Mexico Country Bundle: suggestions, stories and tips
What are the best places to go to in Mexico?
What are the best places to go to in Mexico?
What are the best places to go to in Mexico
- The high and often snow-capped peaks of the Popocatépetl and Nevado de Toluca volcanoes are easy to climb. You can even take a spectacular dive into the water-filled craters.
- The reefs of Los Manchones, Cuevones, Chital and La Bandera have beautiful marine life and are famous among divers for their underwater caves.
- Another reason to visit Mexico is the impressive remains of ancient Native American cultures. It is impossible to see them all but if you follow famous Mayan route you can make a selection of the most impressive ruins. Teotihuacan just outside Mexico City, Palenque in Chiapas, Chichen Itzá and Tulum on the Yucatán Peninsula are the must-sees.
- Play cowboy in one of Mexico's many luxurious farms with guesthouses (estancias). During the day you can explore the ranch on foot or on horseback, and then enjoy the evening here by the campfire over a glass of tequila.
- Far away from Venice, but also in Mexico you can rent gondolas and these are the so-called trajineras. In these brightly painted gondolas, accompanied by a mariachi singer, you can admire the beautiful canals and Aztec-built floating gardens of Xochimilco.
- Political unrest in Chiapas (Zapatistas) is the direct result of the Indian majority that gives this state a very distinct place in Mexico. Mysterious Mayan villages and the fascinating Lacandona jungle give Chiapas a Central American touch. Absolute hihglights are San Cristobal de las Casas and the surrounding villages, the breathtaking boat ride through the Cañon del Sumidero and the waterfalls of Aguazul.
- Merida is a truly Mexican city, which is not (yet) very touristy. The center is very nice and clean with beautiful colonial buildings. At night it is often even more fun than during the day in Merida: then everyone gathers outside and listens to the music of the many musicians and orchestras.
- You'll also find the Caribbean in Mexico; ideal for recovering from the long distances you have to travel. Relax on pearly white beaches (Tulum and Playa del Carmen), enjoy the exuberant life of the tropical sea... Islands like Cozumel and Isla Mujeres have extensive -and affordable- diving facilities.
- Like most metropolises in Latin America, Mexico City has a reputation for being dangerous and highly polluted. Yet this city of extremes has a host of attractive attractions. The historic center (Zócalo), wonderful museums (Museo de Antropología) and pleasant parks (Chapultepec) are more than worth seeing. If you can brave the city's altitude, smog and raging crowds you should definitely visit the picturesque and art-loving Coyoacan and San Angel. Also highly recommended is the ancient labyrinth of canals, Xochimilco.
- You will undoubtedly recognize the stereotypical image of Mexicans in and around Guadelajara, Mexico's second largest but most "Mexican" city. Tequila, sombreros and Marriachi music that originated there can be experienced in all their glory.
- Mexico also possesses an abundance of sea and beach. Surfers will not be bored along the southern, Pacific coastline; around towns like Puerto Escondido, Puerto Angel and Bahías de Huatulco you will find not only the perfect wave, but also fantastic lagoons teeming with tropical life that can best be discovered by snorkeling. A little further inland, the beautiful colonial city of Oaxaca cannot be ignored; the ruins of Monte Alban and Mitla are the perfect day trip.
What is the best time to travel in Mexico, and what is the worst time to go?
What is the best time to travel in Mexico, and what is the worst time to go?
What is the best travel and departure time for Mexico?
- In Mexico City, year-round temperatures fluctuate between 20 and 26 degrees during the day. Nights can be cold, but it almost never freezes. Merida (Yucatan) has a different climate. Here the temperature does not often fall below 28 degrees during the day. It also stays around 20 degrees Celsius at night almost all year. The higher-lying Monterrey in northeastern Mexico has greater fluctuations in temperature. In the summer months it gets 32 to 36 degrees during the day here, while in the winter months it is barely 20 degrees.
