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Mexico
Guide of places to travel
Mexico City
The United Mexican States are located in the southern part of North America and have an area of 1,964,375 km². It is bordered to the north by the United States of America along a 3,155 km border, to the south by a 958 km border with Guatemala and 276 km with Belize . The country's coasts are bordered to the west by the Pacific Ocean and to the east by the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea . Its capital is Mexico City, the Federal District and its most populated city. It sits in the Valley of Mexico , at an average altitude of 2,240 meters above sea level and is one of the most attractive cities on the American continent. The mix of modern buildings, colonial architecture and its archaeological remains make Mexico City an irresistible place for any tourist. To this we must add that this city is also the capital of museums, the arts and the most important economic center of Mexico and Latin America.
How to get to Mexico City
Plane: Mexico City's airport is Benito Juárez Airport in Mexico City. An alternate airport is Toluca International Airport, 1 hour from the city center. How to get from Benito Juárez Airport to the city:
Metro: This is the preferred means of transportation for most Mexicans. The Terminal Aérea station on line 5 is located 500 meters from Terminal 1, crossing the parking lot.
Bus: Line 4 connects the airport with Terminal Buenavista and the San Lázaro metro station. There is also a minibus service to the hotel zone of the city and within the complex there are two land terminals from which different bus lines operate to cities such as Cuernavaca, Pachuca, Puebla, Toluca, Querétaro, Córdoba, San Juan del Río, Celaya and Orizaba.
Taxis: They operate 24 hours a day. Travel time to the city centre is 40-60 minutes. There are two types of service: regular (sedan car for 4 passengers) and executive (vans for 8 passengers.
Bus: it has excellent bus connections with the entire republic. The central stations are:
Terminal Central de Autobuses del Sur: it is located in the Taxqueña area. It has 35 platforms
Terminal Central de Autobuses del Norte: it is the main bus station in the entire city, it has more than 25 transport service lines that provide service to reach the main cities and towns in the country.
Terminal de Autobuses de Pasajeros de Oriente: it is the most modern and newest central station in all of Mexico City. It is responsible for the largest influx of departures and arrivals to the south, southeast and Gulf of Mexico.
Central de Autobuses del Poniente: it is the largest in the western area of Mexico City. The main destinations of this terminal are Guadalajara, Taxco, Puerto Rico Vallarta, Acapulco, among others; through 18 transportation service lines.
Car: if you arrive by car, the main access highways to Mexico City are: Mexico-Querétaro-Guanajuato Highway, Mexico-Puebla Highway, Mexico-Cuernavaca-Acapulco Highway, Mexico-Pachuca Highway, Mexico-Toluca Highway.
How to get around Mexico City
Metro: the fastest way to get somewhere. It is quite extensive and many stations are right next to the main tourist spots. There are 12 lines which are divided by colours and numbers, only two of these are labelled with letters instead of numbers.
Metrobus: It has six lines and, like the metro, they can be identified by their number, colors and station symbols. To use the Metrobus, you need to have the Distrito Federal Card (TDF) , which can be reloaded and used to enter the 195 Metro stations, as well as the Metrobús and Light Rail.
Light Rail: serves to move around part of the southern area of Mexico City and has only one line.
RTP Buses: This is a transportation system that has 98 routes in the city and has a night service, called Nochebús, with hours from 00:00 to 05:00 hours.
Trolleybus: This transport is completely electric and has eight routes, which connect with some Metro stations.
Microbus: This is another option for travelling and you will recognise them because they are smaller units compared to the rest of those that move around the city.
Taxis: They are very practical, they are not as expensive as in other countries and the prices are managed by clock.
What to see in Mexico City
Known as El Zócalo, is the main square of Mexico City . Together with the surrounding streets, it occupies an almost rectangular area of approximately 46,800 m² (195 m x 240 m. This is the second largest square in the world and the first among Spanish-speaking countries. It is located in the Historic Center of Mexico City . It is surrounded by the Metropolitan Cathedral of Mexico City to the north, the National Palace (seat of the Federal Executive Branch) to the east, the Old City Hall and the Government Building (a replica of the previous one, both of the Mexico City Government seat of the local Executive Branch) to the south, and to the west by commercial buildings (such as the Portal de Mercaderes ), administrative buildings and hotels. In the northeast corner of the square, there is the Templo Mayor Museum , the Plaza Manuel Gamio , as well as the Zócalo station of Line 2 of the Metro .
