There have been known to be outbursts of politically motivated violence from time to time within Mexico. These outbursts are usually confined to areas such as Chiapas, Guerrero and Oaxaca. The United States Department of State recommends that United States citizens who find themselves traveling to or through the southern state of Chiapas to stay cautious at all times. There are sometimes armed rebels and civilian groups that are present throughout this state. There is also a deficiency of law enforcement in these areas or any sort of police protection. Along the southern border, the State Department warns of violent criminal gang activity, these groups are mostly aimed at illegal immigrants, however. The United States Embassy urges anyone who is traveling to these areas to please contact the Embassy for further security information before they travel.

American citizens are urged to remember that standards of security and safety may not be the same outside of our country. Not taking this into consideration may lead to automobile accidents and has led to other mishaps such as falls from balconies and drowning in the ocean. Traveling to Mexico may not be nearly as dangerous as some of the other countries you may choose to travel to, but it is always a good idea to remember to use common sense and a little more caution.

Crime in Mexico is always something to be warned about if you are planning a trip to this part of the world. Crime here in Mexico is often violent, especially in places like Mexico City, Nuevo Laredo, Tijuana, Acapulco, and Monterrey. A lot of this crime rate is due to the low apprehension and conviction rate. Basically, these people here are not afraid to commit these crimes due to rarely being caught or convicted. United States citizens are often targeted. If you are unfortunate enough to be the victim of a crime you are urged to report the incident to the nearest police headquarters along with the nearest United States Consular Office.

You are also urged while abroad to really check out products before you purchase them in Mexico. There are a lot of products that may be illegal under local law, in addition to hot or stolen items. However, if you exercise caution and good sense you should have an enjoyable trip outside of the United States. Be careful of foreigners trying to scam you while abroad! If you remember these things to watch out for you should have a decent, safe, and enjoyable trip to Mexico.

Related posts:

1. Preparing Yourself To Travel To Mexico It is very important to remember while traveling abroad that...
2. Traveling In Mexico City, Mexico Mexico City is, of course, the capital of the country...
3. Traveling To Colombia Colombia is the second most populated country in South America....

The United States Embassy urges you to always be aware of your surrounding while in Mexico. Women traveling alone are especially warned to keep an eye on their surroundings. Make sure that there is no one following you or keeping an especially close eye on you. Women who have been unaccompanied have been raped, robbed, and even abducted and help captive while their credit cards were being used at varied businesses or Automatic Teller Machines. Women are not the only ones who have been victimized by being held captive, however, while their credit cards were taken from ATM to ATM. Any traveler who is by themselves is urged to only travel in the day light and to stay in well populated areas. Even Mexican citizens are subjected to this kind of treatment. Travelers beware!

Kidnapping is also a big problem in Mexico. Nearly all the kidnapping cases that are reported victimize travelers. The crime rate for kidnapping is raising at an alarming rate. So, once again, if you are an American citizen abroad, you are urged to keep your travel to the day time and keep yourself in well populated areas. Kidnapping of this nature have occurred in nearly all major Mexican cities and are being coined express kidnappings for their nature. A traveler is kidnapped, but only for short times for their money, more directly, money on their credit cards that must be gotten from ATMs. Crimes of this nature are not only targeting the wealthy, but the middle-class as well.

Crime does not only occur on the streets but also on the highways! Travelers need to exercise extreme caution at all times, even when they are driving. The United States Embassy would like travelers to know that avoiding night travel is one of the smartest things you can do while on a vacation or business trip to Mexico. Everything that can be done during the day should be done that way. If you must travel at night then you are advised to use the toll roads as opposed to the free highways that anyone may travel on. It is said that keeping your doors locked and your windows up it a precaution you definitely want to take. It doesn’t matter if you’re on the highway or in town, remember to take these preventative steps for your own safety. The Embassy also would like American travelers that are stopped in traffic or in heavy traffic to leave themselves enough room to maneuver out of it to escape if need be. Above all else on the road, do not hitchhike! It is better to be safe than sorry while traveling outside of our country.

Related posts:

1. Traveling To Mexico Mexico is a chiefly Spanish speaking country that is about...
2. Transportation And Driving In Mexico When an American tourist is traveling abroad, even in Mexico,...
3. Travel In Monterrey, Mexico Monterrey is a popular tourist city on the northeastern side...

