Frequently Asked Questions About

Mexico

Q. How large is Mexico?
A. Mexico stretches nearly 2,000 miles from east to west and more than 1,000 miles north to south. It is almost three times the size of Texas.

It is only one-fifth the size of the U.S., but its territory includes everything from deserts in the north, dense jungles in the south, thousands of miles of seacoast and beaches along the Pacific and Caribbean, and the central highlands that are crisscrossed by mountain ranges.

Mexico has some spectacular national parks and other protected areas - about 8% of its territory is under some category of federal, state or municipal protection.

Q. What is Mexico's population?
A. Mexico has 103 million inhabitants. Of those, 22 million live in the capital, Mexico City, which makes it one of the largest metropolitan areas in the world. Around three-quarters of Mexicans now live in cities and towns, and this percentage continues to increase as rural folk move to find jobs and raise their standard of living.

Q. What is the main religion in Mexico?
A. Nearly 90% of Mexican profess Catholicism. The church was present in Mexico from the very first days of the Spanish conquest. About 7% of Mexicans practice other varieties of Christianity.

Q. What is the predominant language?
A. The predominant language of Mexico is Spanish. Mexican Spanish is similar too but not exactly like Castilian Spanish (the language of much of Spain).

Q. Aside from Mexico City, what are the other major cities in Mexico?
A. Guadalajara has four to five million people. The following cities have populations above one million: Tijuana, Puebla, Ciudad Juarez, metropolitan Leon and metropolitan Torreron.

Q. About how many tourists enter Mexico per year?
A. 20 million.

Q. What is the Mexican currency?
A. Mexico's currency is the peso. The peso is divided into 100 centavos. The most convenient form of money in Mexico is a major international credit card or debit card. As a backup to credit or debit cards, it's best to also take some traveler's checks and a little cash. U.S. dollars are still the most easily exchangeable foreign currency in Mexico.

Q. What time is Mexico on?
A. Most of Mexico is on Hora del Centro, the same as U.S. Central Time.

Q. Are there daily flights to Mexico from the U.S.?
A. You can fly to Mexico without changing planes from at least 22 U.S. cities. There are one-stop connecting flights from many others. Mexico's two main airlines are Mexicana and Aeromexico.

There are some 27 Mexican airports which receive direct flights from the U.S. Only Mexico City and Cancun have flights from Europe or Latin America.

Q. What about border crossings by motor vehicle?
A. There are over 40 official crossing points on the U.S.-Mexico border, about 10 between Guatemala and Mexico, and two between Belize and Mexico.

Q. What is required in the way of passports or visas to visit Mexico?
A. Every tourist must have an easily obtainable Mexican government tourist card. Though it is not recommended, U.S. and Canadian tourists can enter Mexico without a passport if they have official photo identification, such as a driver's license, plus some proof of their citizenship, such as an original birth certificate or voter's card (not a copy).

Q. Who were the first Mexicans?
A. The earliest Mexicans were Stone Age hunter-gatherers from the north, descendants of a race that had probably crossed the Bering Strait and reached North America around 12,000 BC. Mexico then went through various civilizations which included the Mayans and Aztecs.

Q. When did the Spanish come?
A. In the early 1500s, the first Spaniards arrived in what is today known as Mexico. They skirmished with the Maya Indians. The Spaniards were led by Herman Cortez.

Over the ensuing three centuries of the Spanish colonial period, Spain became rich from Mexican gold, silver and Indian labor. Spain destroyed the Aztec empire, brought a new religion to Mexico and reduced the native people to second-class citizens and slaves.

As a result, most Mexicans are mestizo of mixed indigenous and European blood and thus descendants of both cultures, although African slaves and other Europeans are also significant elements.

Q. How did the U.S. acquire territory from Mexico?
A. In 1845 the U.S. Congress voted to annex Texas, and President James K. Polk demanded further Mexican territory. In 1846 that led to the Mexican-American War, in which U.S. troops captured Mexico City.

At the end of the war, Mexico ceded Texas, California, Utah, Colorado and most of New Mexico and Arizona to the U.S. The Santa Anna government sold the remainder of New Mexico and Arizona to the U.S. in 1853 for $10 million in the Gadsden Purchase.

Q. What are the favorite sports in Mexico?
A. No sport ignites Mexicans' passions as much as futbol (soccer). Bullfighting is another Mexican passion. Professional bisbol (baseball) has a good following. Rodeos are held particularly in the northern half of Mexico during fiestas. Mexico has produced many world champions in boxing.

Q. Since Mexico is so large and diverse, what are its different regions?
A. Start with the west coast. Baja, Mexico: This is a peninsula larger than Italy. It stretches from its border with California at Mexico's northernmost city of Tijuana to Cabo San Lucas at its southern tip. One side is the Pacific Ocean; on the other, the Sea of Cortez.

