Mexico

SAFETY: fair
Overall the country presents no particular risks. However, petty crime and offences against tourists are on the rise, especially in urban outskirts (Mexico City above all), in the most visited cities and in the border towns (with the United States, owing to heavy drug trafficking), so common sense is recommended (avoid the evening hours, suburbs, crowds and unrecognised operators). Remember that Mexico has several seismic zones and a number of active volcanoes; the Popocatepetl volcano (70 km south-east of the capital) is active. Hurricanes are also possible on the Caribbean coast at the end of summer.

TRANSPORT SYSTEM: good
Mexico is well connected to the whole region, and also to Italy, with scheduled and charter flights to Cancún and Mexico City. Numerous domestic flights make travel within the country much easier. The rail network is good, with some stretches of great scenic interest; the intercity bus network is also good, and the road network is very extensive but often in poor condition and made hazardous by the reckless driving of the locals. It is possible to enter overland or by sea from all neighbouring countries.

Main airports: Mexico City, Cancún.
Main ports: Acapulco, Altamira, Coatzacoalcos, Ensenada, Guaymas, La Paz, Lazaro Cardenas, Manzanillo, Mazatlán, Progreso, Salina Cruz, Tampico, Topolobampo, Tuxpan, Veracruz.

ACCOMMODATION: very good
There is a very good choice of accommodation of every kind and price in the larger cities, within the tourist circuit and along the coasts. Elsewhere the choice narrows, and so do standards. Restaurants and sports facilities are also good.

COUNTRY FACTS: Full name: United Mexican States – Location: North America (south). Borders: the United States to the north, the Pacific Ocean to the east, Guatemala and Belize to the south, the Caribbean Sea to the west - Time zone: divided into three zones: almost the whole country, including Mexico City, keeps Hora Central UTC – 6; the north-western part, from southern Baja California to Puerto Vallarta, keeps Hora Montaña – 7; northern Baja California keeps Hora del Pacífico – 8; the country observes daylight saving time – Area: 1,958,200 sq km – Capital: Mexico City – Population: 108,700,000 – Religion: 76% Catholic, 6% Protestant – Languages: Spanish (official language), indigenous languages; English is understood – Measures: metric system.

CURRENCY: Mexican peso (MXN). There are no limits on importing or exporting currency, but sums equal to or greater than US$10,000,000 must be declared on the entry form; goods worth up to the equivalent of US$300 per person may be brought in overland and US$500 by air or sea. – Credit cards: the major credit cards are accepted in the larger cities and larger businesses; elsewhere use local currency – Exchange: bring euros; exchange is easy.

ELECTRICITY: 127 V and 60 Hz – Sockets: type A, B (bring an adaptor).

DOCUMENTS: passport with 6 months' remaining validity; no visa is required for tourist stays of up to 90 days. For stays longer than 90 days, a residence permit must be applied for at the consulate – Driving: Italian driving licence – Car: local third-party insurance.

COMMUNICATIONS AND TELEPHONES: Int. dialling code: 0052 – GSM: widespread network, though not nationwide; best in urban areas, on the coasts and in Yucatán. Standard: GSM 1900/850. Local operators: Pegaso Comunicaciones, Telcel. – Internet: widely available in the larger cities and in top-category hotels – Web domain: .mx – Emergency numbers: police 06, tourist police 061.

RULES, LAWS AND CONDUCT: as regards legislation on the use or trafficking of narcotics, prostitution and offences against minors, severe criminal penalties including imprisonment are in force. The age of consent is 18; homosexuality is legal and in recent years laws against sexual discrimination have been passed. Although predominantly Catholic and traditionalist in culture, the country is fairly tolerant and open, with an active LGBT scene that is fairly widespread in the larger cities.

HEALTH SITUATION: no preventive vaccinations are required; malaria prophylaxis is recommended for the southern regions with tropical forest. The health situation is fair; public facilities are not comparable with European standards; in the larger cities there are good private facilities, though expensive.

PUBLIC HOLIDAYS: 1 January, New Year's Day; 6 January, Epiphany; 5 February, Constitution Day; March/April, Holy Week; 21 March, anniversary of the birth of Benito Juárez; 1 May, Labour Day; 5 May, anniversary of the Battle of Puebla; 1 September, National Day; 16 September, Independence Day; 12 October, Día de la Raza (birth of the Mexican people); 1 November, All Saints' Day; 20 November, Revolution Day; 12 December, Feast of the Virgin of Guadalupe; 25 December, Christmas Day.

