| Mexico ((es)Mexico) | |
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| Flag | |
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| Information | |
| Capital city | Mexico |
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| Area | 1 970 000 km² |
| Population | 113 000 000 hab. (2010) |
| Density | 57,36 inhab./km² |
| Form of State | federal Republic |
| Official language | Spanish |
| Other languages | regional indigenous languages |
| Cash | Mexican peso (MXN) |
| Electricity | 117 V/60 Hz, American plug |
| Telephone prefix | 52 |
| Internet suffix | .mx |
| Flow direction | Right-hand drive |
| Spindle | UTC-7 to UTC-9 |
| Location | |
 23 ° 0 ′ 0 ″ N 102 ° 0 ′ 0 ″ W | |
| Official site | |
| Touristic site | |
the Mexico, officially the United Mexican States, is a country ofNorth America border of United States of America north of Guatemala and Belize South.
With nearly 113 million inhabitants, including 20 million in the urban area of Mexico, Mexico is the most populous of the countries of expression spanish in the world. It is the third country by its size and the second by its population in Latin America.
Understand
Geography
Weather
The Tropic of Cancer divides the country into two zones, one temperate (humid subtropical climate) and the other with a tropical climate. The climate varies with altitude. The tierras calientes (warm lands), including the coastal plains, up to about 915 meters. North of the 24th parallel, temperatures are cooler during the winter months, while in the south, they remain constant throughout the year. However, they vary depending on the altitude.
Areas south of 27e parallel:
- Up to 1000 meters : (the ribs and the Yucatán peninsula) have an average temperature between 24 ° C and 28 ° C. The temperature remains high all year round with only 5 ° C difference between average winter and summer temperatures.
- Between 1,000 and 2,000 meters : the average temperature is between 16 ° C and 20 ° C. The towns and villages at this altitude south of the 24th parallel enjoy a relatively constant climate and pleasant temperatures throughout the year, while the regions to the north have a more seasonal climate.
- Above 2,000 meters : the average temperature is between 8 ° C and 12 ° C in the neo-volcanic cordillera.
The rains vary a lot depending on the geographical location and the seasons. Arid or semi-arid in Baja California, the northwest of the state of Sonora, the northern plateaus and part of the southern plateaus. It rains in these areas on average between 300 and 600 millimeters per year. In the southern plateaus and in particular the most populated regions (such as Mexico and Guadalajara) it rains on average between 600 and 1 000 mm. The lowlands along the Gulf of Mexico receive more than 1 000 mm of rains throughout the year. The region south-east of Tabasco receives approximately 2 000 mm rain all year round. It snows occasionally in some of the northern plateaus and high peaks of the Sierra Madre Occidentale and Sierra Madre Orientale.
Wet season or rainy season
Mexico has a marked rainy and dry season. The rainy season lasts, in most of the country, from June to mid-October. It rains significantly less the rest of the year. February and July are the driest and wettest months respectively. For example, Mexico City receives approximately 5 mm rains in February and 300 mm in July. Coastal regions, especially the Gulf of Mexico, receive their maximum precipitation in September. Tabasco records more than 300 mm of rains during this month.
A small part of the northwest coast of Mexico around the city of Tijuana has a Mediterranean climate with heavy mists and a rainy season in winter.
Hurricanes
Mexico is located in the hurricane belt and all coastal regions are susceptible to one of these storms from June to November. Hurricanes on the Pacific coast are less frequent and often less severe than those affecting the east coast of the country. Several hurricanes hit the coasts of the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea each year, with high winds that can exceed 200 km / h, endanger the lives of residents and cause significant damage to hotels and homes in the region.
Story
Population
There were around 119 million inhabitants in mid-2014.
Culture
Holidays and public holidays
At the local and regional level, there are very many festivals, whether of pre-Hispanic origin or Christian patronage festivals. Contrary to popular belief, May 5 is a holiday in the state of Puebla, the commemoration is national, but there is only a ceremony in this state, paradoxically it is celebrated more in the United States than in Mexico. .
