Mexico Highlights

• Incredible value for any travel budget – high-quality all-inclusive resorts and competitive airfare to Mexico make for reasonably-priced luxury vacations
• A wide variety of resorts matches the tastes of any traveler
• Short, nonstop flights make it easy to reach popular Mexico destinations
• Year round appeal with a variety of settings and experiences
• Uniqueness – attractions in Mexico are found nowhere else in the world, from Mayan ruins to beautiful beaches and beyond

The almost one and a half million square miles making up Mexico’s geography are home to a large cultural and natural diversity. From the Baja California Peninsula to the Yucatan Peninsula, landscapes and history are interwoven to make of Mexico an unparalleled attraction. Its territory, divided into 32 states, is encircled by the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Ocean to the east.

Because of the variety of climates and its ecosystems, it is one of the 12 mega-diverse countries in the world. It has 34 biosphere reserves and is the first country in terms of diversity of reptiles and the second in mammals. The variety of its habitats ranges from the snowy peaks of its volcanoes to the mangroves of its coasts, jungles and the highly appreciated cloud forests.

In terms of culture, Mexico was the setting for the development of several different cultures, such as the Olmeca, the Maya, and the Aztec. Remains of these ancient people still live on, both in the arid horizon to the north, as well as in the dense jungles to the south. Many of the heirs of these cultures preserve their traditions, keeping them alive in spite of the passage of time, and these are the basis for the identity of the Mexican nation. Their clothes, music, festivals and traditions permeate even the hectic life in Mexico’s big cities. This melting pot became expanded with the Spanish conquest; they were a strong influence in all areas and allowed the inclusion of other cultures, such as the Asian and African that added their personal touch to Mexico’s idiosyncrasy.

The World Organization of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has recognized this wealth by appointing 27 archaeological sites, historic centers and natural areas as World Heritage Sites, and went on to consider the mariachi, the ritual of the Papantla Flyers and the Mexican cuisine as intangible heritage of humanity.