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Welcome to Mexico, the country that has it all! Beach Resorts, colonial cities, archeological sites, and countless natural settings. Here, you can do any number of exciting activities, take in a round of golf, sailing or simply relax at a resort as you absorb our rich cultural heritage and relish the culinary delights of our country. During your stay, enjoy the hospitality and world-class services and establishments that make Mexico a modern country, yet full of customs and tradition.
ACTIVITIES
Mexico has the best natural and cultural settings to do all kinds of activities. Experience the adrenaline rush of adventure tourism and the excitement of ecotourism; enjoy the luxuries of top-notch tourism; or relax on a sunny beach and discover the culture and entertainment that make our country truly unique.
ENTERTAINMENT AND SPORTS EVENTS
Mexico’s art, culture and entertainment circuits are among the most important in the world. The state-of-the-art quality found in its auditoriums, concert halls and theatres allow you to fully appreciate dances, concerts, operas and plays. What’s more, you can see an internationally renowned group perform in a stadium or you can catch a free show in the Zocalo, the main square in the nation’s capital where groups occasionally give open-air concerts.
Mexico hosted the Olympic Games and the World Cup on two occasions thanks to its quality sports facilities, stadiums and an Olympic-size pool. Tourists can visit fabulous golf courses, baseball parks, boxing and wrestling arenas, and auto and horse racing tracks.
NIGHTLIFE
When it looks like the day is winding down, the doors of nightclubs and bars start to swing open. Mexico offers a wide variety of options: everything from modern discos, where you can dance all night under flashing lights, to pubs and cantinas, where you can drink national and international beers. When it comes to music, Mexico has something for everyone: bohemian bars and music clubs with local artists belting out ballads, karaoke bars, jazz clubs with food service, lounges spinning electronic music, and raves featuring Mexican and foreign DJs. If you want to swing to Latin beats, there are numerous dance halls with live music and guaranteed fun.
SHOPPING
 Cosmopolitan and traditional, Mexico offers a wide range of options to go shopping. Tourists will find everything from modern shopping malls offering the latest in fashion to smaller specialty shops selling exotic merchandise. No matter what you’re looking for, you’ll find it: exclusive boutiques, bookstores, markets, jewelry shops; there’s even the old practice of merchants hawking their wares on the streets. The most prestigious brand names in the world can be found in Mexico’s many malls and outlet stores. If that’s not for you, you can visit Mexico’s outdoor markets or bazaars, a tradition that dates back to the pre-Hispanic era. It’s there where you’ll find arts and handicrafts, antiques, electronic devices, spices and so much more – haggling is optional.
Top-Notch Tourism
GOLF
In cities, in the middle of vast deserts, along the ocean shore and even on various Mexican islands, you can find private and public golf courses and clubs. There are nine- and 18-hole courses; some of them spanning 7,000 yards with impeccably landscaped greens. Marshes, tropical jungles or warm beaches provide the backdrop for many of these courses, creating the ideal setting for a day on the links. Golf professionals from Mexico and abroad such as Ray Floyd and Dave Stockton play on Mexican courses, especially during important tournaments like the Senior Slam. Some of these unique and challenging courses have been built by designers of international fame such as Jack Nicklaus, Robert Von Haggen and Tom Weiskopf.
SAILING
For those seeking adventures on the high seas, relaxation, or just plain fun, Mexico’s waters offer ideal sailing trips for tourists and sports enthusiasts alike. With more than 10,000 kilometers (6,200 miles) of coastline, Mexican docks receive more than 8,000 foreign ships a year and its 36 marinas have around 5,000 docking spaces. The Sea of Cortez, known for having some of the world’s most biologically diverse waters, is perfect for sailing. Cancun and the Mayan Riviera, which lie on the Yucatan Peninsula, are known for their calm waters and the incredible beauty of their swamps. In Puerto Vallarta and Acapulco, along the Pacific coast, yachts arrive from all over the world. Most docks have yacht rental services and maintenance facilities, some of which provide towing services, gas stations, warehouses, and repair workshops.
