Some visitors to Mexico are excepted of visa,
for a complete list refer to your nearest Mexican Consulate. At entry
into Mexico, visitors should provide proof of identity and citizenship
with a valid passport. A tourist permit will be granted and must be kept
at all times and should be returned to the immigration officer at the
time of leaving the country. If the tourist permit is lost, a copy can
be obtained with the Immigration Authorities.
Visitors from the
US should only need to provide a valid passport or birth certificate and
and ID with photograph.
Currency and payments
The
official currency is the Mexican Peso. Exchange rate to the US dollar is
approximately 1 to 11 and 1 to 13 to the Euro. US dollars are traded
widely but it is advisable to carry Mexican pesos while visiting the
country. All banks, mayor hotels, airports and bureau of change can
exchange your currency to Mexican Pesos. Bureaus of change are a good
option as their opening times are more flexible than banks and are very
efficient. Traveller’s cheques are exchanged at lower rates than
currency. All main credit cards such as Visa, Mastercard and American
Express are welcome.
Electricity
Standard
electric current is 110 volts. Visitors to Mexico should bring an
adapter.
Transport PLANE. There are 57 international
airports and 28 local airports securing visitor’s mobility within Mexico
and for travelling abroad. The biggest Mexican airlines Aeromexico,
Mexicana de Aviación (or Mexicana) and local airlines such as Aero
California, Aviacsa and Aeromar. Plus the two new low-cost airlines
Click and Volaris.
Likewise, the main international companies
and tour operators, operate flights to the main tourist destinations.
TAXI:
Visitors to Mexico are strongly advised to board licenced taxis at the
airport and at bus stations. Other options are radio taxis or taxis at
your hotel. All fares should be on display showing the distance to your
destination and the charge. It is advisable to ask for the fare to pay
before boarding the taxi.
BUSES: Mexico has a very good and
extensive coach network. The options for travelling go from basic, first
class to premium with service on board, confortable seats and television.
HIRE
OF CARS: All mayor car hire companies operate in Mexico. Visitors
wishing to hire a car should be at least 21 years old, hold a valid
driving license and pay with credit card. Visitors need to be insured
against car accidents and theft. Hiring companies provide insurance but
visitors are expected to cover a percentage.
PETROL: The
company responsible for fuel supply in Mexico is PEMEX, a government run
company. There are two types of petrol, both without lead, Magna (green
bending machines) and Premium (red bending machines). It is advisable to
tip the petrol service man at the gas station and to check fuel meter
before loading.
Hotels There are two main seasons in Mexico:
High season (from September 15 to Easter) and Low season (rest of the
year). The best deals can be found during spring, summer and autumn.
Some hotels also offer low fares during January’s first three weeks.
Mexican
hotels use a classification systems made of seven categories according
to the facilities, price, luxury, etc. One to five stars, Gran Turismo
(Hotels with high quality service), Categoria Superior (above
five stars) and Special Category (hotels with special features such as
convents, mansions, or with a special location).
Medical
services There is a good coverage of hospitals and
specialised clinics throughout Mexico and most of the hotels do have
medical services 24 hours a day. However, it is advisable to purchase an
travel insurance before coming to Mexico. No vaccinations are needed to
come into Mexico.
Postal service Opening
times is between 8:00 am and 18:00hrs Monday to Friday. For urgent
delivery, it is possible to use private companies such as Mexpost,
Federal Express, DHL or UPS.
Telephone calls: for
calling Europe from Mexico visitors should dial fist 00, plus country
code, city code and telephone number. For international phone calls it
is advisable to purchase a pre paid telephone card or Ladafon and for
local phone calls to purchase Ladatel. For using the credit card, dial I
800 SAVINGS from any public telephone.
Tourist information
telephone number: Visitors from Europe can learn more about Mexico
when calling the Mexico European Call Centre at 00800 1111 2266 with
language options. In Mexico, visitors should dial 078 for the Tourist
Attention Centre.
Festivities HOLIDAYS. During the following
dates, governmental offices, private companies and banks are likely to
be closed for business:
· February 5. Constitution Day ·
March 21. Benito Juarez Anniversary · End of March, early April.
Easter · May 1. Work Day · May 5. Puebla’s Battle
Anniversary · May 10. Mother’s Day · September 16.
Independence Day · October 12. Race Day (Día de la Raza) ·
November 2. Day of the Death · November 20. Revolution’s Day ·
December 12. Virgin of Guadalupe’s Day · December 25. Christmas ·
January 1. New year’s day
Weather It
varies across Mexico due to the altitude and latitude of each region.
Amongst the reason for its various weather paterns is Mexico’s
geographical location (most of the country lies south of the Tropic of
Cancer), its abrupt holography, difference in altitude and the seas
around he country.
Most of Mexico is primarily arid, specially
in the north at the Baja California peninsula. Mexico’s south and the
Yucatan Peninsula are warm but with regular rainfall. The central
plateau is dry and with pleasant temperatures.
Like all
tropical zones, Mexico has two seasons: rainy season and dry season.
Generally speakin the rainy season is from June to October, when the
temperature is also at its highest. From November to January it mainly
dry and a little bit cooler.
Geography
Mexico’s
land area is nearly 2 million square kilometres. Its geography is
diverse and abrupt. Most of the territory is mountainous and half known
as the Central Plateau, which is surrounded to the east by the Sierra
Madre Oriental and to the west by the Sierra Madre Occidental, and to
the south by volcanoes. Mexico has over 13,000 kilometres of border line
and more than 11,222 kilometres of coast line made of the Pacific Ocean,
Gulf of Mexico, Sea of Cortez and the Caribbean.
Flora and
Fauna
Mexico is considered as a biodivese country. It has
more than 30,000 plant species, 1,000 bird species and over 1,500
species for mammals, reptiles and amphbians. Many scientists believe
that 15% of Mexico’s flora and fauna are endemic to this country and
cannot be found anywhere else.