On a national level :
- February 12: National Chocolate Day, major cities hold chocolate fairs, which usually last a few days, so vendors can take advantage of the Valentine's Day chocolate sales.
- Holy Week: large processions, and sometimes in the south more pagan-inspired ceremonies, are organized during Easter Week.
- September 15 and 16: National Day "Mexican Independence Day" It is a day of celebration, of celebration of freedom. On this day, in the year 1810, Mexico announced the declaration of independence from Spain, so this holiday is a symbolism of the birth of Mexican nationalism. During the night, the President of the Republic from the central window of the presidential palace, facing the crowd gathered in Zócalo Square in Mexico City, shouts three times: “¡Viva México! And the rest of the crowd responds "¡Viva!" ". This is called "el Grito" ("the cry"). On this day, all of Mexico hold smaller celebrations, usually including the same "el Grito" ceremony, there are meals, fireworks and concerts. Sometimes this national holiday is a public holiday.
- November 2: the famous Day of the Dead (Día de Muertos), visits to altars of the dead are organized in historic centers, but the majority of attractions take place in and around cemeteries, with funfairs, and especially traditional dances and tomb decorations. While the Day of the Dead proper takes place on November 2, decorations are gradually installed in towns and cemeteries during the month of October, and celebrations begin on October 31 with Halloween (increasingly celebrated in Mexico) and continue on November 1, or even locally may start a little earlier if a local patronal holiday falls in the days preceding Halloween.
Regions
 Mexico map |
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Cities
- 1 Acapulco (Acapulco de Juárez) – Beach in a sophisticated urban setting known for its nightlife, gastronomy and nightmarish traffic.
- 2 Cancun – One of the most popular beaches in the world, known for its clear Caribbean waters, party atmosphere and abundance of recreational facilities. During spring break, she is known for drinking and debauchery.
- 3 Guadalajara – A traditional town, capital of the state of Jalisco, known for its mariachi music and tequila. It has a perpetual spring climate and its colonial city center is elegant and sophisticated.
- 4 Mazatlan – Coastal town on the Pacific, major port and seaside destination with miles of sandy beach. It is a popular destination during spring break.
- 5 Mexico – Capital of the country and one of the three largest cities in the world with a sophisticated urban center and a history of over 700 years. Mexico City has everything from parks to Aztec ruins, from colonial architecture to museums, from nightlife to shopping.
- 6 Monterrey – Modern commercial and industrial city located in the Northern mexico.
- 7 San Luis Potosí – Colonial city.
- 8 Taxco (Taxco de Alarcón) – Mountain town.
- 9 Tijuana (TJ) – The most frequented border post in the country by pedestrians and private vehicles. Popular destination with Californians looking for deals because of its proximity to San Diego.
Other destinations
To go
Formalities
When entering Mexico, you will need to fill out a form to obtain an FMM tourist visa which is generally granted for six months. Indeed, since 1e May 2010, the FMT is called FMM (Formula migracion Multiple). You must present a return ticket and a passport valid for the duration of your stay. The FMM is valid for a maximum of six months. In order to obtain a six-month FMM visa, all you have to do is specify it on the tourist visa form given to the plane by the flight attendant. If you want a longer visa, just contact the INM offices within 30 days of your arrival in Mexico.
- Mexico
- Exemption from Visa
- Electronic authorization system
- Visa required
By plane
There are several international airports in Mexico, direct flights from Europe exist to Mexico City and Cancun. Other cities are only accessible with a stopover in Mexico City or the United States.
On a boat
Cross the border
From / To United States : From the Pacific to the Gulf of Mexico.
Border towns with California : Tijuana (Mex) and San Diego (Calif), Mexicali (Mex) and Calexico (Calif) are busy borders
Border towns withArizona :San Luis Rio Colorado (Mex) and San Luis (Ariz), Nogales (Mex) and Nogales (Ariz), Agua Prieta (Mex) and Douglas (Ariz).
