Travel in Mexico in the realm of the Maya and Aztecs - INTI Tours

In the realm of the Maya and Aztecs

Mexico - probably the best known country in Central America - offers a lot of culture, pretty colonial towns, old traditions and impressive temples. In addition, there are great landscapes and fantastic beaches with the best conditions for all water sports. Explore the Mayan and Aztec empires while travelling in Mexico. It is full of cultural highlights, scenic contrasts and fun-loving people.

Visit one of the country's greatest attractions. The so-called Copper Canyon is certainly one of the most spectacular gorges in the world and can only be experienced by train.

The combination of fascinating culture, impressive Mayan monuments and magnificent beaches make the Yucatán Peninsula one of Mexico's most popular destinations.

Baja Californa forms the second largest peninsula in the world and is located in the far west of Mexico. Travelling the cactus desert of the "Baja" still carries a touch of adventure. An event of a very special kind is watching the grey whales between January and March.

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Country information on MEXICO: „Land of the Maya and Aztecs“

Mexico is a country full of cultural highlights, scenic contrasts and open, fun-loving people. Charming colonial cities, dreamy Caribbean beaches, the legendary temples of the Aztecs, Toltecs or Mayas as well as an indigenous culture of bright colours, cheerful music and deep tradition - all this forms the fascinating kaleidoscope of the largest country in Central America.

Capital Mexico City:

The pulsating metropolis with over 22 million inhabitants invites you to many discoveries. The central square Zócalo is considered the heart of the city. It was once the centre of Tenochtitlan, the capital of the Aztecs. The imposing city cathedral was built on the foundation walls of the Templo Mayor, the excavated part of which is just a few steps away. Today's seat of government stands on the square that was originally the site of the chambers of Moctezuma, the Tlatoani or ruler of the Aztecs. The square is lined with other architectural gems from the colonial era. The adjacent streets are bustling with fashion, haute cuisine, boutiques, small coffee houses, art, architecture and shady parks. The Plaza Garibaldi, the meeting place of the Maraiachi chapels, and the Frida Kahlo Museum are also worthy of mention.

Absolutely worth seeing:

• The National Museum of Anthropology, which is dedicated to the country's various cultures in 23 themed rooms. The centrepiece of the exhibition is the Sunstone - Aztec Calendar.
• The pre-Aztec excavation site of Teotihuacán is located about 40 km northeast of the capital and is dominated by the mighty pyramid on the Road of the Dead.   

Mexico's north:

In general, Mexico's interior is characterised by the vast high plateau of the Mesa Central and the Cordilleras of the Sierra Madre. In the north, a vast dry cactus desert stretches out. And yet, here in the western part lies one of the country's greatest attractions: the so-called Copper Canyon! The canyon is certainly one of the most spectacular in the world and is considered more enormous than the Grand Canyon. The only possible way through this overwhelming landscape is a train ride on the famous "Chepe". On its route of more than 620 km, it passes cactus forests as well as banana plantations and tropical regions covered with palm trees. Again and again, the journey over a total of 39 bridges and through 86 tunnels provides breathtaking views of the fantastic Copper Gorge.

Absolutely worth seeing:

• A train ride on the famous "Chepe"!

The Yucatán Peninsula:

The combination of fascinating culture, impressive Mayan monuments and magnificent beaches make the Yucatán Peninsula one of Mexico's most popular travel destinations. The inhabitants are said to have the same warmth as the climate, with a cheerful disposition and firmly rooted traditions. Whether in the small town of Mérida with its colonial charm, at the dreamlike waterfalls of Agua Azul or at the Mayan ruins of Tulum, Cobá, Uxmal, Chichén Itzá or Palenque, steeped in history - visitors are thrilled by the enchanting places. Paradisiacal beaches and the fantastic diving destinations of Cozumel or Isla Mujeres also make the Yucatán peninsula the country's seaside holiday centre.

Absolutely worth seeing:

• Chichén Itzá is probably the most famous Mayan excavation site. It has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1988 and has been one of the "New Seven Wonders of the World" since 2007.
• In the tropical jungle of Chiapas lie the mysterious sites of Palenque and Yaxchilán.
• The beautiful port city of Campeche with its baroque architecture can look back on a long history. The more than 1000 historic buildings form a colonial jewel of a special kind and are also UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Riviera Maya is the name given to the Caribbean beaches of the Yucatán. Swimming, snorkelling, diving, kayaking - all water sports are possible here in a truly dreamlike setting.
• The Ría Lagartos estuary is located in the immediate vicinity of Valladolid and the area was declared a nature reserve in 1979. The largest flamingo colony in Mexico lives here on approx. 60,000 ha with more than 40,000 birds! The pink flamingos come here to nest and hatch their young.
• Near Valladolid are also the predominantly underground, natural water pools, which are fed with fresh water from underground rivers. Pre-Hispanic and prehistoric remains of humans and animals have been found in the so-called cenotes. For the Maya, these were sacred places where they performed their rituals.
• The cascades of Agua Azul are among the most beautiful natural sights in Mexico. Agua Azul translates as "Blue Water" and lives up to its name. The bright turquoise water of the Rio Tuljia makes its way over 500 limestone cascades over a length of 7 km. The beautiful natural scenery is surrounded by lush tropical forest and seems like paradise.

Baja California:

The more than 1200 km long strip of "Lower California" forms the second largest peninsula in the world. It lies in the far west of Mexico and is separated from the mainland by the Sea of Cortés. Most of Baja California consists of cactus deserts and other arid landscapes. Travelling the "Baja" still carries a touch of adventure, although the extreme south has long been developed for tourism. Along the Pacific, however, you can still relax on beautiful lonely sandy beaches and explore small nice towns. Due to the richness of flora and fauna and the unique ecosystem, large areas were declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2005. A very special event is watching the grey whales! Every year between January and March, hundreds of the marine mammals come to the waters around the peninsula to give birth to their young. The Gulf of California is generally rich in marine life: Dolphins, sea lions and numerous bird species populate the biosphere reserve. 

Absolutely worth seeing:

• Walbeobachtung vor den Küsten in den Meereslagunen der Baja California von Januar bis März. 
• A drive from north to south with a touch of adventure when passing the Sierra de la Giganta or the Valley of the Giant Cardones. Places to visit are Mulegé, Loreto, La Paz, Todos Santos with the famous Hotel California and the old town of San José del Cabo.
• To the north, Ensenada and the Guadaloupe Valley with its excellent wines and surprising gourmet cuisine. 
• To the south, the Parque Nacional Cabo Pulmo with beautiful beaches and El Arco - a boat trip around the southern end of Baja California.

Central Mexico:

Mexico City is also located in this region (see above). In the "centre of Mexico", however, there are other tourist highlights in the mountain ranges and on the Pacific coast. In the state of Guanachato, for example, the capital of the same name boasts fantastic colonial architecture, which is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Mexico's most famous volcano, the Popocatépetl (5,452 m), as well as the highest peak, the Pico de Orizaba (5,663 m), are also located in central Mexico.

Absolutely worth seeing:

• The mighty active volcano Popocatépetl, currently closed to climbers due to its current activity!
• Colonial jewels like Guanachato, Oaxaca, Puebla situated in front of volcanic cones.
• Excursion to Nevado Toluca with its huge crater and two lagoons.
• Michoacán is also described as the "soul of Mexico". Here lies the Monarch Butterfly Nature Reserve, where millions of orange butterflies overwinter.

Facts and figures Mexico:

Land area: 1.96 million sq km  
Population: 106.7 million - mainly mestizos, 12 million indigenous people 
Capital: Mexico City with over 22 million inhabitants 
Highest mountain: Pico de Orizaba, 5,742 metres high
Form of government: Mexico has been a presidential federal republic since 1917  
History: The land of the Maya, Olmecs, Toltecs and Aztecs was conquered by Hernán Cortéz in 1521. Mexico has been independent from Spain since 1821.
Economy: Almost 30 % of the economy is based on industry. The main exports are oil, silver, motor vehicles, textiles, coffee, fruit, vegetables and alcohol.
Currency: Mexican peso (MXP)
Language: Spanish
Festivals: Commemoration of the dead on 01/22 November, "Grito de Independencia" - Independence Day on 15 September, pilgrimage to the Virgin of Guadalupe in December

Travel in Mexico:

Entry requirement: The passport must be valid for at least 6 months upon entry, at least for the duration of the planned stay.
Vaccinations: No compulsory vaccinations.
Climate/travel season: Basically, the travel season is all year round. The climate is tropically warm on the coast, cooler to cold in the mountains depending on altitude. The rainy season is from May to November. Hurricane season is from June to November.
Local time: CET and CEST -7 hrs, in the west - 8/- 9 hrs.

Addresses:

Mexican Tourist Office
Taunusanlage 21, 60325 Frankfurt
Tel. 00-800-111-12266
www.visitmexico.com  

Embassy of Mexico
Klingelhöferstraße 3, 10785 Berlin
Tel. (+49) 30 269 32 30
http://www.botschafter-berlin.de/mexiko/