ABOUT
MÉXICO
We
invite you to explore the six tourist regions
of México, each one offers unique travel
experiences. North
of Mexico vibrant desert landscapes; Central Mexico blend of colonial splendor;
Golf and South of Mexico vegetation and
magic jungle; Yucatan Peninsula amazing archeological
sites; Pacific Coast beautiful beaches and Baja Peninsula natural beauty wealth.
The
diversity of México can be discover also
on each of its thirty two States and its multiple
touristic Destinations.
Wide plains with an arid climate, spanned by
two mountain ranges, the Sierra Madre Occidental
and the Sierra Madre Oriental, with the great
Chihuahua Desert in between, are the distinctive
features of this territory. Inhabited since
time immemorial by hunter-gatherers, the Tarahumara
in Chihuahua, the Yaquis in Sonora and the Huicholes
in Zacatecas, the north of Mexico has attracted
both missionaries and travelers since the 16th
century.
The
architecture and ceramics of the Paquimé
culture are strikingly original and of excellent
quality. Examples of both can be seen in the
archaeological zone of Paquimé and the
on-site museum. Other distinctive features of
the northern region include the El Pinacate
Biosphere Region, the Copper Canyon, famous
for its spectacular waterfall and microclimates,
the Sierra de Durango, the Cuatro Ciénagas
Nature Reserve in Coahuila, the mining and farming
villages in the south of Chihuahua, the city
of Álamos in Sonora, the fertile Valle
del Fuerte in Sinaloa and the city of Zacatecas.
Another noteworthy city is Monterrey in Nuevo
León, a thriving, modern city that in
many ways exemplifies the culture of the north.
Visitors to the central region of Mexico will
experience the richness of a land that stretches
from the South Sierra Madre to the north limit
of the high tableland at huastecas that contains
a wide range of climates and landscapes shaped
by their height, geographical location and the
amount of rainfall they receive.
This was a key area in the pre-Hispanic world,
since the main city in the Mexica empire was
set in the heart of this region, and it was
here that major battles were fought between
the conquistadors and the Indian peoples.
Moreover, the 16th century saw a massive wave
of evangelization that would not only change
the inhabitants’ faith but was also responsible
for the construction of new towns and villages
on the vestiges of the past, changing the shape
of the land forever.
The
development of agriculture and mining encouraged
urban growth, turning this area into one of
the richest sources of colonial art and architecture
in Mexico.
A
special feature of this coastal strip of the
gulf comprising Tabasco, Veracruz and Chiapas
is the fertility of its land, which still bears
traces of what were once complex forests and
green landscapes. No less interesting is the
fact that it was the site of great civilizations,
such as the Olmecs in the coastal region and
the Mayans in the uneven territory of Chiapas,
together with other major cultures such as the
Huastecs and the Totonacs in Veracruz.
An
important site in the history of Mexico and
the gateway for the conquistador Hernán
Cortés, the Gulf Coast has survived several
battles, and is now being extensively developed
due to the existence of a large industrial center
as well as the fact that it is Mexico’s major
oil producer.
The
colorful landscape, ethnic groups, fiestas,
traditions and food, form an intricate mosaic.
Visitors are astonished to find that a single
territory contains both great mountains, such
as the Pico de Orizaba, at 5,747 m above sea
level the highest peak in Mexico, and the lowlands
of Veracruz, Tabasco and Chiapas, where the
temperatures require one to wear light clothing.
By
the 19th century, Yucatán was already
world-renowned for its archaeological treasures
and for the War of the Castes, waged during
the second half of that century. The archaeological
findings in the area have been extremely important
events and most of the tourists that come to
Mexico take the opportunity of visiting Chichén
Itzá and Uxmal, perfect examples of the
development achieved by the Mayans in that region.
The lowlands of Yucatán, consisting of
a plate of limestone rock, have many other attractions,
such as the limestone sinkholes and warm beaches
with fine white sand, such as Cancún
and the Riviera Maya that few would wish to
miss.
Those interested in exploring the colonial era
will find beautiful examples in Campeche and
Mérida. Its warm climate, friendly people
and sophisticated cuisine make this an extremely
attractive resort.
Nature has undoubtedly been extremely generous
in the Pacific Coast, from Sinaloa to Oaxaca.
Visitors to Sinaloa can spend the night in Mazatlán,
with its luxury tourist facilities, visit the
estuaries where shrimp are cultivated or camp
on deserted beaches. Nayarit is ideal for nature
lovers while Colima has a gorgeous city, Manzanillo,
with superb beaches. Jalisco is famous for its
Costa Alegre, with areas reserved for deluxe
tourism, while the city of Guadalajara combines
modernity, elegance and beauty. Finally, there
is Oaxaca, with its beautiful coast and traditional
mountain and valley towns, elegant monasteries
and majestic capital, the jewel in the region’s
crown. It is one of the most frequently visited
cities in Mexico, due to its archaeological
and colonial monuments, its folklore, gastronomy
and rich history.
It
was many years before the Baja California Peninsula,
bounded by the United States to the north, by
the Pacific Ocean to the west and by the Sea
of Cortés in the east, eventually appeared
on both Mexico and the world’s tourist map.
A
tour from north to south of its 1,300 km length,
through its arid landscape and dry climate,
is full of surprises. On the border lies Tijuana,
a first-rate tourist resort that receives hundreds
of thousands of visitors annually. Traditional
attractions include its bullfights and racecourse,
as well as Rosarito beach with its cliffs, ideal
for diving and fishing, and the Port of Ensenada,
which has gradually become the cultural capital
of the state of Baja California.