Border towns with the New Mexico :Columbus (NM) and Palomas (Mex).
Border towns with the Texas:Ciudad Juarez (Mex) and El Paso (Texas), Ciudad Acuna (Mex) and Del rio (Texas), Piedras Negras (Mex) and Eagle pass (Texas), Nuevo Laredo (Mex) and Laredo (Texas), Matamoros (Mex) and Brownsville (Texas).
From / To Guatemala :
There are three main points to cross this border.
La Mesilla, you can get there by bus from San Cristobal de las Casas and Mexico. From there buses leave to Huehuetenango and Guatemala Ciudad but also other cities.
El Carmen / Talisman near Tapachula (Mex) then from there to Quetzaltenango and Retalhuleu.
Ciudad Hidalgo / Tecun Uman, on the Pacific coast, buses leave from Tapachula (Mex) then head to Retalhuleu To 75 km to the east, or Quetzaltenango to Guatemala.
There are also some crossing points by land or by river between Palenque (Mex) and Flores to Guatemala.
From / To Belize
By train
There are no longer any passenger trains in Mexico. With the exception of the "Chihuahua al pacifico" train, which crosses "the Baranca del Cobre" ("Copper Canyon" in English) from Chihuahua to Los Mochis, and the very touristy Tequila Express Guadalajara-Tequila.
By car
If you are arriving from the United States as a European, consider leaving the green US immigration card with a US immigration officer, otherwise your return to the United States would be more difficult. If you have a rental car, be careful, insurance taken out in the United States probably does not cover Mexico, contact the rental company. In most cases, a car rented in the United States cannot cross the border. If it's a personal car, also make sure your insurance covers you in Mexico. For insurance in Mexico, there are at the border posts and often even a few tens of miles before, offices selling "Mexico" insurance (by the day, by the week, by the month ...).
Having auto insurance in Mexico is not compulsory, but strongly recommended ... All-risk is a must.
To bring a foreign car into Mexico, you must obtain a temporary import permit. This process is done when crossing the border, it is only a formality ... But be careful, you must be in possession of the title of the car, a "VISA" or MC card, AMEX at same name as the owner of the car, and of course a driver's license and the passport.
The cost of the temporary import permit is approximately 30 dollars US (valid for six months, like the Visa FMT ...), debited from your bank card. Be careful when returning to the United States or leaving Mexico during the six months of validity of the temporary import permit, it is IMPERATIVE to return the temporary import permit to customs (under penalty of several thousand dollars debited from your credit card: 16% (VAT ...) on the approximate value of your auto penalties ...). Exceeding the expiry date is also punishable by heavy fines.
You get a receipt when the temporary import permit is issued.
Immigration formalities
The FMT card: since May 1, 2010, the visa is the FMM (multiple emigration form) and must, in theory, be able to be issued for a maximum period of 180 days. Unfortunately, it seems that often emigration officials (on arrival at the airport) do not issue an FMT for a period of 30 days, more rarely 60 days. If you want to stay more than 30 days, try to negotiate with the official, arguing that according to what is written on the back of the detachable part of the FMT, which you will keep during your stay, it is written that the FMT is valid up to 180 days.
In addition, if you wish to extend your stay beyond the duration granted during the FMM broadcast (on your first entry into Mexican territory) and this within the limit of 180 days, you will have to go to a Mexican immigration office, provide:
- A photocopy of the front and back macaroni of the first FMM (the one that was issued to you when you entered Mexico for the first time).
- A photocopy of all the pages of your passport.
- A photocopy of both sides of your credit card
- A photocopy of your return ticket.
And you pay the sum of 210 Mexican pesos.
