January

Feast of San Antonio Abad. This is in Mexico City each year on January 17th. It’s celebrated through a Blessing of the Animals in the Santiago Tlatelolco Church, San Juan Bautista Church, and also at the Church of san Fernando.

New Year’s Day (Año Nuevo). This is a national holiday and, believe it or not, a very quiet day in Mexico! This is because most of the citizens stay home or go to church on New Year’s Day.

Three Kings Day (Día de los Reyes) is celebrated everywhere in Mexico. It’s on January 6, and marks the day in the Christian calendar when the Three Kings arrived to bear gifts to Baby Jesus. Children get presents and families get together to eat Rosca de Reyes. The Rosca de Reyes has a little doll inside it, which represents the Christ Child. If you get the doll in your piece of cake, you are the lucky one who gets to throw a big party on February 2, with tamales and atole.

February

Carnaval. Carnaval takes place all over Mexico, but the following places really do things up right: Cozumel, Mazatlan, Veracruz, Huejotzingo, Chamula, and Tepoztlán. Cozumel especially does it up like New Orleans, with parades and a party atmosphere everywhere in town. In Chamula you’l lsee people running on flaming branches, which harkens back to pre-Hispanic times. Dancers flood the streets on Shrove Tuesday in Tepoztlán and Huejotzingo. Make reservations if you want to stay the night! Get there early, too. It’s a popular celebration in town.

Candlemas (Día de la Candelaria) is celebrated nationwide in Mexico, with music, dancing, and parades. It’s on February 2, and is concerned with a blessing of the seeds and candles. It’s a mixture of pre-Hispanic and European traditions, both celebrating the end of Winter. The Rosca de Reyes eaten on Three Kings Day determines who holds the tamales party on Candlemas.

Constitution Day is February 5, and also a national holiday. The Mexican constitution was signed on this day in 1917 after a 1910 revolutionary war. Look for little parades all through Mexico, everywhere you go.

Ash Wednesday is the beginning of Lent season. Mexicans celebrate this with local fairs and folk dancing.

March

Spring Equinox in Chichén Itzá is held the first day of Spring at the Temple of Kukulkán. This is Chichén Itzá’s main pyramid, and when it aligns with the sun, a serpent-like shadow moves down the side of the pyramid. On the ground at the bottom of the pyramid, there’s a stone serpent’s head, and the shadow moves down to meet it. When the serpent is whole, according to legend, the earth is fertilized. Wow! As you can imagine, people come from all over the globe to see this one. Make reservations! The shadow is visible from March 19 to March 23. Other Spring rituals across Mexico involve prayers, dances, and festivals. Wear white with a red ribbon if you want to wear what the locals are wearing.

Annual Witches Conference is held in Veracruz, at Lake Catemaco. It’s the first weekend in March, and all sorts of witches gather here, from Antillean, Afro, and Caribbean traditions.

Benito Juárez’s Birthday is March 21, and it’s a national holiday. Biggest celebration is in Guelatao, Oaxaca, where he was born.

April

Holy Week in early April is the period from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday. It’s the last week of Jesus’s life, so celebrations are somber and religious, every night of the week. They spoof Judas and reenact bible scenes. There are fairs with local crafts and food. If you go to the Copper Canyon, where the Tarahumara people live, you get overtones of pre-Hispanic rituals blending in. Businesses are closed. Make reservations early, for hotels and flights.

Cuernavaca Flower Fair is held from April 3 to April 7. It’s everything flowers, from competitions to exhibits to a light show.

San Marcos National Fair is held in Aguascalientes from April 12 to May 4. It’s the biggest fair in Mexico, and it’s been celebrated for over 400 years straight. There are bullfights and rodeos, mariachis, and ranchera music, folk music, fireworks, you name it!

May

Cinco de Mayo. This is celebrated nationwide and it marks Mexico’s victory over France at the battle of Puebla.

Labor Day is on May 1, and it’s another National Holiday. There are parades of workers all over the country, and definitely everything is closed!

Cancún Jazz Festival.