OPENING HOURS: Banks: Mon-Fri 9:00-13:00, Sat 10:00-13:00 – Post offices: Mon-Fri 9:00-18:00, Sat 9:00-12:00 Shops: Mon-Sat 10:00-19:00 (variable) – Offices: Mon-Fri 9:00-17:00 Closing day: Sunday.

CLIMATE: tropical, tempered by altitude. Three main climate bands: between 700 and 800 metres above sea level, temperatures stay high all year round, above 22 °C, as does humidity (tierras calientes); up to 2,000 metres, average temperatures are lower, between 14 and 22 °C, with mild, humid summers and dry winters (tierras templadas); above 2,000 metres, temperatures fall below 15 °C, daily temperature swings are wider and winters are cold (tierras frías). In general, the south of the country has high temperatures and high humidity, while the north has high altitudes, scant rainfall and mild temperatures. The Gulf of Mexico sees more frequent showers in summer, which around September-October can turn into hurricanes. The climate of Yucatán is subtropical, tempered by the sea and a constant breeze, with rain from June to October (risk of hurricanes at the end of summer).

Monthly min/max temperatures (in °C)

Rainy days (at least 1 mm of rain) / rainfall in mm

USEFUL ADDRESSES IN ITALY

Mexican Embassy and Consulate
Via L. Spallanzani, 16 – 00161 Rome – Tel. 06/441151 – Fax 06/4403876
Website: www.sre.gob.mx/italia
E-mail: correo@emexitalia.it

Consulate General
Via dei Cappuccini, 4 – 20122 Milan – Tel. 02/76020541

USEFUL ADDRESSES IN MEXICO

Italian Embassy, Mexico City
Av. de las Palmas, 1994
Lomas de Chapultepec
11000 Mexico, D.F.
Tel.: +52 55 5596 3655
Fax: +52 55 5596 7710, 5596 2472
E-mail: segreteria.messico@esteri.it
Website: www.ambcittadelmessico.esteri.it

HONORARY CONSULATES
CANCUN
(jurisdiction: State of Yucatán – Municipalities of Benito Juarez and Isla Mujeres)
Mr Filippo STRANO
Avenida Bonampak 77, Mz. 20, Lt. 29-01, Loc. 301
Supermanzana 3
CP 77500, Cancun, Quintana Roo
Tel. +52 (998) 2513522
e-mail: cancun.onorario@esteri.it

GUADALAJARA
(jurisdiction: States of Jalisco and Colima)
Mr Fabio Toticchi
Av. México 3370, Local 24-C
Col. Monraz
C.P. 44670 Guadalajara (Jalisco)
Tel: +52 (33) 36161700
e-mail: guadalajara.onorario@esteri.it

MONTERREY
(jurisdiction: States of Nuevo León and Coahuila)
Ing. Roberto CARUSO
Abasolo N. 834 Oriente
Col. Barrio Antiguo
Monterrey, N.L. C.P. 64650 - Mexico
Tel.: (01) (81) 83420714
e-mail: monterrey.onorario@esteri.it

PLAYA DEL CARMEN
Dr Italo SAMPABLO
Avenida 10 Norte 345 (entre 30 y 32 frente al Deportivo Mario Villanueva)
C.P. 77710 Playa del Carmen - Quintana Roo
Tel.: +52 (984) 147 7782
e-mail: playacarmen.onorario@esteri.it

PUEBLA
(jurisdiction: States of Puebla and Tlaxcala)
Mr Stefano STORTONI
Calzada Zavaleta n. 3920, local 2
Col. Sta. Cruz Buenavista
C.P. 72170 Puebla, Puebla
Tel.: (222) 2834.169
e-mail: puebla.onorario@esteri.it

TAMPICO
(jurisdiction: State of Tamaulipas)
Lic. Juan DI COSTANZO ZARAGOZA
Ave. Madero Oriente n.502
Col. Unidad Nacional
Ciudad Madero, Tamps. C.P. 89410 - Mexico
Tel.: (01) (833) 22.40.404 ext. 170
Fax: (01) (833) 22.40.404 ext. 171
e-mail: tampico.onorario@esteri.it

VERACRUZ
(jurisdiction: States of Veracruz, Tabasco and Campeche)
Dr Emilio ZILLI DEBERNARDI
Tlacotalpan n.16
Fracc. Tampiquera
94290 Boca del Rio, Ver. - Mexico
Tel.: (229) 9860891
e-mail: veracruz.onorario@esteri.it