Mexico: a land of charm, rich in traditions

Those who get to know Mexico fall in love with the country. It covers a vast territory with a dazzling natural and cultural diversity, and the people are famous for their friendly hospitality. 

Mexico borders the United States to the north, and Guatemala and Belize to the south, the Gulf of Mexico to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. The 1,959-mile (3,154 km) border with the United States covers the states of Baja California, Sonora, Chihuahua, Coahuila, Nuevo Leon and Tamaulipas.

The country’s fascinating geography and varied climates provide many different ecosystems and its rich diversity of species is surpassed by few countries.

Mexico has the second largest economy in Latin America and the 11th largest in the world.

MEXICO: Important facts

• Population: 103,263,388 inhabitants
• Land area: 1,964,375 sq. km (758,406 sq. mi)
• Political division: 32 states
• Capital: Federal Distric
• Language: Spanish
• Climate: 25° - 30°C on average
  
• Telephone calls (country code): 52
  
• Currency: Mexican Peso
  
• Electricity: 127 volts, 60hz and A (110) oulets
  
• Visas
• (not required to enter the country from):  Andorra, Argentina, Aruba, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bahamas, Bulgaria, Canada, Cyprus, South Korea, Costa Rica, Denmark, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, USA, Estonia, Finland, France, Great Britain , Greece, Hungary, Hong Kong, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Netherlands, Panama, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Romania, San Marino, Singapore, Sweden, Switzerland, Uruguay and Venezuela.

For visa information, contact:
SRE, Secretaria de Relaciones Exteriores, www.sre.gob.mx

 

Monterrey, City of Mountains

“The industrial city of Monterrey might be better known for its breweries and steel mills; however, this rapidly growing center in northern Mexico is emerging as a cultural and entertainment center.”

The New York Times The 44 places to go in 2009 January, 2009   NYT

A city in clear evolution

Monterrey is the capital of Nuevo Leon, a state with 4% of the total population of Mexico which accounts for 7.6% of gross domestic product (GDP), the third highest nationally, indicating the degree of productivity of its workforce.

Monterrey is the capital of Nuevo Leon, a state with 4% of the total population of Mexico which accounts for 7.6% of gross domestic product (GDP), the third highest nationally, indicating the degree of productivity of its workforce.

Monterrey: Important facts

• Population of Nuevo León: 4,199,292 inhabitants
• Population of Monterrey: 3,546,938 inhabitantss
• Clima: 23°C temperatura promedio. En verano puede llegar hasta los 40°C y en invierno a 0°C. Hay lluvias fuertes durante los meses de agosto, septiembre y octubre.
• zone: Central Mexico -6 hours (winter), -5 (summer)
• Telephone calls (area code): 81
• The average education level in the state is higher than the rest of the country.
• Monterrey has more hospitals accredited by Joint Commission International than any other city in Latin America

Closer to the rest of the world

Connections

No matter where you are, travel to Monterrey is becoming easier. The city not only has a modern international airport, it is steadily opening new direct flights from various parts of Mexico and abroad.

Monterrey can be reached nonstop from major cities in the United States:  (flight map)

• Atlanta           
• Austin
• Chicago
• Dallas
• Detroit
• Houston
• Las Vegas
• Los Angeles
• Miami
• New York
• Orlando
• San Antonio

Endless reasons why you should stay one more day

The ever growing tourist attractions in and around Monterrey are becoming better known and creating a good impression on visitors. There’s lots to discover and enjoy, if time permits. Here is a list of things which shouldn't be missed when visiting the city:

Santa Lucía Canal
Since its inauguration in September 2007, this 1½-mile stretch of navigable canal linking the Gran Plaza with Fundidora Park has had over 10 million visitors. The footpaths along its banks are adorned with beautiful gardens and fountains, and pleasure boat rides are available with interesting commentaries on the history of Monterrey.

Fundidora Park
This 300-acre (123 ha.) park provides a spectacular setting for all types of events, and contains many permanent cultural, sporting and entertainment sites, including: the Mabe Fundidora ice rink, the House of Parrots, Sesame Street Park, the Horno 3 Steel Museum, an Arts Center and an Exhibition Center.

Downtown area
To discover all the charm of downtown, just take a walking tour. Take this tour to see the Gran Plaza with its monuments and historical buildings, and the Old Town, the meeting point for locals and visitors, with its concentration of galleries, restaurants, bars and nightclubs.


Culture and Museums        
Major exhibitions have been staged at Monterrey’s museums, such as Pixar: Twenty years of animation at MARCO, The Treasures of Baccarat at the Museum of Glass, and Teotihuacan: City of Gods at the Fundidora Exhibition Center, and there are always interesting new ones on the calendar. Following the Universal Forum of Cultures 2007, the International Festival of Santa Lucia is held annually during the month of September to promote culture in the city.

Nature
Beautiful places, wide-ranging ecotourism and adventure tourism activities: canyoning, mountain biking, rappelling, climbing, canopy, via ferrata, caving, camping, trekking, hiking, kayaking and wildlife watching, and certified tour guides, make Monterrey, indeed the whole state of Nuevo Leon, the ideal destination for making contact with pure nature  

Parks  
For entertainment for all the family, the Magic Wood and Sesame Street amusement parks offer lots of attractions and shows, and others like the Mundo de Adeveras hands-on miniature town and Kidzania have an interesting educational approach. Meanwhile, other parks such as Bioparque Estrella, Chipinque Ecological Park, the House of Parrots, Garcia Caverns, Horsetail Ecotourism Park and Xenpal also offer plenty of fun, with the additional advantage of closer contact with the flora and fauna.

Shopping
Several parts of the city boast extensive shopping malls with large department stores and prestigious boutiques, as well as cinemas, cafés and restaurants to relax in after a day’s shopping. We recommend a visit to Galerías Valle Oriente, Paseo San Pedro, Galerías Monterrey, Plaza Fiesta San Agustín and Citadel Monterrey.

Santiago
Declared one of Mexico's 32 "Magical Towns" by the Department of Tourism in 2006, Santiago is located in Nuevo Leon. The town lies a mere 30 minutes away from Monterrey to the south, and boasts a range of delightful attractions: beautiful natural settings, delicious regional, national and international cuisine, amid charming northeastern architecture

Entertainment & Events
It is well worth taking a look at what shows are on while in town. A surprising number of quality concerts and shows are presented each year in Monterrey. We have been graced by the presence of Celine Dion, Beyonce, U2, Sarah Brightman, The Rolling Stones, Soda Stereo and Cirque du Soleil, to name a few, plus lots of conferences, exhibitions and fairs of all kinds.

New attraction! Bustamante Caverns
These caverns were discovered in 1906 and are famous for their startlingly beautiful formations of stalactites and stalagmites. Work was recently carried out to facilitate tourist visits by building a tunnel just over 100m long, making them the first caverns in the world to offer access without steps, providing easy access for tourists with different abilities and children in strollers.

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