Latin America - Mexico - Country Information

Mexico's long history and the diversity of her landscapes and culture provide endless fascination to the traveller. Our comprehensive journey through this colourful and historic region concentrates on the astonishing temple-cities of the Aztecs in the mountains of central Mexico, and the Mayan ruins in the jungles of the Yucatan, but also allows time to recall the achievements of the Spanish Conquistadors whose legacy can be seen in the beautiful colonial architecture found everywhere throughout the land.

Key Facts
Full Country Name	Estados Unidos Méxicanos
Area	1.95 million sq km
Population	101 million
Capital	Mexico City
Time Difference	Mexico Central is 6 Hours Behind GMT Mexico East is 5 Hours Behind GMT Mexico West is 7 Hours Behind GMT
Visa	A visa is not required
Currency	Peso
People	Approximately 60% mestizo (mixed European and Amerindian descent) and 30% Amerindian (indígena - including Nahua, Maya, Zapotecs, Mixtecs, Totonacs, and Tarascos or Purépecha), 10% other
Language	Spanish
Dialling Code	00 52
Electricity	127V 60 Hz

Visas:

A visa is not required

Health risks:

Diphtheria, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Malaria, Polio, TB, Tetanus, Typhoid

When to Go:

The climate of Mexico City (7,575 ft) is moderate due to altitude, and the evenings, particularly between November and February, can be fairly cool.  Puebla, at a slightly lower altitude (7,086 ft), enjoys a similar moderate climate.  Oaxaca lies at 4,900 ft in one of the country's most beautiful mountain valleys.  This picturesque city enjoys warm sunny days for most of the year, with pleasant cool evenings.  The central inland areas enjoy something like 'eternal spring' weather with daytime temperatures nearly always between 19‑29°C.  The whole of the south east of the country (including the Yucatan Peninsula) is always hot, sometimes semi-tropical, and humid temperatures above 32°C are common. The rainy season in Mexico is approximately from June to September; the rain falls mainly in the later afternoon, in short heavy bursts, and sightseeing can usually be scheduled to avoid it.