Mexico Travel Information
In addition to the following 'snapshot' descriptions you can also read further information on highlighted areas using the links supplied on the individual tour pages. Once on tour, the Visitors' Centres, historical roadside markers, local guides, museums and newspapers will be readily accessible for additional information. Combine these with the knowledge of your trek leader and you'll have plenty of background - maybe more than you'll be able to absorb.
And remember: one of the best sources of information is the 'locals'- so don't be shy or afraid about saying 'Hi'. You'll discover that your accent is a marvellous icebreaker to help you experience the real spirit of Mexico.
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The internationally renowned resort near the north eastern tip of the Yucatan Peninsula is a thriving complex of luxurious, high-priced skyscraper hotels with hoards of 'gringos' taking their annual vacations.
Cancun is a purpose built development whose magnificent location was chosen by computer as an ideal spot for a vacation centre, with white sand beaches, palm trees, and turquoise Caribbean waters. The resort consists of a 20 km narrow strip of sand wedged between the Caribbean and the Nichupte Lagoon along which an amazing array of exotic hotels, restaurants, clubs, and shopping-malls have been built to pander to a vacationer's every whim. The waters of the lagoon or the sea provide the opportunity to indulge in all types of water sports.
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On the immense plain of the northern Yucatan Peninsula stands the monumental Chichen Itza, one of the most spectacular ceremonial centres of all antiquity.
Originally developed by the Mayan priesthood, worshipping the rain god 'Chac', the site was invaded in the early 10th century by an exiled Toltec ruler and his followers from Tula. A military/religious order was imposed worshipping the feathered serpent Quetzalcoatl, a cult which used human sacrifice, specifically cutting the heart out of its victims.
With the arrival of the Toltecs a renewed period of building started, of which the wonderfully proportioned 'Kukulcan Pyramid', also known as 'El Castillo' is an impressive example. These impressive temples and monuments are part of one of the largest sites cleared from its jungle surrounding, spectacularly highlighting Mexico's rich past.
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This town is one of the country's most outstanding destinations.
Subterranean passageways serve this town's streets and the mosaic of colourful building block like houses clinging to the valley's side, are a photographers delight. Winding streets and secluded alleys take the inquisitive on a magical mystery tour. The impossible topography was settled because the silver and gold mines were among the richest in the world. For two and a half centuries one mine, 'La Valenciana' produced 20% of the world's silver.
The colonial structures built from this wealth remain intact, and have been decreed by the government as a 'Colonial Monument' to a prosperous and turbulent past. Colonial barons, benefiting from this mineral treasure were infuriated when King Charles the Third slashed their share of the wealth in 1765. The enslaved Indian miners together with the city's gentry were further enraged 2 years later when the king banished the Jesuit order, which was dominant in this region, from Mexico.
In the War of Independence the city's garrison was easily over-run by rebel forces because of the support of the disgruntled citizens. Mexicans take great delight in celebrating death, and here in Guanajuato they have a museum dedicated to the mummified remains of its public cemetery.
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Merida, the state capital, founded at the Mayan site of Tihoo, is the business centre, hub of commerce and cultural heart of the Yucatan.
While a tourist centre, the city does not rely on the tourist dollar and therefore visitors are not seen as marks for overpricing. As a centre of the tobacco and sugar industries, and henequen - which is used to make rope - Merida became a rich city.
It was known as the 'Paris of the West' and had more millionaires per capital than any other city in the world. Known today for its markets and famed for its hammocks, the city also boasts an excellent archaeological museum featuring the rich Mayan culture which dominates the region. Don't miss the murals at the Palacio de Gobierno on the zocolo.
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This giant bustling metropolis spreads across the Valley of Mexico at an altitude of 2240 meters encircled by mountains and volcanoes. Now the world's largest city with a population of about 19 million increases by approximately 2000 per day. Mexico City is a sea of humanity, noise, the world's worst pollution, green parks, colonial palaces, world-renowned museums and sprawling slums, all of which combine to produce a mosaic that is wholly Mexican, which you will either love or hate.
The city is bursting with vitality - one feels it the minute one arrives. Streets are crowded with shops, kiosks, street vendors, and hawkers. The shrill of policemens whistles are all but lost amid the constant noise of chaotic traffic, road repairs, and building construction. The Mexico we see today is the product of Spanish colonialism, and the meteoric rise in recent years of an oil rich nation finally finding its feet after years of suffering from incumbent megalomaniac dictatorships. The joining of two cultures is reflected in the old colonial buildings set in sharp contrast next to towering of office blocks and hotels.
