A trip to Mexico is to discover an intense cultural life, millenary traditions, white sandy beaches like those of Puerto Vallarta or Tulum, tropical forests with emerald rivers, mountain ranges, active volcanoes and incredible cities like Cancún and Mexico... This incredible diversity of climates and landscapes provides refuge for many animal species, such as the toucan, the jaguar or the quetzal. Mexico is also a country with a very rich history, the result of a mixture of very different civilizations, starting with Spanish and pre-Columbian civilizations. From this singular past, Mexico has inherited several major archaeological sites such as Teotihuacan or Chichen Itza, magnificent colonial cities and small villages each more exotic than the next. Finally, to discover the best of Mexican natural and cultural treasures, a tourist guide on Mexico will be very useful because it is a huge country that requires a minimum of orientation.
The year can be considered to be divided into three periods in Mexico. The best time to travel to Mexico, ideal to benefit from preferential rates, is from April to June and then from September to November. The intermediate period is due to the school holidays in July and August. The tourist boom period extends from December to March or April, depending on the dates of Holy Week. A high number of visitors means higher prices and necessary reservations, but also a wider choice of activities for tourists. Mexico is a very festive country. Many religious and popular festivities take place there every month. Among the most important ones, not to be missed if you are travelling to Mexico at this time, are: The Guelaguetza festival in Oaxaca in mid-July. The city of Oaxaca welcomes representative communities from the 7 regions environnantes (Sierra Juárez, Tuxtepec, La Cañada, La Costa, La Mixteca, Los Valles Centrales, Istmo de Tehuantepec). They come to present an overview of their culture, through dance and music performances. The National Independence Day, on 15-16 September, is another major event where, throughout the country, the scene of Miguel Hidalgo's call for an uprising in 1810 is repeated. Also not to be missed: the Cervantino International Festival in the city of Guanajuato in mid-October with concerts, dance and theatre performances by internationally renowned speakers. Not to mention, of course, the Feast of the Dead, on November 1 and 2. Across the country, all families celebrate their dead and unite with their loved ones; nothing to do with All Saints' Day... Here, the Feast of the Dead is a colourful feast.
Mexico has a hot and humid climate. From May to September, it is particularly hot and humid in the southern half of the country while, in general, it is better in the interior of the country where the climate is rather temperate. The high tourist season in Mexico focuses on July/August and December/January.
Although much more expensive than Guatemala and Honduras, Mexico remains a relatively cheap country despite inflation. High-quality hotels also offer rooms at very attractive prices. As for meals, it is very easy to eat "local" for less than 5 euros ! The currency is the Mexican peso, it is easy to change and pay by credit card in the city. The tip is 10% of the final score at the bar or restaurant.
EU nationals do not need a visa to travel to Mexico. The only formality to enter Mexican territory is to fill out the Mexican State Tourist Card (Forma Migratoria Multiple/FMM), provided upon arrival at the airport in Mexico. It gives the right to stay in the country for a maximum of 180 days. Care must be taken not to lose it because it is requested at the time of departure. You must also be able to present a round-trip ticket and have a passport valid for the entire duration of the stay.
It is recommended to be vaccinated against diphtheria, tetanus, polio and hepatitis A. Those planning a more adventurous and remote stay will also plan to protect themselves against hepatitis B, typhoid and rabies as a preventive measure. Vaccination against yellow fever is not mandatory, except for travellers coming from an exposed area in Africa or Latin America. Be careful, insect bites are easily infected in tropical environments and care should be taken to avoid small bites. Avoid bites mainly through proper clothing coverage and the use of repellents. Finally, the most common health problem you are likely to face is diarrhea.... If you decide to eat at markets or on the street, be aware that hygiene is often poor. So make sure that the dishes are well cooked and avoid raw vegetables in these areas. In a more formal restaurant, there are no more risks than elsewhere.
Mexico is a huge country and it is impossible to discover it in one trip. Tour Operators mainly offer stays of about ten days around a theme (Mayan culture, Aztec sites...) or a region (the Pacific, Yucatan, Chiapas, the capital and its surroundings).
Discover our selection of travel agencies for this destinationIt is very easy to travel by plane in the country, most cities being equipped with an airport. There is also a very good long-distance bus network at low prices. However, depending on the route, to save time on the plane and avoid long hours on the bus, the plane is often more interesting. Note: with the emergence of low-cost airlines on some routes, air and bus fares are sometimes identical.
The must-sees in Mexico
The complete tour of Yucatan in three weeks
The year can be considered to be divided into three periods in Mexico. The best time to travel to Mexico, ideal to be...
Read more about it
Mexico has a hot and humid climate. From May to September, it is particularly hot and humid in the southern half of t...
Read more about it
Although much more expensive than Guatemala and Honduras, Mexico remains a relatively cheap country despite inflation...
Read more about it
EU nationals do not need a visa to travel to Mexico. The only formality to enter Mexican territory is to fill out the...
Read more about it
It is recommended to be vaccinated against diphtheria, tetanus, polio and hepatitis A. Those planning a more adventur...
Read more about it
Mexico is a huge country and it is impossible to discover it in one trip. Tour Operators mainly offer stays of about...
Read more about it
It is very easy to travel by plane in the country, most cities being equipped with an airport. There is also a very...
Read more about it
Seeing works of art from his sofa, comfort or heresy? A visit to the museum to admire the masterpieces is always preferable, but when this is not possible, a one-to-one meeting with Botticelli's Mona Lisa or Venus in his living room is now permitted! Several museums offer to visit their collections online before going there, so that you can pass the time in a useful way before your next trip! We have selected 10 of these 2.0 visits to help ...
One thing's for sure, a good book is a perfect prelude to escape. An ideal travel companion is also, when you can't leave right away, a very good escape while waiting for the next escapade! Here is a selection of 10 books to travel with. Your suggestions to enrich it are welcome! Gustave Flaubert's Salammbô, exoticism in space and timeIt's time to revise our classics! This historical novel published in 1862 takes us to the 3rd century BC, ...
If there is one cultural outing not to be missed during the holidays, it is the one to the museum. They can be found in almost every major city, in villages and sometimes even in the middle of nowhere. They are places that allow us to contemplate the works of famous artists, dead or alive, or to learn more about the history of the world. But museums are not just places where you have to take a serious look, and to make your time at the ...
For some countries, the capital is of major importance in terms of tourism (Paris, London...), for others however, it is just an airport that you leave as soon as you arrive! Of course, to discover a country and its traditions, you should not be satisfied with just visiting its capital. However, as the seat of major political authorities, but also of an intense cultural life, it is often worth the detour and its visit can prove to be... ...