Feast of San Isidro is May 15. It’s a blessing of seeds and work animals for the farmers. San Isidro is the patron saint of farmers.

June

National Ceramics Fair & Fiesta is June 14 in Tlaquepaque, Jalisco. Tlaquepaque is a center of pottery production near Guadalajara. There are craft competitions and demonstrations, with dancers, parades, and mariachis.

Navy Day (Día de la Marina is June 1. Every town on the water celebrates this day with parades and fireworks.

Corpus Christi is celebrated all over Mexico, honoring the Body of Christ. There are processions, food, and Masses, flying pole dancers called voladores near El Tajín in Veracruz. Vendors sell mulitas, or mules that are made from dried cornhusks and painted. The purchase of mulitas equals a prayer for fertility.

St. Peter & Paul’s Day (Día de San Pedro) is June 29 nationwide, wherever St. Peter is the patron saint. San Pedro Tlaquepaque has wonderful celebrations, with mariachi bands, parades, floats, and dancers.

July

Guelaguetza Dance Festival from July 21 to teh 28th is celebrated in Oaxaca. Traditional costumes are worn and villagers gather in a central ampitheater in Oaxaca for one of the best events of the year in Mexico. Make reservations, because this is a global event.

August

Assumption of the Virgin Mary is August 15 to 17, all over Mexico. There aer special Masses, with festivities varying from region to region. In Huamantla, they line the streets with flower petals and colored sawdust. A statue of the Virgin is carried through the streets at midnight, then the next day is running of the bulls. Other towns have parades with floats and local crafts. Make reservations, even for the bus from Mexico City or Puebla.

Fall of Tenochtitlán in Mexico City takes place on August 13. This day commemorates the last battle of hte Spanish Conquest, which took place at Tlatelolco, at Plaza of Three Cultures. They lay wreaths and have a ceremony at the Cuauhtémoc monument. The last Aztec king was Cuauhtémoc, and he surrendered to Cortez here.

International Chamber Music Festival the first two weeks of August in san Miguel de Allende.

September

Independence Day is September 16 and it’s a national holiday in Mexico. They’re celebrating independence from Spain, with the traditional, famous presidential shout, called the grito from the National Palace. The crowds are phenomenal, and if you don’t make it to Mexico City for the grito celebration, you can watch it on TV or take part in any local town’s own version of the grito. National Pride is visible everywhere you go, and even downtown buildings wear red, green and white, the national colors. The rebel towns of Queréaro and San Miguel de Allende have really super celebration activities.

Mariachi Festival is the first two weeks of September in Guadalajara, Jalisco. There are public Mariachi concerts every night, featuring Mariachi bands from all over the world. There are lectures, workshops and everything to do with all Mariachi.

Fall Equinox is September 21 & 22 in Chichén Itzá. They have the shadow serpent ceremony again, described for the Spring Equinox celebration, above.

October

Festival Cervantino is early to mid October in Guanajuato. This festival was dreamed up in the 1970s to bring performing artists from around the globe to this village.

Columbus Day (Día de la Raza. Some now call this Ethnicity Day. It commemorates the mixing of the Spanish and Mexican cultures. Celebrated October 12.

October Festivals (Fiestas de Ocubre, the entire month of October in Guadalajara. Mariachi music, cultural displays, fine arets, traditional food, beer, and wine. Just a whole lot of fun!

November

Day of the Dead, an internationally-known Mexican holiday occurs on November 1 and 2. It’a two days, beginning with All Saints’ Day, and then with All Souls’ Day. The first day honors decesed children and saints. The second day honors deceased adults. This is a time for relatives to get together and remember ancestors and the more recently departed. They may go to the cemeteries with candles and food and they may even camp out near graves of dearly departed. Mummy-shaped bread is baked and bread loaves decorated with bones, sugar skulls are sold everywhere for the days. Altars are laden with gifts as well, and children wear costumes and walk the streets carrying fake coffins and pumpkin lanterns for collecting money. The most famous Day of the Dead ceremonies are on Janitzio, which is an island located on Lake Pátzcuaro in Michoacán. This is a small village in the mountains and can barely handle all the traffic it gets each year. They hold a street fair with big processions to the cemetery in town.