Mexico City is built on the bed of a lake which once surrounded the island capital of the mighty warrior nation of the Aztecs, and was called Tenochtitlan. It was a city of such magnificence that it rivalled any city in Europe. If the Aztecs were in awe of Hernan Cortez and his Spanish conquistadors, the Spanish were equally awed to have found such a huge and beautiful city in the wilderness of the New World. By the time the Spanish had left, not only had the Aztec empire crumbled under the might of their invasion, but Tenochtitlan had been razed to the ground.
Today, only the idea of the Aztec's capital can be visualised from the ruins that can still be seen. Although Cortez set about creating a magnificent Spanish city, he built it on a fragile island in a shallow lake, in the heart of an earthquake zone surrounded by volcanoes. The lake was later drained expanding the city area. The city now has more than its fair share of problems; buildings lean at peculiar angles due to subsidence - the lack of solid bed rock - while tremors keep residents wary.
The twin volcanoes of Popocatepetl and Iztaccihuatl on clear days show off their snow capped magnificence and remind one of fiery days gone by. The city's Museum of Anthropology is considered the worlds finest. The cathedral and zocolo are of huge proportions, and the murals by Diego Rivera within the wall of the presidential palace are sights not to be missed.
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From its formidable location, the majestical ceremonial centre of Monte Alban watches over the broad valley, where the city of Oaxaca is situated.
The ancient Zapotec capital, set on an artificially flattened hilltop, was probably first occupied as early as 600 B.C. and ranks as one of the earliest civilizations in Mesoamerica. It remained isolated and secure because of the geography of the region, but there is evidence of outside influence throughout its history, architectural style being one of the prime examples.
At its height, the population was approx. 25,000. Later its importance waned as other ceremonial sites rose in importance, and Monte Alban became a burial site. It was also used by the invading Mixtecs, before finally being abandoned by 750 AD.
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This beautifully preserved colonial city, and now state capital, sits at the junction of three arms of the central valley. The cosmopolitan, but Indian dominated population, is a perfect display of just how diversified Mexico is.
The city's atmosphere is at once relaxed but energetic, without the obvious tourist presence upsetting the flow of everyday life. The city's location has made it the trading centre for the entire state, but a great variety of the Indian arts and crafts come from the surrounding villages.
From the numerous ancient archaeological sites in the nearby countryside, through the revolutionary period, and into this century, Oaxaca has been influential in shaping Mexico. It is also the home of two of the country's most influential presidents, Benito Juarez and Porfirio Diaz.
Spend your day shopping for handmade carpets and pottery in the bustling markets or visit the State Museum and see the treasures recovered from the tombs of Monte Alban. Enjoy a refreshing drink at one of the zocolo's cafes and watch the tapestry of Mexican life unfold before your eyes. Savour the colourful sights and wonderful diversity that makes Mexico unique.
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The beauty and architecture of Palenque are considered by many to be the most outstanding of all the pre-Columbian sites in Mexico.
Set deep in the jungle at the foot of a chain of hills, and with its brooding air of mystery, Palenque has that 'Indiana Jones' feel about it, suggesting a lost ancient city stumbled upon by chance. However, this could not be further from the truth. It wasn't until local Indians led a priest to the site in 1773 that the Spanish were even aware of its existence. The priest's initial report considered the place so fantastic that he thought it must have been built by some 'Atlantic like civilization. Numerous fraudulent reports followed from explorers, and the first accurate description came from the eminent American archaeologist, John Stephens.
It was abandoned at the beginning of the 9th century, as were all Mayan sites, for reasons still unknown; the city was then swallowed up by jungle and today, in its lush rain forest setting, only about 10% of the 400 structures have been excavated. Because of Palenque's prominence during the peak of the Mayan civilization, it was one of the most highly developed ceremonial centres. The architecture here is outstanding, and it is a jewel among the cultural legacies of ancient America. Its jungle setting, shrouded in the early morning mists has made it a favourite with all those who visit.
Palenque is also historically important because within the pyramid topped by "The Temple of Inscriptions" there is a tomb, which is unique in all of Mesoamerica. Discovered in 1952 the crypt contained the body of Palenque's most noted leader, Pakal. This, together with some other unexplained links to the Far and Middle East keeps Palenque's mystique alive.
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It is an enchanting little town of red tiled roofs and cobble stoned streets. Donkeys and cows are as common a sight as cars in a town that has managed to retain much of its Tarascan Indian past.
