Mexico

Currency: The Mexican peso

Official language: Spanish, English

Modern-day Mexico has been inhabited for about 23,000 years, according to archaeological evidence, and tribes began to settle in the area around 7,000 years ago, due to the high-quantity of beans and maize found growing in the region. Villages based around the cultivation of these vital food sources soon formed and civilizations grew. One of the earliest organized tribes was the Olmecs, who were centered around the Gulf Coast from around 1500 BCE. The cultural characteristics of this group spread throughout the country, and other tribes began to embrace and advance the group’s ideas, including the Maya.

From around 300 BCE, Mayan settlements began to spring up in areas from the northern Yucatan Peninsula to today’s Guatemala. The Mayan society evolved and the concept of the ahua, or king, emerged along with a hierarchy dominated by a designated elite. During this period of prosperity, the kingdoms’ populations numbered in the millions, and construction of great complexes began, the most impressive being the breathtaking capital of the rulers, Teotithuacan.

A significant part of Mexican culture since the pre-Colombian era, literature has thrived in this diverse nation. From the famous Mesoamerican poet Nezahualcoyotl to the colonial scribes of Juan Ruiz de Alacon and Juana Ines de la Cruz, and later Jose Vasconcelos, the country’s outstanding literature paints a picture of this colorful country’s past.

Music is at the center of Mexican society, with a wide range of genres found throughout the area. From the world-famous Mariachi bands present at all special occasions to some of the region’s top DJs performing at lively venues and clubs, it’s difficult to escape pulsating beats in this part of the world.

Art has played a major part in Mexican history since the sculptures and great monuments of the early civilizations, and tends to be connected to religion and worship. Indigenous and Spanish art heavily influenced the Mexican muralist and social realism movements of the 20th century.

Mexico has long been recognized for its high-quality cinema productions, stretching back to the post-WWII days when the country’s movie industry was comparable with Hollywood. In recent years, Mexican film has once again become prominent on the world stage, raising international interest once more.

The climate in Mexico is tropical with a rainy and dry season and little temperature fluctuation from season to season. The temperature in all areas of Mexico typically ranges between 50°F and 90°F throughout the year. Average annual humidity is around 70%.

Mexico, which is officially known as the United Mexican States, is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the world. People travel from all over to visit its sunny beaches or its ancient historical ruins. Additionally, the cultural festivals, colonial cities and architecture, and the natural beauty make it so much more than just a place to go to when you want to lounge on a beach and a memorable place to visit.

However, depending on your nationality, if you want to visit Mexico, you may have to apply for a Mexico visa beforehand.

By bus. If you're travelling around Mexico on a budget, buses are the most efficient form of long-distance transport. Within Mexico, buses (long-distance buses are called camiones rather than autobuses in Mexican Spanish) are by far the most common and efficient form of public transport.

Before you leave on your holiday, there are at least four health-related things you should do. Please check the handbook for specifics, but for now, here’s the short list:

Step 1: Check with the CDC for their recommendations for the countries you’ll be visiting.

Step 2: Have a medical checkup with your doctor.

Step 3: Pick up any necessary medications, both prescription and over-the-counter.

Step 4: Have a dental and/or eye checkup. (Recommended, but less important than steps 1-3.)

DO

• Be respectful and courteous, especially when in the company of parents or elders.
• Try and be open to the friends and family of your Mexican counterpart. Mexicans are often very welcoming to friends of friends on the basis of small social connections. They will appreciate it if you are similarly open-hearted to their loved ones.
• Refer to Mexican migrants living in the US without paperwork as “undocumented migrants”. Avoid using the term “illegal”.
• Have an understanding of Mexico's cultural achievements and mention them when you see fit.
• Try and offer your service to help with domestic duties or basic tasks whenever possible. Even if a Mexican declines your offer, it is polite to extend the gesture.
• Be sure to thank Mexicans for their hospitality. It is the only gesture expected in return for their generosity.
• Share stories from your country, home and family life. Mexicans love tales from other parts of the world. 

DON'T

• Never criticise the Virgin of Guadalupe or say anything about her that could be perceived as a slight (see ‘Catholicism in Mexico’ under Religion).
• Do not stereotype Mexicans as ‘narcotraficantes’ (drug traffickers) or heavy drug consumers. Only a very small percentage of the population is engaged in such activity. Furthermore, consider that the current violence of cartels is driven by the Western consumption of drugs. Meanwhile, the Mexican consumption of illicit drugs is lower than US levels.
• Do not emphasise Mexico’s problems or seek to make people feel ashamed of them. Most Mexicans are disgusted by violence and want to redeem the reputation of Mexico in foreigners’ eyes. Furthermore, while they are very critical of their own nation’s issues, they do not need further judgement from outsiders – especially when this criticism is informed by stereotypes.
• Do not criticise another person in public, or in earshot of others. Deliver all sensitive news privately to avoid embarrassing others.
• Avoid referring to the United States as “America”. Mexico is also a North American country and some people can find it frustrating when the term is used solely to refer to those from the USA. Therefore, Mexicans may call Americans ‘estadounidenses’ instead of ‘americano’ in Spanish.
• Do not imply that Mexicans are overcrowding the US or flooding the US border with undocumented immigration. In reality, the numbers of Mexican migration has been steadily declining.