Category:Mexico

From MyVacationsTo

Mexico [1] 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. Mexico has nice and warm people, unique food, art and archeology, pyramids, museums, Haciendas, 6,000 miles of shores, superb architecture and cities, weather from snow mountains in the Sierras, to rainy jungles in the Southeast and desert in the Northwest, more than 50 golf courses, excellent fishing, world top destinations like Acapulco, Cancun, Cozumel, Los Cabos, Patzcuaro, among others amenities. Mexico is ranked 8th major destination for foreigner visitors, according to WTO.

Contents 1 Cities 2 Other destinations 3 Understand 3.1 Climate 3.2 Landscape 3.3 Holidays 4 Get in 4.1 From the United States 4.2 By train 4.3 By car 4.4 By bus 4.5 By boat 5 Get around 5.1 By car 5.2 By air 5.3 By bus 5.4 By thumb 6 Get out 7 Talk 8 Buy 9 Do 10 Eat 11 Drink 12 Learn 13 Work 14 Sleep 15 Stay safe 16 Stay healthy 17 Respect 18 Contact

[edit] Cities

Mexico has many touristy cities; these are nine of the most traveled:

• Mexico City - Country capital, one of the largest cities in the world, find everything from parks, aztec ruins, colonial architecture, museums, nightlife and shopping.

• Acapulco - A beach destination in the state of Guerrero, is renowned for its warm climate and vibrant nightlife.

• Cancún - In the southern state of Quintana Roo, is famous for its turquoise color sea, warm climate year round and world-class nightlife.

• Cabo San Lucas - Beach destination in the Baja California peninsula, with a characteristic mediterranean weather.

• Guanajuato - World Heritage Site by UNESCO, a hilly colonial city home of cultural festivals.

• Merida - Colonial city in the southern state of Yucatan. Startpoint to visit the mayan world.

• Puebla - World Heritage Site by UNESCO, colonial city famous for its cuisine and cultural sites.

• Puerto Vallarta - In the state of Jalisco, a favorite beach in the pacific for Americans.

• San Miguel de Allende - Located in central Mexico in the state of Guanajuato, a hilly colonial city home to thousands of foreigners.

[edit] Other destinations

Archaeological Sites:

• Chichen Itza - Majestic Mayan city, declared "World Heritage," in 1988 and the only Mexican Wonder of the World.
• Uxmal - Impressive Maya city-state in the Puc Region, declared "World Heritage," in 1996.
• Ek Balam - Recently reconstructed Maya site, famous for its unique decorated stucco and stone carved temples.
• Tajin - In the state of Veracruz.
• Teotihuacan - In the state of Mexico, near Mexico City.

[edit] Understand

[edit] Climate

Varies from desert-like regions on the northwest part of the country (cities like Hermosillo, Ciudad Juarez, or Los Cabos); and temperate in the northeastern part (cities like Monterrey, Nuevo Laredo, Ciudad Acuña), but note that much of the northern Mexican territory gets very cold during the winter with average day time highs around 8C (39F) and 12C (59F), overnight lows avarage around -5C (24F) and snow is sometimes frequent in certain northern places like (Chihuahua, Durango, Coahuila, Nuevo Leon, and northern Tamaulipas) but can also occur at higher altittudes in the temperate forests in the central part of Mexico. Also, northern Mexico gets very hot during the summer with sudden violent storms in the afternoon, with heavy rain and hail, also an isolated tornado can occur with these storms but rarely, and the temperatures during the day can quickly exceed 39C (100F). The Bajio region is semiarid (cities like Aguascalientes, Leon and Zacatecas); and temperate forests in the central part of the country {Mexico City, Toluca}, and tropical rain forests in the south and southeast regions like (Chiapas, Cancun). During hurricane season, hurricanes are common in the coastal cities specially those near the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico.