National Silver Fair is held in Taxco from November 29 to December 6. Silversmiths compete and the public gets to see exhibits, concerts, dancing and fireworks.

Revolution Day is November 20, nationwide. It’s the first day of the Mexican Revolution, in 1910. There are speeches, rodeos, and parades.

December

Feast of the Virgin of Guadalupe is December 12, across the nation. This is to honor the patroness of Mexico, and it’s possibly the most passionate and beautiful holiday in Mexico. There are religious processions, fireworks, dancing, street fairs, and special Masses. Children dress up as Juan Diego, the man to whom Mexicans believe the Virgin appeared. The church where the Virgin appeared, the Basílica of Guadalupe, has very elaborate celebrations. Puerto Vallerta celebrates beginning on December 1 and goes for 12 days, with 24-hour celebrations toward the end of that time period.

Christmas Posadas is December 15 to 24, and reenacts teh Holy Family’s search for a place to stay the night before Christ was born. Candlelight processions go door-to-door each night. Mostly celebrated in Auerétaro and Taxco and less in Northern Mexico.

Christmas can mean two weeks of days off from work for Mexicans, so watch out for closed businesses across Mexico. Hotels are full of locals, so make reservations. Different regions have different celebrations, like Night of the Radishes in Oaxaca.

New Year’s Eve is celebrated in Mexico, noisy as ever, just like the rest of the world. Santa Clara del Cobre has candlelit processions of Christ, which is different.

Adventure Activities in Copper Canyon Area

• Just riding the Pacifico al Chihuahua Railway is an adventure. Get off at any of five stops for side trips like horseback riding or hiking ur just viewing the awesome canyons.

Adventure Activities in Oaxaca and Chiapas

• Hiking northwest of Oaxaca City in the Sierra Norte.
• Biking in the Sierra Norte. Contact Bicicletas Bravo in Ozxaca City, who also do tours of lower elevations, in the city.
• Horseback riding in San Cristobal de las Casas. You can go to caves or up into hills.

Adventure Activities in Pacific Coast area and Puerto Vallarta

• Sierra Madre Expedition, go in ATVs through the jungle then go for a nature walk.
• San Sebastian Air adventure is a Cessna plane ride into heart of the mountains and land in an old mining town. You can arrange for horseback or bike trips, too.
• Jeep tour to San Sebastian, with guide, it’s a day trip costing about $75.
• Rancho Altamira is a working ranch where you can get BBQ and go horseback riding.
• Vallarta Adventures will take you on a Canopy Tour of treetops to view rainforest up close from platforms using pulleys and cables.

Adventure Activities in Yucatan Peninsula Area

• Off Cancun: Great Mesoamerican Reef, largest one in Western Hemisphere. Snorkeling and Scuba are wonderful here. Sunken boats, too.
• Cave of the Sleeping Sharks near Cancun, go diving to see this one.
• Jungle Cruise on JetSkis through lagoons and mangroves of Cancun. There’s time for snorkeling and lunch on these cruises.

Adventure Activities in the Gulf Coast Area

• River Rafting in Xalapa. Several rivers near this city make for great rafting.
• Mountain Climbing

Adventure Activities in the Baja Area

• Sea Kayaking, guided and ecological. Best near La Paz
• Surfing at Playa Costa Azul near San Jose.

Mexico is largely a Spanish-speaking country, yet just under one-tenth of the population speaks no Spanish at all. Visitors to this country come to see ancient ruins such as Teotihuacan with its Avenue of the Dead and Pyramid of the Sun, but some may not realize ancient cultures still persist in modern Mexico, where many still speak their native Indian languages and follow ancient beliefs and customs. This makes Mexico strikingly different from most other Spanish countries. If you’re interested in learning about native Mexican culture on your vacation, don’t miss the archeological sites most famous amongst travelers in Mexico:

• Teotihuacan
• Chichen Itza
• Uxmal
• Monte Alban
• Palenque

Roughly a quarter Mexico’s almost 100 million people live in Mexico City, a bustling urban metropolis which is recently experiencing a renaissance amongst tourists. Even in Mexico City, people are polite and generally warm and friendly. A warm greeting is appreciated upon entering a store or restaurant, and a word or two of attempted Spanish, or as much as you can speak, will go a long way. Mexicans will regard you better if you are polite and courteous, just as you would if the roles were reversed.

