Travel – Inside Mexico

Guanajuato, Lugar Embemático

Guanajuato es uno de los 32 estados que conforman la República Mexicana.

En la época prehispánica, en el Estado de Guanajuato habitaban, al sur losTarascos y al norte los Chichimecas, esto lo sabemos pues ellos construyeron las yácatas que son pirámides, las más importantes son Uriangato y San Bartolo, además se han encontrado piezas de cerámica, piedras talladas, figuritas de barro así como plataformas de piedra y sepulturas características de estas culturas.

En Guanajuato se encuentra el río más grande de México, el Río Lerma, que atraviesa las fértiles planicies del Bajío, al sur del Estado y corre entre la Sierra Gorda y la Sierra de Guanajuato, también están los importantes afluentes como la del Silao y el Gómez o Turbio. Entre las ciudades de renombre se encuentran León característica por la elaboración de productos en piel e Irapuato por su gran producción agrícola.

El Estado de Guanajuato, llamado Joya de América es un estado minero con ricas vetas de oro y plata, fue nombrado Villa de Santa Fe y Real de Minas en 1741 y se le otorgó el derecho a usar Escudo de Armas por el Rey Felipe V de España.

El Escudo de Armas es de plata dorada y lleva en el centro la imagen de la Fe de Santa Granada, en su base se enlaza una concha sostenida por dos ramas de laurel unidas con una cinta azul, en la parte superior se encuentra la Corona Real de Castilla que esta sostenida por hojas de alicante.

Guanajuato es declarado Ciudad Cultural de la humanidad por la UNESCO en 1988 gracias a sus hermosos monumentos históricos y sus grandes e importantes minas.

Sobresale la Ganadería, como las que se encuentran en Apaseo y Carácuaro. Es de ellas de donde se desprende la famosa industria de la piel, que no tiene igual en toda la República Mexicana, con ella se fabrican zapatos, chamarra, chalecos, bolsas y toda clase de objetos, como las sillas de montar, etc.

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Tulum Mystical Paradise

Spanish

The gentle murmur of the waves is a constant companion of the visitor to Tulúm, at the southern end of the Riviera Maya, Quintana Roo.

The remains of that great walled city that was once the commercial and religious center of the Mayans, still rises majestically upon a small cliff that offers incomparable views of the Caribbean Sea.

The Mayans originally named this city Zamá, meaning sunrise or morning, and dedicated it to the planet Venus, which represented Kukulcan, or plumed serpent. Kukulcan was to the Mayans what Quetzalcoatl was to the Mexicas: a hero elevated to the category of deity, lord of the winds; the ruler of commerce and farming.

From the unobstructed panorama that Tulúm provides,the Mayans observed the heavens and paid special attention to the movement of the planet Venus as well as the rest of the heavenly bodies, and related it to the natural and social events of their environment.

Thus, they were able to predict the seasons for planting and harvesting, favorable dates for going to war or establishing alliances with neighboring cities.

On several of Tulúm’s buildings you’ll find images of Kukulcan plummeting down to earth.

Therefore, Tulúm was one of the most important cities in the Mayan World because of its strategic location, which served as a trading spot.

The Mayans were excellent navigators, so they established commercial trade routes for cocoa, salt, cotton, honey, ceramics, farm products, obsidian, turquoise, gold and copper.

Today, Tulúm is especially attractive for travelers because it combines the beauty of the Mexican Caribbean with the mysticism of the Mayan civilization.

Tulúm makes us ponder the close interaction that the Mayans had with the sea, the heavenly bodies and with nature.

You can still admire the mural paintings in the Temple of the Frescos. Tulúm is the third most visited archaeological zone in Mexico.

Recently, the National Institute of Anthropology and History installed lighting and audio tour equipment to offer tourists the magical experience of discovering Tulúm at Night. Sound, darkness and stars establish a dialogue with stone to tell the visitor how life once was in this beautiful city that still throbs between the jungle and the sea.

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What Do you Need to Travel to Mexico?

What documents or requirements are needed to visit Mexico?

Many countries including the US, Canada, the European Union do not need a Mexican Visa to visit Mexico for up to 180 days.

Your passport is required and must be valid (not expired) at the time of entry into Mexico. Your passport should be valid for a minimum period of six months. (If you are staying for a short vacation the immigration agent will determine if you can stay even though your passport might expire in less than 6 months.)

US Citizens do not need visas for tourism. They are granted an 180-day visitor permit upon arrival in Mexico. If you are staying for more than 180 days you do need a visa. You will be required to fill an FMM or Forma Migratoria Multiple. These forms are made available at the airport, check points or provided by the airline.