As many other places in the Spanish speaking countries south of our American border, there is a great festival held here every year in the small town of El Cedral in the southern end of the Cozumel Island. It is a most historic event and a must see for any tourist traveling here in the end of the April month. This annual event was started over one hundred and fifty years ago by Casimiro Cardenas. This man was one of a group that had fled to this island from the village of Saban on the mainland. He and his people fled after an attack during the War of Castes. These attackers that they fled from killed many of the other villagers, but he and a few others escaped while he clutched tightly to a wooden cross. So it was that the tradition of this festival was born when Cardenas vowed to begin this tradition wherever he and the few survivors settled.

It was to be in held to honor the religious and holy power of the crucifix in which he held. So for the religious traveler, this may be a festival of some interest for reasons other than its great festivities. The festivities include a rodeo, music, traditional feasts, bull fights and other competitions. This celebration lasts about five days and is most worthy of visiting if you happen to be in the area.

Cozumel is well known for its biodiversity. There are quite a number of endemic species to this island, some which are on the brink of extinction which should attract any tourist to see the fading beauty that is here. There is the Cozumel thrasher which is nearly extinct if not already so, the Cozumel vireo which can only be found here and the Cozumel wren. Another highly endangered species that dwells here is the great curassow and of course the Cozumel emerald. There are several dwarf mammals that live here on the island such as the Cozumel island raccoon and the dwarf coati which is another highly endangered animal. Not to forget the Cozumel fox and the ever splendid toadfish which is also becoming endangered.

If you are an animal lover and more of an eco-tourist, Cozumel is a wonderful island to visit. You may get to see some of the endangered species that reside only here before they are completely extinct. So come diving and exploring in Cozumel!

Related posts:

1. Mexico Where is one of the most popular foreign destinations for...
2. Traveling In Guadalajara, Mexico Guadalajara is Mexico's second most populous city behind Mexico City...
3. Traveling In Acapulco, Mexico Acapulco is one of the most major cities and sea...

The Yucatan Peninsula

Cancun

Cancun is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Mexico. They cater to American vacationers. You don’t have to be fluent in Spanish-most of the service staff speaks English fluently.

The gorgeous white quartz sand of Cancun’s beaches are great for reading that book you have or relaxing and enjoying the water.

Shopping is available in Cancun, with a large variety of stores and restaurants.

The hotels are large and “Americanized” to help you to enjoy your trip even more.

If you enjoy the water, then you will find lots to do in Cancun. From parasailing, banana rides, and jet skis-you are sure to find a fun activity that you will love!

If you are a history or archeology buff, you will love the Mayan ruins.

Cozumel

If you enjoy scuba diving, you will love Cozumel. This city on the Yucatan Pensinsula rivals Northern Australia’s Great Barrier Reef.

Clear water and multiple dive sites makes it easy to learn how to scuba dive if you have never done it before. Make sure that you choose a certified diving instructor to teach you.

History buffs will love the Mayan ruins!

Bull fights are a great cultural experience for you to take in. Keep in mind that they are more graphic and bloody than you may think, but the experience may be worth it.

Taking a bike tour around Cozumel would be fun too. Most tours are in English and move leisurely for maximum enjoyment.

Deep sea fishing would be a fun activity too. You can also take your catch home on dry ice!

If you like archeology and adventure, take a guided jungle tour. Just be sure to take along your bug repellant!

Chichen Itza

The famous pyramids will take you back to Mayan rituals and times. This is what many people think of when they imagine Mexico.

Don’t miss the historical tours! They are full of education, fascination, and exercise as you get to climb the sides of the temples! They are worth the expense.

Take a drive to Chichen Itza. You will get to see the real landscape and the small local villages and soak up the real Mexico.

If you are looking for a souvenir, then you will be in the right place. With all of the open-air markets and indoor malls, you will be sure to find something to commemorate your trip.

You will have a wonderful time on Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula and you will definitely not run out of things to do. Just remember to skip the water and get drinks with no ice!

Related posts:

1. Travel In Cozumel, Mexico Cozumel is another one of Mexico's very popular tourist attractions....
2. Traveling In Cancun, Mexico Cancun is located on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean...
3. Traveling In Acapulco, Mexico Acapulco is one of the most major cities and sea...