The history of the Mexican people is as diverse and full of conquest as that of the United States. Beginning in the 1300’s, the Aztecs launched military campaigns against other Indian peoples in Southern Mexico. Two centuries later the Conquest of Mexico is well underway as Spain colonized the area. Three centures later Mexico wins independence from Spain in the early 1800’s. For three hundred years Spanish culture was imprinted on local Indian culture, resulting in the unique blend of customs and culture.

In the 1900’s the Mexican Revolution resulted in land redistribution and nationalization of industry and the PRI, or Partido Revolucionario Institucional, which remained the main ruling party until 2000, when the PAN party’s Vicente Fox won the election. Today’s policitcal system is much more transparent than before, but strong tests for Fox remain, not the least of which will be the economic problems which are linked to those of the United States.

What’s it all About?

For US citizens, the choices involved in planning a retirement are often overwhelming and difficult to make. For some retirees, there is an added dimension that arises when they consider the option of retiring in another country. For many, Mexico is an obvious choice, since it’s out neighbor to the south, it’s got beautiful beaches, mountains, and towns, and it’s a lot cheaper than living in the United States. There are so many things to consider, like would you have enough to live on, what will you do for fun, where will you live, how will you learn Spanish, what is the infrastructure like, can you own property, and on and on. Here we give you some basic facts about retiring in Mexico, so you can begin to explore the idea yourself, and make a decision for your retirement lifestyle. One place we’ll begin is with the general nature of Mexican culture and people, since many North Americans know very little about their neighbor to the South. There is much more than palm-studded beaches on the coast and desert conditions on the interior, which are the stereotypes most people hold in their minds about Mexico.

What’s the Allure of Retiring in Mexico?

To begin with, Mexico is full of natural and constructed wonders: charming colonial villages with cobblestone streets, magnificent colonial architecture, quaint villages in the mountains with chalets and cabins overlooking breathtaking scenery, wide rivers, snowy mountain tops, large elegant coffee plantations, fantasy architecture dotting the countryside. In fact, there really are no other countries so close to each other, who share a border, that are as different from each other as the United States and Mexico. Mexicans see the world in a completely different light than do their neighbors to the north, and this is expressed in just about every facet of life, from the music to the architecture to the way they do business and celebrate their lives. Retiring in Mexico is an adventure in exploration, where you will discover a new world, a different point of view, and a refreshing new way of living. Of course it’s not for everyone, since a little bit of adventurous spirit is necessary for this lifestyle. You have to be able to imagine the possibilities and take some personal risks, like moving away from familiar surroundings and moving to a different culture. You will be leaving old friends and family behind, but also meeting new people and making new friends.

The major advantages of choosing Mexico as your new home for retirement, are location, lower costs, friendly culture, and beautiful countryside. It’s pretty easy to stay in touch with folks back home via the internet, telephone, or even visiting and taking advantage of airfare sales. Cost of living is about one-fourth of that in the United States, with everything from eggs to rent running at considerably lower prices in Mexico. If you want to live in a trendier area like Puerto Vallarta, rent will cost you much more than in the countryside or in smaller villages, but it’s your choice to make.

Of course there are some downsides to living in Mexico, as of course no culture is perfect. Mexico’s problems are generally related to poverty with enviromental degredation and crime standing out at the top of the list. Also, government isn’t as efficient as that in the United State, and anything inolving a governmental agency or paperwork will take time, patience, and what seems a forest’s worth of paper. Living in any new place takes adjustment, and liviing in a new country takes double amounts of adjustment. Mexico is no exception, and for those people who resist change and who are stuck in their ways, retiring here may be very challenging. If you are young at heart and up for new things and like a challenge, you’ll find a wonderful world to explore, full of great people and new ideas. You will make friends and learn more about the world, and perhaps even yourself.