You may be required to show your airline tickets, hotel reservations or travel itinerary by immigration officers.

Passengers who are transiting in Mexico, through an international airport, can do so without a visa if their connection time does not exceed 24 hours.

All visitors entering by land and traveling farther than 12 miles into Mexico or staying longer than 72 hours must obtain a Forma Migratoria Multiple to present at checkpoints within the country. Foreigners, who enter the country by land, can obtain it through the facilities for the international transit of persons.

There is a list of countries in addition to the US, that do not require a Visa to travel to Mexico can be found here.

Teotihuacan: The Place where Men Become Gods

Among the hundreds of archaeological sites in Mexico, Teotihuacan is the most visited, even more than the New Wonder of the World, Chichen Itza, or the mysterious city of Monte Albán, in Oaxaca. Teotihuacan is for Mexicans a pre-Hispanic Mecca. Teotihuacan is now a Unesco World Heritage Site.

Visiting Teotihuacan is a pilgrimage many families make, that creates some of the most treasured memories of our childhood, and having climbed the hundreds of steps of the Pyramid of the Moon is an experience that we like to boast about.

To ancient Mexicans, Teotihuacan was a holy city. Located a 40 miles northeast of Mexico City, it was the birthplace of the fifth sun. “The world had been destroyed four times. To bring forth the rise of a new sun the gods gathered at Teotihuacan.

They performed sacrifices and life returned to earth: the fifth sun was born.

Many assume that the Aztecs or Mexicas built Teotihuacan, but it was not. In fact, historians do not yet know who constructed it, but they do confirm that it dates centuries before our era, and that in its period of splendor it was inhabited by 150 to 200 thousand people and that it extended more than 20 square kilometers of built territory.

Teotihuacan became the most important city of ancient Mexico from 300 B.C. to 900 A.D., approximately. During this period, the Teotihuacan Empire exerted its influence upon many regions in Mesoamerica.

Its architecture displayed monumental characteristics.

Given its mystical essence, thousands of people visit Teotihuacan and ascend the Pyramid of the Sun and Moon during the spring equinox every March 21. Do not visit Teotihuacan if your intention is to learn about this archaeological marvel in depth.

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Qué Chula es Puebla

At the foot of the legendary Popocatépetl and Iztaccíhuatl volcanoes is the majestic, peaceful city of Puebla.

They say that Puebla, a lovely colonial city, was entrusted to the angels when it was founded, and this is the source of its name: Puebla of the Angels.

Those of us who live in Mexico City are privileged to be near to Puebla, just an hour and a half away by a modern highway.

On May fifth, 1862, Puebla was the scene of one of the historical events that fill Mexicans with pride: the victory of our army over the French army, which was the biggest in the world at the time.

This success would not have been achieved without the heroic participation of the Zacapoazxtlas, the courageous natives of the region, who joined with the young General Ignacio Zaragoza, appointed by President Benito Juárez to defend the land from the French invasion.

Without knowing military strategy, they armed themselves with sticks and machetes, and overcame the French, ennobling the name of Mexico. From that year on, their feat has been commemorated on the 5th of May every year.

Taking advantage of the fact that another anniversary of this very important event was approaching, we had the opportunity to spend a marvelous weekend in Puebla.

When we arrived, we went directly to where the famous battle took place: the Loreto and Guadalupe forts. They are half-destroyed constructions now, but the idea of being at the exact place where an event of such importance for our country was most exciting.

After staying there a while, we decided to wander about Puebla, appreciating the avenues and the colonial buildings, which are the best representation of colonial Mexico.

We went downtown. There we saw the typical town square or “zócalo“, with its bandstand, fountains and doves that fluttered all around. To one side, the great cathedral, the loveliest that the Spaniards built in Mexico.

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Credit Cards & ATMs in Mexico Cash or Credit when Traveling in Mexico

How do I pay when traveling in Mexico?

While traveling in Mexico you will pay with the Mexican currency called Peso and its symbol is $.

You won’t need much cash since credit and debit cards are accepted nearly everywhere.

You can use any major credit card or debit card, to pay. There are also numerous ATM’s at every bank, in many supermarkets, in shopping malls, grocery stores and many in hotel lobbies. ATMs are linked to Cirrus, Plus and other major International networks, available 24 hours a day where you can get cash.

The amount you will be approved to withdraw is the amount your bank allows you per day and the same goes for daily purchases.

In many cases when paying with a debit or credit card your bank will charge you a foreign exchange fee.

Remember to alert your credit or debit card company that you will be traveling so payments go through.

When using an ATM, try to use one that is at a safe, well-lighted place, preferably inside a store. Hotels will be also able to exchange your dollars to Mexican Pesos.