Essential Things to Know Before Traveling to Mexico

CAPITAL
Mexico City

LANGUAGE
Spanish is the official language of Mexico.

RELIGION
The majority of Mexican’s are Roman Catholic’s (approx. 90%), most of the remainder are Protestant’s.

LOCAL TIME
The standard time for Mexico is calculated from Mexico City. Central Daylight Time (CDT) is 5 hours behind GMT.

ELECTRICITY
220/110 - twin prong round European and twin prong flat US sockets.

PREPARING TO TRAVEL

PASSPORT & VISA
A valid passport is required. Citizens of the US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and almost all European countries do not require a visa for Mexico. A government tourist card, available from embassies and border crossings, is required for stays longer than 72 hours. You will have to show a Yellow Fever Certificate if arriving from a country where the disease is endemic. Visa regulations can and do change frequently and without notice so please ensure you check the current visa regulations with your local Mexican embassy or consulate before travel.

LOCAL CURRENCY
The monetary unit in Mexico is the Mexican Pesos (MXN). Mexican Peso (MXN; symbol M$) = 100 centavos. Notes are in denominations of M$1,000, 500, 200, 100, 50 and 20. Coins are in denominations of M$10, 5, 2 and 1, and 50 and 20 centavos.

Note: The M$1,000 and M$500 notes can be difficult to change and are sometimes not accepted.
XE.com is a useful site for currency conversion.

MONEY EXCHANGE, CREDIT CARD & ATM
US dollars (cash) are accepted for purchases in Mexico; however, you will need local currency. If you have the choice of paying for things in $US it will be in your favour to use local currency. Often the easiest way to obtain local currency is to use the ATM machines (cajeros automaticos) located in most cities. Visa, Plus, and Cirrus/Maestro are accepted in most ATM’s, as long as you have a 4 digit pin number. You can only receive local currency from ATM machines. You may also be able to receive a cash advance on a Visa credit card at the bank. Note that some banks will require a copy of your passport. Credit cards are accepted in most shops, restaurants, and hotels. The most accepted credit card is Visa, although bank cards are often the easiest way to go, there are times where it will not work for you even if your bank at home tells you it will. Do not rely on your card as your only source of money. Always have a few back-ups with you. Always make sure you put your cash inside your money belt before you leave the premises. Pickpockets tend to loiter near banks, ATMs foreign currency exchange houses.

CLOTHING
This varies from area to area. Natural fibres are best in the heat, but have a sweater on hand as the nights are generally cooler. A sun hat will help to avoid dehydration. In the mountains, heavier clothing will be required.

COMMUNICATION & EMAILS

Internet
There are cheap and reliable internet cafés located throughout Mexico. The average cost is $US 1.50 an hour.

Phone
Most public phones in Mexico only take Ladatel phone cards, priced at $US 3-5. Privately run casetas or telephone booths where you pay after phoning are generally more expensive.

BEST TIME TO VISIT:
Mexico is a great destination to visit throughout the year. Temperatures drop, though, from November to February when it's best to pack a sweater or jacket. In general, altitude is a determining factor, with cooler temperatures at higher elevations (Mexico City, Puebla, San Cristóbal de las Casas) and warmer weather as you descend (Guadalajara, Cuernavaca, Oaxaca).
October and November is perhaps the best time to visit, after the rains have ended and everything is still green. Early spring tends to be hotter and dustier.
Along the Pacific and Caribbean coasts, winters are comfortable, summers very hot and humid, though resorts like Cabo San Lucas benefit from a sea breeze. Late summer months bring heavy rains and the occasional hurricane.

