Mexico

Mexico is a beautiful country with a rich history waiting to be discovered. With some of the worlds most amazing archaeological monuments from pre-Hispanic civilizations such as pyramids and temples, there’s endless bucket list sights to be seen. It’s outdoor landscape is diverse as it comes, with deserts, sandy beaches, jungle and snow-capped mountains. Adventure-seekers can have some thrilling experiences such as surfing the giant waves of the Pacific, snorkelling the waters of the Caribbean Sea, whitewater rafting along the breathtaking river scenery, or hiking the volcanoes and marvelling at the unparalleled vistas.

Weather

Mexico generally has warm weather all year round with the driest months being from December to April, which is perfect for winter getaways. July and August is when most Mexicans will go on vacation and accommodation prices can be high. May and June are the hottest months of the year, and the sea is at an ideal temperature for swimming. September is the peak of the hurricane season, however this doesn’t necessarily mean there will be any, but at this time the country has frequent heavy rainfall.

 

High Season – December to April (Average 25˚C)

Shoulder Season – July to August (Average 28˚C)

Low Season – May to June and September to November (Average 28˚C)

Budgeting

The currency in Thailand is Peso. You can arrange a currency exchange before you travel, or exchange money once you have arrived. Many places in Mexico will only accept cash so having some with you at all times is recommended.

We have included below some average costs to help you budget for your trip.

 

Accommodation

1 Night in a Budget Double Room: £15 - £25

1 Night in a Midrange Double Room: £30 - £65

1 Night in a Luxury Double Room - £80 - £200

 

Food

Budget Meal: £2 - £4

Restaurant Meal with Drinks: £10 - £20

Luxury Restaurant Meal: £20+

 

Extras

Museum Admission: £1 - £3

City Taxi: 50p - £3

Sporty Day Tour : £35 - £80

Personal Day Tour: £60 - £90

 

Quite often, service workers rely on tips due to low wages so it is usually expected to tip 10-15% in restaurants, and if you’re feeling generous 5-10% of your room rate for the cleaning staff at your hotel. Taxis do not expect a tip unless they provide additional service.

Food

Mexican food is already quite well-known and loved within Western culture, especially here in the UK. When visiting Mexico, you need to make sure you try these traditional dishes, some of which you’ll have heard of and others which date back to Aztec and Mayan times.

 

Enchiladas – These originated in Mayan times when the people would wrap tortillas around fish they had caught. Nowadays, they are filled with a combination of meat, seafood, beans, cheese or vegetables and covered in chilli sauce.

Tostadas – Probably the simplest dish on this list, but definitely one of the tastiest. Tortillas are fried in oil until crunchy and then topped with a mountain of filling such as beans, cheese, meat and seafood.

Chilaquiles – This is a traditional breakfast meal made up of lightly fried tortillas covered in red or green salsa with eggs, pulled chicken, cheese and cream on top. You will usually find this served with frijoles which are refried beans for the perfect start to your day.

Tacos al pastor – Dating back to the 1920s, this variety of tacos is one of the most popular in Mexico. They contain strips of pork from a spit with pineapple, coriander and onions and the name actual means “in the style of the shepherd”.

Tamales – Aztec, Inca and Mayan tribes invented these stuffed pockets of dough to take into battle. They can be sweet or savoury, with a variety of fillings such as meat and cheese, to fruit and chilli sauce.

Phrases

The main language spoken in Mexico is Spanish. English is spoken in some tourist areas but it’s useful to have some handy phrases when visiting.

 

Hola / Adiós

(oh-lah / ah-dee-ohs)

Hello / Bye

 

Cómo estas?

(koh-moh ays-tahs)

How are you?

 

Gracias

(grah-see-ahs)

Thank you

 

Sí / No

(see / noh)

Yes / No

Interesting Facts

1.  Mexico’s official name is the United Mexican States.

2.  There is a monument in Mexico City referred to as El Ángel, officially named Monumento a la Independencia or the Angel of Independence, which symbolizes victory after Mexico’s long struggle for Independence.

3.  Mexico is home to 35 UNESCO World Heritage Sites including the City of Chichen-Itza and most recently Tehuacán-Cuicatlán Valley which was added in 2018.

4.  Chocolate, chillies and corn all originated from Mexico.

Call 0161 440 6735 to discover Mexico!