Any person entering Mexico is required to provide proof of citizenship. Examples of this would be a passport, birth certificate with a raised seal, or naturalization papers. If you’re using proof of citizenship that doesn’t have a photo of you on it, then also carry with you some photo id, such as a driver’s license. Passports have everything you’ll need as far as ID goes, but make sure you carry your passport in a safe spot, keep it with you in a hidden place, and guard it carefully.

Once your proof of citizenship has been scrutinized and accepted, the border officials will issue you a Mexican Tourist Permit, which is free. Keep it with you and don’t lose it, since you’ll have trouble getting out of Mexico if you don’t have it on you. Very important.

Customs is usually pretty obliging, unless of course you’re planning to carry illegal drugs or any guns across the border. Here are the allowances:

• 12 rolls of film
• two 1-liter bottles of wine or hard liquor
• two cartons of cigarettes or 50 cigars plus 1 kg of smoking tobacco
• laptops, camera equipment are ok, as long is it doesn’t look like you’re going to resell stuff

If you’re a traveller from the USA, you can bring back the following:

• $800 duty free goods; after that you pay 4% on the next $1000 worth of goods
• fresh fruit & vegetables

The Pacific Coast

The Pacific coastline of Mexico is known as the Mexican Riviera because of the scenic stretch of resort towns and cities dotting the map from Mazatlan down to Manzanillo. After Cancun, which lies on the other coast facing the Gulf of Mexico, Puerto Vallarta, found in the middle section of the Pacific Coast, is the number two resort area in Mexico. The resort area of this region has been developed towards tourism, which large style resorts, tour guides and adventure tours available for those who want to do more than relax on the beach. The region is easy to get to, with an airport just outside the city of Puerto Vallarta and another outside Mazatlan. Both have the major rental car agencies. If you’re travelling to Mazatlan, you can take a ferry from Baja.

Puerto Vallarta

This is one lovely city located on a perfect strecth of ocean coastline, which is why many visitors are lured here each year, seeking relaxation and fun on the beach. The beaches are golden and wide and framed by mountain ranges covered in lush tropical flora. Though the town’s development has been steered towards providing wealthy tourists with sophisticated pleasures such as golf courses and chic nightclubs, there’s also a charming, down-to-earth atmosphere that makes anyone who visits feel welcome. You’ll find Euro-style architectural features in town, and wild jungle nature outside of town. Try mountain biking in the foothills, kayaking, and visiting remote beaches that are only accessible by boat. The Huichol Indians still exist in a mountaintop community high above the town.

You could, if you wanted to, spend your entire vacation in Puerto Vallarta shopping, dining in fancy restaurants, and browsing art galleries. There really is something for everyone in this resort town. Here’s a short list of things you might want to see in Puerto Vallarta:

• Parish of Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe Church
• Museo Rio Cuale
• pink arched bridge in town
• Swimming with dolphins and Whale watching tours
• Sailing charters & Boat Tours
• Horseback tours
• Mountain Biking
• Hiking
• Diving, Fishing
• International Friendship Club’s private home tour
• Rancho Altamira, take a tour of a working ranch just outside town
• El Tuito, nearby colonial village
• Huichol Indian art at Huichol Collection
• Galeria Arte Latinoamericano
• More museums
• Folk Art at Alfareria Tlaquepaque or Azul Siempre Azul
• Jewelry at Mosaique or Viva

Mazatlan

The city of Mazatlan is twice the size of Puerta Vallarta, but much cheaper for tourists. It has the same golden beaches, excellent fresh food at breat restaurants and world-class sportfishing, but accommodations are much less expensive, and development hasn’t taken over in the way it has in may Mexican resort towns. The Mazatlan experience is simpler for tourists, and one thing keeping it that way is fewer flights come into the airport, compared with Puerto Vallarta. The area attracts all types of travellers, but especially those seeking a bargain, such as families and seniors anyone on a tight travel budget.

