poorest Mexicans will drink tap water. Drinking water out of the tap is generally a bad idea. The best policy is to only drink bottled or purified water, both of which are readily available. In most restaurants, the only water that will be served to you comes from large jugs of purified water. Mexico is one of the main bottled water consumers in the world so its recommended to buy some whenever it's possible.

Likewise, avoid raw vegetables and fruits unless they have been washed in an iodine or other disinfecting solution. In addition to diseases that could be picked up from the soil where they are grown, some of the pesticides in use in Mexico are considered unsafe. If your body is not used to these chemicals, will rebel.

If you start to show symptoms of food poisoning, visit a doctor as soon as possible. There is medicine available that will counter the bacteria and save you much suffering.

Medicine in urban areas is highly developed, but it's recommended going to private hospitals.

Gays and lesbians

The overwhelming majority of the population is Roman Catholic, which derives in many Mexicans being deeply religious and conservative in character. Be careful when you bring up issues such as homosexuality, specially in small towns.

Illicit drugs and prostitution

Smoking

Travelling in Mexico is most practical by bus, car, or air. Passenger transport by train is almost nonexistent.

By car

Due to a government scheme in the early 90's to create infrastructure, the best roads are toll roads. Toll roads can be relatively costly, 400-800 pesos is not uncommon on longer trips, but are much faster and better maintained. First-class buses generally travel by toll roads (and the toll is obviously included in the ticket price).

When travelling on Mexican roads, especially near the borders with the United States and Guatemala, one will probably encounter several checkpoints operated by the Mexican Army searching for illegal weapons and drugs. If you are coming from the United States, you may not be used to this, and it can be intimidating. However, these are rarely a problem for honest people. Simply do what the soldiers tell you to do, and treat them with respect. The best way to show respect when entering a checkpoint is to turn your music down, lift sunglasses from your face, and be prepared to roll your window down. They should treat you with respect as well, and they usually do.

The Secretariat of Communication and Transport recently set up a new mapping tool similar to those in the U.S. like Mapquest, its name is Traza Tu Ruta and is very helpful to find how to get to your destination using Mexico's roads. It is in Spanish but can be used with basic knowledge of the language.

Foreign driver's licenses are recognized and recommended. Speeding tickets are common, and to ensure your presence at the hearing, the officer may choose to keep your license. He is within his rights to do so.

Never drive above the speed limit or run stop signs/red lights as Mexican police will use any excuse to pull over tourists and give you a ticket as in everywhere, or demand a bribe. If pulled over by a police officer soliciting a bribe, many find it easier to bargain with the office ("this is all i have") then to go to the police office to pay the fine, but you should be aware that it breads corruption.

By air

Domestic air travel will be via a Mexican airline or private plane, as international airlines are prohibited from operating domestic flights.

Mexicana and AeroMexico are the two main carriers along with Aviacsa and Aerolineas Aztecas. Many discount airlines launched in late 2005 and the number keeps growing. Due to a lack of space at Mexico City's main airport, several of these new carriers are based in nearby Toluca, including Interjet and Volaris. Avolar mainly flies from Tijuana and Alma de Mexico from Guadalajara.

By bus

If travelling by bus, be sure to take the express buses, if available (they are called directo). Other buses often stop at many smaller stations along the way, making the trip a lot longer. If you have experience with Greyhound buses in the US, you're in for a pleasant surprise. Book direct travel within Mexico on ejecutivo buses departing in the evening. You'll be able to sleep on luxury buses with as few as 18 seats. Some even have complimentary beer. With the advent of NAFTA, some bus companies are now offering service from US cities.

On the other side if travelling within a city you won't find a pleasant surprise. You will find one of the most chaotic public transport systems full of the popular "peseros". "Peseros" are small buses with varying color codes depending on the city you are. Usually the route taken is written in a cardboard attached to the windshield. Unlike many countries you can make a stop wherever you want but it's not recommended as you put in danger your safety and the safety of the nearby drivers who can get suddenly stopped. Try to make stops at the assigned points; you will rarely find a stop button in a pesero, just shout the word "bajan" for it to stop. Fares are cheap and vary from 2 to 7 pesos aproximately.

By thumb

Hitchhiking possibilities vary according to region. Mexican culture is often accepting of hitchhiking and it's a common practice among Mexican youngsters going to the beach in Easter vacations, though in some cases a money contribution is expected for gas because of its relatively high prices. You should make it clear that you have no money to offer before accepting the ride, if this is the case. Hitchhiking is considered fairly safe and easy in the Yucatan Peninsula. The region near Mexico City should be more difficult to obtain a free hitchhike, as private cars don't stop to help hitchhickers for security reasons and buses that do stop expect a fee for the ride.