Best travel time in Mexico
- The best travel time is from October to April, during the dry season.
Worst travel time in Mexico
- In May, the rainy season begins in southern Mexico which continues in the north until October. This period is also hurricane season. It does not rain all day during the rainy season, but there are heavy showers daily. These are often heavy and short-lived. During this period it is often very hot and humid.
Hours of sunshine in Mexico
- The number of sunshine hours in Mexico is between 2100 (Yucatàn) and 2300 (Plateau of Mexico) per year.
Sea temperature in Mexico
- Between 20 and 25 degrees.
Why to live in Mexico, why to emigrate to Mexico or stay for a long time?
Why to live in Mexico, why to emigrate to Mexico or stay for a long time?
Why should you live in Mexico as an expat, emigrant or working nomad?
- because of the climate.
- because of its diverse nature with volcanoes, jungle, mountains and beaches.
- because of its culture, traditions and rich history.
- because of the gastronomy.
- because of the emphasis on teamwork and cooperation and achieving results together. Being loyal and fulfilling your commitments is considered important.
- because it is a popular destination and more expats reside in Mexico.
What should you pay attention to?
- that the standard of living is much lower than in developed countries and there is a lot of poverty.
- that the country (in some parts more and some parts less) has a lot of crime.
- that the culture can be experienced as rigid.
- that there are clear lines of authority in the workplace.
- that respect for authority is important and being polite and patient is important.
- that communication is indirect. It is common to be reserved with criticism and to avoid conflict.
- that it is a popular destination and more expats reside in Mexico.
Where to study in Mexico, do an internship, do volunteerwork or look for a job in Mexico?
Where to study in Mexico, do an internship, do volunteerwork or look for a job in Mexico?
Why study, do an internship, volunteer or work temporarily in Mexico?
- because the culture in Mexico is alive, energetic and vibrant with many celebrations, festivals and markets. There is always something to do.
- because college money and the cost of living are generally low.
- because colleges in Mexico are also well regarded internationally.
- because if you start learning to speak or speak Spanish, it will be good for your future career.
- because you are expected to quickly feel at home in Mexico. Mexicans are warm, inviting and hospitable.
What should you pay attention to?
- that you speak a word of Spanish, which makes everything easier.
- that dealing with authorities can be complicated and time-consuming.
- that many cities in Mexico are very polluted.
What is the best transport in Mexico, and how to get around?
What is the best transport in Mexico, and how to get around?
What transportation to use in Mexico City?
- Mexico City is an immense city, but you can easily get from one location to another by subway, except during rush hour. Then it is very crowded and you will probably have to stand packed. People also warn about pickpockets at such times. City buses are generally not recommended; they are too crowded and too full. In addition, cabs cost relatively little. It is strongly recommended to use only the by phone callable "cabs de sitio" or at the airport the official airport cabs "cabs autorizados". Other cabs are less or not reliable.
Whether or not travel by car in Mexico?
- The roads in Mexico, especially on the Yucatan Peninsula, are reasonably paved. Therefore, it is not difficult to travel around here by car by yourself. The roads are safe and gasoline is available in all medium and large cities. You can determine your own pace of travel and where and how long you stop. You don't have to take other travelers into account. Traffic on the roads is not too bad, especially on the toll roads. In Mexico, almost all roads are flat and two-lane. The north of Yucatan is flat and clear. Only in Chiapas is it hilly and densely vegetated, requiring you to adjust your speed. Driving in Mexico is similar to driving in southern Europe but it is advisable to drive only during the day. Cars can be rented in major cities and at airports.
Whether or not travel by bus in Mexico?
- Mexico has a well-developed bus network. The buses run reasonably on time and the staff is nice and helpful. There are scheduled services over all major distances to the various places. The buses can be divided into three categories: First class buses, second class buses and local lines. First class buses have toilets and air conditioning and reservations are necessary. Second class buses are a little less comfortable, but cozier. There are many different bus companies and each has its own bus terminal (so it can take some searching). Reserving a fixed seat is not possible here, but standing is allowed. Keep in mind that the roads are often not well maintained, and if many places are visited, a trip can take a long time.
