The country of Mexico is officially known as the United Mexican States and is sited within North America, directly south of the USA. Mexico is famous for its pre-Hispanic past and ancient civilisations, and today boasts a glorious selection of Mayan temples, archeological treasures and even pyramids, such as El Castillo at the iconic Chichen Itza site.Mexico's landscape is extremely diverse and features everything from tall mountains and expanses of desert, to glorious white sandy beaches and rocky coastlines. Many parts of Mexico's coastline offer truly world-class scuba diving and snorkelling, such as the resorts of Acapulco, Cancun and Puerto Vallarta, and also Cozumel, the country's biggest and most significant island.
Handicrafts in Mexico make the perfect souvenir and local artisans are often extremely talented, producing colourful textiles, wooden figurines, ceramic sculptures and traditional beaded paintings, which are created by the Huichol Indians. For the best selection and prices, check out local markets and bazaars. Mexico City, the country's enormous capital, features a number of large weekend street markets, where you will discover an enchanted mixture of colours, sights, sounds and smells.
Mexican's love to celebrate and always come out in force whenever there is a local fiesta or national event. Notable festivals include the Day of the Flag (Dia de la Bandera) in February, the Day of the Dead (Dia de Muertos) each November, and Independence Day (Dia de la Independencia) during September.
 |
World Guide to Acapulco, Mexico Officially known in Mexico as 'Acapulco de Juarez', Acapulco is a popular resort, which has established itself around an arching bayfront. Beachfront hotels are a big part of the city, as are quality Mexican restaurants and Quebrada's cliff divers. |
 |
World Guide to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico Cabo San Lucas is gaining quite a reputation as a tourist resort and has a superb selection of beaches and related water sports. Lots of bars, eateries and nightspots are based around the coastline of Cabo San Lucas and its boulevard. |
 |
World Guide to Cancun, Mexico Cancun is one of Mexico's newest coastal resorts and was developed to replicate some of the success of Acapulco. The city is divided into two main regions, Ciudad Cancun (downtown) and also the Hotel Zone (Zona Hotelera). |
 |
World Guide to Cozumel, Mexico Located to the south of Cancun city and near to the Yucatan Peninsula, Cozumel is a scenic island and actually Mexico's largest island. Cozumel is home to incredible Mayan ruins and the neighbouring Caribbean Sea lends itself to scuba diving. |
 |
World Guide to Guadalajara, Mexico Mexico's number two city after the capital of Mexico City, Guadalajara is a large metropolis with many glitzy skyscrapers and modern structures. Guadalajara comprises a series of plazas and tourists enjoy its horse-drawn 'calandrias'. |
 |
World Guide to Mexico City, Mexico Mexico's vast capital city and referred to by locals as 'Ciudad de Mexico', Mexico City is of great importance throughout Latin America. Although the city can be a little crowded at times, there are some quite outstanding treasures here. |
 |
World Guide to Monterrey, Mexico Capital of Mexico's state of Nuevo Leon, Monterrey is amongst the country's largest cities. Visitors to Monterrey will immediately be intrigued by its American character and dramatic backdrop, provided by the Sierra Madre Mountains. |
 |
World Guide to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico Often referred to as simply 'PV', Puerto Vallarta was once a quiet seaside village and has grown to become a leading Mexican holiday resort. Puerto Vallarta lies next to Banderas Bay and offers a host of white sandy beaches and water sports. |
Mexico Information / Mexico Fast Facts
- Country: Mexico
- Area: 761,585 square miles / 1,972,500 square km
- Population: 110,000,000
- Capital city: Mexico City
- Language: Spanish
- Currency: Mexican Peso (MXP)
- Country dialing code: +52
- Religion: majority Catholics, remainder Protestants
Map of Mexico