The Indians of this area were badly oppressed until the arrival of Vasco de Quiroga, the bishop for the region in the 1540's, who devoted himself to saving the Indians. He helped by teaching them how to develop craft skills with each settlement specialising in something different.
Today these traditions live on, and in the town's vibrant market, pottery basket ware, and lacquer ware can be bought much as it always has been on the tranquil nearby lake, fishermen can still be seen fishing as they have done through the centuries with their "butterfly' nets, for the local delicacy of small white fish.
On the island of Janitzio, a colossal figure of Father Morelos, one of the revolutionary priests of the 1810 rebellion dominates. From this site fabulous views of the surrounding lake and rolling countryside can be seen. Close by, the volcano of Paricutin exploded on to the scene in 1943, burying 2 villages. The towers of one church can still be seen protruding from the fields of lava.
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For years San Cristobal has been one of the most loved travellers haunts in Mexico, although a bit off the beaten track for the majority of tourists. This tranquil and charming city, that seems to be living in the 18th century is located high in the temperate mountains of Chiapas in a small valley between pine forested hills, and surrounded by mysterious villages of the Tzotzil and Tzeltal, some of the most traditional of Mexico's Mayan descended Indians.
It was founded in 1528 by the Spanish and was the capital of the region, which then belonged to the General Captaincy of Guatemala. The capital moved when the town did not support President Porfirio Diaz in the election in 1892. Now only 2 hours from the bustle of the modem state capital of Tuxtla Gutierrez, yet a world away in atmosphere. San Cristobal is colonial in architecture but strongly Indian in character.
One of the pleasures of the city is simply walking the streets and discovering hidden corners, as well as watching and haggling with the local Indians, clad in their colourful tunics, who throng the main square and marketplace to buy and sell their wares. The Indians gave the present name to the city, in honour of the region's second bishop who petitioned the King of Spain to pass a decree protecting the Indians. Franz and Trudi Blom have dedicated their lives to saving the Lacandom Indian race and culture, and have turned their house into a museum, called 'Na Bolom'.
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One of Mexico's colonial gems, in a beautiful setting, San Miguel is proof that Mexico and the U.S. can be friends. The physical beauty of San Miguel stems from its hillside setting which offers vistas to the plains and hills beyond its many lovely old buildings and streets. At 1910 meters the town has a very agreeable climate, a few degrees warmer than Mexico City, and not much rain. It has a superbly clear light which is just one of the attractions for the large colony of artistically inclined North Americans.
Along with the artists came musicians, writers, language and students all seduced by the serenity of the town's setting. Tourists step back in time in this attractive town of narrow cobblestone streets which lead past beautifully preserved colonial homes, through tree lined squares to markets and peaceful courtyards.
San Miguel has many galleries, boutiques, and shops crammed with colourful handicrafts. The main square shaded by laurel trees is surrounded by arcades of shops, and overlooked by San Miguel's dominant feature, 'La Parroqua', the town's parish church, a magnificent structure designed by a local Indian architect.
Apart from the ambience of the place, San Miguel is important historically, being the birth place of one of Mexico's best loved heroes, Ignacio de Allende a reader of the 1810 uprising against the Spanish. The surrounding countryside offers historical towns, a lake and natural hot springs.
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Sitting majestically on the outskirts of modern day Mexico City, the huge pyramid structures are not to be confused with the Aztec culture, which flourished eight centuries later.
Although developed at approximately the same time as Monte Alban, the Teotihuacan civilisation created the most important city in all of Mesoamerica and a culture that was to influence all that came after it. In fact, the Aztecs aptly named this impressive site the place of the gods', because in Mexican mythology it was the meeting place of the gods, the heavens, the earth and man.
The importance of the ceremonial centre surpasses its mere beauty, and has inspired and directed the building of many other religious centres, spread over the vast Mexican territory, both inform and content of their constructions.
From as early as 600 B.C. the region was populated. The Teotihuacan race arrived between 200-150 B.C. and reached their climax of development between 200-500 A.D. when their social and cultural organisation was consolidated into a theocracy in which the high priests controlled the religious, scientific, and political aspects of life.
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Uxmal was once the major city of the Maya classic period AD 600-900.
This elegantly styled city contains some of the finest examples of pure Mayan architecture. It was never invaded by the Toltecs, or influenced by outside cultures, other than that of their distant cousins from Tikal, in Guatemala.
The Pyramid of the Magician affords superb views of this compact site of intricately sculptured temples and palaces.
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