Whether or not travel by train in Mexico?
- Mexico has a rail network, but mainly for freight transport. The trains are not used by passengers.
What are typical Mexican habits, food customs, recipes and philosophies in Mexico?
What are typical Mexican habits, food customs, recipes and philosophies in Mexico?
What are the customs in Mexico regarding food?
- Mexican cuisine is very diverse. Originally a combination of Indian and Spanish traditions. Supplemented in the last century by Asian dishes and American fast food. Traditional Mexican food includes: tortillas, tacos, chili peppers, fresh fruit (mango, banana, pineapple, guava and papaya), chocolate, jumiles (beetles) and chapulines (grasshoppers).
- Characteristic are the many kinds of salsas that you eat together with almost anything. The salsas are hardly ever called spicy, just try for yourself.
What are the best recipes in Mexico?
- Picadillo is a dish from Latin American (and Filipino) cuisine. The dish is made from minced meat and sliced tomatoes or tomato sauce. It is often served with rice, tacos, potatoes or even croquettes.
- Guacamole (Literally it means avocado mousse) is a well-known (dip) sauce, originating in southern Mexico. Besides avocado, the ingredients often include tomato, onion and/or garlic, juice of a lime or lemon, chili pepper (especially jalapeño peppers), coriander leaf and various other spices. It is usually eaten with corn chips, but can be added to almost any Mexican dish.
- Quesadillas are to Mexican and Tex-Mex cuisine what "toasts" are to Dutch. Literally, the word means "cheese thingy. They are made from corn or flour tortillas and are popular when combined with spicy salsas, chili sauce or with guacamole. The filling contains at least cheese, sometimes also strips of cooked chicken, chorizo, mushroom or ham, for example.
- Try the real Mexican chili con carne; a stew that traditionally consists of chili pepper, garlic, onion, cumin and minced meat. Usually beans (brown beans, kidney beans, black beans or others) and tomatoes are also added. There are all kinds of variations in which other types of meat or different ingredients are chosen.
- A burrito is a Mexican dish that comes from northern Mexico or southwestern United States of America A burrito consists of a tortilla, usually filled with beans and meat (usually minced meat or chicken, sometimes cheese), and rolled up so that the filling is inside the tortilla. The name "burrito" comes from the Spanish burro, which means donkey. So a burrito is a donkey.
What are the best drinks in Mexico?
- Well-known Mexican drinks/brands are Tia Maria, Kahlua, pina colada, Mezcal and the beer brands Corona and Sol.
- Mexican wine is not yet at a level of quality that it can be exported. Currently, there are nine major wine regions. Baja California is the most well-known. True quality wines are very pricey in Mexico.
- Xocoatl - Chocolate: Centuries before the discovery of the Americas in 1492, cacao (the cacao bean) was being grown in Mexico and Central America. Theobroma cacao means "food of the gods" and that is how it has been used ceremonially for centuries by the Incas and Mayans. The cacao bean comes from a small tree that grows in the tropical jungles of Mexico and Central America. The Mexican Indians were the first people to ever make chocolate from the cacao bean, which was also used as currency to buy and sell things with. Instead of coffee, many Mexicans today still drink chocolate milk or use the Mexican cacao for cacao ceremonies.
- Drink a Tequila, the famous Mexican alcoholic drink made from the Agave tequilana, a particular Mexican species of agave.
What are notable holidays and festivals in Mexico?
- On average, there are four holidays per month in Mexico. Each day on the calendar is actually a holiday in Mexico. Calendar days are dedicated to saints with names. Also called "name days." It's similar to a birthday. If you as a Mexican have the same name as the saint the day is named after, you are congratulated and receive gifts. For example, June 24 is the name day of San Juan.
