Mexico

 

 

 

Description of Mexico

Mexico, whose official name is the United Mexican States, is an American country located in the southern part of North America. Its capital is Mexico City. Politically it is a democratic, representative and federal republic composed of 32 federative entities (31 states and the federal capital). The Mexican territory has an area of ​​1,964,375 km², making it the fourteenth largest country in the world and the third largest in Latin America. It is bordered on the north by the United States of America along a 3155 km border, while on the south it has a border of 958 km with Guatemala and 276 km with Belize, the coasts of the country border on the west with the Pacific Ocean and to the east with the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, adding 9330 km, making it the third largest American country on its coasts.

Mexico is the eleventh most populous country in the world, with an estimated population of more than 124 million people in 2017, most of which have Spanish as their mother tongue, which the state recognizes as a national language along with 67 indigenous languages own of the nation. In the country around 287 languages ​​are spoken, due to the characteristics of its population, it is the most populous Spanish-speaking country, as well as the seventh country with the greatest linguistic diversity in the world.

The human presence in Mexico dates back to 14,000 years before the present. After thousands of years of cultural development, the Mesoamerican, aridoamerican and oasisamerican cultures arose in the Mexican territory. The current territory of Mexico was the main center of the greatest civilizations of the Aztec people and, in part, of the Mayan people, the two most important civilizations of pre-Columbian America. After almost 300 years of Spanish domination, Mexico began the struggle for political independence in 1810. Subsequently, for nearly a century the country was involved in a series of internal wars and foreign invasions that had repercussions in all areas of life of the Mexicans. During a good part of the 20th century (mainly the first half) a period of great economic growth took place within the framework of a policy dominated by a single political party.

According to the World Tourism Organization, Mexico is the main tourist destination in Latin America and the eighth most visited in the world, this is due in large part to the 32 cultural or natural sites that are considered by UNESCO as World Heritage. However recent criminal activity put many tourists at risk. Struggle with orginized crime has been a problem for the Mexican government. In macroeconomic terms, by gross domestic product (GDP) it is the fourteenth world economy and the eleventh by parity of purchasing power (PPP); on a regional scale, it is the second economy in Latin America and the fourth in the continent. According to the 2015 UN Human Development Report, it has a high human development index of 0.762, and ranks 77th in the world, which has made great strides alongside countries such as Indonesia, Turkey, Thailand and South Africa, considered the fact that in 1980 it had a human development index of 0.598.Mexican is also one of the countries with the greatest diversity of climates in the world, considered one of the 12 megadiverse countries of the planet, it is home of the 10-12% of the world's biodiversity and is home to more than 12,000 endemic species.

 

Travel Destinations in Mexico

 

Cacaxtla Frescoes with colorful depictions of a Mayan life survived at this ancient archeological site of Cacaxtla.	Cantona Ancient pyramids of Cantona archeological site seem to rise right from the Mexican desert.	Cascadas de Agua Azul Cascadas de Agua Azul are a series of splendid water cascades located 125 km Northeast of San Cristobalck, Chiapas.	Cempoala Cempoala is an ancient archeological site located 44 km (27 mi) North of Veracruz in the state of Veracruz in Mexico.
Cenote Cho Ha Cenote Cho Ha is underground pool surrounded by beautiful geological formations in the Yucatan peninsula in Mexico.	Cenote Dzitnup Cenote Dzitnup is an underground pool in the Yucatan limestone formed after natural geological processes.	Chichen Itza Magnificent ruins of Chichen Itza are located in Yucatan peninsula. It is largest and one of the most impressive Mayan city states.	Copper Canyon Copper Canyon in the Mexican state of Chihuahua gets its name from a green color walls that look like a copper at a distance.
Coba Mayan city of Coba is famous for numerous religious buildings including the highest pyramid constructed by the Mayan civilization.	Cozumel Whether you like to explore ancient ruins, dive in the reefs or just bask in the sun, Cozumel has it all.	Cueva de la Boca Massive Cave de la Boca outside of Mexican city of Monterrey is a famous roosting home for thousands of bats.	El Tajin El Tajin is a major Mayan city those remains are located in a magnificent condition in the Mexican state of Veracruz.
Ek Balam Ek Balam or 'Black Jaguar' is a Yucatec- Maya city located just 30 km North of Valladolid in Yukatan peninsula Mexico.	Malinalco Impressive ruins of an Aztec city of Malinalco is harmoniously combined with surrounding picturesque jungles.	Monte Alban Monte Alban is an impressive site of ancient Mayan ruins in a Mexican province of Oaxaca.	Museo Frida Kahlo Museo Frida Kahlo is a former house of the famous Mexican artist on the outskirts of Mexican capital Mexico City.
Museo Leon Trotsky Museo Leon Trotsky is a former house of Russian- Jewish revolutionary who was killed here by the orders of Stalin.	Nonoch Nah Chich Nonoch Nah Chich in Quintana Roo state of Mexico is one of the largest flooded underground caves.	Paquime Paquimé or Casas Grandes is an ancient archeological site in the state of Chihuahua in Mexico constructed before the arrival of Columbus.	Palenque Palenque that is located in Yucatan peninsula is one of the largest and mysterious of Mayan city states.
Paricutin Volcano Paricutin Volcano started erupting in the early twentieth century and covered human structures. Some are still visible today.	Sian Ka'an Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve is a large nature preserve that protects diverse Mexican ecosystem.	Teotihuacan Mysterious ruins of Teotihuacan still puzzle many historians with its origins, purpose of symbolism in its construction as well as life style of its residents.	Tula Tula is an ancient archeological site situated 85 km North of Mexico city in the Mexican state of Hidalgo.
Tulum Tulum is an ancient Mayan city in Yucatan peninsula in Mexico that served as a harbor for trade.	Uxmal Mayan city of Uxmal is famous for its unique architecture as well as great preservation state of the buildings.	Valladolid Valladolid is a pleasant small town with Spanish architecture, small streets and several parks.	Xcaret Underground River Xcaret underground river is a natural geological formation that was worshipped by ancient Mayans as the entrance to the Underworld.
Xochicalco Xochicalco is a ancient Mayan archeological site situated 40 km Southwest of Cuernavaca in the Mexican state of Morelos.