[edit] Landscape

High, rugged mountains; low coastal plains; high plateaus; temperate plains with grasslands and Mezquite trees in the northeast, desertic in the northwest, tropical rainforests in the south and southeast {Chiapas, Cancun} semiarid in places like {Aguascalientes, San Luis Potosi} and temperate coniferous and deciduous forests in the central part of the country {Mexico City, Toluca}.

[edit] Holidays

• January 1st
• February 5th: Constitution Day(1917)
• February 24th: Flag Day
• March 21st: Birth of Benito Juárez (1806), 2006 is bicentennial year.
• May 1st: Labour Day.
• May 5th: Puebla Battle (against the French army, 19th century). (Not an official holiday anymore)
• September 16th: Independence day (from Spain)(1821).
• November 2nd: Day of the dead (Not an official holiday anymore)
• November 20th: Revolution day (1910).
• December 25th: Christmas.

Easter is widely observed nationwide, according to the yearly catholic calendar.

[edit] Get in

[edit] From the United States

Keep your visa documents when leaving the United States of America

• If you are not a US citizen holding a visa for the US (including the green "waiver" visas people from Western countries get at US borders), you will have both a visa stamp in your passport and a loose immigration document (often a green card) that the US customs officer puts in your passport. When entering Mexico from the US (either by land or by plane): if you intend to come back to the US after your stay, do not try to hand the green immigration document back to US customs (they normally don't ask for it). You can enter the US multiple times during the time allocated to your visa (for Western tourists, normally 90 days), but you need to have the immigration document as well to validate the visa. If you come back from the US without that document, you will not only have to apply again for a new visa (which is on land borders as in Tijuana costly (6-20 $) and may take a whole afternoon if you happen to be in a queue with hundreds of Mexican applicants), but you will also be asked severe questions by US immigration. So keep the immigration document with you until you leave North America for good.

[edit] By train

Passenger trains are very limited in Mexico with only a few lines in opperation in places like the Copper Canyon in the northern state of Chihuahua, that line is also known as the {Chihuahua Pacific Railway} since its final destination is the Pacific coastal city of Tobolobampo in the state of Sinaloa. In the state of Jalisco there is also also a line which travels from the state capital city Guadalajara to its final destination in the small town of Tequila, this is why this line is called the {Tequila Express}. In the Yucatan Penninsula there is a line of passenger trains which runs from Villahermosa through Campeche, Merida, Playa del Carmen and its final destination being the city of Cancun, this train also runs through a few Mayan ruins including Chichen-Itza and this gives it its name of the {expreso Maya} which is spanish for {Mayan express}.

[edit] By car

American automobile insurance is not accepted in Mexico, therefore the Department of Transportation advises traveling to Mexico by air, sea, or walking where possible. Should you decide to drive to Mexico despite the advisory, the Transport and Communications Secretariat website [2] has free downloadable road maps.

[edit] 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.

[edit] By boat

• Border crossing from Guatemala.

[edit] Get around

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

[edit] 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. If you are asked to unpack any part of your vehicle, do so without complaint. It is their right to make you completely unload in order for them to inspect your cargo.

Tourists are often warned about traveling on roads at night. Although banditos are rare in more metropolitan areas, err on the side of caution in more rural areas. The best bet is to only drive during daylight hours. Cattle, dogs, and other animals can also appear on the roadway unexpectedly so if you do have to drive at night, be very cautious.

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.

At petrol (gas) stations, make sure the pump is zeroed out before the attendant begins pumping your gas so that you don't end up paying more than you should.

See also: Driving in Mexico

[edit] By air

Domestic air travel will be via a Mexican airline or private plane, as international airlines are prohibited from operating domestic flights. Mexicana [3] 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.