SPAS
The spas in Mexico are ideal places for visitors to escape from the daily routine and enjoy healthy living. Thanks to the country’s privileged geographical location, its diverse climate, and the unique characteristics of its waters in some regions, these places offer many different treatments such as massages and therapies, some of which are applied using traditional and pre-Hispanic methods. One such traditional healing practice is a temazcal steam bath with medicinal herbs, which cleanses the body and skin and helps prevent certain illnesses.
Spa resorts, hotels, haciendas and specialized beauty and health centers provide different options for those visitors looking for new alternatives in tourism during their stay in Mexico.
Adventure Tourism and Ecoturism
SCUBA DIVING
Mexico’s coastal waters, lagoons and rivers are ideal spots for diving. Under water, you can discover the impressive coral reefs of the Parque Marino Nacional Arrecifes de Cozumel, an ecological sanctuary in the Caribbean Sea that forms part of the second largest coral reef system in the world. In the Sea of Cortez, which oceanographer Jacques Cousteau referred to as the aquarium of the world, you can admire the wide variety of marine life that has lured researchers from all over the world. Meanwhile, along the coasts of the Gulf of Mexico and the Pacific Ocean, you’ll have the opportunity to find old sunken ships. What’s more, you can dive in marshes in the middle of the desert. Finally, in the Yucatan Peninsula region, which has more than 60,000 meters of subterranean tunnels, you can take the plunge in underground rivers, sinkholes and caverns.
CAMPING
Mexico offers a wide variety of natural settings: beaches, mountains, valleys, deserts, forests and jungles. It also has many national parks where you can pitch a tent, make a campfire and lie back and gaze at the stars as you listen to the sounds of nature. If you decide to take a hike along one of the paths near the camping grounds, you’ll discover the amazingly abundant flora and fauna that is characteristic of Mexico. In many of these places, where the climate varies, but is generally pleasant, you can do a countless number of activities with friends and family members. All of Mexico’s camping grounds are safe and they offer many enjoyable surprises for camping enthusiasts.
EXTREME SPORTS
Mexico offers adventure outings practically throughout the entire nation for those who are looking to defy gravity while doing extreme sports, whether it’s barreling down a narrow path on a mountain bike or freefalling on a parachute jump. The agencies that offer these services have highly trained professionals and safety is a top priority. During these experiences, the tourist should feel completely free and there’s no better way to attain that sensation than paragliding, as you soar through the warm air. Parasailing, as you’re pulled along by a long towrope while 800 meters (2,600 feet) in the air, is an exhilarating experience. A hot air balloon ride is for those who want to enjoy silence at 500 meters (1,600 feet) high and appreciate the spectacular view of the landscape below. Experience the excitement of extreme sports in:
WHITEWATER RAFTING
The wild and deep waters of the Mexican rivers are ideal for those who like whitewater rafting. You’ll find the best rafting in the states of Morelos, Veracruz, San Luis Potosi and Chiapas. Whitewater rafting is a unique way to enjoy nature as you meander down a river, discover waterfalls, and feel the water’s force as you take in the surrounding countryside – it’s truly exciting. This experience is a fully guided tour as Mexico has numerous whitewater rafting agencies that provide professional equipment, experienced guides and first-aid services, making it all the more pleasurable.
KAYAKING
Kayaking, whether solo or tandem is the king of river sports, yet due to Mexico’s vast geography the scope of this activity spreads to the sea, lakes and below dams. In the states of Veracruz, Chiapas and Tabasco, you can go down riverbeds flanked by large rock formations and come across amazing caverns and powerful waterfalls, which can stretch 10 meters (33 feet) to 90 meters (300 feet) wide. Cancun and the Mayan Riviera have ideal lagoons for kayaking; the best routes lead to the reefs of the Caribbean Sea. With the professional guidance of the adventure tour agencies, and the quality of hotel and resort accommodation, kayaking is a challenging and enjoyable experience that puts your balancing and maneuvering skills to the test.