There is every sort of tourism here in Guadalajara. There is tourism for academics, entertainment, sports, and for the culture. There is an anticipated growth for the next five years for tourism and the rest of the city alike. Guadalajara is a wonderful vacation destination. Guadalajara even acts to boost the tourism in nearby cities like Puerto Vallarta, Manzanillo, and Mazatlan. It is home to major beach resorts and has the third most active airport in the country. It is also home to the very distinctive car-free streets which is an attraction every one should see.

This cities cultural wealth has taken on an extremely important role in the tourist sector of the city. The Guggenheim foundation has approved the construction of what will be the sixth Guggenheim museum in the world and will be finished in 2010. It will also become the tallest structure in Latin America. In the years to come Guadalajara will become the wealth and center of Latin American culture. This city is also home to several cultural festivals as opposed to the usual one that belong to each individual area and city around the rest of Latin America. There is the May Cultural Festival, The October Festival, Zapopum, the Fair of Mariachi and Charreria, and the Guadalajara Contemporary Dance Festival. There are also festivals like he Independent Film Festival of Guadalajara, CHROMA, Fotoseptiembre, and several other international festivals! Not to mention the second most important book fair in the world, only second to that which is held in Frankfurt, Germany every year.

So, if you are looking for a place with a rich cultural background and a bounty of things to do, try Guadalajara! It is certainly a place where one could become lost for days amongst the great and many things there are to do here. Museums, shopping, sports, beaches, a little bit of everything! No matter what time of year you go you will be able to see a festival of some sort!

Related posts:

1. Traveling In Mexico City, Mexico Mexico City is, of course, the capital of the country...
2. Traveling In Acapulco, Mexico Acapulco is one of the most major cities and sea...
3. Traveling In Morelia, Mexico Morelia is known to be one of the colonial jewels...

The whole of Morelia’s downtown is a historic adventure. It covers about one hundred and fifty city blocks and contains over one thousand historic buildings. There is without a doubt a lot to see here in this city. You will need to take a week or so vacation to be able to cover all the things that there are to see throughout this beautiful city! The city is best known for the magnificence of its monuments which, of course, are mostly colonial. The main buildings of attraction are the Baroque Cathedral, the convent of San Francisco, the convent of San Agustin, and also the college and temple of La Compania de Jesus which is also know as the Palacio Clavijero. There is also the convent of El Carmen and the convent of Santa Catarina. So, if you are a religious type of person who wants to appreciate some of the most beautiful temples ever built in honor of Jesus and the Saints, Morelia is a perfect destination.

There are plenty of other structures and convents which should also be praised for their architecture and design which are only slightly less well known. These buildings include the convent of La Merced, the college of Santa Rosa Maria, the Palace of the Executive, the eighteenth century palaces of the Legislature and Judiciary, the college Primitivo y Nacional de San Nicolas de Hidalgo, the Museum Michoacano. There is, of course, the house where Jose Maria Morelos was born whom was a founder of the city. This house is now used as a museum, library and other cultural events.

If you are interested in seeing high quality art works you will want to visit the Casa de las Artesanias. Along with many other great museums in the town to see. There are also a great and many churches in the other parts of town that are noteworthy and proclaimed by the locals to be a must see. There is the Templo de las Rosas which is annex to the Conservatorio de las Rosas. Both of these buildings are wonderful examples of baroque style of architecture. Then last but not least there is the Templo de San Diego which was built as an interpretation of the Rococo style using indigenous colors and an indigenous technique.

This is a great city for eco-tourism of the city kind. There is also the benefit of the beautiful country side. This is a vacationing spot that is much more laid back than some of the other cities of Mexico. It is also another one of the safe places in Mexico to vacation to. The crime rates are very low here!

Related posts:

1. Traveling In Mexico City, Mexico Mexico City is, of course, the capital of the country...
2. Traveling In Santa Marta, Colombia Located in northern Colombia, Santa Marta is on the Caribbean...
3. Traveling In Guadalajara, Mexico Guadalajara is Mexico's second most populous city behind Mexico City...