- In Mexico, they celebrate the "Day of the Dead" (El Dia de los Muertos). Also called All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day. This national holiday is on November 1 and 2, and Mexicans celebrate on this day that the dead come back to earth to visit the living. The dead are then the guests of the living on that day. Cemeteries are crowded, picnics are held at gravesites and skulls are used as decorations. Bakers sell the bread of death on this festive day.
- December 12 is the most important feast in Mexico. Mexicans then celebrate the national feast of the Virgin of Guadalupe. This patron saint of Mexico is said to have been beheld as a Marian apparition in 1531 by Saint Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin. Pilgrims in Mexico walk with torches and wear tunic referring to Juan Diego's clothing. Tens of thousands of Mexicans climb the mountain that day to the basilica "Iglesia de Guadalupe" in Mexico City. Throughout the day, Mexico celebrates with music and fireworks.
- Constitution Day is a national holiday in Mexico. Originally, Feb. 5 was the fixed date for this. In 1857 and 1917, Mexican constitutions were adopted on this date. In 2006, it was decided to celebrate it on the first Tuesday of the year.
- On May 5, Mexicans celebrate the day Mexico defeated a French army in the Battle of Puebla.
- The discovery of America by Columbus used to be celebrated grandly in Mexico. However, after 300 years of misery by Europeans, it was decided to celebrate something else on Oct. 12. Today, Mexico celebrates Race Day. This refers to the new race that emerged from Europeans and Indians.
What are the remarkable habits in Mexico?
- Food is important, taking time to share meals together. By preference with the whole family around big tables on sundays with all family included extended family around.
- Politeness, table manners and formalities are normal. It is commont to always greet a person, when you meet. Mexican workplaces tend to be hierarchical, with clear lines of authority. Respect for superiors is crucial.
- Festivities and celebrations are definitely celebrated by Mexicans.
- Sombreros provides shade from the hot Mexican sun, protecting the face and neck. It also holds a significant cultural meaning. The sombrero represents pride in Mexican heritage and traditions. It is also a fashion item.
- Pinatas is more than a fun party decoration. The act of breaking the piñata symbolized triumph over evil or temptation.
- Mariachi is a group of musicians, playing ranchera music. This genre has roots in 18th-century western Mexico.
- Machismo is still very common. The core of the macho culture is of masculinity and dominance by men. Traits like strength, virility, and being the head of the household.
- Indirect communication is part of the Mexican culture. Don't take "no" at face value, and pay attention to non-verbal cues.
How dangerous is Mexico for your safety, health and insurances?
How dangerous is Mexico for your safety, health and insurances?
How to stay safe and out of trouble in Mexico?
- Mexico is not a very safe country, but as long as you avoid certain areas and pay close attention it is fine. Furthermore, on public roads you may encounter checkpoints by the military and police, pay attention and follow the directions during the search.
- Travelers are advised to exercise vigilance in the state of Guerrero and avoid demonstrations and gatherings.
What to look out for regarding crime in Mexico?
- The number of robberies on public transport and at bus stations in Mexico City is significant.
- Armed robberies also take place on cars at traffic lights at some points in Mexico City. Should this happen to you, do not resist, and immediately surrender your belongings.
- Robberies are particularly common in the states of Guerrero, Oaxaca and Chiapas. There is still some tension in the state of Chiapas; armed groups have established "autonomous areas" there. These are not recognizable as such, but you are at greater risk there, as neither police nor insurance companies of car rental companies enter these areas without question. If you visit the highlands of Chiapas, it is advisable to be extra careful.
What to look out for regarding drugs in Mexico?
- There is unrest in Mexico between rival drug cartels and the police and military, especially in the Tierra Caliente region of Michoacán. There is also growing unrest in Cancun and surrounding areas. This is accompanied by increasing violence, which can also affect civilians and tourists. Many deaths have already occurred in this drug war, most of which are not directed against the general public.
