MEXICO

OVERVIEW
'¡Viva Mexico!' was how Miguel Hidalgo rallied his fellow Mexicanos to the struggle against colonialism, and it is a cry that is repeated by the president and echoed throughout the land every 15 September - Independence Day. As slogans go, it could not be more apt; Mexico is bursting with life.
While many nations live to work, Mexico does the opposite. The people are vivacious lovers of free time and socializing, and work will never have the importance that friends and family do. The mother, giver of life, is honored and respected, and all children, whether belonging to locals or visitors, are doted upon.

The country's past seems to live at one with its present. In Mexico City, the Plaza de las Tres Culturas celebrates the three major cultures that have shaped Mexico: there are Aztec ruins, the 17th-century colonial church of San Diego and several late 20th-century buildings. Even the dead are alive here, at least once a year; on the Day of the Dead, the living bring gifts to their dearly departed and spend the night in their company, remembering and celebrating how things used to be.

Where the Caribbean Sea meets the Yucatan Peninsula, coral reefs come alive, with sea creatures, great and small. The Pacific coast attracts elephant seals and spectacular gray whales, who choose Mexico to breed and give birth, year after year. Nor is the desert a barrier to life - it is home to agave, the mother of all tequilas. The blue plant has a lot to answer for in Acapulco and Cancún, where humans come ashore after a day in the surf to flirt in bars and nightclubs. The biggest mass of teeming life in the whole of Mexico, is of course, its capital, where 20 million people (a fifth of the whole population) squeeze in together to work and play, live and love, die... and come back to life.

MEXICAN EMBASSY IN THE USA
1911 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20006, USA
Tel: (202) 728 1600.
Website: www.embassyofmexico.org

MEXICAN EMBASSY IN THE UK
16 St George Street, Hanover Square, London W1S 1LX, UK
Tel: (020) 7499 8586 or 7201 0961-3 (visa section).
Website: www.sre.gob.mx/reinounido

LOCATION
Central America

TIME
Central Standard Time: GMT - 6 (GMT - 5 from first Sunday in April to last Sunday in October).
Mountain Standard Time: GMT - 7 (GMT - 6 from first Sunday in April to last Sunday in October).
Pacific Standard Time: GMT - 8 (GMT - 7 from first Sunday in April to last Sunday in October).

AREA
1,959,248 sq km (758,449 sq miles).

POPULATION
106.4 million (UN estimate 2005).

CAPTIAL
Mexico City. Population: 21 million (2003 estimate).

GEOGRAPHY
Mexico is at the southern extremity of North America and is bordered to the north by the USA, northwest by the Gulf of California, west by the Pacific, south by Guatemala and Belize, and east by the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean. Mexico's geographical features range from swamp to desert, and from tropical lowland jungle to high alpine vegetation. Over half the country is at an altitude greater than 1,000m (3,300ft). The central land mass is a plateau flanked by ranges of mountains to the east and west that lie roughly parallel to the coast. The northern area of this plateau is arid and thinly populated, and occupies 40% of the total area of Mexico. The southern area is crossed by a range of volcanic mountains running from Cape Corrientes in the west through the Valley of Mexico to Veracruz in the east, and includes the magnificent volcanoes of Cofre de Perote, Ixtaccíhuatl, Matlalcueyetl, Nevado de Toluca, Orizaba and Popocatépetl. This is the heart of Mexico and where almost half of the population lives. To the south, the land falls away to the sparsely populated Isthmus of Tehuantepec whose slopes and flatlands support both commercial and subsistence agriculture. In the east, the Gulf Coast and the Yucatán peninsula are flat and receive over 75% of Mexico's rain. The most productive agricultural region in Mexico is the northwest, while the Gulf Coast produces most of Mexico's oil and sulphur. Along the northwest coast, opposite the peninsula of Baja California, and to the southeast along the coast of Bahía de Campeche and the Yucatán peninsula, the lowlands are swampy with coastal lagoons.

GOVERNMENT
Republic since 1917. Gained independence from Spain in 1821.

HEAD OF STATE
President Felipe Calderon since 2006.

LANGUAGE
Spanish is the official language (spoken by more than 90%). English is widely spoken. 8% speak indigenous languages, of which Nátinate is most common.

RELIGION
89% Roman Catholic, 5% Protestant and 6% other denominations.

ELECTRICITY
110 volts AC, 60Hz. American two-pin (flat) plugs are usual.