For many years now, Acapulco has been an extremely popular tourist resort. It is especially popular during spring break and is well known for its night life. It is also known to have the largest night clubs in Latin America and the widest variety. Acapulco finally gained enough of a crowd to start competing with Cancun as the most popular Mexican tourist attraction. Cancun of course is the East Coast’s super tourist attraction. To help both of these hot spots out, air fare is becoming more and more affordable. So, if you are thinking about planning a trip to Acapulco, air travel is the way to go!

Acapulco is also another popular place for honeymooners. Especially honeymooners that find themselves on Pacific cruise ships. Since Acapulco is pleasant year round it attracts tourist from everywhere. Most of the tourists are Mexican, but there are ever growing numbers of Americans. All the growing tourism is enough to keep the bars and clubs going year round.

Cliff diving has become in the recent years a huge attraction for the younger crowds. Cliff diving is something that Cancun does not really offer and it has helped Acapulco gain some ground on Cancun. If you are into a great diving experience, Acapulco is the place to go to in Mexico. They have many areas of beautiful cliff sides for the choosing. Another great attraction here in Acapulco is the island of Roqueta, which is usually sailed to on glass bottom boats for the travelers viewing pleasure. With all the beautiful water surrounding the bay, glass bottom boats are a great addition to your plans especially if you have never had the pleasure of experiencing them. There are other tours and such you can sign up for while here on the west coast as well.

Just as on the east coat in Cancun there is an array of water sports here that are popular year round. If you are interested in beautiful beaches Acapulco is the vacationing destination meant for you. Whether you prefer water skiing, jet skiing, parasailing, or any of the other many water sports, a resort on the ocean is what you’re looking for. The eco-tourism benefits of an area like this are always welcome. There is much to be seen and experience here in Acapulco. It is slowly surpassing Cancun in attendance during spring break, and may soon have more attendance the whole year round. Acapulco is more than worth experiencing!

Related posts:

1. Traveling In Cancun, Mexico Cancun is located on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean...
2. Traveling In Guadalajara, Mexico Guadalajara is Mexico's second most populous city behind Mexico City...
3. Traveling In Mexico City, Mexico Mexico City is, of course, the capital of the country...

Cancun is not just known for its great beaches but for its many other tourist attractions as well. Cancun comes equipped with parks, green spaces, pedestrian walkways, and an assortment of national and historical monuments. There are hardly any buildings in this tropical resort over four stories high. There are, however, about one hundred and forty hotels in Cancun equaling to over twenty four thousand rooms altogether. There are also nearly four hundred restaurants.

Every year Cancun receives over four million visitors with an amazing average of one hundred and ninety flights daily. A humorous fact is that the hotel zone in Cancun is in the shape of a seven. Which beaches you attend can be affected by what part of the seven you are on. If you are on the longer part of the seven you will find the beaches here to be much rougher and have quite a bit more erosion. Where on the shorter top of the seven you will find the beaches to have softer sand and have far more gentle surf. This is due to waves here on the shorter side being blocked by the island of Isla Mujeres which lies not far off the shore here. You can, however, find inexpensive hotels on either side of the seven and all around inexpensive accommodations. To accomplish this you may have to plan far in advance. Because Cancun is such a popular place it may be difficult to acquire something in your price range right away.

There is also the Mayan Ruins which are not far from Cancun. These are also a very popular tourist attraction. Of course, there are the great and many water related sports and attractions. There are many tours you can sign up for, even a tour to swim with the dolphins! There are even tours of the jungle that can be taken.

There is also an array of shopping places. There are even three Wal-Marts here in Cancun! You will be able to find virtually anything you need while out of the country. There is nothing that you should want or need while you are in Cancun. Cancun is an ideal place for anyone to vacation in, especially vacationers from the United States. It’s not too far from home and happens to be one of the safer Mexican cities.

Related posts:

1. Traveling In Acapulco, Mexico Acapulco is one of the most major cities and sea...
2. Traveling In Mexico City, Mexico Mexico City is, of course, the capital of the country...
3. Mexico Where is one of the most popular foreign destinations for...

