Destination Guides & Maps - Mexico

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Capital City:  Mexico City (Ciudad de México), population of metropolitan area around 20 million. Rather confusingly, if you hear people talking about 'México' or 'El DF' (Distrito Federal) or 'La Ciudad', they're probably referring to the capital - the country is usually described as 'La República'.

Population: 101,879,171

60% mestizo (mixed European and Indian heritage), 30% indigena (indigenous Indians or Native Americans), 10% other.

Area: 769,000 sq miles

Language

Although Spanish is the official language you'll have no trouble finding someone who speaks English. This is especially true in tourist-savvy areas where, thanks to decades of American visitors, English comes close to being a second language. In addition, there are approximately 50 indigenous languages.

Currency

The currency is the New Peso (often seen as MXN), which is divided into 100 centavos. Notes come in denominations of 500, 200, 100, 50, 20 and 10; coins come in denominations of 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1 Peso and 50, 20, 10 and 5 centavos.

In the last decade the Mexican government has been working hard to stabilise the economy, and it's paid off. Currency exchange rates do still fluctuate, but with inflation down it's nothing like the bad old days. The current exchange rate is £1 to around 14 Pesos, but as often as not (in guide books etc) you'll see prices quoted in US dollars.

Major credit cards are widely accepted and ATMs are easy to find, so as long as you are linked to the Plus or Cirrus network getting hold of cash shouldn't be a problem.

Those intending to take travellers' cheques should be warned that banks and exchange houses (Casas de Cambio) charge a very high commission. It's best to take them in US dollar versions, as banks generally won't accept sterling cheques.

It's always worth carrying some US dollars in cash. In the larger tourist areas in particular, you'll be able to pay for some things directly with cash.

Visas

Not necessary for UK citizens. On the plane or on entering the country you'll be issued with a Tourist Permit (at no cost), which you must have stamped and retain until your departure (don't lose it). The Tourist Permit is valid for 180 days.

Geography

It's difficult to think of another country that corrals together such a diversity of geographical features as Mexico. The North American landmass tapers to give shape to Mexico - a sweeping tail that cuts across the Tropic of Cancer, supporting desert, swampland, jungle and volcanoes. Consequently it's also one of the most biologically diverse countries on the planet.

At Mexico's arid northern border with the United States, the first and third worlds meet. It's also cactus country. Travelling south, two vast mountain ranges, the Sierra Madre Occidental and the Sierra Madre Oriental, rise to form the backbone of the country. To the east they are flanked by the coastal plains of the Gulf of Mexico, and to the west the Sea of Cortez (Golfo de California) and the Pacific Ocean.

The mountains level to form the central highlands, home to over half the country's population and one of the largest cities in the world, Mexico City.

South of the capital a string of volcanoes stretches the width of the country, peaking at Popocatépetl which went beyond its nickname of 'the smoking mountain' to erupt in 1997, and is still regularly active (there's currently a 12-mile exclusion zone). The country's highest point is east of here, Volcan Pico de Orizaba at 5,760m.

Further south, the state of Chiapas marks a lush tropical border with Guatemala, before flattening to form the limestone tropical savannah of the Yucatán peninsula - famed for its azure waters and coral reefs.

Religion

90% Roman Catholic, 5% other branches of Christianity, 5% indigenous religions.

Time

Most of Mexico runs on Hora del Centro - Central Time. In winter this is six hours behind GMT, and during daylight saving (between the first Sunday in April and the last Sunday in October) five hours behind GMT. The north-west of Mexico spans two further time zones: Mountain Standard Time (GMT minus seven hours) and Pacific Standard Time (GMT minus eight hours - only in Baja California Norte).

Electricity

110 volts AC, 60Hz. Whatever plug you have you'll find a socket to match it somewhere in Mexico. Chances are, however, that it's not going to be in your hotel, so the safest bet is to buy a US-style 2-pin adaptor, and you may also need a transformer.

Emergencies

For police or ambulance dial 080, for tourist security dial 52 50 01 23. Note that depending on the nature of the problem it may be better to contact the nearest embassy or consulate.

Telephone

To dial Mexico from the UK: 0052 + area code + number. At the end of 2001 all cities in Mexico were given new three-digit area codes (apart from Mexico City (55), Guadalajara (33) and Monterrey (81). For up-to-date information on the changes, visit the Mexican phone service website, www.telmex.com.

To dial the UK from Mexico: 0044 + area code (minus initial 0) + number.

The most reliable public phones are run by LADATEL and are easily recognisable by their blue handset logo. Phone cards can be bought from most news-stands, and for a transatlantic call you'll need a minimum of a 30 Peso (just over £2) card. If you use your hotel phone you'll pay for the privilege.

Post

Post office opening hours are 8am to 6pm Monday to Friday, and Saturday mornings. Anything more substantial than a letter is liable to get 'lost', hence packages are best sent through one of the international courier companies such as DHL, UPS or Federal Express. Airmail to the UK typically takes six days.

Internet and e-mail

Most cities and towns have cybercafés with internet access, where the equivalent of £1 should buy you approximately half an hour's surfing time.

Business hours

Shops generally open from 9am to 7pm, Monday to Saturday, but may close in smaller towns between 2 and 4pm. On Sundays nearly all shops close. Banking hours mirror those in the UK, opening between 9am and 5pm on weekdays, with some open half-day on Saturday.

Tipping

In Mexico you generally tip as you would in the UK. One exception is taxi drivers, who won't expect a tip. Otherwise between 10-15% is the norm, with higher tips expected in more expensive resorts.

BBC World Service

At MHz 15.22, 9.590, 6.195, 5.975

Want to get a closer look at Mexico? http://earth.google.com/

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