Mexico

With a Native American heritage and a distinct Spanish flavour, Mexico is vibrant, colourful and unique. Its varied terrain ranges from cactus-studded deserts to white sandy beaches and blue waters, tropical rainforest and jungle-clad hills to steep rocky canyons and narrow gorges, and from snow-capped volcano peaks to bustling cities.

Since the height of Mayan and Aztec civilisations, Mexico has suffered the destructive force of the Conquistadors, European colonial rule, civil and territorial wars, rebellions, dictatorships, recessions and earthquakes. Yet its people remain warm and friendly, much of the countryside remains unspoilt by development, and its cities display a unique style of architecture. The extraordinary history is reflected in the ancient Mayan temples strewn across the jungles and ruins of Aztec civilisations, rural indigenous villages, Spanish colonial cities and silver mining towns, and traditional Mexican ports.

Buildings display a unique combination of colonial and pagan architecture, blending together Art Nouveau, Baroque, Art Deco and Native American design into the structure of their churches and public structures. The country's culture displays a similar blend of the traditional and modern, where pagan meets Christian in a series of festivals, or fiestas throughout the year. Despite recent reports of drug wars and safety issues Mexico remains a hugely popular and predominantly safe tourist destination. Violence linked to the drug cartels is not aimed at tourists and does not spill over into the resort areas.

Besides a combination of unique culture and fascinating cities, Mexico also boasts several hundred miles of coastline extending down through both the Pacific and the Caribbean, which has branded the country as a popular summer retreat destination. Beach resort cities such as Acapulco, Cancun and those of the Baja California peninsula are accepted vacation havens. The countryside is also rich in archaeological treasures with pyramids, ruins of ancient cities and great stone carvings of ancient gods standing as testament to a country once ruled by the Aztecs and Mayans.

Climate

The coast and lowlands are hot and humid all year. The interior highlands are milder and drier, but can become freezing between December and February. Rainfall is scarce throughout most of the country.

Money

Mexican currency is the New Peso (MXN) divided into 100 centavos. Credit cards are widely accepted, particularly Visa, MasterCard and American Express. Travellers cheques are generally accepted, but cannot be cashed on Sundays. ATMs are available in most cities and towns and are the most convenient way to get money, but for safety reasons they should only be used during business hours. Although most businesses will accept foreign currency it is best to use pesos. Foreign currency can be exchanged at one of many casas de cambio(exchange houses), which have longer hours and offer a quicker service than the banks.

Passport Visa

All foreign passengers to Mexico must hold a tourist card (FMT form), which is issued free of charge, and obtainable from airlines, Mexican Consulates, Mexican international airports, and border crossing points. As part of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI), all travellers transiting through the United States are required to present a passport, or other valid travel document, to enter or re-enter the United States. Foreign passengers to Mexico should ensure that their passports and other travel documents are in good condition - even slightly torn passports will not be accepted. NOTE: It is highly recommended that your passport has at least six months validity remaining after your intended date of departure from your travel destination. Immigration officials often apply different rules to those stated by travel agents and official sources.

Entry Requirements

• US citizens must have a passport that is valid upon their arrival in Mexico. A visa is not required, for stays of up to 180 days.
• British citizens must have a passport that is valid upon their arrival in Mexico. A visa is not required, for holders of British passports endorsed British Citizen, British National (Overseas) or British Subject, nor for for holders of a valid visa for the USA, for stays of up to 180 days.
• Canadian citizens must have a passport that is valid upon their arrival in Mexico. A visa is not required, for stays of up to 180 days.
• Australian citizens must have a passport that is valid upon their arrival in Mexico. A visa is not required, for stays of up to 180 days. Note that visa exemptions apply to holders of an APEC Business Travel Card, provided that the card is valid for travel to Mexico (i.e. endorsed with "MEX" on its reverse side).
• South African citizens must have a passport that is valid upon their arrival in Mexico. A visa is required. Note that visa exemptions, for stays of up to 180 days, apply to holders of a valid visa for the USA.
• Irish citizens must have a passport that is valid upon their arrival in Mexico. A visa is not required, for stays of up to 180 days.
• New Zealand citizens must have a passport that is valid upon their arrival in Mexico. A visa is not required, for stays of up to 180 days. Note that visa exemptions apply to holders of an APEC Business Travel Card, provided that the card is valid for travel to Mexico (i.e. endorsed with "MEX" on its reverse side).

Health

Those entering Mexico from an infected area require a yellow fever certificate. There are no vaccination requirements for visitors to Mexico, however visitors should take medical advice if travelling outside the major tourist areas. A malaria risk exists in some rural areas, but not on the Pacific and Gulf coasts, and dengue fever is on the increase. Sensible precautions regarding food and water should be followed and visitors are advised to be cautious of street food and stick to bottled water. Medical facilities are basic, so medical insurance is recommended.

Embassy Consulates

• Mexican Embassy, Washington DC, United States: +1 202 728 1600.
• Mexican Embassy, London, United Kingdom: +44 (0)20 7499 8586.
• Mexican Embassy, Ottawa, Canada: +1 613 233 8988.
• Mexican Embassy, Canberra, Australia: +61 (0)2 6273 3963.
• Mexican Embassy, Pretoria, South Africa: +27 (0)12 460 1004.
• Mexican Embassy, Dublin, Ireland: +353 (0)1 667 3105.
• Mexican Embassy, Wellington, New Zealand: +64 (0)4 472 0555.

Foreign Embassies

• United States Embassy, Mexico City: +52 55 5080 2000, extension 0.
• British Embassy, Mexico City: +52 55 1670 3200.
• Canadian Embassy, Mexico City: +52 55 5724 7900.
• Australian Embassy, Mexico City: +52 55 1101 2200.
• South African Embassy, Mexico City: +52 55 1100 4970.
• Irish Embassy, Mexico City: +52 55 5283 9460.
• New Zealand Embassy, Mexico City: +52 55 5283 9460.