 | The Foreign Office of the Federal Republic of Germany has a special one about this country Travel and safety advice released (Web link). "We strongly advise against traveling to the following regions:
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| location | |
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| flag | |
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| Short dates | |
| Capital | Mexico City |
|---|---|
| Form of government | presidential Federal Republic |
| currency | 1 Mexican peso (mex $) = 100 centavos |
| surface | 1.97 million km² |
| population | 112.3 million |
| languages | Spanish, various Maya, Nahuatl, and other regional indigenous languages |
| Religions | Roman Catholic 91%, Protestant 4%, other 5% |
| power grid | 120V / 60Hz |
| Phone code | 52 |
| Internet TLD | .com.mx |
| Time zone | CET-7h |
Mexico, officially the United Mexican States, Estados Unidos Mexicanos, lies between the Pacific in the west and that Gulf of Mexico in the East. The country has a coastline that is approximately 9,600 km long. In the north, Mexico borders the United States from America. The Central American states are in the south of the country Belize and Guatemala.
background
Most of Mexico is in North America, about two thirds of the country is on the mountainous plateau Mesa Central at an altitude between 1,000 and 2,000 m, nicely framed by the Sierra Madre Occidental in the west and the Sierra Madre Oriental in the East. In the mountains there is the Sierra Volcanica Transversal, here you can still find active volcanoes such as the Popocatépetl. The remaining third consists of the desert areas in the northwest, the peninsula Yucatan in the south and the coastal areas, which are hilly and dry on the west coast and marshy and flat on the east coast.
In the south of Mexico lies the Isthmus of Tehuantepec. This isthmus is only 216 km long and reaches a pass height of 224 m. However, a repeatedly planned canal has not yet been realized. Only one thing is certain: the isthmus at least conceptually separates North America from Central America.
The state of Mexico has an area of approximately 1.97 million square kilometers and is therefore more than five times the size of Germany. The country has about 125 million inhabitants, with the exception of the indigenous population they speak mostly Spanish.
Mexico is a federal state with 31 federal states, including the capital since January 29, 2016 Mexico City, Ciudad de México.(The capital Mexico City was until then a federal district, Distrito Federal, called D.F. for short. Now it is a federal state like the other federal states also with the name Mexico City, Ciudad de México, CDMX for short):
Cities
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- 1 Acapulco
- Most important tourist coastal town in Mexico on the Pacific - 2 Cancun - Neighboring town of Playa del Carmen and a popular destination for package tourists
- 3 Guanajuato - Old silver city 300 km north of Mexico City and today an insider tip for tourists
- 4 Merida - Colonial city on the peninsula Yucatan
- 5 Mexico City - Capital and one of the largest metropolises in the world
- 6 Oaxaca - Colonial city with a lively indigenous culture
- 7 Puebla -- World Heritage; famous for talaver tiles and sweets
- 8 Querétaro - World Heritage; Colonial city with a beautiful pedestrian zone and lots of shady places
- 9 San Cristobal - "Capital of the Maya" situated 2210 m above sea level in the state of Chiapas
- 10 Tijuana - border town too California
See also: Mexico / cities, towns and tourist destinations.
Other goals
- Barranca del Cobre: (translated = copper canyon) in state Chihuahua, can only be reached by train (route Chihuahua – Los Mochis), beautiful nature, small towns, highly recommended excursion destination.
- Baja California (Baja California): In the west of Mexico, about 1,300 km long headland. Starting at Tijuana the country, which consists mostly of desert, extends over La Paz up to the Los Cabos (Region between the towns of Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo at the southern tip of the peninsula). An impressive desert landscape alternating with lonely oases and the recreational area of the Americans (Los Cabos). Highly recommended for relaxation.