Mazatlan has tons of things to do for tourists, including rodeos, deep-sea fishing, cruises, and golfing. One unusual thing you might want to see is the cliff divers at El Mirador, who will dive if a tour bus shows up, even at night, holding torches. Expect to give a donation for this wonderful show. Each year at lent Mazatlan holds Mardi Gras, and people show up from all across the globe to celebrate in the world’s third-largest Carnaval (New Orleans and Rio are ahead of Mazatlan for biggest party). If you’re travelling to Mazatlan for Caenaval, make a reservation because hotel rooms fill up during this season.

Mazatlan Acuario Mazatlan, which is an aquarium, one of the biggest in Mexico. Next door there’s botannical gardens with aviary and crocodiles. Good fun for kids. As for architecture, visit the Teatro Angela Peralta, built in the late 1800’s and has multi levles of balconies, and an open-air lobby. Tropical elegance combined with Italian architecture make this a popular stop for anyone interested in architecture. There’s also Plaza Rpincipal, with open air markets and a bandstand and close by is the Cathedral of the Immaculate Cenception, unusual tropical church architecture.

Acapulco

Make no mistake, Acapulco is a party town resort, with nonstop nightlife, energetic watersports everywhere you go, and a constant party atmosphere that will make you want to get up and go out partying. The inlet and bay make for great views, as the town wraps around the cookie-shaped coastline, curling in on itself forming a little harbor. The city is experiencing a comeback after a tourism slump resulting from images of pollution and fading hotels. The water is cleaned up now, and new hotels shine all along the town’s bay, which is a picturesque as they come. This town is making a comeback, and it’s definitely a fun place in the sun to spend your vacation. Highlights of Acapulco include:

• cathedral Nuestra de la Soledad
• Downtown: zocalo (Plaza Alvarez) for local life and thrifty shops
• Best view: El Mirador, or lookout point at the top of the city
• Playa Manzanillo, with charter fishing
• Roqueta Island trip
• La Quebrada for cliff divers
• Dolores Olmedo’s house in town for architecture
• Bullfights
• Parasailing
• Fuerte de San Diego from 1616 but rebuilt after earthquake
• Centro Internacional de Convivencia Infantil for water park
• Museo Historico de Acapulco
• Foro cultural Multimedia for light shows and swimming

Mexico City

Mexico City is the capital of Mexico, and was the capital of the Aztec society as well. Its location 7300 feet above sea level and surrounded my mountains make it an ideal center of power, for ancient civilizations as well as modern urban-dwelling Mexicans. Its 22 million inhabitants find common ground at the symbolic Plaza of Three Cultures, which are sumbolized by structures which line the plaza:

• An ancient Aztex pyramid
• A Colonial-era Spanish-style church
• A shiny new offer tower

In fact, there are architectural examples of all three of these great influences on Mexican culture throughout the city, which is why some call it the City of Palaces. Downtown reflects the colonial era, resembling a European city with wide boulevards, public parks, fancy detailed cornices on buildings, and public gardens. And, like Rome, Mexico City pays tribute to its roots, by preserving and protecting ancient ruins, even if they happen to lie right in the middle of the bustling modern capital city. There are paritally excavated Aztec ruins in Mexico City, reminding the traveler of certain parts of Rome, Italy where careful digging has exposed ancient civilization.

22 million inhabitants co-existing in one city during times of economic downturn has resulted in lots of petty crime in Mexicy City in past decades, making this city a less desirable travel destination, but travelers will be happy to learn that the trend is being reversed by progressive tactics and tourist-friendly programs. Similar to what New York City did recently, Mexico City has placed more and more police on the streets and initiated safety programs that make tourists feel more secure. There has been a campaign against corruption, which includes hiring a certain ex NYC mayor expert in attracting tourists to a city with a bad reputation. It’s working, because crime is now half of what it was in 1994.