Mexico City: (approx)

Cancun: (approx)

FOOD
Corn is the main ingredient in Mexican cuisine, and every meal comes with a basket of hot tortillas - rounds of toasted cornmeal. Tacos, available everywhere, consist of hot tortillas topped with beef, pork or fish. Other common corn-based antojitos (snacks) include tamales (banana leaf or corn-husk packages of cornmeal laced with various spicy sauces), quesadillas (fried tortillas filled with cheese and/or vegetables) and flautas (chicken-filled tortillas rolled like cigars and deep fried). Zesty salsas, often served in clay bowls, are another must at any table or lunch counter.
Fresh fish and shellfish are the main attraction along both coasts. For vegetarians, nopales, the succulent and slightly slimy leaves of the prickly pear cactus are a good option, as are squash blossoms and all kinds of wild mushrooms. Also look out for exotic fruits like zapote (sapodilla) and tuna (cactus fruit).
Among local spirits, tequila, mezcal and rum reign supreme. Corona and Sol are the most popular beers - light and refreshing, and often drunk with a wedge of lime.

Specialties:

• Mole refers to a range of complex sauces based around chillis and a number of other herbs and spices. The most famous version, mole poblano, was reputedly created by nuns at a Puebla convent. The chocolaty blend is usually poured over turkey and sprinkled with sesame seeds.
• Guacamole is an avocado mole with red peppers, onions and tomatoes.
• Look out for exotic fruits like zapote (brown fruit resembling an avocado), and tuna (juicy prickly pear, fruit of the cactus).
• Cabrito asado (roasted kid goat) is a northern specialty: in Monterrey, Saltillo or Torreón, restaurant windows display whole goat carcasses grilling on a stake over a coals, served on a bed of sizzling onions with cowboy beans and plenty of tortillas.
• Cochinita pibil is Yucatán's signature dish: suckling pig marinated in citrus juice and the reddish dye of annatto seeds, wrapped in banana leaves, then slow-roasted in an underground pit.

MEALS
Approximate costs for meals and snacks not included are shown below:

• Simple snack - $US 5-10
• Light meal - $US 11-14
• Fancy restaurant - $US 15-30

Regional drinks:
Tequila is a double or triple-distilled spirit made from the blue variety of agave, which is not a cactus, but a plant related to the lily. Young blanco tequilas can have a rough 'cowboy' edge to them. Older añejo varieties are woody and sometimes as smooth as a fine brandy. Mezcal is similar to tequila, but is distilled only once and can be made from different varieties of agave. It is not generally used in cocktails like tequila, but consumed in shots. Sip slowly to savour the taste. Mexico's coffee liqueur, kahlúa, is world-famous.

DRINKS
Tea and coffee is provided with breakfast but all other drinks (i.e. bottled water and soft drinks) are at your own expense. Approximate costs for drinks bought in a shop in the street are shown below, but note that prices in restaurants and hotels can be as much as double those specified.

• 1l of water - $US 0.50
• 30cl bottle of soft drink - $US 0.5-1
• 65cl bottle of beer - $US 1-2

Water in bottles or marked 'drinking/sterilised water' can be drunk without precautions. All other water should be boiled or sterilised before consuming. Milk in major cities, hotels and resorts is pasteurised, otherwise it will probably be unpasteurised. Travellers concerned about drinking unpasteurised milk will find powdered or tinned milk readily available. Only eat well-cooked meat and fish, cooked vegetables and peeled fruit.

SUGGESTED TIPPING SCALE:

Tipping is a way of showing your appreciation and will be welcomed by the recipient, although if you decide not to tip in a particular circumstance, this doesn’t mean you’ll receive a lower level of service. Ultimately, tipping is discretionary and should be done at a level that feels comfortable.

Here are some guidelines that you may find helpful:

HEALTH & MEDICAL REQUIREMENTS & GUIDELINES
As a general recommendation, it is advisable to check with your family doctor or travel clinic for latest health information.

TRAVEL INSURANCE
It is highly recommended that you purchase travel insurance from your travel agent. Health plans only provide limited coverage while traveling outside of the country. Your travel agent can offer you a complete travel insurance package. Some credit cards do offer travel insurance, however they do not always provide adequate coverage. Review and understand the terms of your credit card insurance policy. Extra travel insurance can be purchased. Most insurance companies do have exclusions in their coverage. Pre-existing medical conditions are not insurable. High risk activities such as skydiving, parachuting, and bungee jumping are also not covered by insurance. Understand the complete insurance coverage you have before travelling out of the country.