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| PRE-DEPARTURE INFORMATION:MEXICO QUICK FACTS |
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prior to your arrival to Mexico. ABOUT MEXICO Population: 103.5 million and growing Capital: Mexico City (D.F.) 2300m/7550ft. above sea level. Almost 30 million people! People: Combination of Spanish and Indian descent called (Mestizos). The Mexican people are very friendly and always willing to help. Language: Spanish. Local slang widely used. English is spoken in most tourist areas. Religion: Roman Catholic mostly, you’ll notice by the amount of churches. Currency: Pesos (&euros; 1 = $18 pesos approx. Check daily exchange rates). Int’l Dialing Code: +52. City Area Codes: Mexico City 55. Guadalajara 33. Monterrey 81. Electricity: 110 V, 60 Hz. Time Zone: GMT -6 hours. Industries: Oil, tourism, mining, manufactured products, fruits and vegetables. IMMIGRATION OFFICE Most people visiting the country do not need a visa prior to entry. The entry card is handed out at the border or on your airplane. Typically you are issued a 30 to 90 day stamp. Don’t lose your entry card because there are a few immigration checkpoints along main highways mainly in the southeast part of the country that might ask for your legal documentation. If you are traveling in these areas, always carry it on hand. Should you happen to lose your visa, it is a good idea to file a police report and apply for a replacement visa at your embassy to avoid annoying and sometimes expensive exit penalties or hassles upon departure. As visas for each foreign traveler vary greatly, we recommend that you consult you embassy for required travel documents with 6 months anticipation before coming to Mexico. Mexperience Website UK Mexican Consulate WEATHER AND TEMPERATURES Spring is definitely the hottest season in Mexico when temperatures can reach as high as 45°C/113°F by the coast and some northern cities. Summer remains warm but rainy season begins throughout the country. Hurricane season occurs during August and September. Keep an eye on the weather report especially if you will be visiting the beach. During autumn the weather begins to cool down and by winter temperatures can drop to 0°C/32°F in-land Mexico. Luckily, on the coast, temperatures reach lows of only 15°C/60°F at night. Expect very humid conditions near the coast and in the jungle regions of the southeast such as the states of Chiapas, Veracruz and Campeche. Dry states in the north include San Luis Potosi, Nuevo León and Sonora. Also, be aware of weather changes due to altitude variations in highland and mountainous regions. MONEY Mexico seems cheap when you bring dollars or euros but if you become overconfident you’ll end up spending more than you think, especially because there are markets everywhere full of really cool stuff to buy. Travelers checks can be easily changed in banks (open 9am to 4pm Mon-Sat). Try to get cash in major cities, it is easier and faster. Dollars are accepted everywhere but usually at a poor rate. ATM’s are located most everywhere but sometimes difficulties arise with international cards or may charge you a high foreign fee. Major credit cards are widely accepted. Budget US$20 per day: approx. 3 meals and a few cervezas. Always negotiate prices or try to bargain in the markets. TEQUILA! Mezcal is a distilled drink made from the heart of the Century Plant, a member of the agave family. The drink is distilled twice, making a potent alcoholic beverage. The best known form of mescal is tequila. Try to buy it from the small factories mostly located in Oaxaca State, it tastes much better and it can be very cheap (100 pesos for a liter). Look out for different variations and flavors. Tequila! We all know what a Margarita is right? You can’t pass up drinking a Margarita in Mexico where Tequila is the national drink of choice. Visit a tequila factory in the town of Tequila just outside of Guadalajara and try Blanco or Reposado, Straight or Mixed, Ask for a “Paloma” or “Margarita”. BEER Straight or “Michelada” (prepared with lime juice and spices). Mexican beers such as Corona, XX, Sol and Modelo are famous around the world; but you have to try local non-exports such as: Montejo, Pacífico, Indio, Leon, Victoria, and Estrella. BEST EATS COMIDA MEXICANA
NATIONAL HOLIDAYS AND CELEBRATIONS
SUGGESTED TRAVEL WEBSITES Healthy Travel – Avoid Montezuma´s revenge and other annoyances while traveling in Mexico A great resource to consult before traveling is US Department of Health, World Health Organization (WHO) or MD Travel Health where you can check out recommended vaccinations for your trip. If you take prescription medication, be sure to bring enough for your entire trip in Mexico as prescriptions may be difficult to attain without a doctors note. Additionally it’s always a good idea to go for a check-up before your trip to take care of unforeseen problems that may occur during your time in Mexico and interfere with your fun factor. Most towns in Mexico do not have purified tap water so be careful to not drink the tap water or use suspicious ice. All restaurants serve bottled water and you can easily find a convenience store to purchase on your own. Useful Mexico Travel Reports – online travel reports with up-to-date news and country profiles. Recommended Online News in English – News in English straight from Mexico to your laptop.Yahoo News - MexicoTopix - MexicoSign On San Diego - MexicoEl Universal in EnglishMexico NewsRecommended Online News In Spanish - Take a look at current events in the news today.Diario de MéxicoEl EconomistaEl FinancieroEl UniversalLa CrisisLa Crónica de HoyLa JornadaMilenioReformaSol
de México
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