Mexico

From MaxTravelz

For the Mexican State of Mexico, see Mexico (state).

Mexico is a country in North America, lying between the United States of America to the north, Belize to the southeast and Guatemala to the southwest, it has both a Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico coast to the east and a North Pacific Ocean coast to the west.

Contents 1 Regions 2 Cities 3 Other destinations 4 Understand 4.1 History 4.2 People 4.3 Climate 4.4 Holidays 5 Get in 5.1 From the United States 5.2 By train 5.3 By car 5.4 By bus 5.5 By boat 6 Get around 6.1 By bus 6.2 By thumb 7 Get out 8 Talk 9 Buy 9.1 Economy 10 Eat 11 Drink 12 Learn 13 Work 14 Stay safe 15 Stay healthy 16 Respect 17 Contact

Regions

• Baja California -- The western peninsula
• Northern Mexico -- The border states
• The Bajio -- historic states in traditional silver-mining region
• Central Mexico -- center, surrounding the capital city
• Mexico City -- The nation's capital and one of the world's most populous cities
• Pacific Coast -- tropical beaches on Mexico's southern coast
• Yucatan Peninsula -- Jungle and Mayan ruins

See also: List of Mexican states

Cities

Mexico has many cities; these are some of the most travelled.

• Acapulco
• Cancun
• Cabo San Lucas
• Guadalajara
• Guanajuato
• Ixtapa
• Manzanillo
• Mazatlan
• Mexico City
• Monterrey
• Morelia
• Puerto Vallarta
• Queretaro
• San Miguel de Allende
• Tijuana
• Veracruz
• Zihuatanejo

Other destinations

Understand

Some information in this section has been adapted from a CIA World Factbook 2002 import.

Country name 

conventional long form: United Mexican States
conventional short form: Mexico
local short form: México
local long form: Estados Unidos Mexicanos

Government type 

federal republic

Current president 

Vicente Fox (from the political party PAN)

Capital 

México City (Distrito Federal)

Administrative divisions 

31 states (estados, singular - estado) and 1 federal district* (distrito federal); Aguascalientes, Baja California, Baja California Sur, Campeche, Chiapas, Chihuahua, Coahuila, Colima, Distrito Federal*, Durango, Guanajuato, Guerrero, Hidalgo, Jalisco, Mexico, Michoacan, Morelos, Nayarit, Nuevo Leon, Oaxaca, Puebla, Queretaro, Quintana Roo, San Luis Potosi, Sinaloa, Sonora, Tabasco, Tamaulipas, Tlaxcala, Veracruz, Yucatan, Zacatecas

History

The site of advanced Amerindian civilizations, Mexico came under Spanish rule for three centuries before achieving independence early in the 19th century. A devaluation of the peso in late 1994 threw Mexico into economic turmoil, triggering the worst recession in over half a century. The nation continues to make an impressive recovery. Ongoing economic and social concerns include low real wages, underemployment for a large segment of the population, inequitable income distribution, and few advancement opportunities for the largely Amerindian population in the impoverished southern states. Elections held in July 2000 marked the first in its history that the opposition defeated the party in government through elections, the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI). Vicente Fox of the National Action Party (PAN) was sworn in on 1 December 2000 as the first chief executive elected in free and fair elections.

People

Population 

103.1 million (2005 census preliminary data)

Nationality 

noun: Mexican(s)
adjective: Mexican

Ethnic groups 

mestizo (Amerindian-Spanish) 60%, Amerindian or predominantly Amerindian 30%, white 9%, other 1%

Religions 

nominally Roman Catholic 89%, Protestant 6%, other 5%

Climate

Area - comparative 

slightly less than three times the size of Texas

Climate 

varies from tropical to desert

Terrain 

high, rugged mountains; low coastal plains; high plateaus; desert; tropical rainforests in the south and Yucatán Peninsula.