It is the seat of the Archdiocese of Mexico and is located on the north side of the Plaza de la Constitución in the Historic Center of Mexico City . As part of the aforementioned architectural complex in that area of the city, it is consequently a World Heritage Site since 1987. The approximate measurements of this temple are 59 meters wide by 128 meters long and a height of 67 meters to the top of the towers. It is one of the most outstanding works of Hispanic American architecture .
Angel of Independence
Also known as the Winged Victory, it is a gold-plated bronze sculpture that measures 6.7 meters and weighs 7 tons. The design of the Independence Column was inspired by Trajan's Column in Rome and the Victory Column in Berlin. Including the angel, it measures 45 meters. In its right hand it holds a laurel wreath as if to place it on the heads of heroes and in its left hand it holds a broken three-link chain that symbolizes the end of three centuries of Spanish rule.
Xochimilco
It consists of a set of water channels that are traversed in large barges profusely decorated with all kinds of Mexican motifs propelled by a rower, and have a capacity for about 20 people.
During the tour you can taste various typical dishes of Mexican cuisine, tequilas and mezcals, all in a festive atmosphere, with live performances and rancheras everywhere.
Chapultepec
It spreads its green mantle over an area of more than 670 hectares and is a true place to breathe some fresh air while enjoying its attractions. Within the wooded area there are museums, fountains, a zoo, a fair, monuments, auditoriums and sports areas. Given its age, it was declared an archaeological zone since it contains numerous historical remains and nearly 4 thousand archaeological objects have been found.
National Museum of Anthropology
Located within Chapultepec Forest, it is the living memory of a country that was home to two of the three greatest civilizations America has ever seen: the Aztec and the Mayan. There you will enjoy, among other things, the Sun Stone, the Teotihuacan sculptures dedicated to the gods of water, the treasure of the tomb of King Pakal and the monolith of Tlaloc.
Palace of Fine Arts
It is a cultural venue located in the Historic Center of Mexico City, considered the most important in the manifestation of the arts in Mexico and one of the most renowned opera houses in the world. Inside it houses various stages and rooms for the practice and exhibition of works. The Palace of Fine Arts Museum and the National Museum of Architecture are housed within, the first permanently exhibits 17 mural works by seven national artists executed from 1928 to 1963. It is also the headquarters of the National Symphony Orchestra, the National Opera Company (Ópera de Bellas Artes), the National Dance Company and the Amalia Hernández Mexican Folk Ballet.
Sonora Market
Located southeast of the historic center, this is not a market for tourists, but rather an authentic display of local Mexican culture. Sonora (as it is colloquially known) is a market by and for Mexicans. In its more than 400 stores spread across the 9 streets of the complex, ceramics, religious images, toys, esoteric products, decorative items and even exotic animals are sold. You won't even have to go out to eat, as you can also do so inside.
Frida Kahlo Museum
Mexican painter whose pictorial work revolves thematically around her biography and her own suffering. The museum is located on London Street 247, in one of the oldest and most beautiful neighborhoods in Mexico City, the center of Coyoacán. Also known as the Blue House, it is one of the most representative tourist and cultural sites in the area; the property belonged to the Kahlo family since 1904 and four years after the painter's death, in 1958, it was converted into a museum.
Other places of importance
Teotihuacan
Located less than 50 km northwest of Mexico City, DF, the archaeological zone of Teotihuacán still presents many enigmas about the people who built it and inhabited it for centuries; considered a World Heritage Site by UNESCO since 1987. The enormous Pyramid of the Sun stands out, one of the largest pyramids in the world, which welcomes the thousands of tourists who visit it every day. Located on the so-called Causeway of the Dead, where the Pyramid of the Moon is also located, the Quetzalpapálotl Complex , with its Palace, the Patio of the Jaguars and the Substructure of the Feathered Snails; The Citadel, with the Temple of Quetzalcóatl ; and the Complex of the Street of the Dead composed of: Superimposed Buildings, Viking Group and the Plaza Oeste and Plaza Este complexes.