If you want to stay much longer; like I have a pension, I am not old (old) but I can prove income from 900 €/ month, and I want a change of scenery, it's doable. The conditions are: minimum resources, photocopy of the last 3 months of bank statements showing this amount of income; bank statements showing at least this minimum income. It is possible to live for less than this sum and to be emigrating to Mexico for reason in retirement "Retirado". Always much easier to do once in Mexico than before you go. On condition, of course, to have the money. the visa of "immigrant rentista" is renewable each year and costs approximately 1250 pesos that is to July 2006 less than 100 €.A person in his forties is considered retired, provided he can prove a minimum of income.
Circulate
By plane
The plane is about twice as expensive as the first class bus, but can be competitive on very long journeys like Tijuana-Mexico, where it is not more expensive than the bus and it also saves a lot. of time. All major cities have an airport, but often, to get from one city to another, a stopover in Mexico City is mandatory.
By train
There are still passenger trains in Mexico, but they are rare, including the one that connects Los Mochis to Chihuahua: the "Chihuahua Pacifico" (1st and 2nd class). It crosses the Sierra Tarahumara, in the northwest of the country. The course is spectacular. The line, which starts from the plateaus in the center of the country (2,000 meters altitude), plunges into the canyons of the Sierra Madre, one of the largest in the world (the Barranca del Cobre, or copper canyon). After 655 kilometers slalom on the slopes of the canyon, after 87 tunnels, after 37 bridges… the train disembarks facing the Pacific, at Los Mochis. This railway line, the construction of which began in 1910, was inaugurated in 1961. In the absence of a road worthy of the name, it remains widely used.
The other lines still open to passengers in the country are: The Tequila Express: It connects the city of Guadalajara to Amatitan, capital of Tequila; The Expreso Maya: It travels between the Yucatan Peninsula, Palenque and Villahermosa.
However, several rail line projects are currently under consideration. Among them, the construction of several lines with strong tourist potential, such as Buenavista-Teotihuacan or Guanajuato-San Luis Potosi, but also and above all the creation of a high-speed line ("tren bala") between Mexico City and Guadalajara, which would allow to reach the two cities in two hours ...
The bus is the only means of public transport remaining, it is relatively cheap and very widespread ...
By car
From 20 € for a small model. Driving in the country is relatively tricky, many drivers do not obey the signs. On the road, be particularly wary of trucks which often travel at breakneck speed. The trucks tell you that you can overtake them, they put the left turn signal ... but be careful anyway because their logic is not always identical to yours ...
In the city, beware of hazardous driving of buses and taxis.
The Mexican road network is relatively well developed but in a very uneven condition. Always be very vigilant, obstacles of all types can surprise you: holes, cyclists (even on motorways ...), stray animals ... Be careful, level crossings have no barriers and are sometimes poorly signposted, rails are not always at the level of the road. Stopping is compulsory there but few stop (they slow down only so as not to break the car ...).
It is strongly advised not to drive at night outside the cities for the reasons mentioned above, in addition to the risk of being attacked and robbed by road pirates.
The paying highways (called "cuota" ...) are expensive but if an accident occurs there (of the hole style = broken axles or burst tire ...), the company which operates them takes care of everything including the towing the vehicle when needed.
The signage is very far from European standards: a diamond sign with a yellow background warns of danger, the parking lot indication is mentioned by the letter "E"The prohibitions are circular in shape, sometimes mounted on a diamond.
Mexico is an oil producer but society PEMEX has a monopoly on fuel distribution. Fuel (unleaded and diesel ...) is rather cheap compared to European countries (around 10 pesos per liter in 2012 ...). Be careful because in desert areas, stations are rare and almost non-existent on toll highways.
Example (March 2008): Motorway from Morelia to Lazaro Cardenas: possibility of purchasing a 20 liter jerry can at the restaurant next to the toll (halfway) 10 to 20% more expensive ...
Speed limits:
- Highway: 110 km / h
- Route: 70 km / h
- City : 40 km / h (lowered to 30 km / h near schools ...)
