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Why go? Mexico has something for everyone: vast deserts to jungle, ancient Mayan ruins to tropical Caribbean beaches, snow-capped volcanoes to bustling modern cities. It's beautiful and diverse, with breathtaking vistas you’ll never forget and numerous cultures, cuisines, handicrafts, music and art forms. It's one of the fastest developing industrial powers in the world: some of Mexico’s cities are at the height of urban sophistication while other parts of the country feel more like a traditional half forgotten Spanish colony, with an all pervading influence of native American culture. Whether you like to dive along superb stretches of barrier reef, lose yourself in jungle surrounding long-forgotten Mayan ruins, surf the Mexican coastline or join the Day of the Dead celebrations, you'll won't be short of things to do. Any Downsides? Crossing the border from the States takes you from the first to the third world. Along with dead dogs and potholed roads, as you’d expect in any country that’s still developing, things don’t always run like clockwork. While the bus network rivals the States in efficiency, elsewhere timetables shouldn’t always be trusted. The manana manana philosophy may be largely a gringo perspective on Mexico, but it’s true that the local temperament is much slower and that patience is absolutely vital. To have an easy journey, you’ll have to accept that in Mexico people work to live, and they don’t live to work. Prices (particularly in the Yucatan) aren't always as cheap as you might expect. Current weather/time: In Mexico City:  |
Activities * Archaeological sites: the most famous ancient Maya sites are Chitchen Itza and Uxmal in the Yucatan, Palenque hidden in the jungles of Chiapas; Monte Alban nr Oaxaca, and Teotihuacan, the Aztec capital near Mexico City, present a fascinating insight into the rise and fall of the country‘s past ruling civilisations. * Beaches: Yucatan peninsula for white sand and azure Caribbean sea. For nature lovers, unspoilt Mazunte with its nesting turtles on the Pacific Coast. Baja California around Bahia Concepcion for beautiful beaches and great sea-kayaking. * Diving and snorkeling: the barrier reef off the Yucatan peninsula offers excellent snorkeling and diving (especially off Cozumel, but to escape the crowds head further south to Xcalak). Baja California has good diving around Mulege and Loreto * Surfing: The Pacific coast. Puerto Escondido ranks among the world's top surf sites. * Wildlife: Baja California for great whale-watching (Dec-Apr). Ocampo for the Monarch butterfly migration (Nov-Feb). Mazunte for spotting sea-turtles (Jun-Nov). Birdlife: the lagoons near Puerto Escondido; the Sian Kaan nature reserve (Mexico's largest protected area) nr Tulum and for flocks of pink flamingos, Celestun, nr Merida. * Natural wonders: Agua Azul in Chiapas (nr Palenque) - a stunningly turquoise river cascading through the jungle. The limestone cenotes of the Yucatan - underground caverns (that you can dive through) and idyllic spring fed pools. Laguna Bacalar for its tranquil blue-green waters. * Shopping: Go to Oaxaca for some of the country's best markets, fine textiles, surreal model animals, and contemporary art. Taxco for silver. Mexico City for guitars, pottery, and Huichol bead masks. Merida in the Yuctan for the best hammocks * Indigenous life: is still thriving around Oaxaca, San Cristobal de las Casas and the northern highlands, although modern influences are beginning to infiltrate these otherwise rural village communities. * Trekking: Climb the semi-active peaks of Mexico’s volcanic belt, go hiking in the Copper Canyon in northern Mexico. The hills around Oaxaca city are popular with mountaineers and cyclists, and offer fantastic vistas over the surrounding valleys. |
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