Mexico
Mexican
A country that runs from desert to jungle by way of 35 World Heritage sites — more than anywhere else in the Americas.
Updated on
- Capital
- Mexico City
- Population
- 132 millones
- Currency
- MXN · Mexican peso
- Languages
- Spanish
- Plugs
- Types A and B · 127 V · 60 Hz (same as the US)
- Time zone
- America/Mexico_City
Before you go to Mexico
When to go to Mexico
November to April, the dry season. Avoid September in the Caribbean: it is peak hurricane season.
Tropical along the coasts and in the south, temperate on the central plateau, desert in the north.
What it costs to travel to Mexico ●●○○○
Low to middling. Street food costs 3–6 USD; the Riviera Maya is considerably pricier than the rest.
Is it safe to travel to Mexico? ●●●○○
Varies a great deal by state. Tourist destinations are generally safe; check regional advisories before moving around.
Visa for Mexico
Heads up: Ecuadorians have needed a visa since 2021. Argentines, Chileans, Colombians, Spaniards and Peruvians enter visa-free for 180 days.
Alongside Spanish, 68 Indigenous languages are officially recognised.
What to see in Mexico
- 01Chichén ItzáYucatán
One of the seven wonders of the modern world. At the equinoxes the shadow draws a serpent descending the pyramid.
- 02TeotihuacánState of Mexico
The Pyramid of the Sun, an hour from the capital. You can float over it in a balloon at sunrise.
- 03Mexico City historic centreMexico City
The Zócalo, the Aztec Templo Mayor and the Palacio de Bellas Artes within a few blocks.
- 04OaxacaOaxaca
The country's culinary capital: mole markets, small-batch mezcal and the vast Tule tree.
- 05Riviera Maya cenotesQuintana Roo
Clear freshwater sinkholes in caves; to the Maya they were the entrance to the underworld.
- 06Guanajuato and San Miguel de AllendeGuanajuato
Painted alleys, underground tunnels and colonial architecture left intact.
Culture and food of Mexico
What to eat
- Tacos al pastor, a Lebanese inheritance
- Mole poblano, with more than 20 ingredients
- Pozole
- Chiles en nogada (in season August to September)
- Tamales
- Mezcal and tequila
Customs
- Lingering at the table after a meal can go on for hours
- 'Ahorita' rarely means right now
- Day of the Dead is a celebration, not a mourning
- Tortillas are bought fresh every day
Festivals
- Day of the Dead (1 and 2 November), on UNESCO's intangible heritage list
- Cry of Independence (15 and 16 September)
- Guelaguetza in Oaxaca (July)
- Veracruz Carnival (February)
Largely Catholic (≈ 78 %), heavily interwoven with pre-Hispanic tradition.
Curious facts about Mexico
- Chocolate, corn, tomatoes, vanilla and chilli all left Mexico for the rest of the world.
- Mexico City sinks about 30 cm a year: it is built on a drained lake.
- It holds more World Heritage sites than any other country in the Americas: 35.
- Yucatán has over 6,000 cenotes, formed by the meteorite that wiped out the dinosaurs.
- The chihuahua and the xoloitzcuintle, two of the oldest dog breeds alive, are Mexican.
Cities in Mexico
- Mexico Citycapital · 2,236 m
- Cancúnsea level
- Oaxaca1,552 m
- Guadalajara1,551 m
- Mérida15 m
- Puebla2,151 m
- San Cristóbal de las Casas2,118 m
- Playa del Carmen10 m
- Puerto Vallarta10 m
- Monterrey542 m
- Tijuana98 m
- Iztapalapa2,236 m
- Ecatepec de Morelos2,302 m
- Querétaro1,827 m
- León1,810 m
- Ciudad Juárez1,130 m
- Zapopan1,569 m
- Gustavo A. Madero2,256 m
- Ciudad Nezahualcóyotl2,227 m
- Mexicalisea level
- Chihuahua1,439 m
- Naucalpan2,291 m
Data from Banco Mundial, GeoNames and WorldClim. Photo from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA). The editorial content is our own.