Mexico

Understand

Mexico, the United Mexican States (Spanish: Estados Unidos Mexicanos), is one of the most visited countries in the world. Much of the tourist industry is centered around the beach resorts as well as the altiplano in the central part of the country. Visiting the northern interior allows visitors to get off the beaten path a bit. U.S. American tourists tend to predominate on the Baja California peninsula and the more modernized beach resorts (Cancún, Puerto Vallarta), while European tourists congregate around the smaller resort areas in the south like Playa del Carmen and colonial towns San Cristobal de las Casas. Canadians often favor smaller beach resorts like Huatulco or Ixtapa.

Get around

Travelling in Mexico is most practical by bus, car, or air. Passenger transport by train is possible in some areas. most extensively in the Yucatán Peninsula, with its modern Tren Maya service. The Chihuahua del Pacifico railroad is one of the most scenic railroads in the world, passing through the Copper Canyon, and departing from Los Mochis on the Pacific coast, or Creel in the east. They cross each other roughly midways at Divisadero and Barrancas Copper Canyon stations at an altitude of 2100 m (7000 ft).

See

thumbnail|Popocatépetl's 16th century monasteries are World Heritage Sites Many travelers come to see Mexico's natural wonders, including: Copper Canyon - ride the train through an enormous canyon system in the northwestern mountains Mesoamerican Barrier Reef - scuba dive the coral reefs in the warm waters of the Mexican Caribbean Sea of Cortez - see migrating whales, sea lions, dolphins and more Volcano Belt - climb Mexico's highest mountain peaks and see active, dormant, and inactive volcanoes

There are 35 UNESCO world heritage sites in Mexico as of 2018, more than anywhere else in the Americas. Most of them are in the cultural category and relate to either the pre-Columbian civilizations in the area or to early colonial cities established by the Spanish conquistadores and missionaries. Much of Mexico is mountainous with some mountains rising higher than 5,000 m over the sea level.

Mexico is on the border of two bioregions; both North American wildlife and Central and South American wildlife can be seen in the country. A number of UNESCO Biosphere Reserves are in Mexico as well as a number of RAMSAR wetlands.

The Mexican Tourism Ministry (SECTUR) has a program called Pueblos Magicos to identify and develop tourist programs in smaller, lesser known destinations. Towns designated as Pueblos Magicos usually are rich in colonial heritage, maintain cultural traditions, or offer spectacular natural wonders. These towns are the kinds of places a couple would go for a romantic …

Do

thumb|300px|Mayan Ruins of Tulum The warm Mexican climate, spectacular nature and long coastline make the country great for outdoor life, especially water sport.

Surfing – Baja California, Vallarta, Oaxaca Sea kayaking – Baja California Snorkeling – Baja California, Cancun, Cozumel, Isla Mujeres, etc. Scuba diving – Cancun, Cozumel, Isla Mujeres, Acapulco, Cabo San Lucas etc., and cave diving in the cenotes of the Yucatán Peninsula. Whale watching – Baja California, Guerrero Negro, Mazunte, Zipolite White water rafting – Veracruz Visit a volcano – Mexico, Toluca etc. Take a ride on the Copper Canyon Railway Enjoy the beautiful coast line and beaches of Oaxaca – Huatulco, Mazunte, Zipolite, Puerto Angel, Puerto Escondido, etc. Go for a horseback ride in the Copper Canyon Visit the archaeological sites like Chichen Itza, Tulum, Coba, Monte Alban, Calakmul, Palenque, etc. Volunteering – Chiapas, Xalapa, Veracruz or many other destinations Visit ecological parks – Mayan Riviera, Chiapas, Tamaulipas Trekking and viewing cave paintings Baja California

Eat

thumbnail|Taco stalls thumbnail|Gordita

Mexican cuisine can be described better as a collection of various regional cuisines rather than a standard list of dishes for the whole country. Because of climate, geography and ethnic differences, we can classify Mexican cuisine broadly in 4 great categories according to the region:

Northern – Mostly meat dishes done mainly from beef and goat. This includes Cabrito, Carne Asada (Barbecue) and Arrachera. Is influenced by international cuisine (mostly from the United States and Europe), but it retains the essential Mexican flavor. Central – This region is influenced by the rest of the country, but has its own well-developed local flavor in dishes such as Pozole, Menudo and Carnitas. Dishes are mostly corn-based and with different spices. Southeastern – Is known for its spicy vegetable and chicken-based dishes. Caribbean cuisine have influences here because of the location. Coast – Has a strong emphasis on seafood and fish, but corn-based recipes can be easily found as well.

Ask for the "platillo tipico" of the town, which is the local speciality that may not be found elsewhere, a variation, or the birthplace of a recipe. Also consider that most of the recipes change from place to place: for example, tamales in the south are made with the banana plant leaves, and in the Huasteca region tamales are very big (they are called "Zacahuil"); one is OK for a complete family.

If you are travelling here from Spain or elsewhere in Latin Ameri…

Drink

thumbnail|Tequila store in [[Tequila]] Tap water is potable, but generally not recommended for drinking. Hotels usually give guests one (large) bottle of drinking water per room per night. Bottled water is also readily available in supermarkets and at tourist attractions.

Absinthe is legal in Mexico. Tequila, distilled from Agave (a specific type of cactus) Pulque, ferment made from Maguey Mezcal, similar to tequila but distilled from Maguey Raicilla, a type of mezcal made in Jalisco Pox, whisky meets rum, distilled from grains and cane sugar, made in Chiapas Tepache, ferment made from pineapple Tuba, made from coconut palm tree thumb|A Mexican dark lager (Modelo Negra) and golden lager (Victoria) There are also several Mexican beers, most of which are available outside Mexico, these include Corona (popular, but not necessarily as overwhelmingly popular in Mexico as many foreigners think), Dos Equis (XX) and Modelo Especial.