Elevation extremes 

lowest point: Laguna Salada -10 m
highest point: Volcan Pico de Orizaba (Citlatepetl) 5,700 m

Holidays

• January 1st
• 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).
• November 21st: Revolution day (1910).
• December 12th: Our Lady of Guadalupe.
• December 25th: Christmas.

Get in

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.

Entering Mexico:

Most foreign nationals are allowed to stay in the "border zone" of Mexico for a period of 72 hours without a visa. If you drive in, you will go through a device which will randomly show either a red or green light. A green light allows you to enter without being searched, and a red light means that your vehicle will be searched. If you walk in, it is highly unlikely that you will be asked any questions. Although people entering Mexico are rarely asked for a passport or other form of identification, it is very important that you cary these documents. If you are coming from the United States, a United States citizen currently must present a valid photo identification (driver's license, state ID, military ID) to re-enter the country. Foreign nationals of course should carry their passports and any applicable visas. Beginning of December 31, 2006, everybody, including US citizens, must show a passport to enter the country if arriving by air or sea, and also by land beginning on December 31, 2007. If you intend to proceed further into Mexico or stay longer than 72 hours in the border zone, you must apply for a document called an FMT. Many people are unaware of this, but it is very important because without it, you are an illegal immigrant in Mexico. If you are flying into the country, forms will usually be given to you when you check in for your flight or during the flight. You fill them out on the plane, then present them to an official of Mexico's Institute Nacional de Migración (INM) upon arrival in the country. It is up to this official how long you will be allowed to stay in Mexico. They are technically allowed to give up to 180 days, but very often give only 90 days or less. Be sure to inform the official on how long you will be in the country. You also must present to the official proof of your identity and nationality, preferably a passport. US citizens and possibly others can also present their original birth certificate and valid photo identification, however this will all change soon when US citizens will be required to carry passports in order to re-enter the United States. If everything is in order, the official will stamp the document and hand it back to you after writing on it the number of days you are allowed to stay in Mexico. Do not lose this. If you fly out of Mexico, it will be collected by the airline, who will fine you if you can not present it. If you enter Mexico by land, the situation is more complicated since foreigners are allowed to enter the border zone without having an FMT. If you are driving, you can stop at the border to do this or at the checkpoint which marks the end of the border zone. If you are travelling by bus, however, you MUST have the FMT issued before arriving at the checkpoint. If you walk in, you can easily take care of this at the border, or, if you are going through Tijuana, there is an INM office at the bus station which issues FMTs. If you are on a bus crossing the border directly, make sure the driver will stop at the border so you can get your FMT. The fee for the FMT is 210 pesos, about US$20. When you fly in, this fee is included in the price of your ticket. However, when you arrive by land, this fee must be paid before you leave the country. Usually you can go to a number of banks (they're listed on the back of the card) and pay the bank who will stamp the card indicating that you have paid. There is usually a bank at most major border crossings so you can take care of this immediately. Sometimes at these crossing which have a bank, the official will instruct you to go to the bank first before he will issue the FMT.

Those under age 18 travelling by themselves or with only one parent will need written authorization from the absent parent(s). Contact a Mexican Embassy or Consulate for specifics on this.

US Green Card Holders: If you are a foreign national residing in the US as a permanent resident (green card holder) you do not need a visa to visit Mexico. You do need to have a valid passport and valid green card with you for the duration of your travel.

By train

By car

The Mexican highway system varies from fast and smooth to downright dangerous. Entering Mexico by car is fairly painless, but traversing the country by car should not be attempted without a good understanding of the Spanish language and Mexican culture. As most auto insurance policies from the US do not cover driving in Mexico, insurance should be purchased and can be obtained by the day or for longer periods.

Up to date and detailed PDF road maps for every state of the republic are available at the Transport and Communications Secretariat website []

By bus

There are several Mexican bus companies which operate direct service between major US and Mexican cities. If you take one of these cross-border services, make sure you get off the bus at the border to get an FMT (see Entering Mexico, above). It is also very easy to arrive at a major US border city, cross the border by foot, and catch a bus to almost anywhere in Mexico. Departures are usually very frequent.