The
south reflects all the stages in the state’s
history, ranging from the cave paintings in
the Sierra de San Francisco produced by the
hunter-gatherers and the Jesuit missions, such
as those in San Javier and Loreto to the tourist
complex at Los Cabos and the city of La Paz,
an ideal spot for a day’s fishing, observing
whales or organizing yacht, boat or kayak trips
to a nearby islands with some of the most beautiful
beaches in Mexico.
Listen to Mexican
Music!
Important Events in October, 2005
October
All month long: October
Festivals (Fiestas de
Octubre)--Guadalajara,
Jalisco.
Guadalajara sparkles with
this month-long event involving
concerts, dances, cultural
exhibits and food and attracting
visitors and performers
from all over the world.
All month long:
Tamaulipas International
Festival (Festival
Internacional
Tamaulipas)--Tamaulipas.
Held in October every year,
this festival features a
variety of cultural and
artistic events including
exhibits, plays, concerts
and cinema, turning the
entire state into a hotbed
of culture.
TBD: 12th Annual Sinaloa
Arts Festival--Mazatlan,
Sinaloa.
The Pacific coast state
of Sinaloa
will feature an elaborate
celebration of art, dance
and music, showcasing local,
national and international
artists and more than 450
performers hailing from
countries as far as South
Africa, Yugoslavia, Argentina
and Spain.
OCT 1-9:
Morelia
Film Festival (Festival
Internacional
de Cine de
Morelia)—Morelia,
Michoacan.
Now in its tenth year, this
festival is one of the most
important, this film festival
gathers together an international
group of filmmakers, critics
and actors in order to promote
the new talents of Mexican
cinema and provide a forum
for international exhibition.
TBD: 29th
National Mole Fair
(29° Feria Nacional del
Mole)--San Pedro Actopan,
Estado de Mexico.
Just south of Mexico City,
thousands of varieties of
mole will be prepared for
sampling and competition.
This spicy sauce is a Mexican
staple and made of unsweetened
chocolate, peppers and spices,
often served with meat or
poultry. Eat your fill and
take some home; mole paste
stays fresh for several
months in the freezer.
OCT 5-23: International
Festival of Contemporary
Dance (Festival
Internacional de
Danza Contemporanea)--San
Luis Potosi, San Luis Potosi
State.
Festival celebrating contemporary
dance and featuring national
and international artists
from countries such as Colombia,
Costa Rica, Ecuador, United
States, Japan and Venezuela.
www.visitasanluispotosi.com/ferias.htm
OCT 5-23: 33rd International
Cervantine
Festival (33° Festival
Cervantino
Internacional)--Guanajuato,
Guanajauato
State.
One of the most important
cultural events in Mexico,
this annual festival fills
the streets of this colonial
town with performers and
visitors from all over the
world.
www.festivalcervantino.gob.mx/
OCT 6-11: Fly All-Release
Rooster Fish Tournament—Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo,
Guerrero. Fly fish take
center stage during this
first international fishing
tournament that focuses
on the preservation of the
species.
OCT 15-17:
International Nacho
Fest
(Festival Internacional
del Nacho)--Piedras Negras,
Coahuila.
Every year this event is
organized to promote the
notorious nacho, one of
the region’s culinary contributions
to Mexican cuisine. www.festivaldelnacho.com.mx.
TBD:
Tlaxcala Fair (Feria
de
Tlaxcala)--Tlaxcala,
Tlaxcala
State.
In honor of all Saints and
the dead, the annual festivities
offer all sorts of cultural,
sporting and culinary events,
including bullfighting,
rodeos, cockfighting and
escaramuzas,
a women's choreographed
horse-riding show. In addition,
Ms. Feria
de
Tlaxcala is crowned
every year, highlighting
the beautiful people from
the region.
www.feriatlaxcala.com.
TBD: VII Annual Culinary Heritageand
Cultural Tourism
Festival 2004 (VII Congreso
sobre Patrimonio
Gastronomico y Turismo
Cultural)--Puebla, Puebla
State.
The colonial city of Puebla,
a UNESCO World Heritage
Site, celebrates Mexico’s
rich culinary heritage as
well as promotes competition
among regional cuisines
and the nation’s top chefs,
making it a favorite among
Mexican and international
food experts alike—as well
as people just looking for
good food and a good time.
The festival features food
workshops, delectable samplings,
cultural events and an academic
program.
TBD: 4th
International
Cervantine
Barroque Festival
(IV Festival Internacional
Barroco-Cervantino)--San
Cristobal
de las Casas, Chiapas.
An extension of
Guanajuato’s popular
Cerventine
Festival, this event spans
nine days and features more
than 150 cultural and artistic
presentations, gathering
together more than 900 regional,
national and international
artists. Performances take
place at the Casa de Cultura,
the
Hermanos Dominguez
Theater, Cathedral Square
and the Daniel Zebadua
Theater.
OCT 22-NOV 2: Festival ofSkulls
(Festival de las Calaveras)--Aguascalientes,
Aguascalientes State.
This macabre festival features
a variety of morbid art
exhibits, performing arts
and a parade of skeletons,
with contests for the most
creative costumes and artwork.
Skulls of different sizes
and materials are on display
as well as games and stands
with traditional food and
seasonal fruits.
www.aguascalientes.gob.mx/english/
OCT 30-NOV 28: November
Festivals (Fiestas de
Noviembre)--Puerto
Escondido, Oaxaca.
The events during this month
include the annual Pipeline
of Mexico,
Zicatela
Beach’s International Surfing
Tournament, the International
Sailfish Tournament and
the Coastal Dance Festival
