What to see, what to do Mexico?

As a rule, museums are open from Tuesday to Sunday from 10 am to 5 pm. In smaller towns or less touristy areas, museums may also be closed on Tuesdays or Sundays and during the lunch break, from 2 to 4 pm. Normally, the archaeological areas open every day from 9am to 5pm; it is recommended to arrive as soon as they open to avoid the crowds and have time to spare. Please note that the archaeological sites do not allow visitors to enter until about 1.5 hours before closing time.

Reservations are generally not required, except for very touristy sites and the few places that require them (for example, the Museo Frida Kahlo in Mexico City). If you want to go on a small group tour, it may be a good idea to book before you leave, especially if your time there is limited and your schedule is not flexible.

Most of the sites have an entrance fee between $50 and $100, sometimes more than double for the very touristy places. Some sites offer special rates to Mexicans or residents of their state. Students, teachers, children, and seniors (65+) often receive reduced rates, regardless of their country of origin, upon presentation of an ID and/or business card

Mexico offers festivals, shows and performances throughout the year. In February, Carnival is celebrated in many cities, but Mazatlán and Veracruz have the most impressive celebrations. The National Independence Day is celebrated in September. On this occasion, the head of state rings the bells of the Zocaló in Mexico City and pushes the grito to commemorate the heroes of the revolution. Finally, the most important festival of the country takes place at the beginning of November: El Diá de los Muertos is for the Mexicans the occasion to celebrate their dead in a big explosion of colors and joy

We cannot recommend enough that you take the services of a guide to discover the archaeological zones. Unfortunately, the explanatory notes are often limited (if not non-existent) and you miss out on fascinating information about the pre-Hispanic peoples and their customs. Organized tours are an excellent way to explore the many facets of Mexico and meet the people in the local communities. This is a particularly good option for those who do not have a vehicle and are unable to explore a region on their own. In every city where there are tourists, travel agencies offer a variety of tours lasting several hours or days. Ask your hotel or youth hostel for more information. In some cities, guided walking tours are offered free of charge by Free Tour (www.freetour.com). You should always leave a tip for your guide, but be especially generous when you take a free tour.

Smoking is strictly prohibited indoors. Archaeological areas, nature reserves and some protected areas are completely smoke-free. In Mexico City, smoking in the Centro Historico has recently become a fine. Smoking is not prohibited on the beaches, although some members of parliament are trying to change the law. In any case, be respectful of the environment and do not leave your cigarette butts lying around.

If you want to hire a guide to visit an archaeological area or a tourist site, beware of those who ask you at the entrance, they are not official guides and their skills are not guaranteed. If you do not find an official guide, do not hesitate to talk to the guides who asked for you at the entrance to gauge their level of knowledge, their English (if you are not sufficiently at ease in Spanish) and to find out their rates.