- Palenque - City and extensive Maya ruins in the southernmost state of Mexico Chiapas. The ruins were named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987. The ancient Mayan sites are located in the middle of tropical rainforests. Large parts of the complex are still overgrown by the lush vegetation and have not yet been exposed.
getting there
Entry requirements
Citizens of all German-speaking countries can travel to Mexico without a visa for up to 180 days at a time. The same applies z. B. for citizens of most EU countries, the USA, Canada and Australia. Citizens of other countries may need to apply for a tourist visa at the relevant Mexican embassy before departure.
When arriving via the USA, you should note that the entire entry procedure must be completed in the USA (there is no airport with transit zones in the USA). This also means getting the travel authorization (ESTA) or, if necessary, a visa. For longer stays, please note that onward travel to Mexico does not interrupt the permitted duration of stay in the USA (max. 90 days without a visa), so that a US visa is then also required in this case. More information about the entry procedure into the United States look there.
By plane
Mexico has a total of 1,834 airports, but most of them offer national connections. The seven largest airports in Mexico are responsible for international connections, which alone carry 90% of all international passengers. The seven major airports are located in:
- Mexico City Airport
(IATA: MEX) - largest airport in the country with numerous international connections to all continents with the exception of Australia. - Cancun Airport(IATA: CUN) - second largest airport in the country with numerous international connections to North and South America as well as to Europe.
- Guadalaja Airport(IATA: GDL) - international connections to the USA and few connections to Central America.
- Monterrey Airport(IATA: MLA) - international connections to the USA and few connections to Central America.
- Tijuana Airport(IATA: TIJ) - international connections to the USA and China.
- Los Cabos Airport(IATA: SJD) - International connections to the USA, Canada and Central America.
- Puerto Vallarta Airport(IATA: PVR) - International connections to the USA, Canada, Europe and Central America.
By bus
Places in the north are connected to the USA, places in the south are connected with direct buses from Central America to Nicaragua. It should be noted that most of these countries require a valid onward travel ticket upon entry.
mobility
By plane
There are numerous domestic and international airports and several airlines in Mexico. Domestic flights can be relatively cheap and can compete with long-distance bus prices if you book in good time. So-called low-cost airlines such as B. Interjet offer on-board service that is better than that of most European established companies such as Lufthansa or Air France. You should arrive at the airport in Mexico City in good time for domestic flights, it is confusing, poorly signposted and the organization is Mexican-chaotic. Even if you have a printed ticket and checked in online, you may still have to go to the counter because there are currently no functioning barcode scanners available. Understanding is very difficult without knowledge of Spanish. The safety precautions seem to be the same as European standards, the luggage is screened, you have to go through locks, etc. But sometimes these are defective and the people on duty just pretend "as if". Overall, everything is much more relaxed than in Europe, even if military personnel stand around with submachine guns, which is rather unusual in this country.
In the street
Road traffic in Mexico is not for wimps. Mexican temperament and a relaxed relationship with traffic rules lead to chaotic traffic conditions that require constant attention. You drive (mostly) on the right, but surprises such as overtaking in blind bends (often disregarding oncoming traffic), enormous speeds of trucks and buses, unintentional turning on the main road, unlit carriages, the notorious Topes (Swell, the only effective means of decelerating). On country roads, slower vehicles indicate that they can be overtaken by blinking left.
One should also bear in mind that only about a third of all domestic cars have liability insurance and driving licenses, e.g. in the capital, have been issued for a long time without a driving test. Traffic rules are therefore often unknown.
When driving through desert areas (for example the Baja California, Chihuahua or Sonora peninsula) you should take into account that there are hardly any petrol stations outside of the larger towns. In addition, you should always have enough water with you for unforeseen stops. In Chiapas, highway robbers and ambushes are to be expected.
