Mexico Travel Guide

Country Facts

Location

Central America.

Language

Spanish is the official language (spoken by more than 90%). English is widely spoken. 8% speak indigenous languages, of which Nátinate is most common.

Area

1,959,248 sq km (758,449 sq miles).

Time Zone

Central Standard Time: GMT - 6 (GMT - 5 from first Sunday in April to last Sunday in October). Mountain Standard Time: GMT - 7 (GMT - 6 from first Sunday in April to last Sunday in October). Pacific Standard Time: GMT - 8 (GMT - 7 from first Sunday in April to last Sunday in October).

Electricity

110 volts AC, 60Hz. American two-pin (flat) plugs are usual.

Population

111.2 million (2009).

Population Density

56.7 per sq km.

Capital City

Mexico City. Population: 22 million (2009).

Government

Republic since 1917. Gained independence from Spain in 1821.

Head of State

President Felipe Calderón since 2006.

Religion

89% Roman Catholic, 5% Protestant and 6% other denominations.

Recent History

The July 2006 presidential elections were a closely fought contest, with conservative candidate Felipe Calderón edging out his left-wing rival Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador by less than 1%. Obrador refused to concede, and demanded a recount, rousing his supporters to rally in protest. Calderón's win was confirmed by the electoral commission in September 2006, following a partial recount, and he was inaugurated on 1 December 2006.

Since taking office, Calderón has had some success with his tough policies against the drug cartels and the violence that surrounds them. The launch of the First Employment Program to maximise job opportunities within Mexico was criticized by some as not being far ranging enough. Spiralling corn costs internationally have meant tortillas, the staple diet of the country's poor, have shot up in price - Calderón responded by putting a ceiling on tortilla prices, with limited results.

Communications

Telephone

Country Code: +52. Long-distance calls are very expensive.

Mobile Telephone

Mobile / cell phones can be purchased inexpensively, and credit can be added by prepaid card. Of the major providers, Telcel has the most thorough coverage. Roaming agreements exist with a few international mobile phone companies but is pricey.

Internet

Internet is available in all regions. Most hotels in the mid-range and above categories provide computer terminals and/or wireless access. There are also many inexpensive cyber-cafés in cities and towns throughout Mexico.

Media

The major daily newspapers published in Spanish are El Universal, Excélsior, El Financiero, La Jornada and Reforma, all of which maintain web versions. Local English-language papers include The News, a daily running mostly reports from international wire services, and Inside Mexico, a monthly publication with useful information for tourists and expats. In the 2010 ‘Press Freedom Index', issued by Reporters without Borders, Mexico was close to the bottom of the league in the Americas; only Colombia and Cuba received a lower rank. Mexican reporters who get too close to drug-cartel or political corruption stories have a habit of ending up dead or disappearing, particularly in the north of the country where drug violence is rife.

Post

Airmail to Europe takes about six days. Surface mail is slow, taking weeks if not months. Within the capital, there is an immediate delivery (entrega inmediata) service, which usually takes two or three days.Typically Mon-Fri 0900-1700. Some larger branches open on Saturday morning for a reduced range of services. In Mexico City, the Correo Mayor (main post office) is behind the Palacio de Bellas Artes and opens Mon-Sat 0800-2100 and Sun 0800-1900.

Public Holidays

Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2011-December 2012 period.
2010
12 Dec *Day of Our Lady of Guadalupe
25 Dec Christmas Day

2011
1 Jan New Year’s Day
7 Feb Constitution Day
21 Mar Birthday of Benito Juárez
20 Apr *Maundy Thursday
22 Apr *Good Friday
1 May Labor Day
5 May *Anniversary of Battle of Puebla
16 Sep Independence Day
12 Oct *Día de la Raza (Columbus Day)
2 Nov *Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead)
20 Nov Anniversary of the Mexican Revolution of 1910
12 Dec *Day of Our Lady of Guadalupe
25 Dec Christmas Day

2012
1 Jan New Year’s Day
6 Feb Constitution Day
19 Mar Birthday of Benito Juárez
5 Apr *Maundy Thursday
6 Apr *Good Friday
1 May Labor Day
5 May *Anniversary of Battle of Puebla
16 Sep Independence Day
12 Oct *Día de la Raza (Columbus Day)
2 Nov *Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead)
20 Nov Anniversary of the Mexican Revolution of 1910
12 Dec *Day of Our Lady of Guadalupe
25 Dec Christmas Day
(a) Holidays marked * are optional public holidays. This means they are not compulsory but are often granted. (b) In addition there are many local holidays. For details, contact the Mexican Tourism Board. (c) Holidays falling at the weekend are not celebrated on the previous or following weekday.

Contact Information

Mexican Embassy in the UK

16 St George Street, Hanover Square, London W1S 1LX, UK
Tel: (020) 7499 8586.
Website: www.sre.gob.mx/reinounido

Mexican Consulate in the UK

8 Halkin Street, London SW1X 7DW, UK
Tel: (020) 7907 9442.
Website: www.sre.gob.mx/reinounido
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1300.

Mexico Tourism Board in the UK

Wakefield House, 41 Trinity Square, London EC3N 4DJ, UK
Tel: (020) 7488 9392 or 00800 1111 2266 (brochure request line).
Website: www.visitmexico.com

Mexican Embassy in the USA

1911 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20006, USA
Tel: (202) 728 1600.
Website: www.embassyofmexico.org

Mexican Tourism Board in the USA

400 Madison Avenue, Suite 11C, New York, NY 10017, USA
Tel: (212) 308 2110 or 1 800 446 3942.
Website: www.visitmexico.com