United States driver’s licenses are fortunately valid in Mexico. So, if you are taking a trip to south of the border you will luckily not have to acquire any special pass or license. The Mexican government, of course, regulates very strictly the entry and exit of vehicles across the border. Mexican law requires that only the owner of a vehicle drive their car, there should be n o one else behind the wheel. If this law is not followed, they may seize the vehicle and it will not be returned under any circumstance. So, do remember to keep behind the wheel of your own vehicle while in Mexico.

Just as in the United States, Mexico requires all drivers to have insurance, including rental vehicles as well. Mexican auto insurance can be obtained easily in most cities on either side of the border. This should be no problem for any traveler to acquire. Remember, United States liability insurance is not valid in Mexico, that also includes most other collision and comprehensive coverage issued by United States companies. It is also considered invalid if the driver of the vehicle is found to be under the influence of and drugs, alcohol, or other inhibitors.

A very useful fact to know while in Mexico is that the Mexican equivalent to 911 is 060. If you have an emergency while driving, or at any other time, this is the number you will want to be dialing. However, this number is not always answered so be prepared. If you are on a toll road in Mexico you may contact the Green Angels or the Angeles Verde. The Green Angels are a fleet of trucks with a bilingual crew. They may be directly reached at a number. If for some reason you cannot call them, merely pull off to the side of the road and lift your hood. There is a good possibility they will find you if you wait in this fashion. If you happen to be involved in an automobile accident you will automatically be taken into police custody until it can be sorted out. You will be held until they find out who is liable and as to whether you will be able to pay any penalty. If you did not invest in the Mexican liability insurance you may not be allowed to depart the country. You may even be denied leaving if you have a life threatening medical emergency. So be sure to go into Mexico prepared for anything or you may be very sorry you didn’t. You may even have to spend some time in jail, and you will certainly have to do so if you do not have the insurance you need. You will have to remain there until all parties are satisfied that responsibility has been assigned properly and everyone is pleased financially. If it is really serious you or whoever is at fault may be facing criminal charges.

Related posts:

1. Preparing Yourself To Travel To Mexico It is very important to remember while traveling abroad that...
2. Travel In Monterrey, Mexico Monterrey is a popular tourist city on the northeastern side...
3. Traveling To Mexico Mexico is a chiefly Spanish speaking country that is about...

The buses are known to be modern and efficient and there are a few between bus lines at the downtown bus station in Monterrey. These busses have many arrivals and departures each day that goes into deeper Mexico, and to the United States border. There are three important railroad lines that also connect into Monterrey. The public transportation within the city includes a modern but short in length rapid transit system. This transit system is in the process of being expanded to the northern part of the city. Construction on this will be finished sometime in the year of 2008.

There are many bus lines that run in the city varying in quality and in their routes. It is said that all the bus lines had to change their vehicles by the year 2007. There are many taxi cabs that can also be found. Traffic jams have become more frequent primarily at rush hour times. There are two international airports, a major international airport and a private airport. Monterrey is linked by frequent non stop flights to Mexican cities and to important United States hubs such as Dallas Fort Worth, Atlanta, Chicago O Hare, Houston Intercontinental, and Los Angeles. Monterrey has become the second most important city for these operating routes. There are five different airlines that have operational bases in Monterrey along with headquarters. Public transportation is not available from Monterrey International Airport to the city. However, some taxi services link the airport with the city. From the airport there is a bus shuttle to Saltillo that is nearby. Inter city bus services are known to run every day.

In sports Monterrey has two Mexican league soccer teams. They also have two past professional indoor soccer teams. The city was known to host many games during the FIFA World Cup. Baseball is known to have a long history in Monterrey. Where it was said to be the most popular sport. Monterrey was champion three times of the little league world series. They have also been host to major league baseball games. A Mexican League baseball team is The Sultanes de Monterrey that is based in Monterrey, Mexico. They are known to be in the Northern Division. The team was also called the gray ghosts. They were one of the most important teams in the league winning a championship.

There are two professional basketball teams called Fuerza Regia that plays in the Mexican league and the Monterrey Venom.

Related posts:

1. Traveling In Mexico City, Mexico Mexico City is, of course, the capital of the country...
2. Traveling In Guadalajara, Mexico Guadalajara is Mexico's second most populous city behind Mexico City...
3. Preparing Yourself To Travel To Mexico It is very important to remember while traveling abroad that...