By boat

• Border crossing from Guatemala.

Get around

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

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. 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. They should treat you with respect as well, and they usually do.

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.

For a useful website for first class schedules and prices largely in southern Mexico, see http://www.ticketbus.com.mx.

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.

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.

Talk

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. 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, the native language like Mayan or Nahuatl is 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

Buy

Economy

Economy - overview 

Mexico has a free market economy with a mixture of modern and outmoded industry and agriculture, increasingly dominated by the private sector. Recent administrations have expanded competition in seaports, railroads, telecommunications, electricity, natural gas distribution, and airports. Income distribution remains highly unequal. Trade with the US and Canada has tripled since the implementation of NAFTA in 1994. Following 6.9% growth in 2000, real GDP fell 0.3% in 2001, with the US slowdown the principal cause. Positive developments in 2001 included a drop in inflation to 6.5%, a sharp fall in interest rates, and a strong peso that appreciated 5% against the dollar. The mexican government implemented free trade agreements with Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, and the European Free Trade Area in 2001, putting more than 90% of trade under free trade agreements. Foreign direct investment reached $25 billion in 2001, of which $12.5 billion came from the purchase of Mexico's second largest bank, Banamex, by Citigroup.

Population below poverty line 

40% (2001 est.)

Unemployment rate 

urban - 3% plus considerable underemployment (2001)

Currency 

Mexican peso (MXN)

Beware that the symbol used for pesos is the same as for US dollars. That is, if you see a sign reading $20, it means 20 pesos (about 2 dollars). Prices in dollars (in tourist areas) are labelled US$2.

Exchange rates 

Mexican pesos per US dollar - 11.066 (apr 2006)

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?).

• Tacos
• Tamales
• Tortas
• Quesadillas
• Mole
• Pozole
• Gorditas
• Guacamole
• Tostadas

Drink

• Tequila
• Pulque
• Mezcal

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
• Pacifico
• Tecate
• Indio
• Bohemia
• Carta Blanca
• Sol
• Superior
• Victoria
• Montejo
• León

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 lemon juice, Clamato cocktail, soybean sauce, salt and a little bit of hot sauce.

The legal drinking age in Mexico is 18. In many places, consumption of alcohol in public ("open container") is illegal and usually punishable by a day in jail.

Learn

Some mexican universities are very important, such as UNAM (ranked 95° worldwide), 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.

Work

Native English speakers can pick up work, as always, as English teachers. This may require a work visa, which is difficult to get if you just want to freelance for a short time, so you might have to work illegally. The upside is that English speakers with no knowledge of Spanish are sought after, because they will force their students to practice English.

Stay safe

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 otherwise...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 discretely & replace as quickly as possible.

Stay healthy

Drinking the water out of the tap is generally a bad idea, but some areas are okay. Check with locals.

Respect

• The overwhelming majority of the population is Roman Catholic, and many Mexicans are deeply religious and conservative in character. Be careful when you bring up issues such as homosexuality -- many, especially those outside of Mexico City, are not very tolerant about it. If you're a female traveler, be mindful that the country still experiences a high rate of machismo. In particular, wearing shorts outside of large, metropolitan areas is a bad idea and may lead to uncomfortable attention.
• 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.
• Respect Mexico's laws. Some foreigners feel that Mexico is a place where laws can be broken and the police bribed. While corruption may be common amongst Mexican police, it is extremely disrespectful for foreign nationals to behave in such a manner, and in some cases offering a bribe to an official could get you into even more trouble.

Contact

Internet country code 

.mx

Phone country code : 52

You can call from public phones using prepaid tel. cards tarjetas ladatel, bought at magazine stalls. 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 8 pesos/hour to 15 pesos/hour.

This article is an outline and needs more content. It has a template, but there is very little information present. Please plunge forward and help it grow!