Mexico City’s other nemesis: pollution, has begun to recede as well. With new environmental awareness and action, the city has made great strides in reducing city driving, closing polluting factories, and making use of fuel-efficient low-emission public buses and taxis. There is still quite a bit of pollution, so you’ll want to consider these tips:

• Minimize your exposure to fumes
• Don’t take city walks during rush hour
• Walk around on Sunday, when there is less traffic
• Stay away if you have respiratory problems. Remember: Mexico City is also at high elevation, making matters worse.
• Go out at night

Here’s a list of some of the best things to see & do while travelling in Mexico City:

• Museo Frida Kahlo
• Palacio Nacional & the Diego Rivera Murals
• Basilica de Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe
• Museo del Templo Mayor
• Casa de los Azulejos
• Museo Nacional de Antropologia
• Gran Hotel Ciudad de Mexico
• Palacio de Bellas Artes
• Monumento a los Heroes de la Independencia
• Museo de la Ciudad de Mexico
• Museo de arte Moderno
• Many more museums…see the museums page
• Plaza de las Tres Culturas
• Plaza de Santo Domingo
• Floating Gardens of Xochimilco
• Trip to Teotihuacan Archaeological site
• Palacio de Bellas Artes
• National Auditorium for Ballet and other shows
• Centro Hisotrico downtown district

Yucatan Peninsula

Cancun

Maybe this is Mexico’s most famous resort town, and with good reason. In addition to world-class resorts, stunning beaches, there is also breathtaking natural beauty and lots of things to do while you’re spending your vacation here. Cancun has it all. For a place with so many many annual tourists, Cancun has managed to remain pleasant and beautiful in spite of being inundated by over three million tourists each year. Accommodations are unbeatable, beaches are spotless, it’s easy to get here, and there are good bargains to be found by any traveller seeking to do almost anything. To top it off, English is spoken throughout the resort town, and dollars are accepted, so the tourist from USA will feel right at home with minimal effort.

Cancun’s airport is large and convenient to town, and there are direct flights on several airlines from the US. The major car rental agencies are well-represented at Cancun’s airport, and taxis are also abundant if you need one.

Aside from beaches, watersports, fishing and shopping, you can also take a day trip to Isla Mujeres, an island just 8 miles from shore, where you’ll find El Garrafon Natural Park. If you like snorkeling you should go. You can get there via ferry, shuttle boat, watertaxi, or pleasure boat trips. There’s an airport here, and plenty of resorts to stay at.

Cozumel

Cozumel is another island off the coast of the Yucatan near Cancun, and worth the trip if you have time. The pace is slower and quieter here, and you can get around on a moped. It’s 12 miles off the coast, and larger than Isla Mujeres, and choices in accommodations are plenty. Cozumel is particularly popular with divers, ranking among top five diving places in the world. Large reefs here to explore. There’s a national park called Chankanaab National Park, which has a quaint land-locked sea connected to the ocean by an underwater tunnel. You can’t snorkel here, but you can relax on their beach. Also, don’t miss Punta Sur Ecological Reserve, with Columbia Lagoon. Good beaches and snorkeling but since it’s a preserve and not a park, not much else. Natural beauty.

Chiapas & Oaxaca

Oaxaca and Chiapas are the southernmost states in Mexico and contain the highest concentrations of Indians in Mexico. In Oaxaca you’ll find the Zapotec and Mixtec Indians flourishing in large bustling communities, prevelant and forming the basis of local culture for centuries now. Chiapas has more highland Maya, who also hold on tightly to their native culture. Both states have lots of agriculture and local crafts and of course in the Mayan areas there are ruins and more history than you could ever absorb. The area attracts many anthropologists and archaeologists for this reason, who amongst other finds, have learned much about King Pacal and his pyramid tomb.

You may have heard about Chiapas in the news in the past ten years or so, as there’s been a local uprising led by the Zapatista Liberation Arma. Their army captured San Cristobal, the center of Chiapas, forcing attention on the economic problems in the area. There are still unresolved problems in this area, so check with the US State Department before you go, to find out what the conditions are.