The road network has not grown with the motorization, so that many roads, especially in the metropolises, are chronically congested. There is a, in some cases incomplete, network of toll motorways, which are fairly civilized. This is supplemented by toll-free motorways and more or less well-developed country roads.
taxi
In the big cities, because of the danger of robberies, you shouldn't stop taxis on the street, but go to a taxi stand or have a taxi called for you in a hotel or restaurant. You can hear this advice always and everywhere, but in reality, even locals very often drive taxis and always call the car on the street. It is important to either ask for the price when boarding or to negotiate one. This is not necessary if the driver switches on the taximeter (rather an exception than the rule). If he does, you can tip very generously, taxis are cheap.
In many cities there is the Taxi de Sitio, i.e. taxis that leave from a fixed taxi stand and always return there. In addition, "Uber" and "Cabify" can be used to drive safely through the capital via smartphone app.
When driving to the airport with large luggage, however, you should "officially" order taxis, as it can happen that you are robbed. If you let yourself be driven home the day before, it is best to order the driver to the hotel for the next day, this is cheap and safe.
By bus
Bus travel is a proven mode of transport in Mexico. They go anywhere, anytime, are cheap and pleasant. Overland bus journeys are very pleasant with lines of the 1st or deluxe class. WC available, mostly separate for men and women. Take away drinks and something to eat.
Short distances can be easily covered with 2nd class buses. Since the seats are not upholstered, 2nd class buses are not necessarily suitable for comfort lovers and longer journeys. No toilets available.
Shared taxis (Colectivo or Pesero) drive to more remote areas or within cities, which usually leave when all seats are occupied. On the way they are waved to the street.
Military controls may occur in the northern state and Chiapas. The people are usually friendly to western tourists (less so to people from Latin America who could be illegal migrants). When you sleep, you don't even wake up!
Assaults on buses are extremely rare. If there are actually robberies, it is mostly by fellow travelers. In order to prevent robberies, passengers in 1st class buses are searched for weapons when boarding, photographed and required to show ID. This is not the case in the simple buses. In the north of the country and along the Gulf Coast in particular, it is therefore advisable to avoid the 2nd class buses after dark.
Timetables for all of Mexico can be found on [1]; You can also reserve seats here, although this is usually not necessary. Tickets are available at bus stations and ticket bus or Boletotal sales points in the city centers.
By train
Mexico's rail network is underdeveloped for a country of this size and population. Most of the routes date from the early 20th century or earlier and are in poor condition. In connection with the difficult topography of the country with enormous differences in altitude between the central highlands and the coasts, the trains do not achieve competitive travel times for buses or even planes. Today traffic is largely limited to freight traffic.
The range of railway lines for passenger transport is even worse than the rail network itself. The number of railway lines that are in operation in Mexico is very modest compared to similarly populous and economically strong countries. With the privatization of rail operations in autumn 1999, almost all passenger traffic by rail was discontinued. With a few exceptions, there is no longer any rail passenger transport in the country. The suburban railways around the city of Ciudad de México (one to Nezahualcóyotl and one to Cuautitlán) are an exception.
The rail connection through the copper canyon between Los Mochis and Chihuahua is a particularly spectacular experience. Other smaller railroad lines exist between Puebla and Cholula de Rivadavia (only reopened in 2017) and between Guadalajara and Tequila.Sporadically there is also a train running on the reactivated railway line (called "tren turistico") from Campo in California about Tecate Tijuana.
Plans for (high-speed) passenger traffic on a larger scale can be heard again and again, but so far there have been only a few serious construction measures, so that a usable connection cannot be expected by the end of the decade.
language
The people speak Spanish. In tourist places such as Cancun, as well as in parts of the population of the largest cities (especially students in Mexico City), English is also spoken, but German is also spoken in large hotels. English is not widely spoken in less touristy places.
If you can communicate in Spanish, you will usually be treated more friendly. Occasionally there are even better prices at street vendors and souvenir sellers if you can bargain in Spanish. With a few bits of Spanish and if you let it be known that you are not a gringo, you live a lot safer in Mexico.
In Yucatan there is a large group of people who speak various Mayan languages. The vast majority of them also speak Spanish and some other languages (especially if they are active in tourism), but knowledge can certainly not hurt.