The maximum tolerated blood alcohol level is 0.8 g/ l of blood.
The bus
There are two kinds of buses in Mexico:
- The bus that you take from the bus terminal to go from town to town. The price may vary, but in general it is the easiest way to travel (hourly [1]). There is at least one bus terminal in each city. There are two main classes of buses:
- First class (primera) buses are direct and more expensive. They can only be taken at the terminal or at very specific stops. They generally use fast access roads (motorway type). Some of these buses are extremely comfortable (equipped with toilets and plenty of legroom).
- Second-class buses, cheaper but more comfortable than French coaches, serve many cities. In addition, it is not uncommon for them to pick up a passenger at the edge of the national or a musician to go up to play a ballad on the guitar.
- The city bus. There are two types of city buses:
- The first is quite difficult for newcomers to master. Indeed there are simply no bus stops. In fact there are sometimes not even any bus lines at all. On the bus there are small signs indicating where the bus is going. You have to read its signs and when you see your destination, wave to the driver. It will stop wherever you are. You go up and pay straight away. The price depends on the city and can vary between 2 and 6 pesos. Then when you see that you have arrived, simply ask the driver to let you off. He will do it, wherever you ask him (even at a red light at a crossroads). This has its advantages and disadvantages as you can imagine, and sometimes (especially on market days) it can lead to huge traffic jams. In Mexico City, these buses drive dangerously (compared to France) and sometimes get crowded.
- Public city buses have fixed stops, are much rarer, mostly used by older people, but inspire much more confidence.
Collective taxis (combis)
A little more expensive than the bus, it's a great way to get around, because it's faster. The driver stops when you want and you pay when you get off the minibus. The price varies between 10 and 30 pesos.
Combis can be found in many other cities: Morelia, San Cristobal de las Casas (to reach the Indian villages located around the city) ...
Also in northern Mexico on the Pacific coast, at Mazatlan, wetsuits exist. They are called "AURIGAS" They are small pick-up trucks, with a rear cabin and two benches, can carry up to ten people ... or more. They go where they are asked to go; perfect for transporting beds, refrigerators, damaged bicycles, etc ... For all kinds of transport, it is necessary to agree on the price before using the means of transport.
To speak
There are a large number of indigenous dialects in Mexico, but only Spanish is recognized as an official language. While it is strongly recommended to learn some Spanish rather than attempting to speak English, English is widely spoken in large cities. In small shops you could try to indicate the price by saying the numbers in English, but if you try to speak French slowly, Mexicans will be ready to listen to you attentively so that they can understand the general idea. Spanish is relatively simple for a French speaker, so do not hesitate, the reception you will receive will be beyond measure!
To buy
Anti-money laundering law since the start of 2010, banks have been reluctant to change the US dollar. An anti-money laundering law has been put in place. Some bank refuses to change dollars if the person is not a customer. Others limit to $ 1,500 with passport, FMM visa, etc. More than ever, the International "Visa" card is needed. Withdraw from bank ATMs, and do not use the card other than to withdraw Pesos and avoid use in certain businesses such as restaurants, bars, etc. |
The Mexican currency is the peso (1 € worth about 20.35 pesos) .
There are cash machines in all major cities. Travelers' checks in US dollars are also widely accepted; however, pay attention to the rate used to make the conversion (generally different from the rate used for the normal exchange), there is sometimes abuse. In fact it is better to have an international card or US dollars in cash.
The common practice is to haggle. The price of the taxi, for example, is always fixed in advance (especially for tourists), and it is strongly recommended, if you have some knowledge of Spanish, to try to lower the price. It is also very common to haggle over what you buy in the markets.
The US dollar is also very common! Most purchases can be made in this currency.
Recently an article mentioned that a luggage porter at the airport who received dollars (tickets of 1 or even 5 dollars) in tips, could no longer change them into pesos.