Oaxaca

There are three main areas in Oaxaca to see: Oaxaca City, Resorts, and Ruins. Ruins are usually day trips from Oaxaca City and include Monte Alban and Mitla, niether of which is more than an hour away. There are things to see and do along the road to both areas, like stopping in interesting local villages and visiting rug weavers. You can take bus tours or rent a car. Renting a car means you can stop anywhere you like along the Pan American Highway (Hwy. 190) to see smaller archaeological sites and local craft markets.

Oaxaca City offers festivals, museums, beautiful churches and markets and you could easily spend days and days exploring this city of 380,000. Here’s a short list of the highlites of Oaxaca City and surrounding areas:

• December Festivals:
  • Night of the Radishes
  • Fiesta de la Soledad
  • festival of the Virgin de Guadalupe
• Museo de Arte Contemporaneo de Oaxaca
• other museums
• Arrazola for woodcarving.
• Cuilapan’s 1500’s Monastery

Chiapas and Palenque

San Cristobal de las Casa is the main town in Chiapas, and it’s a beautiful example of colonial “urban planning”, with tile roofs, cobblestone streets and large town squares for public activity. In the outlying areas around this town there are lots of little Mayan villages with residents who live very much like the way their ancestors did in previous centuries. They come into San Cristobal for market activities, which makes for wonderful buzz of local energy and enterprise. There are a few local indigenous groups who stand out: the Zinacantecan, Tenejapa and the Chamula.

Visit the casa No-Bolom to learn about anthropology of the region. Visit the Catedral, a 1500s building, to see lovely example of colonial church, San Cristobal’s main cathedral. The Amber Museum is fascinating, and you can learn about the region’s main export here. In the nearby village of Chamula, the annual Carnaval celebration is a unique blend of Christianity and Mayan traditions, and you’ll never forget it.

Visit outlying villages for local crafts, pottery, embroider, weavers, and horseback riding.

The Copper Canyon

The Copper Canyon really refers to an area of northwest Mexico, spread across the Sierra Madre mountains, that contains an awesome giant canyon. Some people compare it to the Grand Canyon, but it really is different. There’s a fabulous unforgettable railroad journey that traverses some impossible terrain, starting from Los Mochis on the Pacific-side coast facing Baja. The railroad, called the Chihuahua al Pacifico (Chihuahua to the Pacific) starts at sea level, climbs 8,000 feet up the Sierra Madre, across almost 40 bridges and through more than 80 tunnels, to end up in the city of Chihuahua, which is towards the border with New Mexico. This railroad is a marvel of modern ingenuity and hope, since looking at the terrain, it doesn’t seem possible that a railroad could ever get through those mountains and across the Chiapas River, and up all those jagged peaks. But it does, and you can ride it for one of the most fantastic voyages of your life.

There are two main airports in the region, one at each end of the Chihuahua al Pacifico. There aren’t tons of hotels and restaurants, so you’ll want to plan ahead or go with a tour group, who often book blocks of tickets and rooms. Don’t go in springtime, since it’s very very dry and vegetation will be dry and brown, and places will be low on water. If you want to hike, go in winter when it will be cooler down in the Canyon. Go in Summer for cheaper prices and fewer people. To make sure you see the best parts of the rail journey during daylight hours, start the trip in Los Mochis rather than in Chihuahua. The ticket costs about $115 one way. The trip takes about 13 or 14 hours and there’s a dining car, so sit back and enjoy the ride.

The Copper Canyon itself lies about halfway along the Chihuahua al Pacifico. It’s one of the railway’s five major stops, which are outlined below.

• Stop One: El Fuerte. At the edge of the Sierra Madre, famous for sightings of the chupacabras, a local werewolf. It’s also a quaint village.
• Stop Two: Bahuichivo & Cerocahui. First of three canyon stops for the train.
• Stop Three: Barrancas. Second of three stops for the Canyon area.
• Stop Four: El Divisadero. Last of three stops for the Canyon area. Train stops here for fifteen minutes to give you a chance to walk to a viewing point for the canyon. This is the best view you’ll get if you’re not making any overnight stops for a closer look.
• Stop Five: Creel. Good hiking and camping trips out of this small town.