Airports in mexican cities:

• Acapulco / Guerr.
• Aguascalientes / Aguas.
• Campeche / Camp.
• Cancún / Q. Roo
• Cd. de México / D.F.
• Cd. del Carmen / Camp.
• Cd. Juárez / Chih.
• Cd. Obregon / Son.
• Cd. Victoria / Tamps.
• Chetumal / Q. Roo
• Chihuahua / Chih.
• Colima / Col.
• Cozumel / Q. Roo
• Cuernavaca / Mor.
• Culiacan / Sin.
• Durango / Dur.
• Guadalajara / Jal.
• Guanajuato / Gto.
• Guaymas / Son.
• Hermosillo / Son.
• Huatulco / Oax.
• Ixt./Zihuataneco / Guerr.
• La Paz / Baja Cal. Sur
• León / Gto.
• Loreto / Baja Cal. Sur
• Los Cabos / Baja Cal. S.
• Los Mochis / Sin.
• Manzanillo / Col.
• Matamoros / Tamps.
• Mazatlán / Sin.
• Mérida / Yuc.
• Mexicali / Baja Cal.
• Minatitlán / Ver.
• Monterrey / Nvo. León
• Morelia / Mich.
• Nogales / Son.
• Nuevo Laredo / Tamps.
• Oaxaca / Oax.
• Pachuca / Hdgo.
• Poza Rica / Ver.
• Pto. Escondido / Oax.
• Pto. Vallarta / Jal.
• Puebla / Pue.
• Querétaro / Quer.
• Reynosa / Tamps.
• San Luis Potosí / SLP
• Tampico / Tamps.
• Tamuín / SLP
• Tapachula / Chiap.
• Tehuacan / Pue.
• Tepic / Nay.
• Tijuana / Baja Cal.
• Toluca / Edo. de México
• Torreón / Coah.
• Tuxtla Gutiérrez / Chiap.
• Uruapan / Mich.
• Veracruz / Ver.
• Villahermosa / Tab.
• Zacatecas / Zac.

Main national airlines:

• Aerocalifornia
• Aerolitoral
• Aeromar
• Aeroméxico
• Alma de México*
• Aviacsa
• Avolar*
• Click Mexicana*
• Interjet*
• Líneas Aéreas Azteca*
• Magnicharters
• Mexicana
• VivaAerobus*
• Volaris*

Low Cost Airlines*

[edit] By bus

If traveling 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 traveling 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 on 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 approximately.

[edit] 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.

[edit] Get out

Over Tenosique, La Palma, by boat on the river Rio San Pedro to Naranja (Guatemala). This route is not used by many and still has a touch of adventure. Stay firm when negotiating over the price. Absolutely important! Make sure you get your passport stamped before you leave Naranja or you might catch one of the rare buses back and take a walk through the jungle as the emigrations office is part up the river between the Mexican border and the village.

[edit] Talk

Spanish is the main language. You can get by with English in most top 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.

See also: Spanish phrasebook

[edit] Buy

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. As of April 2007 the exchange rate hovers around $10.94 MXN to $1.00 USD.

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. ATMs in smaller towns can run out of currency; sometimes this is a regular occurence. Check with the bank (or locals) about the best time to use the ATM and don't wait until the very last minute to get cash.

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. Reputedly, this is more the case the further South you go.

Merchants are often reluctant to make change in smaller towns. Try to avoid paying with overly large denominations; the best customer has exact change.

• Indigenous Art A visit to anywhere in Mexico will give one the opportunity to buy art made in the "old world" manner that reflects the diverse ethnicity of Mexico. Included in these articles would be textiles, wood carvings, paintings and carved masks [[4]] that are used on sacred dances and burials.

[edit] Do

• Surfing - Vallarta, Oaxaca
• Snorkeling - Cancun, Cozumel, Isla Mujeres, etc.
• Scuba diving - Cancun, Cozumel, Isla Mujeres, Acapulco, Cabo San Lucas etc.
• Swim with Dolphins- Cancun, Cozumel, Isla Mujeres, Vallarta, Cabo San Lucas, etc.
• Visit a Volcano - Mexico, Toluca etc.
• Go to the Beach - Cancun, Cozumel, Isla Mujeres, Acapulco, Vallarta,
• Take a ride on the Copper Canyon Railway
• Visit the archaeological sites - Chichen Itza, Tulum, Coba, Monte Alban, Calakmul, Palenque, etc
• Aquatours - Riviera Maya, Cancun, Isla Mujeres, Cabo San Luca, Vallarta, Acapulco, etc

[edit] Eat

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?).