Nahuatl, the language of the Aztecs, is also widespread in the center of the country.
Rule of thumb (throughout Latin America):
"When you speak English, all doors open. When you speak Spanish, hearts open too".
See also: Phrasebook Spanish
to buy
currency
For purchases, in addition to the local currency Mexican pesos, especially in tourist areas, US dollars and sometimes also euros are accepted as cash. In general, it can be said that the exchange rates for euros are worse than for dollars and that coins are less accepted than bills. In many places you can also pay by credit card.
Currencies of the Central American countries are accepted - if at all - only in the immediate vicinity of the border at miserable exchange rates. Outside of these areas, it can even be difficult to exchange them at banks.
Conversely, the Mexican peso is sometimes even converted into Costa Rica assumed, in the USA, however, only in the southwestern states and in southern California and here too at miserable rates.
Souvenirs
Mexico is famous for tequila, and good quality can be bought here at low prices (compared to Germany).
kitchen
Mexican cuisine is a mixture of indigenous and European cuisine with Caribbean and African influences here and there and is characterized by opposites: hot and sweet, crispy and creamy, sweet and salty.
The basic ingredient in a Mexican meal is called a corn flatbread tortilla (not to be confused with the Spanish potato egg dish of the same name), which goes back to the Spanish natives. In the southern half of the country the tortilla is made from corn cooked in lime water and grated, in the northern half also from wheat flour. The tortilla is served as a filling side with every meal.
The tortillas become, among other things Tacos or enchiladas prepared that are nothing more than flatbreads filled with chicken, meat or the like. There are also quesadillas, which despite the name do not necessarily contain cheese, but are often filled with mushrooms, zucchini flowers, potatoes, chapulines (grasshoppers) or huitlacoche (corn mold) and deep-fried. Burritos, larger wheat tortillas filled with beans or meat, are common in northern Mexico. Popular side dishes are a bean puree called frijoles refritos, guacamole and salads. In addition, there are different for each meal Chilli sauces enough.
Mexican cuisine offers a wide variety of dishes that are hardly known abroad. One of the national dishes is the mole, a mild chilli chocolate sauce that is usually served with chicken and rice. The recipe goes back to the sauces prepared in a mortar by the indigenous people. In its current form, it dates back to the 16th century and the nuns of Puebla and Oaxaca, who, in addition to various dried chilli peppers, allegedly used up to a hundred ingredients for their preparation. The mole is eaten in the entire southern half of the country, but these two cities still offer the greatest variety of forms of preparation: In Puebla the classic Mole Poblano as well as Pipián verde and Pipián rojo. In Oaxaca there are a total of eight different moles, including negro, rojo, coloradito and amarillo as well as a mole with the beautiful name Manchamanteles, the tablecloth smearer.
Another national dish are the Chiles en Nogadawhich are mainly eaten around the national holiday in September and October. This dish was also invented by nuns who, when Emperor Itubrbide visited Puebla, prepared a meal in the national colors: dark green, meat-filled chili peppers (chile poblano), a white goat cheese and nut sauce with red pomegranate seeds.
Contrary to popular belief, the court comes Chili con carne not from Mexico, but from the southwest of the USA, although this area belonged to Mexico or the Spanish colonial empire until the 1840s. The fiery spicy dish can only be found on the US-Mexican border and in tourist resorts.
nightlife
accommodation
Learn
There are language schools in almost every major Mexican city. Universities such as the UNAM in Mexico City offer language courses at affordable prices.