San Miguel de Allende
Declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, this is a colorful municipality in the state of Guanajuato , with its monumental square, where the architecture of the Church of San Miguel Arcángel stands out, its cobbled streets surrounded by color, the colonial architecture of its houses, its museums, craft markets, its squares and old churches. For all this, there is a bohemian air, full of art and culture, where if walking is the best option to explore it, do not forget to get on the tram that runs through the main points of the city because it is a good alternative, which will allow you to enjoy a viewpoint with incredible views of the city at the end of the trip.
Puerto Vallarta
It is the second most important economic zone in the state of Jalisco , the third most important port in Mexico and today one of the most visited places in the country. It combines history, art, mountains and beaches. Although the city has grown a lot in recent years, the historic center tries to preserve the characteristics of the original town with cobblestone streets, white houses and red roofs where you can also find numerous art galleries with various exhibitions of national and international artists. Not only can you enjoy its beaches, but the mountains that surround it invite you to do other types of activities such as horseback riding or hiking through the jungle.
San Cristobal de las Casas
It is located in the beautiful state of Chiapas, which best preserves the ancestral Mexican culture. This city at more than 2,000 meters above sea level stands out for its colonial buildings and its bohemian atmosphere. Considered a “magic town,” a name that the Mexican Ministry of Tourism assigns to certain places in the country that have a certain charm, it is one of those cities that will captivate you as you walk along its cobblestone streets, flanked by colorful houses, try its rich cuisine, look for a bargain in its markets, listen to music in the street or watch an incredible sunset from a viewpoint.
Gastronomy of Mexico
In the current Valley of Mexico, a lake-based diet based on fish, insects, snails and aquatic birds predominated during pre-Hispanic times, to which various plants were added.
The plant species were native, especially corn, beans, chili peppers, tomatoes, squash, agave, cactus and avocado. The meats eaten by the citizens of Tenochtitlán were essentially birds and mammals such as deer and wild pigs.
The arrival of the Spanish in Tenochtitlán changed things when they introduced cattle, pork, chicken, wheat, rice, coffee, bananas, citrus fruits and sugar cane, among other foods, as well as a long list of aromatic herbs and condiments. These ingredients, both native and foreign, fundamentally shaped the gastronomy of Mexico City.
Tacos: pork or beef. The meat is previously marinated with achiote, chili peppers, vinegar and spices.
A piece of pineapple, onion, cilantro and a variety of sauces are also added.
Guacamole: thick sauce whose main ingredient is avocado, which gives it its characteristic green color.
There are various recipes, but the original one includes (apart from avocado): green chili, tomatoes, onion, lemon juice, cilantro, garlic and salt.
Variations can be prepared by adding vegetables and even fruits.
Burritos: Thin flour tortillas rolled into a cylindrical shape and filled with mixed beans and grilled meat. They can also be filled with vegetables. Unlike tacos, tortillas are wrapped in a cylinder and are always filled with refried beans, which can be accompanied with grilled meat, chili peppers and vegetables.
Chilaquiles: toasted or fried tortilla pieces bathed in red or green chili sauce. Alternatively, shredded beef or chicken, cecina, skirt steak, chorizo, cheese, cream, eggs, avocado, onion, and other ingredients can be added.
Chicken Nachos: Boneless chicken breast, seasoned and dressed. Cook in a frying pan with a little olive oil. Place a layer of nachos on a flat plate, cover with grated cheddar cheese and add a layer of chicken in sauce. This will create a mountain of chicken nachos.
Chiles rellenos: one of the most complete foods that the capital's inhabitants have. They are rich in vitamin C and other nutrients, while the cheese-based filling provides proteins, fats and vitamins, accompanied with tortillas or rice.
Tlacoyos: thick corn dough, usually over 1 cm thick, cooked on the spot or kept warm on a griddle, filled with potato, beans, cheese, pork rind, broad beans, onion, cilantro and other ingredients. It is seasoned with a green or red sauce.
Thousand-layer matcha crepes: made with wheat flour, Matcha (powdered tea from a variety of green tea), egg, milk and sugar. Each cake has 15 to 22 crepes and lots of whipped cream, which when combined with layers of crepe and cream and cheese filling, creates a thousand-layer cake. In addition, the green of the matcha tea and the white of the filling contrast perfectly.
