Embassy of Mexico,
Washington, DC.
Telephone: (202) 728-1600
Fax: (202) 728-1698
E-mail: mexembusa@sre.gob.mx
http://www.embassyofmexico.org

Mexican Tourism Information Line,
tel: 1-800-44-MEXICO
http://www.www-mexico.info/

U.S. CITIZENS traveling by air outside the United States are required to present a passport or other valid travel document to enter or re-enter the United States. This requirement will be extended to sea travel (except closed loop cruises), including ferry service, by the summer of 2009. Until then, U.S. citizens traveling by sea must have government-issued photo identification and a document showing their U.S. citizenship (for example, a birth certificate or certificate of nationalization), or other Western Hemisphere Travel initiative (WHTI) compliant document such as a passport card for entry or re-entry to the U.S. Sea travelers should also check with their cruise line and countries of destination for any foreign entry requirements.

Land travelers must have a valid U.S. passport or a U.S. citizenship document accompanied by acceptable photo identification, such as a state or military issued ID. U.S. legal permanent residents in possession of their I-551 Permanent Resident card may board flights to the U.S. from Mexico.

Tourist Travel: U.S. citizens do not require a visa or a tourist card for tourist stays of 72 hours or less within "the border zone," defined as an area between 20 to 30 kilometers of the border with the U.S., depending on the location. U.S. citizens traveling as tourists beyond the border zone or entering Mexico by air must pay a fee to obtain a tourist card, also known as an FM-T, available from Mexican consulates, Mexican border crossing points, Mexican tourism offices, airports within the border zone and most airlines serving Mexico. The fee for the tourist card is generally included in the price of a plane ticket for travelers arriving by air.

Business Travel: Upon arrival in Mexico, business travelers must complete and submit a form (Form FM-N) authorizing the conduct of business, but not employment, for a 30-day period. Travelers entering Mexico for purposes other than tourism or business or for stays of longer than 180 days require a visa and must carry a valid U.S. passport. U.S. citizens planning to work or live in Mexico should apply for the appropriate Mexican visa at the Mexican Embassy in Washington, D.C., or nearest Mexican consulate in the United States.

Minors under the age of 18 departing to and from Mexico must carry notarized written permission from any parent or guardian not traveling with the child to or from Mexico. This permission must include the name of the parent, the name of the child, the name of anyone traveling with the child, and the notarized signature(s) of the absent parent(s). The State Department recommends that the permission should include travel dates, destinations, airlines and a brief summary of the circumstances surrounding the travel. The child must be carrying the original letter – not a facsimile or scanned copy – as well as proof of the parent/child relationship (usually a birth certificate or court document) – and an original custody decree, if applicable. Travelers should contact the Mexican Embassy or closest Mexican Consulate for current information.

Passengers are recommended to hold a return/onward ticket; sufficient funds; and all documents required for next destination.

NON U.S. CITIZENS: Residents of the United States of other nationalities such as landed immigrants are responsible for being in possession of their required travel documents, a valid passport. A visa may also be required. Check with the Consulate/Embassy or go to http://www.qantas.com.au/info/flying/beforeYouTravel/visaHealth/

The U.S. State Department strongly recommends that U.S. Citizens traveling to, or living in a foreign country register with the U.S. Goverment, through the State Department's travel registration website;
Travel Registration

All children regardless of age (including newborns and infants) must have their own passport.

Minors travelling alone will require a passport, visa, where applicable, and other travel documentation in order to travel abroad. Check with Embassy or Consulate for required documentatation.

In an effort to prevent international child abduction, many governments have initiated procedures at entry/exit points. These often include requiring documentary evidence of relationship and permission for the child’s travel from the parent(s) or legal guardian if not present. Having such documentation on hand, even if not required, may facilitate entry/departure.

It is the sole prerogative of each country to determine who is allowed to enter.

Same-sex marriages are legal in some countries, however, many countries do not recognize them. Attempting to enter as a same-sex married couple may result in refusal by local officials.

NON-COMPLIANCE WITH ENTRY REQUIREMENTS may result in being refused entry into the country and deportation of passenger on the same aircraft or first available flight.

To order or renew your passport, go to http://www.travel.state.gov/passport/passport_1738.html or contact the National Passport Information Center.