ECOTOURISM
With 22 biosphere reserves, 47 national parks and nine protected areas, Mexico has much to offer in ecotourism. Those who love trekking can discover the fascinating habitats of thousands of indigenous species. Visitors can do research, go on photo safaris, or simply observe and appreciate such species as the Gray Whale and the Monarch Butterfly. For just about any tourist, taking a trip across the country and witnessing the forest, jungle and desert landscapes will seem like a crash course in geology. On the journey, you might come across ancient fossils or see a meteor shower; and you’ll develop a greater appreciation for animal and plant life and the importance of environmental education. The indigenous people also make ethnotourism possible, as they allow you to come in close contact with their local cultures and become involved in their lives as they go about their daily routines in rural areas.
OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
Mexico’s magical landscape and its rich biodiversity make it the ideal place to do outdoor activities. Among the many things to do, you can visit spectacular waterfalls, explore canyons, or rappel down a steep cliff. If you enjoy rock climbing and rappelling, you’ll find plenty of mountains and boulders to tackle. The enchanting sights in Mexico’s many caverns allow cave explorers to live an astonishing experience. Wildlife, springs, and an endless amount of colorful vegetation.
FISHING
Sport fishing is a recreational and competitive activity combining a fisherman’s skill and know-how with the luck and satisfaction of catching the big one; those with a great appreciation of the sport will often return their catch to its natural habitat.
Among the calmness of a lake or dam, or on a wide-open sea or turbulent river, in Mexico fishing enthusiasts can find hundreds of different varieties of fresh and saltwater fish. Among the most coveted game fish are Yellow fin Tuna, Bonito, Swordfish, Marlin, Hammerhead Sharks, and Rainbow Trout.
Mexico is almost completely surrounded by water; therefore it benefits from fantastic coastlines ideal for sport fishing, which explains why it draws so many professionals and enthusiasts to visit and compete in important national and international fishing tournaments.
HUNTING
Because hunting is in such high demand, Mexico has some 2,600 game parks and ranches (operating as wildlife conservation areas), 90% of which are located in the northern region. This completely regulated sport is practiced primarily in the states of Tamaulipas and Coahuila, which offer some of the best hunting grounds in the world. Efforts to conserve a wide variety of fauna have led to the creation of large areas covered in underbrush and forests, where diverse species can reproduce and are later hunted for sport. In these places, you’ll find a wide diversity of animals, some of which are more than 10 years old. Among the most common game in Mexico are the Red Deer, the elk or Wapiti, the White-tailed Deer and the exotic Black Buck Antelope.
SURFING
Mexico has dozens of beaches with unbeatable swells to cater for those who love the feeling only experienced when riding the crest of a wave. On the Pacific and Caribbean coasts, the break of dawn is the best time of day to hit the surf. The face height of a wave in Mexico can reach eight meters (26 feet), a huge challenge for even the most experienced surfer. Those who love the ocean and the sport of surfing can participate in both national and international competitions, mostly held during the summer months in developed beach cities, remote bays and fishing villages. For those looking to develop their skills and feel the adrenaline rush and the wind as they sail across the water, the strong currents off the coast of Mexico are ideal for windsurfing.
CULTURE
ARCHAEOLOGY
Mexican history has left a legacy of majestic archaeological zones to mankind, some of which date back 3,000 years to the Mesoamerican civilizations. To the south, you’ll find such sites as Chichen Itza and Palenque, widely considered the most important archaeological zones of Mayan culture. Heading west to the Pacific coast region, there are Monte Alban and Mitla, where the Zapotec and Mixtec cultures once flourished. Moving toward the Gulf Coast region, you’ll come across ruins from the Olmec, Totonac and Huastec cultures. And up north, you can witness remains of the Paquime civilization. In short, Mexico offers more vestiges of pre-Hispanic civilizations than other Latin American country, as evidenced by its many ancient ceremonial grounds, sculptures, manuscripts, cave paintings and thousands of artifacts. The important Aztec city of Teotihuacan and the ruins of the Templo Mayor (the Great Temple), located in the nation’s capital, are sites you must see.