Tequila: Mexico's flagship drink. It is made from agave (a plant that contains important phytochemicals such as vitamins and saponins, which have health benefits) and is produced through fermentation and distillation. It should state on the label that it is 100% agave. If it had a lower percentage, it would be a mixed tequila, which is generally mixed with corn syrup or sugar cane.
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Yucatán
The 125,000-square-kilometer Yucatán Peninsula, which separates the Gulf of Mexico from the Caribbean Sea, encompasses the Mexican states of Yucatán, Quintana Roo, Campeche, and, only partially, Tabasco and parts of Belize and Guatemala.
In the Caribbean, the beach resort strip of Mexico's Riviera Maya is bordered by two popular destinations: Cancun, with its high-rise hotels and nightlife, and further up the coast, laid-back Tulum, a rare example of Mayan ruins found inland on the peninsula.
What to see in the Yucatan Peninsula
Merida
It is located in the municipality of the same name and is the capital and most populated city in the state of Yucatán . It was founded on January 6, 1542 on the remains of the Mayan city called T'Hó , which was virtually uninhabited when the Europeans conquered the Yucatán Peninsula . In 2000, the city was named the American Capital of Culture for the boost it has given to cultural activities, being the first city to receive this distinction that has been awarded once again for the year 2017. In its surroundings there are other places such as the Mayan city of Uxmal; the Magical Town of Izamal, or the cenotes of Homún.
Izamal
Located near Mérida, this Magical Town of Yucatán is known as the city of three cultures. Walking through its streets becomes a spectacle in which you can see everything from Mayan pyramids to beautiful colonial houses and churches, all painted yellow, and the impressive ensemble formed by the Temple of the Immaculate Conception and the Convent of San Antonio de Padua with its 75 arches that make up the largest closed atrium in America and the second largest in the world.
Chichen Itza
This Mayan complex was the most important capital of the entire empire and is located about 115 kilometers from Mexico City. In 1988, it was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. On July 7, 2007, its main construction, the Temple of Kukulcan, was recognized as one of the new seven wonders of the modern world. The god who presides over the site, according to Mayan mythology, is Kukulcan, a Mayan representation of Quetzalcoatl, a god taken from the Toltec pantheon. During the summer solstice, countless tourists come from all over the world to witness the shadow of the serpent descending from the main pyramid.
Cenotes of Valladolid
Named a Magical Town, its streets will transmit to you the tranquility and joy with which its inhabitants live. There are hundreds of cenotes, freshwater wells created by the erosion of soft and porous limestone, but perhaps the cenotes of Valladolid and its surroundings are the most interesting. You can take a delicious bath in these cavern-like cenotes, full of incredible karst formations and crystal-clear waters.
Holbox
It is a beautiful and small protected island, located north of Quintana Roo, 145 kilometers from Cancun. Its beaches are of white sand, crystal clear waters of an intense turquoise green with spectacular sunsets. It is separated from the coast of the Mexican continent by a low lagoon where the sanctuary of flamingos, pelicans and other birds is located. You can attend the spawning of turtles or take the tour called luminous plankton, which is the favorite food of the whale shark.
Cancun
This old fishing village located in the state of Quintana Roo is in the east of the country, more than 1,700 km from Mexico City and is the gateway to the Mexican Caribbean, the Mayan cities, Isla Mujeres and the coral reef near Cozumel. There are two clearly defined tourist areas in Cancun: one located on the mainland, where the city centre is located, and another on an island that occupies a 22km long strip known as the Hotel Zone , where the best hotels and beaches are located. It is characterized by its beautiful beaches with fine, white coral sand. Its sea of transparent waters has an impressive shade of blue that goes from emerald to turquoise. You can find ruins such as El Rey or the Temple of the Scorpion (Yamil Lu'um) or enjoy the natural spectacle of the water in Xel-Ha, considered a natural aquarium.
Isla Mujeres
It is part of one of the eleven municipalities of the State of Quintana Roo. It is only 8 kilometers long and half a kilometer wide and is located just thirteen kilometers northeast of Cancun. It owes its name to some Mayan female statuettes that the first Spaniards found when they reached its coast. With white and golden sand and transparent, warm, shallow waters full of life, it is a paradise for divers, whether snorkeling on your own or on tours that take you by boat to caves and areas further away from the beaches, swimming with dolphins and rays, as well as visiting small sharks.