National Passport Information Center
Toll free: 1-877-4USA-PPT(1-877-487-2778)
TDD/TTY: 1-888-874-7793
e-mail: npic@state.gov

Routine immunizations should be up-to-date (i.e. tetanus-diphtheria, polio, tuberculosis, etc). Hepatitis A, typhoid fever, dengue fever, and cholera can occur in Mexico. A malaria risk exists year-round in some rural areas that are not often visited by travelers in the states of Campeche, Chiapas, Guerrero, Michoacan, Nayarit, Chihuahua, Hidalgo, Oaxaca, Quintana Roo, Sinaloa and Tabasco. Air pollution in Mexico City and Guadalajara is severe, especially from December to May. Mexico City's high altitude may also cause problems. Individuals with significant pulmonary, cardiac or asthmatic problems or with heart disease, hypertension and respiratory problems should consult with their doctor before visiting Mexico City. Tap water is not safe to drink (unless your hotel swears it has a good purification system). Likewise, fruit and vegetables cleaned in tap water may make you ill. Bottled purified drinking water can be bought, ask for Agua Purificada. Intestinal infections are prevalent in Mexico. Avoid ingesting any form of raw fish. Choose restaurants carefully. Purchase only reliably pasteurized and refrigerated products. Adequate medical care can be found in all major cities. Care in more remote areas is limited. Be prepared to pay for medical and dental treatment.

For more health information, visit: http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/notices.aspx

For a list of travel clinics, visit: http://astmh.org/publications/clinics.cfm

Visitors may import: 2 cartons of cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250g of pipe tobacco, up to 3 liters of wine or liquor, a reasonable quantity of perfume and eau-de-cologne for personal use, goods up to the value of US$300. (tobacco and liquor allowances are only for persons over 18 years of age). U.S. citizens are warned against taking any type of firearm or ammunition into Mexico without prior written authorization from the Mexican authorities. The only way to legally import firearms and/or ammunition into Mexico is to secure a permit in adance from the Mexican Embassy in Washington, D.C. or from a Mexican Consulate.

The U.S. Embassy,
Paseo de la Reforma 305,
Colonia Cuauhtemoc. Mexico City.
Tel: (52-55) 5080-2000
Fax (52-55) 5511-9980
http://mexico.usembassy.gov/
E-mail: ccs@usembassy.net.mx

There are U.S. Consulates General in:
Ciudad Juarez (52) 656-611-3000. Guadalaraja (52) (333) 825-2998. Hermosillio (52) (662) 217-2375.
Matamoros (52) (868) 812-4402.
Merida (52) (999) 925-5011.
Monterrey (52) (818) 345-2120,
Nogales (52) (631) 313 4652,
Nuevo Laredo (52) 867-714-0512.
Tijuana (52) (664) 622-7400.

U.S. Consular Agencies are located in: Acapulco (52)744- 469-0556. Cabo San Lucas (52) 624-143-3566. Cancun (52)998- 883-0272. Cozumel (52) 987-872-4574, Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo (52) 755-553-2100. Mazatlan (52) 669-916-5889, Puerto Vallarta (52)322-222-0069. San Luis Potosi (52)444- 811-7802. Oaxaca (52)951-514-3054. San Miguel de Allende (52)415-152-2357 or (52) 415-152-0068.

As a visitor to any country you are not exempt from its laws, both civil and criminal and you cannot expect to receive special treatment. Your dress, general behavior and appearance may have to conform to local standards.Topless or natural sunbathing is not permitted. The minimum age for consuming spirits is 18. The minimum driving age is 18. To rent a car, you must be at least 25 years of age, hold a valid driver's license, and a major credit card. Drive on the right. Mexican immigration law prohibits foreigners from engaging in political activity. Penalties for drug offenses are strict and convicted offenders can expect jail sentences up to 25 years and fines.

U.S. Department of State issues a Travel Alert to all U.S. citizens travelling to Mexico.

For more information visit:http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/pa/pa_3028.html