 

 

 

 

Tips while you travel in Mexico:

- avoid marshy areas and take insect repellant. Insects might transfer several deadly diseases in addition to causing discomfort

- check weather conditions before visiting

- if you plan to camp in the jungle protect your equipment and food from water and moisture

- wear pants and water- resistant boots to reduce chance of a snake insect bite

- drink plenty of bottled water, prevent dehydration

 

 

Holidays

January 1: New Year's Day
January 6: The Three Wise Men day, celebrating arrival of the Three Wise Men to see and bring gifts to the baby Jesus (not an official holiday).
February 2: The Candelaria Day ("Day of the candles"), celebrated in many places around the country (not an official holiday)
February 5: Constitution Day (1917)
February 24: Flag Day (not official)
March 21: Birth of Benito Juárez (1806)
April 30: Kid's Day
May 1: Labor Day
May 5: Cinco de Mayo, the Battle of Puebla against the French army, 19th century (not an official holiday)
May 10: Mother's Day
May 15: Teacher's Day
September 1: Presidential Address Day
September 15: Grito de Dolores
September 16: Independence Day (celebrates the start of the fight for the independence from Spain in 1810, achieved until September 27, 1821)
October 12: Day of the Race (not a public holiday)
November 2: Day of the Dead (Día de Muertos) (not a public holiday)
November 20: Mexican Revolution Day (1910)
December 12: Virgin Mary of Guadalupe Day. Not a public holiday, but is one of the most important Mexican holidays
December 24: Christmas Eve (not a public holiday, but normally a full non-working day)
December 25: Christmas
December 31: New Year’s Eve (not a public holiday, but normally a full non-working day)
Easter is widely observed nationwide, according to the yearly Catholic calendar (the first Sunday after the first full moon in Spring). Actual non-working days may shift to the Monday before the holiday, so check an up-to-date calendar. Visitors from the U.S. may be surprised to notice that the despite Cinco de Mayo being an important part of the cultural identity of Mexican-Americans, it is not regarded as a major holiday in Mexico, and hardly celebrated by Mexicans outside the state of Puebla.

 

 

Visa to Mexico

According to the Mexican Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Secretaria de Relaciones Exteriores), certain foreign nationals who intend to stay in Mexico fewer than 180 days for the purpose of tourism or 30 days for business can fill out a tourist card at the border or upon landing at an airport after presenting a valid passport, for US$22. If arriving via air, it is included in the price of the fare. This service is available to citizens of Andorra, Argentina, Aruba, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Bulgaria, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, Ireland, Iceland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macau, Malaysia, Malta, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Palau, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Romania, San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, South Korea, Sweden, Switzerland, Trinidad and Tobago, United States of America, Uruguay and Venezuela (see official list here). Permanent residents of the United States, Canada, Japan, United Kingdom, and Schengen area countries are also eligible for visas on arrival regardless of citizenship.

The Mexican tourist card is a Forma Migratoria Múltiple (Multiple Immigration Form), or FMM. It has a perforation that divides the card into two parts, of which the right side asks for some of the same information requested on the left side. At entry, after reviewing your passport and filled-out FMM, the immigration officer will stamp your passport and the FMM, separate the FMM along the perforation and give the right side of the FMM back to you with your passport. Keep the FMM together with your passport at all times. It is your responsibility to make sure the right side of the FMM is returned to the Mexican government at time of departure so that the bar code can be scanned, thus showing that you left the country on time. For example, if you are flying with Aeromexico, they will ask for your passport and FMM at check-in for your flight home, then staple your FMM to your boarding pass. You are expected to then hand the boarding pass together with your FMM to the gate agent as you board your flight. If you lose your FMM during your visit to Mexico, you may be subject to substantial delays and fines before you can leave the country.