In the north is the most important town, a maritime entry point where restaurants and craft shops are concentrated, with Hidalgo Street being the axis around which life circulates.
Playa del Carmen
It is the heart of the Riviera Maya and is surrounded by natural attractions, water parks, Mayan ruins and an endless number of activities and destinations in the Mexican Caribbean. Considered the Mexican Marbella, it is one of the most glamorous places; it is located in the heart of Quintana Roo and brings together the best restaurants, shops and nightclubs. Its beaches are visited by hundreds of tourists and a walk along the famous Fifth Avenue is almost obligatory, where you will find excellent shops and boutiques. If you want to know what else to do in Playa del Carmen, click here.
Cozumel Island
Located in the southeast of Mexico, in the Caribbean Sea, 62 kilometers from Cancun, it is one of the most beautiful islands and one of the most recommended places to see in the Riviera Maya. It owes its name to the Mayan Indians who populated the island and according to Mayan legend, Cozumel was the home of Ixchel, goddess of love and fertility. It is considered one of the most famous diving and snorkeling destinations; it is located next to the second largest reef in the world, so, in addition to having beautiful white sand beaches and a turquoise sea, it is full of marine life and is a paradise for diving.
Akumal
This town located in the heart of the Riviera Maya, very close to Tulum, in Mayan means “Land of Turtles” and is the place chosen by hundreds of sea turtles to lay their eggs every year. To see the turtles you have to go just 20 meters from the shore and you can swim next to them. It also has a coral reef, white sand beaches and incredible crystal-clear waters. This makes it the perfect place for snorkeling since there are at least more than 180 entrances to underground caves.
Tulum
Located on the Yucatan Peninsula on the shores of the Caribbean Sea, 130 km south of Cancun, it has less tourism, is wilder and has the only archaeological zone in the country that is next to the beach. The Mayans built it on a 15-meter cliff overlooking the turquoise waters of the Caribbean Sea. It has Playa Paraíso, one of the best beaches in Tulum , where you will find 2 kilometers of white sand beach, bathed by transparent waters, with shops and restaurants to have a drink or eat. In Tulum there are no large hotel chains or shopping centers and its buildings try to respect the natural environment of the place and its beaches continue to be almost virgin.
Gastronomy of the Yucatan Peninsula
Typical Yucatecan cuisine has an exquisite mix of ingredients used by the ancient Mayans, with the flavors brought by the Spanish during the Colonial period. Condiments and spices such as pumpkin seeds, oregano, red onion, sour orange, sweet chili, lime, tomato, achiote, chili and cilantro give that special flavor to the food of this region, which was once known as "the land of pheasant and deer" that have been replaced by pork and turkey to which various condiments were added, giving rise to delicious regional dishes.
Cochinita pibil: a mixture that combines the best of two cultures: pork (from Spain) and achiote (a pigment from Mayan culture). It is prepared on a banana leaf in an earthen oven and accompanied with red onion and habanero chili.
Papadzules
They are prepared with a sauce of green pumpkin seeds and epazote (an aromatic herb). It is a smooth, creamy dish with a very good aroma. The sauce is the main ingredient in the dish and the tortillas are filled with boiled egg, chicken, cheese or pork and a sauce of green pumpkin seeds with epazote.
Tikin xic fish
The fish is prepared using achiote. It is cooked directly on embers over firewood, wrapped in banana leaves, some coconut shells, chili strips, green peppers, tomato and red onion, all bathed in beer.
Yucatecan Panuchos
Fried tortillas with black beans and red onion. The secret of its flavor is frying the tortilla with the ingredients; it can be accompanied with chicken, cochinita, tomato sauce, lettuce, avocado and cheese.
Stuffed Cheese
It is an Edam-type cheese ball cooked in the oven and stuffed with beef and pork, covered in a white sauce made from flour, chicken broth and a touch of butter.
Papaya candy
The original recipe says that to make the payapa softer, it should be soaked in water with lime for one or two hours, then washed very well before cooking. It also contains piloncillo, cloves, lemon and cinnamon to obtain a sweet papaya in syrup.
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