HISTORICAL ARCHITECTURE
Mexico’s architecture has been so magnificent and prolific that the country ranks third worldwide among nations with the most cities that have been declared World Heritage Sites by the UNESCO. In these metropolises, and in the small towns and colonial cities of Mexico, you will find unique representations that blend influences from indigenous and Spanish cultures: In Puebla, Oaxaca and Morelia you will see stunning cathedrals; in Guanajuato you’ll find a number of sacred constructions and major historical sites such as the Alhondiga de Granaditas (Public Granary); in Campeche you can see the remains of a wall and bulwarks that once protected the city from pirate attacks. In the nation’s capital, Mexico City will amaze you with the architectural beauty of the Palacio de Bellas Artes (Palace of Fine Arts) or the Palacio Postal (Postal Palace), built in the Art Deco and Art Nouveau styles that saw an important boom in the beginning of the 20th century. Throughout the country you can find old haciendas, which have maintained their original structure and have been converted into hotels and restaurants.
CONTEMPORARY ARCHITECTURE
The variety of tendencies in contemporary Mexican architecture speaks volumes of the ability, talent and professionalism of several generations of architects in this field. Its development in several regions of the country, within various climatic and urban conditions, is conveyed with a creative diversity that makes it the only one of its kind in the world. One of the most representative names in contemporary Mexican architecture is Luis Barragan, a key figure in the second half of the 20th century. Inspired by light, colors and his focus on functional spaces, his work has left a lasting influence on the most prolific generations in the country. There are other creators who have transcended borders, such as Ricardo Legorreta, Teodoro Gonzalez de Leon, Alberto Kalach and Enrique Norten. Their roots can be found in universal schools, reinterpreted with a personal signature through styles such as Art Deco, Art Nouveau, Functionalism, Eclecticism or Neo-indigenism, in which they embrace the textures, hues and other features of Mexican culture.
ARTS AND CRAFTS
The art of such painters as Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera, Rufino Tamayo and Francisco Toledo; the architecture of Luis Barragan; t he photography of Manuel Alvarez Bravo and Lola Alvarez Bravo; and the music of Silvestre Revueltas are just some examples of the beautiful forms of artistic expression that have influenced new generations of Mexican and foreign artists. Land where the imagination runs wild, Mexico has art academies, museums and galleries, where one can appreciate the products of a creative tradition dating back to the pre-Hispanic era. As living proof of this cultural heritage, each day millions of Mexicans make ceramics, textiles, baskets, gold and silver items, wood sculptures and carvings, and other objects, which are conceived in dreams and later come to life in this multicolored country.
FESTIVALS AND TRADITIONS
Mexico is a place where dozens of national and regional celebrations take place each year. Some of the most important dates have religious origins: The Day of the Dead, which falls on Nov. 2, keeps alive a yearly tradition of adorning tombs and altars with candles and marigold flowers. As offerings to the deceased, families leave them their favorite food, photos and colorful paper crafts. It is believed that at night the dead return to the world of the living to spend time with their families. Another important time of year is Easter week, which is commemorated with Mass and processions embodying realism and suffering.
Mexico’s most important celebration is the so-called cry of independence on Sept. 15. In every main square throughout the nation, the festivities include dancing, mariachi music and spectacular firework shows. What’s more, the many carnivals and food festivals celebrated in different states across the country are events that bring families together, while at the same time they reflect the joy and spirit of the Mexican people.
CUISINE
Thanks to pre-Hispanic and Spanish influences. World famous for its diversity, the government has asked UNESCO to declare Mexican cuisine a "Masterpiece of the Intangible Heritage of Humanity." The key to Mexican gastronomy is the vast number of i ngredients used, including corn, beans, chili peppers, vegetables and domestic meats; however at times some of the food products can come from Europe as well. The wide range of flavors, colors and textures, the manner in which the dishes are presented, and the local culinary techniques used are all part of the unique experience. This culinary culture, which can be enjoyed in marketplaces, diners and gourmet restaurants, is a product of the identity, beliefs, customs and cohesion of the Mexican people.