The Copper Canyon: This is an area of 6,500 square miles in the northern state of Chihuahua, midway between the state's capital city and the Pacific Coast. Here you will find a network of canyons.

The Pacific Coast: The Pacific Coast has virtually every kind of beach and landscape imaginable. Here you will find cities such as: Puerto Vallarta (from here it's a 5-hour car ride inland to Guadalajara, the most Mexican of cities), Manzanillo, Zihuatanejo and Ixtapa, and Acapulco (from Acapulco a road leads to Taxco, a mountainside colonial city named for its hundreds of silver shops.

• The North-Central Region: This area stretches from the northern border with Texas and New Mexico to Mexico City and includes the beautiful colonial silver cities.
  
  
• The Gulf Coast: Familiar cities include Matamoros, El Tajin, Xalapa and the colorful port of Veracruz.
  
  
• Tarascan County: This region presents two distinct visions of colonial architecture in the cities of Patzcuaro and Morelia.
  
  
• Oaxaca & Chapas: This is the southern land of the Zapotec, Mixtec, and Maya cultures. It contains the city of Oaxaca.
  
  
• The Yucatan Peninsula: In the Yucatan is found the ultimate in resort Mexico; namely, Cancun. In the peninsula there is about 1,000 miles of beautiful Caribbean shoreline. Maya villages dot the interior of the peninsula. From Cancun south to Chetumal, the jungle coastline is spotted with all kinds of development, from posh to budget.

Q. Very briefly, what is it about Mexico that draws so many millions of tourists?
A. Mexico has it all. It has the best beach spots in the world, it provides cultural experiences; it has festival and celebrations; it has the best archaeological sites; it provides an opportunity to have active vacations (scuba diving, fly-fishing, hiking and horseback, magnificent golf courses, surfing, sport fishing, sea kayaking and more); it has the best of natural beauty, the best architecture and museums, the best shopping and the hottest nightlife; excellent Mexican food and drink.

Mexico also has its share of modern-day spas. It is also big on ecotourism. Lastly, Mexico offers 56 venues for conventions and exhibitions, including the Cintermex in the central Mexican city of Monterrey, the largest convention exhibition center in Latin America. Other major facilities are found in Mexico City, Yucatan Peninsula, Acapulco and Guadalajara.

So in summary, Mexico has convenient proximity to the U.S., world-class resorts, modern telecommunications, ancient ruins and natural wonders. Mexico is ranked 11th worldwide for meetings and conventions.

Q. Does Mexico appeal to U.S. retirees?
A. Yes. Today, an estimated two million American retirees live outside the U.S. They are scattered around the world, but 600,000 live in Mexico alone.

Q. Are the major hotel chains represented in Mexico?
A. From the Caribbean to the Pacific Ocean, international hotels are present. They include: Fremont, Hilton, Hyatt, Le Meridian, Marriott, InterContinental, Radisson, Ritz-Carlton, Starwood and Wyndham.

Other highly regarded hotel companies operating in Mexico include: Iberostar, Quinta Real, Palace Resorts, Sol Melia Hotels, Brisas Hotels, Fiesta Americana, and AM Resorts.

Q. Can a U.S. or Canadian citizen own real estate in Mexico?
A. Foreigners may obtain direct ownership of property in the interior of México; however, foreigners cannot acquire direct ownership of property within the area 100 kilometers from the border and 50 kilometers from the coastline. This area is known as the restricted zone.

It is possible, however, to acquire beneficial rights to use, improve and enjoy property in the restricted zone through a Bank Trust or Fideicomiso. The Fideicomiso is established for a 50-year renewable term and grants the beneficiary the right to use, rent, modify, or sell the property.

While not commonly used, American title insurance is available for Mexican real estate, whether acquired directly or through a trust.

Q. What is the best advice you can provide about buying real estate in Mexico?
A. Be aware that real estate agents and brokers in Mexico are not required to be legally licensed. In addition, American attorneys are not licensed to practice law in Mexico.

Therefore, the best advice is to hire your own Mexican attorney (not the seller's) who can draw up contracts, review the conditions of sale, suggest alternatives where appropriate, and who can also do a title search.

Q. Are there condo hotels in Mexico?
A. Yes, there are several condo hotel developments offering units to buyers from the U.S. and the world. They are sold primarily as vacation homes and often feature superior quality amenities and services.

Viceroy Riviera Maya is a five-star resort near Cancun and Playa del Carmen. It is one of the most desirable condo hotel properties in Mexico currently available.

Return to Viceroy Riviera Maya featured property summary here.