SOCIAL CONVENTIONS
Handshaking is the most common form of greeting. Casual wear is acceptable for daytime dress throughout Mexico. At beach resorts, dress is very informal for men and women and nowhere are men expected to wear ties. In Mexico City, however, dress tends to be smart in elegant restaurants and hotel dining rooms. Smoking is unrestricted except where notified. Mexicans regard relationships and friendships as the most important thing in life next to religion and they are not afraid to show their emotions. A large Mexican family always seems to find room for one more and a visitor who becomes friends with a Mexican will invariably be made part of the family. Visitors should always remember that local customs and traditions are important.

PASSPORT/VISA
Passports are required by everyone traveling into Mexico valid for at least six months after date of entry. Visas are not required for British, Australian, Canadian, USA, and other EU members, but a return ticket is required. Nationals not referred to are advised to contact the embassy to check visa and passport requirements.

MONEY/CURRENCY
Mexican Peso (MXN; symbol M$) = 100 centavos. Notes are in denominations of M$1,000, 500, 200, 100, 50 and 20. Coins are in denominations of M$100, 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1, and 50, 20, 10 and 5 centavos. Note: The M$1,000 note is difficult to change and often not accepted. The M$100 and M$50 coins are rarely seen.

Currency Exchange
Currency exchange houses give a preferable rate of exchange to hotels and a much quicker service than banks. The exchange rate of the Mexican peso has been relatively stable recently.

Credit/Debit Cards and ATMs
Credit cards are not as widely accepted as in Europe or the USA. MasterCard and Visa are the two most widely accepted cards. American Express and Diners Club are accepted on a smaller scale. Some companies make an extra charge of around 5% on such transactions. There are ATMs in cities and most major tourist destinations nationwide, although not all debit cards are accepted, so check before leaving.

Traveler's Checks
ATMs and credit cards mean traveler's checks are less necessary as a means of carrying money. However, traveler's checks issued by well-known brands can be cashed in exchange houses, which again give a better rate than hotels and a quicker service than banks. Traveler's checks in Pounds Sterling and Euros are now as readily accepted as those in US Dollars.

Banking Hours

Mon-Fri 0900-1600; some banks are open longer hours and others are open on Saturday afternoon.

GETTING AROUND

Getting Around by Air

There is an excellent network of daily scheduled services between principal commercial centers operated by Aero California (website: www.aerocalifornia.com), Aeroméxico (website: www.aeromexico.com) and Mexicana (website: www.mexicana.com). Many of the smaller airports also have capacity for large planes and some international flights. A plethora of budget airlines have sprung up recently, although they do not fly to all destinations.

Departure Tax

US$30-60, usually included in the air fare, otherwise payable at the airport.

Getting Around by Water

Steamer ferries operate regularly between Mazatlán and La Paz (Baja California) daily; between Guaymas and Santa Rosalia, across the Gulf of California; between La Paz and Topolobampo three or four times weekly; and from Puerto Vallarta to Cabo San Lucas twice-weekly. Some west coast cruises include Pacific ports such as Mazatlán, Puerto Vallarta and Acapulco. There are also regular ferries from the mainland to the Caribbean Islands of Isla Mujeres and Cozumel. Ferry operators, their names, websites and schedules are in a constant state of flux. Advance bookings are very rarely needed or available.

Getting Around by Rail

Apart from a couple of minor services in certain areas, almost all long-distance passenger train services were discontinued in 2000. A spectacular route still in service is the Chihuahua-Pacific Railway, commonly known as El Chepe (tel: 01 (614) 439 7272 or 01 800 122 4373; website: www.chepe.com.mx). This runs between Chihuahua and Los Mochis and includes a stop in the Copper Canyon region. The Tequila Express (tel: 01 800 503 9720; website: www.tequilaexpress.com.mx) is a themed train journey between Guadalajara and Amatitan, run at weekends only.

Apart from these, the surviving scheduled passenger trains are state-subsidised social services for residents of remote areas. Reliable schedules for these are very difficult to obtain beyond the local area and should be checked when there for the most up-to-date information. Unsurprisingly, most people travel by bus since it is considerably faster and provides a far more extensive service. For further details and additional luxury services consult Mexlist (website: www.mexlist.com).

Getting Around by Road

Traffic drives on the right here, but is unpredictable, and only half the road network is paved. Confusingly, toll (CUOTA) and free (LIBRE) roads to the same destination often have the same highway ID number. Drivers in a hurry should follow the CUOTA signs. A third sign, LIBRAMIENTO, indicates a toll-paying bypass road. Cash is preferred at toll-booths. It is advisable to keep car doors and windows closed and locked, especially at traffic lights.