RELIGION AND MYSTICISM
Displays of religious devotion by many locals and foreigners, particularly by those of the Catholic faith, have become familiar sights at many churches and temples –especially at places where followers worship miraculous icons such as the Virgin of San Juan de Los Lagos, in Jalisco, and the Senor de Chalma, in the State of Mexico. Throughout the year many processions and pilgrimages take place across the country to honor patron saints, virgins and other saints. The processions held during Easter week, distinguished by their realism and sorrow, and those that take place on Dec. 12, which honor the Virgin of Guadalupe, are well known outside the country. On the latter date, the Mexico City Basilica receives more than 15 million pilgrims. The celebration of the Day of the Dead also stands out as an important date when the deceased are remembered with colorful festivities and delicious food.
MUSEUMS
The splendor of Mexico’s museums is world-renowned. Not only do they collect objects, but they also display the artistic, social and cultural realities of the country. You can get an eyeful of the interesting permanent collections and temporary exhibits in museums, art galleries, and other miscellaneous museums. You can also take in outdoor exhibits, which specifically allow spectators to admire the archaeology, history and arts and crafts. The high quality and value of the objects on display will impress spectators of all ages.
Because Mexican museums have showcased some of the most important exhibitions in the world, they are considered among the best in Latin America, and it’s worth mentioning that they have relatively low admission prices when compared to other countries.
BEACHES
PACIFIC COAST BEACHES
Along Mexico’s Pacific coast, you can enjoy shallow bays, golden sand beaches, impressive cliffs, and an ideal climate year round. In this region, which stretches from Mazatlan to the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, you’ll find some of the country’s longest beaches, among them the world famous nude beach, Zipolite. The coasts of Oaxaca and Sinaloa are world famous for their big waves. Visitors can leave behind the stress of the big city as they discover small fishing villages, pristine beaches and tourist resorts such as Acapulco, Puerto Vallarta and Costalegre, where they can stay in world-class hotels and experience a thriving night scene.
CARIBBEAN BEACHES
The alluring white sand beaches of the Caribbean have a very fine texture and are always cool, despite the sun’s intense heat. From Cancun to the extreme south in the state of Quintana Roo, this region has some o f the most important ecological reserves in the country. Thanks to its unbeatable marine environment, the area’s tourism infrastructure has grown rapidly and local economies have benefited from the development boom. Even more intriguing are the numerous pristine beaches and coral reefs still waiting to be discovered. The crystal blue water is home to a thriving marine life with more than 500 species, much of which can be appreciated up close. The natural beauty of this region is complemented by one of the most fascinating civilizations in history: the Mayans, whose art and cosmology will captivate you.
THE GULF OF MEXICO
On the beaches of the Gulf of Mexico, you can marvel at the beautiful scenery and enjoy the contagious warmth of the people. The Gulf, an arrival point for cruise liners, is practically an ocean within itself, as it is partially connected with the Atlantic Ocean along the Florida stretch and with the Caribbean Sea along the Yucatan Canal. North America’s main rivers empty into the Gulf’s coastal region, where you can explore a wide variety of habitats, bays, deltas, lagoons and marshes. Tampico, Veracruz, Villahermosa and Campeche have some of the region’s most important ports, and all of them are full of tradition, legends, and even pirate stories. This area has some of the best seafood in Mexico making its rich cuisine one of a kind.
THE SEA OF CORTEZ
The beaches of the Sea of Cortez welcome visitors with inte nse ocean-blue scenery and the stark contrast of arid desert landscapes. So abundant is the region’s natural beauty that the infamous explorer Jacques Cousteau referred to it as the "world’s aquarium." Recently declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, the Sea of Cortez (also known as the Gulf of Baja California) lies east of the largest peninsula in the world. Along the vast coastline, tourists will find beautiful beaches with mountain and desert backdrops. This body of water also hosts the breeding grounds of the Gray Whale, making it a must see for nature lovers. In the southern region of the Baja California Peninsula, where the Sea of Cortez meets the Pacific Ocean, you will find all the necessary infrastructure in terms of water sports and top-notch accommodation.
Provided by the Mexico Tourism Board.
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