Eat
There are many places to eat in Mexico, street vendors or restaurants. Be sure to check the hygiene practiced ...
The food served is generally spicy, but this varies greatly between dishes and regions. Mexican food is delicious and very varied.
- Traditional dishes
- Tacos: a tortilla (corn cake) with meat, they are ordered in order (una orden = often 3 tacos)
- Quesadillas (a wheat tortilla with melted cheese, you can add meat). They are worth between 5 and 15 pesos per unit.
- Pozole (a spicy soup)
- The mole poblano (chicken with spicy chocolate sauce). Head to the city of Puebla to taste this specialty.
- Carnitas: small pieces of fried pork. Fat but very good.
it is in fact a whole pork cooked in its own juice.
If you find a "Carnitas" restaurant if you don't like abas, (tripe, pig's trotters and others) It is good to specify "solo Pierna" you will then have pieces of pork from the leg (ham) less fat ... and no surprise ... The carnitas are served in tacos, tortas (sandwiches) or by weight (generally, 250 gr, 500 gr or kilo wrapped in aluminum foil), to eat in or take away (para llevar) ... all accompanied by tortillas, fresh onions, sautéed onions with jalapeños pepper, Sauce (criminal salsa) ... prices 10 to 15 pesos tacos, 15 to 20 pesos per torta, and between 140 and 180 pesos per kilo ... depending on the city and state .... (July 2010).
- Chicharon: fried pork skin. The taste is similar to French grattons.
- Tamales: They are bought for breakfast. A tamales is a corn cake that is flavored with fruit or vegetables and is steamed in corn husks. You can enjoy it hot, out of the pot or fried.
- Tamales in Sinaloa ... Tamales of pollo (chicken), of res (beef), of puerco (pork) or of Camaron (shrimps) ... These are "cakes" or "Breads" of cornmeal (wrapped in corn leaves and steamed) stuffed with chicken, beef, pork or shrimp ... Please note the bones (chicken, beef and pork) as well as the heads and scales (shrimps) are included in the price of a "Tamale" . There are also sweet tamales for Christmas.
- Chapulines are insects, like crickets, fried and served with a lemon sauce.
- You can also eat delicious fish by the sea ...
- And there are still many other specialties typical of each region ...
- The fruits; Lovers of juicy, sweet and exotic sensations, you will be served! Get some at the market. Among the most famous are:
- Papaya
- Guanabana. This fruit is bought when it is soft.
- The mango
- The watermelon
- The melon
- Orange
- The vegetables
- Corn is the staple food. It is used in particular to make tortillas. Whole, steamed corn on the cob can also be bought on the street, which the vendor will brush with mayonnaise, lemon, cheese and chili powder.
- The avocado is used to concoct the "guacamole" so famous in Europe and very spicy in Mexico. Note that an avocado does not ripen on the tree, you can buy it hard and consume it a few days after when it has softened.
- Tomatoes are the basis for many dishes.
Drinks
Water
You cannot drink tap water (unless otherwise stated, but it is very rare). In fact, drinking plain water is quite rare. In general, it is drunk with a flavor (agua jamaica, with hibiscus flower; guava; mango ...). Restaurants sometimes have bottled water (agua natural, or purificada for still water and agua mineral if it is sparkling). In the cities, the water network is very often a drinking water network, but in this case the taste is not terrible, and moreover when we arrive we do not know it and unless otherwise advised, it is better to abstain. Or use water purifying tablets. Beware of ice cubes (hielo) outside tourist establishments. Ice cubes in bars, hotels and restaurants are generally made with potable water (agua purificada), therefore suitable for consumption.
Non-alcoholic drinks
- The drink that receives the most publicity is Coca-Cola, even in the countryside of Chiapas. Other sodas, apple or grapefruit, unknown in France are also sold.
To try
- "Tonicol" or "Tonicol light" Vanilla soda.