Travelers should leave valuables and irreplaceable items in a safe place, or not bring them. All visitors are encouraged to make use of hotel safes when available, avoid wearing obviously expensive jewelry or designer clothing, and carry only the cash or credit cards that will be needed on each outing. There are a significant number of pick-pocketing incidents, purse snatchings and hotel-room thefts. Public transportation is a particularly popular place for pickpockets.
Visitors should be aware of their surroundings at all times, even when in areas generally considered safe. Women traveling alone are especially vulnerable and should exercise caution, particularly at night. Victims, who are almost always unaccompanied, have been raped, robbed of personal property, or abducted and then held while their credit cards were used at various businesses and Automatic Teller Machines (ATMs). Armed street crime is a serious problem in all of the major cities. Some bars and nightclubs, especially in resort cities such as Cancun, Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlan, and Acapulco, can be havens for drug dealers and petty criminals. Some establishments may contaminate or drug drinks to gain control over the patron.
U.S. citizens should be very cautious in general when using ATMs in Mexico. If an ATM must be used, it should be accessed only during the business day at large protected facilities (preferably inside commercial establishments, rather than at glass-enclosed, highly visible ATMs on streets). U.S. and Mexican citizens are sometimes accosted on the street and forced to withdraw money from their accounts using their ATM cards.
Criminal assaults occur on highways throughout Mexico; travelers should exercise extreme caution at all times, avoid traveling at night, and may wish to use toll (“cuota”) roads rather than the less secure “free” (“libre”) roads whenever possible. In addition, U.S. citizens should not hitchhike with, accept rides from or offer rides to, strangers anywhere in Mexico. Tourists should not hike alone in backcountry areas, nor walk alone on lightly frequented beaches, ruins or trails.
All bus travel should be during daylight hours and on first-class conveyances. Although there have been several reports of bus hijackings and robberies on toll roads, buses on toll roads still have a markedly lower rate of incidents than buses (second and third class) that travel the less secure "free" highways. The Embassy advises caution when traveling by bus from Acapulco toward Ixtapa or Huatulco. Although the police have made some progress in bringing this problem under control, armed robberies of entire busloads of passengers still occur.

It is recommended that you do not place valuables in your luggage, due to possible theft. Keep valuables in your hand luggage

For Facts, maps and more info visit:
http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook

MEXICO CITY - Benito Juarez Airport is 10 km east of the city center.

The Mexican departure tax is approx. US$18-29, may be included in airline ticket.

For more airport information and to view a map, visit: http://www.worldairportguide.com/

The climate varies with the altitude, tropical in the lowlands and moderate year round in the higher areas around Mexico.

April	Min.	11	Max.	25
May	Min.	12	Max.	26
June	Min.	13	Max.	24
July	Min.	12	Max.	23

Nuevo Peso. Old pesos are still in circulation. New currency is marked N$. To calculate the value of old pesos, drop three zeros, ie. a 50,000 peso bill is worth 50 new pesos. Count change carefully to be sure you have not counted old bills or coins as if they were new ones. Credit cards are widely used throughout Mexico. The import and export of local currency is limited to the equivalent of US$ 10,000. Higher amounts must be declared. Foreign currency must be declared on arrival. Unused amounts previously declared upon arrival may be exported.

For information on currency conversion and trends, visit: http://www.oanda.com/ .

110 volts, 50/60AC. A converter is not required.

For an application for an International Driving Permit, visit: http://www.aaa.com/PPInternational/Int_IDP.html

For cruise travel safety, health and security tips from the International Council of Cruise Lines, visit http://www.iccl.org/

For our Travel Resource Center, go to http://www.eTravelAdvisories.com/code/resource.asp

BANKING HOURS: Banks are open weekdays, generally from 0900 to 1330. Money can also be exchanged at casas de cambio (currency exchange houses) that are open longer hours and generally offer quicker service.
OFFICE HOURS: Generally, Mon-Fri, 0900-1800/1900.
SHOPPING HOURS: Generally, Mon-Sat 1000-1800/2000. Outside of the city, shops close for siesta between 1400 and 1600. Visa ATM Locateur;
http://visa.via.infonow.net/locator/global/jsp/SearchPage.jsp

Mastercard ATM Locateur;
http://www.mastercard.com/us/personal/en/cardholderservices/atmlocations/index.html

It is customary to barter for the article you wish to purchase, especially in the markets and with the street and beach vendors. Local straw goods, ceramics and silver jewelry are popular buys.

It is customary to tip for all small services. Tips in Mexico generally follow the 15% rule. Usually, you are not expected to tip a taxi driver. It is traditional to tip gas station attendants. A 15% tax (IVA) is levied on rooms, food, beverages and most purchases and is often included in the price.

U.S. Citizens require proof of U.S. citizenship (eg. a valid passport). Residents of the United States of other nationalities, such as landed immigrants, require proof of status, eg. Landed Immigrant Stamp, student visa, etc.

It is highly recommended that you purchase travel insurance from your travel agent. Health plans only provide limited coverage while traveling outside of the country. Your travel agent can offer you a complete travel insurance package. Some credit cards do offer travel insurance, however they do not always provide adequate coverage. Review and understand the terms of your credit card insurance policy. Extra travel insurance can be purchased.

Most insurance companies do have exclusions in their coverages. Pre-existing medical conditions are not insurable. High risk activities such as skydiving, parachuting, and bunji jumping are also not covered by the insurance.
Understand the complete insurance coverage you have before travelling out of the country.

This TRAVEL ADVISORY information is subject to Copyright by e-Travel Technologies 2009 and has been requested on your behalf by your Travel Professional or a service subscribing to www.eTravelAdvisories.com.