Work
public holidays
| meeting | Surname | importance |
|---|---|---|
| 01. 01. | Año Nuevo | New Year |
| 05. 02. | Aniversario de la Constitución Mexicana | Constitution Day |
| 24. 02. | Día de la Bandera | Flag day |
| 21. 03. | Natalicio de Benito Juarez | Birthday of Benito Juárez |
| April. | Jueves Santo | Maundy Thursday |
| April | Viernes Santo | Good Friday |
| 01.05. | Día del Trabajo | Labor Day |
| 05. 05. | Batalla de Puebla | Battle of Puebla |
| 01. 09. | Informe presidencial | Government statement |
| 16. 09. | Día de la Independencia | Independence day |
| 12. 10. | Día de la Raza | Anniversary of the "meeting of two worlds" discovery of America by Christopher Columbus (1492) |
| 01. 11. | Día de los Muertos | day of the Dead |
| 02. 11. | Día de los Fieles Difuntos | All Souls |
| 20. 11. | Aniversario de Revolución Mexicana | Revolution day |
| 12. 11. | Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe | Day of the Virgin of Guadalupe |
| 25. 12. | Navidad | Christmas |
- At the Cinco de Mayo, on May 5th, is commemorated the victory of the Mexican army over French forces in the Battle of Puebla on May 5th, 1862. Margaritas flow freely and there are dance shows, theater performances, pop concerts and fairs in various locations for weeks before and after.
security
For years, large parts of Mexico have been affected by violent clashes between criminal organizations, security forces and vigilante groups, which have killed tens of thousands of people since 2006. In this context, the German Foreign Office urgently advises against traveling to rural areas of the federal states Guerrero, Michoacan and Jalisco, from using the coastal road between Acapulco (Guerrero) and Manzanillo (Colima) as well as non-essential travel to the state Tamaulipas from.
The northern states are also affected Coahuila, Chihuahua, Nuevo León, as Zacatecas, Durango, Sinaloa, and Morelos; especially big cities like Tijuana, Ciudad Juarez, Reynosa, Matamoros, Tampico, Acapulco and Torreón, and increasingly the municipalities of the Estado de México. In general, overland trips to cities and tourist zones should only be made during the day and only via the motorway. In some cases, police or uniformed security personnel are involved in crimes or criminals pose as such. Virtual kidnappings or extortions are also widespread, in which the kidnapping or accident of a relative is only faked. In the case of unknown callers, one should therefore be reluctant to provide personal information, keep calm and try to contact the relevant family member in another way.
Since around 2017, American and Canadian travelers in Mexico have been reporting severe impaired consciousness up to fainting after consuming alcoholic mixed drinks or spirits, obviously caused by adulterated drinks. Although a certain system can be recognized, there is no precise information about the background. However, extremely high fees for private and medical assistance are regularly reported.
health
Before you travel
Among other things, vaccinations against tetanus, polio, hepatitis A and B are recommended, it may only be necessary to have a booster vaccination. Especially in the lowlands of the Yucatan, it is advisable to take appropriate malaria prophylaxis if you leave the usual tourist trails. Current health tips.
to eat and drink
The warning of Montezuma's revenge is often exaggerated. A few precautionary measures are sure to help, but neither should one be overly cautious as this will mean missing out on the best delicacies. In international hotels, eating food is completely harmless, in small restaurants you should avoid salads and raw vegetables, and as a tourist you should avoid street stalls. In the case of fruit, it is best to only eat those that can be eaten without the peel (bananas, citrus fruits, mamey, zapote, chirimoya, cactus fruits, etc.). Unpeeled fruits should be washed with cleaning additives for food, in the supermarket there is a 30ml bottle in the vegetable department Product called BacDyn. Take a diarrhea medicine with you just in case.
The tap water is not suitable for drinking, it is harmless when brushing your teeth. Do not use ice cubes in drinks if they do not come from bulk packs. The ice cubes are harmless in hotels and restaurants.
Both in the highlands (due to the high altitude and the supposedly low temperatures) and in the lowlands (high evaporation), it is essential to drink a lot.
