WorldTourist.com {home} ABOUT - Mexico, Mexico City Climate | Destinations | Events | Food | Foreign Visitors | History | Language | Lodging | Maps | Money | Parks | Pic's of area | Recreation | Resorts | Seasons | Tours | Contact Us | Travel | Load Thumbnails | Tips | Warnings! |
Climate- Deserts in the north; sub-tropical and humid in the south. Most of Mexico is mountainous .(Sierra Madre Occidental in the west and Sierra Madre Oriental in the east). There are high rugged mountains, low coastal plains, high plateaus, and deserts. The highest point is Mt. Citlaltepetl at 18,700 ft.
Destinations- Contact WorldTourist to list your company here!
Scenic Areas: Baja California, Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlan (best beaches on Stone Island- really just a peninsula- tallest lighthouse- Dinner prices $15-25. typical, Acapulco, Durango, Copper Canyon, Mexico City, Cuernavaca, Taxco, Guadalajara,Oaxaca, Palenque, Merida, Chichen Itza, Yucatan, Cancun, Cozumel, Vera Cruz, Tampico, and Monterrey.
Mexico City (formerly Tenochtitlan, Aztec capital): In 1521 Cortez conquered the new world on behalf of Spain. He overcame Montezuma, ruler of the Aztec people and built palaces and cathedrals on many of the very sites of the indigenous temples. Now many of the people speak Spanish, and the country is predominately Catholic. While in Mexico City (18 million population, the largest city in the world), you may visit the Floating Gardens, the University of Mexico, Bazaar Sabado, Aztec Soccer Stadium, Constitution Square, and Chepultapec Park. Cuernavaca, just south of Mexico City, is known as 'the city of eternal spring'. It is filled with tropical flowers.
Recreation: Tourism is the country's 2nd largest source of income. The west coast, from Mazatlan to Acapulco, is known as the Mexican Riviera. At Acapulco, divers fall 130 ft. from cliffs overlooking the ocean. There are many magnificent hotels and accommodations where you may swim, sunbathe, golf, ride horses, scuba dive, shop, dine, and dance. Veracruz, Cancun, and Cozumel are just as popular on the east coast. The Yucatan is situated on the world's 2nd largest barrier reef. scuba diving is done in VERY clear water; visibility is 175 ft. down. At Cancun, the sand is white and powdery like talcum powder. Nearby are the Mayan ruins of Tulum and Chichen Itza. To the west and further inland, are the ruins of Palenque. In the rainforest you will find Agua Azul, where 500 individual falls converge. The water is a beautiful aqua because of the presence of crushed turquoise. On the northwest coast of the Yucatan is Merida, filled with elegant colonial architecture and European-style mansions. At one time, home to the most millionaires in the world. 500 miles southwest of Merida lies Oaxaca. Here the colonial-style buildings have caused the country to declare the entire city as a national monument. You will find many street-side cafes similar to those found in France, Spain, and Italy. Nearby is Monte Alban, where there is a large temple site. On the Gulf-coast lowlands are the remains of the Olmec civilization. They fashioned huge heads out of stone. Southwest of Mexico City is Taxco, where many beautiful articles of silver are fashioned. In fact, Mexico is #1 in world silver production. Northwest of Mexico City is the country's largest lake: Lake Chapala. It is a popular vacation spot for locals as well as tourists. Cabo San Lucas is at the bottom tip of Baja California. Cabo is home to huge rock formations and arches that jut out into the sea. Off the coast of Baja is a good place for whale-watching. The area is famous for it's sport fishing. Mexico's handicrafts include: baskets, ceramics, silver jewelry, textiles, leather, and glassware. One of her great artists was Diego Rivera. He painted large historic murals.
When to go: Summer tends to get fairly hot. Spring, fall, and winter would be a more temperate choice. In the mountains and high plateau areas, nights can get cold. Save money, and go slightly off-season. Avoid major holidays like Christmas and Easter.
Events: Independence Day, September 16 (1810), Mothers day is May 10th in Mexico.
Day of the Dead, November 1st. This is the day that the deceased are honored. There are parades and celebrations. (Mexicans love to celebrate). Fresh flowers are placed on the graves.
Ballet Folklorico: Native costumes, dances, and music.
Food: Corn, tomatoes, tortillas, avocadoes, squash, potatoes, papaya, pineapple, guava, mango, chocolate, and vanilla.
Northern: ranch-style BBQ meat and beans spiced with chiles & salsa
Central: Seafood along the Pacific coast. Inland: spices, nuts, chilies, and fruits. (Puebla's mole sauce)
Southeastern: Banana leaves replace corn husks for the Yucatan tamale. Food is milder. Sauces are seasoned with sour oranges, garlic, and black pepper.
Drinks: Tequila, Kahlua, cerveza (beer), Sangria (red wine and citrus juices), and aguas frescas (fruit-sweetened mineral water). See Warnings below!
Foreign Visitors: US citizens are required to have a tourist card. Available from auto clubs, travel agents, border crossing stations, Mexican insurance agencies, offices of airlines, cruise ships, and bus companies. You will need to show proof of citizenship: a valid passport or certified birth certificate. Carry your tourist card and proof of citizenship at all times.
History: 1519: Cortez arrives from Spain
1810: Father Hidalgo begins a revolt
1813: Morelos continues the revolt
1821: Mexico declared independent
1846: war between Mexico and the USA
1848: Mexico cedes Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, and Calif. to the USA
1910: Mexico finally free
1910-1920: the times of Pancho Villa and Emilio Zapata, great rebel leaders
Language: mainly Spanish. 60% of the people are Mestizo (Amerindian-Spanish). 30% are Amerindian (Mayan, Nahuatl, etc). 9% are white. 1%, other.
Lodging & Links- Contact WorldTourist to list your company here!
Money- US Currency - Currency conversion from: www.oanda.com/convert/cheatsheet
Parks- (WorldTourist Search Page-Nat. Parks)
Recreation- Contact WorldTourist to list your company here!
Tours- Many of the taxi's are small open air cars with no doors, called Pulmonia. From the root word pneumonia. Some cars have 1/2 doors called penicillin. Contact WorldTourist to list your company here!
Seasons: Summer and their version of 'winter'. Deserts in the north. Mountain ranges run north to south in the west and east. High plateaus. Hot and humid in the south.
Travel: Many of the taxi's are small open air cars with no doors, called Pulmonia. From the root word pneumonia. Some cars have 1/2 doors called penicillin. Rental car, buses, tours, airplanes, trains. Rental car is probably the most convenient. You may hire a car and driver.
Tips: When in Mexico City, as in any large city in the world, be alert and watchful. Drink bottled water. Always have insurance on your vehicle. Be in good health and have all necessary shots up-to-date. Mexico's money system uses the peso, about 10 pesos to the dollar. You may use Visa, Traveler's Cheques, etc. Mexico has problems with air and water quality, but this is offset by their optimism.
Warnings: Mexico is a major supplier of heroin and marijuana to the US market and she is a significant money-laundering center. Mexican jails are not the country clubs of the US. If you are caught smoking pot in some tourist town you will get a two year sentence. The family is expected to bring you food, food is not supplied in jail. Be careful of the water you drink including ice in drinks. You may want to stick to bottled water and beer!
Back to top of page