- "Manzana lift", "Manzanita Sol" or other soda a la "Manzana" (a sparkling apple juice), soda with red apples and yellow apples.
- You can also drink flavored water:
- agua de jamaïca, with hibiscus flower
- agua de piña, (pineapple)
- agua fresca: various fruits mixed with water, very good and thirst-quenching
- There is also a lot of fruit juice. Orange juice is the most common and you can get it from vendors on the sidewalk who will squeeze it in front of you.
- If you want a tea, specify negro tea, otherwise you will be entitled to an infusion, most often chamomile!
- It is not easy to have a good coffee, most of the time you will be served a powdered coffee (Nescafe style) diluted, but you can also find espressos. Mexico is also the land of coffee, but they don't consume it European-style, rather American-style (Americano coffee), that is to say very diluted and with milk ...
Alcoholic beverages
Of course Mexico has its own spirits:
- Beer (cerveza). Among the best known:
- La Corona
- La Pacifico (from Mazatlan)
- Soil
- La Montejo
- The Indio
- The Dos Equis
- La Bohemia
- The Tecate
- Tequila often found in amber form (tequila reposado)
- Mezcal, a traditional drink from the state of Oaxaca, has the same ingredients as tequila, only the manufacturing method is different: the heart of the agave is roasted
- Pulque, a traditional Aztec drink, which is the liquid used to make tequila (made from blue agave) but not distilled.
- and many others...
Housing
In general the hotels are very cheap. In fact if you arrive in a city and all the hotels are full, there is always the possibility of finding a room with the locals. The best way is to ask the children in the street to help you (a coin to thank them is often welcome). In general, in the cheaper hotels, the rooms are rather spartan but clean, ask to take a look before you take it. In Mexico: In Baja California (Baja California), there are a few "trailer parks" (also all along the Pacific coast). "RV's parks "where Americans, and especially Canadians, come down with their big motorhomes, if you have a tent (and a car to get there), it's also a cheap place to stay.
To learn
Étudier au Mexique n'est pas difficile de tout, il y a beaucoup d'universités: la plus grande est l'UNAM, la «meilleure» université d'Amérique latine, l'ITESM est aussi très renommée pour étudier le génie.Étudier l'espagnol au Mexique est une magnifique occasion pour se familiariser avec la culture mexicaine (et la cuisine...). Il y a beaucoup d'écoles de langues dans les grandes villes comme Puebla, mais si vous préférez quelque chose de plus tranquille, regardez du côté de Cuernavaca (près de Mexico) ou de Mazatlán (nord du pays).
To work
En principe, si vous êtes entré au Mexique avec un visa de tourisme FMT (FMM depuis le 1er mai 2010) vous n'avez pas le droit de travailler. Pour être en règle, il vous faudra demander aux services de l'immigration un changement de type de visa (payant).Le visa de résident (non immigrant) FM3, est un visa valable 1 an et renouvelable, il est beaucoup plus aisé d'obtenir ce type de visa dans les services d'immigration des villes au Mexique, plutôt que dans les consulats.ou visa FM2 (immigrant).Avec l'un ou l'autre de ces visas il y a la formule rentista (rentier, ou vivant d'un revenu d'un autre pays quel que soit l'âge que l'on a).
Manage the day-to-day
Time zones
Le Mexique utilise les quatre mêmes fuseaux horaires que leur voisin les United States, mais trois d'entre eux ne sont utilisés que dans les régions périphériques du pays. Les heures sont exprimées en 24 h .
 Time zones |
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La quasi-totalité du Mexique observe l'heure d'été de la même manière que les États-Unis le faisait avant 2007, du premier dimanche d'April (dimanche 3 avril 2022) au dernier dimanche d'October (dimanche 24 octobre 2021) y compris les régions tropicales du sud du Mexique. Les régions à la frontière des États-Unis, sauf dans le Sonora, observent maintenant les changements à l'heure d'été au calendrier nord-américain. L'état complet de Baja California observe également l'heure d'été sur modèle étasunien. Notez qu'il y a plusieurs semaines chaque année où les États-Unis sont en heure d'été mais la plupart du Mexique ne l'est pas. L'état de Sonora au sud de Arizona, ne respecte pas l'heure d'été comme en Arizona.