Medicines / pharmacies
Most drugs can be obtained inexpensively and without a prescription in the farmacias, Antibiotics require a prescription. Medicines are best bought in large pharmacies where drugstore supplies are also available. The so-called similareswho sell copycat products should be avoided when buying antibiotics.
miscellaneous
Highlands (e.g. Ciudad de México or Taxco)
Due to the altitude, sightseeing can be quite strenuous. This can cause cardiovascular problems for travelers. In addition, there is a mild climate, which means that solar radiation is underestimated. There is a risk of sunburn and sunstroke, so wear light, covering clothing and a hat and stay in the shade at lunchtime if possible.
Yucatan lowlands
It is very hot and humid here all year round (especially in summer). It is extremely easy to work up a sweat, sightseeing - such as pyramids - can be really exhausting.
Mosquito repellent: Only on the coasts and on the Yucatan peninsula is there a risk of malaria, and here too it is extremely low. Isolated cases of dengue have also become known in coastal states. Nevertheless, it is advisable to use mosquito repellent throughout the country, especially in the evening and night hours
Protection from poisonous animals: Shake out clothes and shoes before putting them on, do not walk barefoot.
Predators:
- The smaller, up to 3.50 m long, bumpy crocodiles are found in the south, on the Yucatan and along the Gulf of Mexico. The up to 7.00 m long pointed crocodiles live in the entire south and along the Pacific coast. The crocodiles are potentially dangerous to humans, but attacks are very rare. Where the usual tourist goes into the water, i.e. essentially tourist cenotes, there are no crocodiles. At Celestún, excursions into the mangroves are offered, where you can watch flamingos and crocodiles and bathe. The bathing areas are used by locals, which should not be dangerous.
- Jaguars and pumas are common in Mexico, but only a few tens of thousands remain. The wild cats are shy and usually avoid humans. Attacks only happen when they are cornered. The smaller ocelot and jaguarundi do not pose a threat to human life.
- Choke snakes like the rainbow boa do not grow large enough to be dangerous to healthy adult humans. Man does not fit into the prey scheme because we are too big.
- Sharks can be found on all coasts of Mexico.
- The mosquito is often called the most dangerous predator. Even if they do not transmit dangerous diseases, they are very annoying and adequate mosquito repellent is important.
climate
While there is a pleasant climate in the highlands almost all year round, the weather in the lowlands of Yucatan is often very stressful. Due to its location in the tropics, the temperature differences between the seasons are only slight.
Highlands: Usually pleasantly warm during the day, sometimes very cool at night. Warning: Mexico City suffers from smog, especially in the dry months from October to May, which can make breathing difficult. Large parts of the highlands are over 2,000 meters above sea level, which can also burden the organism.
Lowlands of Yucatan: Here it is "most comfortable" in winter (air and water temperature each 26 ° C in January), because not so humid. It is generally very hot and the humidity is very high. In Merida, for example, the monthly mean fluctuates between 28 and 35 degrees, but the perceived temperature can be significantly higher due to the very high humidity.
respect
Post and Telecommunications
Often a few words of Spanish and hands and feet can get you further than fluent English. US citizens are not the most popular people there. If you have made it clear to your interlocutors that you are European, English can also be very helpful. The Germans are particularly positive. A brief, casually thrown hint is often enough and numerous locked doors open.
literature
About history:
- Konrad Ratz (Ed.): Battle for Mexico - Emperor Maximilian in the memories of his private secretary, ISBN 3-85002-425-3 , Amalthea, April 1999, 304 pages, German
About life and everyday life:
- Jürgen Neubauer: Mexico. A country portrait. ISBN 978-3861536673 , Ch.links, March 2012, 224 pages
Travel report:
- Richard Grant: Bandit Roads - Into the lawless heart of Mexico. ISBN 978-3-492-40386-3 , Malik, National Geographic, 2008, 319 pages
- Jürgen Neubauer: In Mexiko. Reise in ein magisches Land. ISBN 978-3740735227 , twentysix 2018, 336 Seiten
