Superficie

Mexico has an area of 1,964,375 km2 and spans three time zones.

Langue

Spanish is the national language, spoken throughout the country, but at a slower and with a more musical rhythm than in Spain. English is used in major tourist areas and hotels (especially on the northern border as Baja California). In some remote areas, many Indian dialects are still used, and a small part of the population does not speak Spanish. Finding interlocutors speaking fluent French is almost impossible, except in intellectual circles in Mexico City.

Formalities And Mexican Visa

You do not need a visa for a tourist stay of 180 days maximum. You just need to be in possession of your passport, which must be valid at least 6 months after the return date, and your return or continuation flight ticket to another destination, as well as the completed FMM migration form upon arrival and handed over to the authorities at the exit of the territory.

Water

Do not drink tap water under no circumstance. Purified water bottles – agua purificada – are sold in all grocery stores and hotels. In the restaurant, specify if you prefer mineral water con gas (soda) or sin gas (flat). Mistrust also with ice cubes, except in large hotels. We must not waste water since it is a very precious commodity throughout Mexico.

Currency

The currency is the peso, but officialy called: nuevo peso (N$). There are different denominations such as 20, 50, 100, 200, 500 and 1000. Better to bring small change (small businesses, taxis and vendors on the street rarely have extra money to give change on high demonination banknotes), as well as US dollars in small denominations. Prefer travel checks in US dollars: foreign currencies are changed in banks and exchange offices, but the dollar is accepted more easily than the euro. Major credit cards (Visa, Mastercard / Eurocard and Amex) are accepted at most hotels, restaurants and shops in tourist areas. There are many ATMs in the cities. In some businesses, purchases paid by credit card are increased from 4 to 6%. Banks are open Monday to Friday from 9 am to 4 pm regularly.

Ecology

Tourism affects the environment of a country when it is carried out indiscriminately. Mexico is no exception to the rule, between the concrete resorts, the waste of water and the sale of tourist items using endangered species. Some essential rules: in hotels, avoid the daily change of towels (big consumer of laundry and water), do not buy tortoiseshell jewelry, coral, shell or parrot feathers; do not throw anything into nature, smokers will avoid burying their butts in the sand of beaches: it takes half a century for nature to absorb cellophane filters …

Electricity

In Mexico, the electric current is 110 volts. You may need to bring with you or get a transformer and an adapter (two flat pins, American type).

Accommodation

From the small family pension to the palace, all hotel categories can be found in Mexico. The establishments are usually clean and well kept from the 3 stars (equivalent to a 2 star international standards), the 4 stars (the most popular range of tourists) are comfortable. The “Gran Turismo” (5 stars) displays the greatest luxury, and the big international chains are all present in Mexico. Some small colonial hotels or guesthouses offer pleasant surprises at very affordable prices, with attentive staff. The ultimate in sophistication: haciendas converted into boutique hotels, especially around colonial cities.

Security

Do not tempt the devil by wearing jewelry and watches prominently or by walking at night in unsafe neighborhoods. Avoid carrying too much money with you, beware of pickpockets on the markets and on public transport. Make photocopies of your identity documents as well as airline tickets, which you should keep at the bottom of your travel bag. By car, you must absolutely avoid driving at night, and not stop if you are beckoned at the roadside. In traffic jams in Mexico City, you should lock the doors from the inside and wind the windows.
In case of theft or aggression in Mexico, contact either the concierge of your hotel or the tourist police of the Procuradora General de Justicia (24 hours a day, tel .: 525 00 123). Paradoxically, the police are often corrupt, sometimes violent: Mexicans do not trust in them that much, and the news reports regularly very unpleasant stories. If you are stopped by a police officer, ask him for his identification plate. If a police officer keeps your documents for no reason, ask him to escort you to the nearest police station.

Tourist Information

Each major city has its regional and municipal tourism office, respectively located in main government offices called Palacio del Gobierno and Palacio Municipal. The efficiency of their staff varies from one city to another and it is highly recommended to have some Spanish basics …

Local Time

Mexico applies GMT-7. In winter, have 7 hours less jet lag compared to Paris, 8 hours in summer. Add an hour in Baja California (8 hours in winter, 9 hours in summer).

Holidays

• Christmas and New Year’s Day: December 25th and 31st.
• Labor Day: May 1st.
• “Cinco de Mayo” (this holiday is not observed everywhere as we supposed): May 5th.
• Independence Day: September 15th to 16th (this is observed all over the country, since it is the most important historic holiday in Mexico)
• “Informe Presidencial (Presidencial Report)”: President’s speech to Congress regarding the state of the nation): November 1st.
• Death’s Day: November 1st and 2nd.


• Administrations and most businesses will be closed, but tourist sites remain open.

Bargaining

It is part of mores, especially in markets and craft stores. You should start offering half of the advertised price, to generally get 20 to 30% off the initial price. In the Fonatur official craft galleries (affiliated with the Mexican Ministry of Tourism), prices are fixed.

Media

Mexicans are fond of television, especially telenovelas, . The most popular national daily newspapers are Novedades, El Universal, El Tiempo and Excelsior, as well as La Jornada. Spanish-speaking travelers will also read México desconocido (“Unknown Mexico”), a color magazine with off-the-beaten-track amazing stories. The News (weekly) is the leading national newspaper in the English language. There are no newspapers in French.

Post And Communications

The price of national and international telecommunications in hotels is generally increased by 50%. You can opt for the telephone service of the posts, but it is better to have some Spanish basis. In Mexico, the best solution remains on purchasing smart phone cards ($ 30, $ 50 and $ 100). Telmex telephone booths are available in the city centers (around the main squares), in the hotel lobby and at the entrance to museums and archaeological sites. To call the United States you have to dial 00 + 1 + City area code + Telephone number. To make a call in France, dial 00 33. To call Mexico, dial 00 52.

Tips

In Mexico, the service is included in small cantinas, but, in tourist restaurants, a tip of 10 to 15% is generally appreciated, as per American influence. By taxi, the driver does not expect a tip, but you can add a few extra pesos to the price of the ride. If using a porter at the airport or a porter at the hotel, you could give 10 pesos or 1 dollar banknote. In hotels, if you leave $ 5 or $ 10 a day to the maid, she will be very caring for you.

Religion

More than 95% of Mexicans are very strong practicing Catholic and about 4% are Protestants. But this Catholicism is particularly mixed, with the integration of many Indian ancestral rites. Thus, the fascination of death, inherited from pre-Columbian civilizations, as well as the adoration of the natural elements, vital among the Indians, are frequently found in the decoration of the churches. Syncretism sometimes spectacular, as in some villages of Chiapas. Traditional rites are perpetuated among certain isolated ethnic groups: consumption of peyote for its hallucinogenic virtues by the Huicholes, or the rite of fertility by the Voladores among the Papantla Indians. Finally, the sorcerer-healer, the “brujo”, is an important figure in rural life.

Sports

Football is the most popular sport in Mexico, the country has organized 2 world cups (1970 and 1986), as well as cockfights, which, like the traditional charreada (Mexican rodeo), are part of the Mexican heritage. On the Pacific coast, surfing and big game fishing are the most popular sports for North American tourists. The eastern coast of Yucatán has the best scuba diving spots in the Caribbean, and the major hotels offer windsurf rentals.