- People are advised not to travel after sunset, especially in the northern states, and to be very careful when going out after sunset in the big cities.
- It has occurred that at the airports in Mexico City, and especially Cancun, luggage tags were removed from suitcases of travelers to Europe, including the Netherlands. These labels were then placed on other suitcases in which drugs were hidden. It is recommended that you label your luggage inside and out with your name and address, and if you notice that a luggage tag is missing when you return to Europe, report it immediately to airport police. In addition, after you check in your luggage at the airport in Mexico, consider taking a photo that clearly shows the attached luggage tags. Should you become a victim of this baggage label mix-up in Mexico itself, upon departure, alert the Dutch embassy immediately.
What to look out for regarding natural disasters in Mexico?
- Tropical storms and hurricanes can occur in Mexico between May and October. Inland, these disturbances often cause heavy rainfall, which - especially in mountainous areas - can cause landslides, making roads impassable. Mexico is located in an earthquake-prone area. Severe earthquakes can occur. For information regarding earthquakes locally, it is recommended to follow media coverage. The Popotcatepetl volcano (near Mexico City) is active and closed to the public. Risk areas have been established around this volcano.
Welk visum regelen voor een reis, werk of vrijwilligerswerk naar Mexico?
Welk visum regelen voor een reis, werk of vrijwilligerswerk naar Mexico?
Toeristenvisum
Een visum aanvragen voor Mexico is niet verplicht voor een verblijf tot 180 dagen. Bij binnenkomst in Mexico krijg je na het invullen van een formulier een tourist card (FMM), verlies deze niet! Je kunt je tourist card verlengen door dit aan te vragen bij het immigratiebureau (INM). Volgens veel reizigers is het verstandiger om de grens over te reizen (of naar Belize of naar Guatemala) en dan opnieuw 180 dagen te mogen blijven. Officieel zijn een returnticket en een bewijs van genoeg financiële middelen verplicht, maar hier wordt in de praktijk bijna nooit naar gevraagd. Als er wel naar wordt gevraagd, is een uitleg over de route die je gaat reizen (op papier is het best) of een bewijs van genoeg financiën vaak genoeg. Als je van plan bent naar binnen te reizen zonder terugticket, vraag dan in elk geval even na of ze je toelaten zonder visum bij je vliegtuigmaatschappij.
Werkvisum
Als je wilt werken in Mexico moet er een permiso de internación worden aangevraagd bij hetInstituto Nacional de Migración (INM). Dit moet gedaan worden door de werkgever. Er zit geen maximale geldigheid aan het verblijf. Er zijn twee verschillende aanvragen mogelijk: voor tijdelijk verblijf zonder de intentie langer te blijven en voor tijdelijk verblijf met de bedoeling uiteindelijk inwoner te worden.
De basisbenodigdheden voor beide visa zijn:
- Een ingevuld aanvraagformulier
- Je paspoort
- Pasfoto in kleur die maximaal 6 maanden oud is, met een witte achtergrond en zonder (eventuele) bril
- Documenten dat je legaal in het land mag verblijven
Als je eenmaal naar Mexico bent verhuisd, moet je je binnen 30 dagen melden bij het Nationaal Register voor Buitenlanders.
Het consulaat van Mexico in Nederland is zeer behulpzaam. Als je dus vragen hebt kun je (in het Nederlands) bij hen terecht.
Vrijwilligersvisum
Je mag in Mexico niet-betaald werk uitvoeren op je toeristenvisum (van 90 dagen, te verlengen tot 180). Zodra je geld of een andere beloning voor je werk ontvangt, moet je een werkvergunning aanvragen.
Actuele informatie
De meest actuele informatie check je op: https://www.inm.gob.mx/gobmx/word/index.php/paises-no-requieren-visa-para-mexico/
Mexico: selection of contributions by WorldSupporters - Bundle
Mexico: selection of contributions by WorldSupporters - Bundle
Content about Mexico shared by WorldSupporters
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