Communicate
- Vous pouvez appeler depuis votre hôtel ou depuis les cabines téléphoniques (on en trouve assez facilement dans les villes). Notez que les communications internationales sont très chères.
- Si vous comptez utiliser votre téléphone portable, sachez que vous devrez être en possession d'un téléphone tri-bande, le coût des communications est de plus prohibitif.
- Cependant, si votre portable est "unlock", il vous est possible de vous procurer à peu de frais (150 pesos) une carte sim de l'opérateur local Telcel. Vous devrez vous présenter à un "Centro de atencion a clienteles Telcel" afin d'enregistrer votre carte sim au registre national des téléphones mobiles. (Mis en place pour éviter la fraude). Apportez votre passeport. Ce processus ne prend que 05 min. Vous pouvez ajouter des crédits à votre téléphone dans n'importe quel dépanneur "OXXO" (il y en a à tous les coins de rues dans les grandes villes).
- Si vous n'êtes pas familier avec l'espagnol, il vous suffit de dire au commis: "Telcel et le montant du crédit que vous souhaitez ajouter à votre compte... 20, 50, 100, 200 pesos). Le crédit est ajouté par le système directement dans votre téléphone. Il vous en coûtera environ 3 pesos par minute pour les appels sortants et 1 pesos pour les textos. (Plus IVA 16%).
- Le service postal est assez lent, comptez plusieurs semaines pour que votre courrier parvienne en Europe... Lorqu'il y parvient ! Envoyer une lettre ou une carte postale au Canada vous coûtera 10,50 pesos, 13 pesos pour l'Europe (en octobre 2006).
Mise à jour 2009 : le courrier est plus rapide maintenant il faut compter entre 10 et 12 jours
Security
 | Emergency telephone number: Police :080 Ambulance:065 Firefighter :068 |
La sécurité reste un problème, notamment dans certaines grandes villes et tout particulièrement à Mexico. Les expériences varient, mais il est conseillé de ne pas marcher seul (et a fortiori seule) à partir de la tombée de la nuit et de se méfier des taxis. Dans le métro de Mexico ne mettez rien dans vos poches et gardez vos sacs devant vous et fermés. Ces derniers conseils (un peu moins stricts) sont valables partout où il y a beaucoup de monde (gares routières, marchés...).
Moyennant un peu de vigilance, on peut passer de très bons séjours au Mexique. Le nord moins touristique semble aussi beaucoup plus sûr, sauf les villes frontalières, qui restent le siège de tous les trafics, ne présentant pas d'intérêt touristique, elles sont à éviter. Sachez que dans les quartiers pauvres, les gens vivent avec très peu, alors éviter les tentations est la meilleure façon de ne pas se faire voler, éviter les bijoux et autres objets de valeur voyants.
Government travel advice
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Belgium (Federal Public Service Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation) 
Canada (Government of Canada) 
France (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) 
Swiss (Federal Department of Foreign Affairs)
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Health
Il y a un bon nombres de pharmacies dans les grandes villes et celles-ci sont souvent à proximité d'un médecin. Les médecins sont généralement gratuits, mais vous pouvez tomber sur des payants : renseignez-vous !
Respect
La religion catholique est profondément enracinée au Mexique. De plus la population est en grande majorité pauvre. Mais ils seront toujours les premiers à vous dire bienvenue et à vous aider.Ne pas oublier non plus qu'il y a plusieurs dizaines de communautés indiennes qui sont peu ou pas métissées et qui, bien que catholiques, pratiquent des rituels ancestraux qu'il y a lieu de respecter.