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. In doing so, you may (or may not) find some of the most unique and genuinely mexican dishes you've ever had. From this vendors, you may find tacos, burgers, bread and almost any kind of food and service you would imagine (even cell phones, books, or toys).

• 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 en nogada: A big Poblano chile covered with nut sauce. Served nationwide on September.
• 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.

You can measure the quality of food by popularity, do not eat on lonely places, even if they are restaurants or hotels.

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.

[edit] Drink

• Absinth [[5]] is legal in Mexico.
• 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, especially 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.

Alcoholimeters are widely used in driving roads If drinking, always have a designated driver. Driving under the influence of an alcoholic beverage may result in up to 3 days in jail.

[edit] Learn

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.

[edit] Work

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 somewhat low.

[edit] Sleep

A number of hotel chains are available throughout Mexico, including Best Western, Holiday Inn, Fiesta Inn, Fairmont, Hilton, Ritz, Camino Real, Starwood (Sheraton, W, Westin, Four Points) and many others. All offer reasonable rates, and mostly clean accommodations, good for business travelers, but not necessarily for those wanting to experience Mexico itself. Smaller hotels and motels along the roadside may not be safe or comfortable. 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. There are also many all-inclusive resorts for those visiting the major beach destinations.

The best (most authentic) accommodations can usually be found by asking locals or gringos, especially in the smaller towns. If you are unsure about the safety or conditions of the room ask to see it before paying. This will not be considered rude.

If you are going to be in cooler areas in the winter consider bringing an electric blanket - as there is power, but no heat in the cheaper hotels. And although it may get quite hot by afternoon outside, adobe and cement are like fridges. An electric tea kettle is also a good idea, hot water might not be available when you want it.

If you're traveling with children, use a plastic case (with wheels and a handle) as luggage, and it can be used as a bathtub for the kids if necessary. Budget hotels rarely, if ever, have tubs.

[edit] Stay safe

In most of the 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", "Zocalo" or "Jardin" (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.

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.

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. If pulled over by a police officer soliciting a bribe, do not pay the amount requested, but pull out USD$30 or MXN$300 pesos, and explain that it is all you have. This technique has worked in the past, but is corruption. The fine for speeding could be as much as US$100, depending on the city.

When in majour 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.

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.

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.

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.

Jellyfish stings: vinegar or mustard on the skin, take some to the beach with you.

Stingray stings: water as hot as you can bear - the heat deactivates the poison.

[edit] Stay healthy

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, it 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.

[edit] 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.

• The overwhelming majourity 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, especially in small towns, but it should not be that much of a problem in large cities.

• 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 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.

• Machismo. This refers to male chauvinism or sexism, which is falling out favor, but is commonly reflected and accepted in Mexican cuture. It can be defined as domination or imposing will on a wife or sister. It can also be defined as also trying to do the same to males or reflect pride and honor. While it usually is not directed towards visitors, it can be, in a variety of strengths. It is best to pretend not to notice or to just react in a humble way and move on.

[edit] Contact

You can call from public phones using prepaid tel. cards tarjetas ladatel, bought at magazine stalls. Cards can be purchased in $30, $50 or $99 peso denominations. The rate to call the US is roughly equivalent to $0.50 USD per minute. Beware these are different than tarjetas amigo, viva, or unefon: they are for cellphones.

Some areas have only a few internet cafes; in others, they are plentiful. Common fees vary from 7 pesos/hour to 20 pesos/hour. Currently, most of the internet cafes are offering calls to US for a better rate than a payphone.