Lighter Mexican beers are often served with lime and salt, though many Mexicans do not drink beer in this fashion. In some places you will find beer served as a prepared drink called "Michelada" or simply "Chelada". The formula varies depending on the place, but it's usually beer mixed with lime juice and various sauces and spices on ice served in a salt rim glass. Spicy beer is available in supermarkets; try it, it will be an experience. Other variation called "Cubana" includes Clamato cocktail, soybean sauce, salt and a little bit of hot sauce.

Mexic…

Sleep

thumbnail|Plaza de liberación and the cathedral, Guadalajara Several hotel chains are available throughout Mexico, including Palace Resorts, Le Blanc Spa Resort, Best Western, Holiday Inn, CityExpress, Fiesta Inn, Fairmont, Hilton, Ritz, Camino Real, Marriott (Sheraton, W, Westin, Four Points) and many others. Rates have risen considerably, though most are still reasonable compared to similar U.S. or European hotels. Chain accommodations are usually clean and comfortable, good for business travelers, but not necessarily for those wanting to experience Mexico itself. There are also many all-inclusive resorts for those visiting the major beach destinations.

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. A great source of information is Melba Levick's book Mexicasa, found in many libraries and online bookstores. Otherwise an authentic accommodation can usually be found by asking locals or gringos, especially in the smaller towns.

Smaller hotels and motels along the roadside may not be safe or comfortable. If you are unsure about conditions or the safety of the room, ask to see it before paying. This will not be considered rude. Decent hotels for a low budget are usually found around the central bus station of a town. If you are going to stay at cheaper hotels in cooler areas in the winter consider bringing extra clothes, an…

Stay safe

thumbnail|Mounted tourist police, Mexico City

Mexico has a reputation for being a dangerous country — a reputation that's not entirely unwarranted — but the average traveller should not be too overly concerned or cautious of their surroundings. A lot of the crime occurs between those involved in the drug trade or organised crime. (See drug traffic issues for more information)

In most cities, location is very important as security changes from place to place. Areas close to downtown (centro) are safer to walk at night, especially on the "Plaza", "Zócalo" or "Jardín" (main square) and areas nearby. Stay in populated areas, avoid poor neighborhoods, especially at night, and don't walk there at any time if you are alone. Vicious beatings have been reported at resorts by people who have travelled alone, so stay alert for any suspicious-looking individual. If you wish to visit one of the slums, you should only go as part of a guided tour with a reputable guide or tour company.

Political violence in Chiapas and Oaxaca has abated, and is far less of a threat than drug-related crime. However, Mexican authorities do not look approvingly on foreigners who participate in demonstrations (even peaceful ones) or voice support for groups such as the Ejército Zapatista de Liberación Nacional and its leader, Subcomandante Marcos, even if their images and slogans are commonly sold on t-shirts and caps in markets.

Do not wave cash or credit cards around. Use them discreetly and put them away…

Stay healthy

Some parts of Mexico are known for travelers' diarrhea, often called "Montezuma's Revenge" (Venganza de Moctezuma). The reason for this is not so much the spicy food but the contamination of the water supply in some of the poorer zones in Mexico. In most of the small towns that are less industrialized, only the poorest Mexicans will drink tap water. The best policy is to only drink bottled or purified water, both of which are readily available. Be sure to specify bottled water in restaurants and avoid ice (which is often not made from purified water). Just like in the US, in most major Mexican cities the water is purified at the cities' water company. In most restaurants in these poor zones, the only water served comes from large jugs of purified water. If you get sick, visit your local clinic as soon as possible. There is medicine available that will counter the bacteria.

Medicine in urban areas is highly developed, public hospitals are just as good as public hospitals in US, and just as the American public hospitals, they are always full. It's recommended going to private hospitals for faster service.

Before traveling to rural areas of Mexico, it might be a good idea to obtain anti-malarial medications from your health care provider.

It is strongly advised that the traveler be sure that any meats they are consuming have been thoroughly cooked due to an increasing rate of roundworm infections, particularly in the Acapulco area.

Along with the risk for malaria, mosquitoes…

Respect

thumb|Festival in [[San Miguel de Allende]] Mexicans have a somewhat relaxed sense of time so it's vital to be patient. Arriving half an hour late is common and should not be taken in a negative light.

When anyone, even a total stranger, sneezes, you always say "¡salud!" ("bless you!" or more literally, "your health!"): otherwise, it is considered rude. In rural areas, particularly in the Mexican heartland (Jalisco, Zacatecas, Aguascalientes, etc.), the even more pious "Jesús te bendiga" (May Jesus bless you) will follow a sneeze.

Attitudes towards LGBT travellers can be hostile in more rural states, but Mexico City is very LGBT friendly as are popular beach resort areas such as Cancun, Puerto Vallarta, and Acapulco. By court order, all states in Mexico either allow the performance of same-sex marriages, or recognize such marriages when performed in other states. Same-sex marriage is performed in Mexico City and in the states of Aguascalientes, Baja California, Baja California Sur, Campeche, Chiapas, Chihuahua, Coahuila, Colima, Hidalgo, Jalisco, Michoacán, Morelos, Nayarit, Nuevo León, Oaxaca, Puebla, Quintana Roo, San Luis Potosí, Sinaloa, Sonora and Tlaxcala as well as in certain municipalities in Guerrero and Zacatecas. It is pending publication in Querétaro, and being prepared for legislation in Yucatán. Southern Mexico City is the best place in terms of tolerance.

When entering churches, always take off any sunglasses, caps or hats. Wearing shorts is rarely a proble…