Coach: Coaches and buses link almost all towns and cities. Central bus terminals in major cities provide service and information on fares and schedules. Major operators include Estrella Blanca (tel: 01 800 507 5500; website: www.estrellablanca.com.mx) and Autotransportes Tufesa (tel: 01 800 737 8883; website: www.tufesa.com.mx).

Car hire: Self-drive cars are available at airports, city centres and resorts. All the established international agencies operate in Mexico. Reputable Internet-only agencies are worth a look for cheap deals. Beware of hidden extras with local firms.

Regulations: Speed limits are 30-70kph (19-43mph) in towns, 80-90kmph (50-56mph) on expressways and outside built-up areas and 110kph (68mph) on motorways, except in Chihuahua where the limit is 100kph (62mph). Car use in Mexico City is restricted so as to reduce pollution. The last digit of the car number plate determines when that car cannot be driven.

Emergency breakdown service: Rest areas at toll-booths provide ambulance and breakdown services. The Green Angels (tel: 01 800 903 9200) provide breakdown assistance to tourists, with free labour and parts at cost.

Documentation: An International Driving Permit or a full national driving licence is required. The minimum driving age is 18. Check insurance is included in hire-car agreements. Mexican vehicle insurance is compulsory (see Getting There).

Getting Around Towns and Cities

Mexico City: The Metro system is cheap and efficient, with frequent trains, flat fares and smart-card prepaid tickets. However, it is often crowded and some familiarity with the city is necessary to use it successfully. The Metro opens Mon-Sat at 0600 (Sun 0700) and closes at about midnight. There is also a small tramway network, and extensive bus and trolley bus services. The latter system has recently been modernised, and also has a flat fare.

Four different types of taxi operate in Mexico City. Yellow and white taxis (usually Volkswagens) are metered, as are orange taxis (sitio), which are available at taxi-stands. These charge slightly more, and it is advisable to agree on the fare before starting the journey. Turismo taxis with English-speaking drivers are available outside main hotels. They are not metered and fares should be agreed before starting journey as rates can be excessive. Peseros (green and white) are share-taxis travelling on fixed routes, for which fares are charged according to the distance travelled. Radio taxis charge double fee but are very secure. Tipping is not compulsory for any of the taxi services.

Guadalajara: There is a state-run bus and trolley bus service in Guadalajara, together with extensive private bus services.

COMMUNICATIONS

Telephone
Country code: 52. Long-distance calls are very expensive.

Mobile Telephone
Roaming agreements exist with a few international mobile phone companies. Handsets can be hired. Coverage is variable.

Internet
Internet is available in all regions, particularly the main tourist areas.

Post
Post office hours: Typically Mon-Fri 0900-1700. Some larger branches open on Saturday morning for a reduced range of services. In Mexico City, the Correo Mayor (main post office) is behind the Palacio de Bellas Artes and opens Mon-Sat 0800-2100 and Sun 0800-1900.

Media
In the 2006 ‘Press Freedom Index', issued by Reporters without Borders, Mexico was close to the bottom of the league, the worst country (excepting Cuba) in the Americas. Mexican reporters who get too close to drug-cartel or political corruption stories have a habit of ending up dead or disappeared.

Press
The major daily newspapers published in Spanish are Esto, Excélsior, EL Financiero, El Heraldo de México, La Jornada, La Prensa and El Universal. The English-language papers available are Mexico City Times, New York Times, The News and USA Today.

CLIMATE

On the high central plateau, in cities like Mexico City and Guadalajara, the weather is mild throughout the year, though a little cooler from December through to March. The wettest months on the plateau are the summer months, where there will typically be an hour of two of rain per day. Inland, northern Mexico is mostly desert, hot in the day, and cold in the night. In southern Mexico, the mountainous regions blow hot and cold with pleasant climates lower down. Baja California, Mexico's pacific peninsula gets very little rain throughout the year. Winters are comfortable, and summers are very hot, though resorts like Cabo San Lucas benefit from a sea breeze. The country's central pacific coast, home to resorts such as Puerto Vallarta and Acapulco is hot, sunny and humid almost throughout the year, but the coast and comfortable climate, but in the late summer months, heavy rains come with the hurricanes. The beach resorts of the Yucatán Peninsula, including Cancún, enjoy similar summers to Acapulco, but suffer even more from hurricanes.

REQUIRED CLOTHING

This varies from area to area. Natural fibres are best in the heat, but have a sweater on hand as the nights are generally cooler. A sun hat will help to avoid dehydration. In the mountains, heavier clothing will be required. In general Mexicans are casual about dress, but for visits to churches, long sleeves and long skirts or trousers are required, while theatres and upmarket restaurants may have specific dress codes

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