Pass The Passport

Places / North & Central America

Mexico

Visited

At a glance

Region
North America
Capital
Mexico City
Population
131.9 million (2025)
Area
1,964,375 km²
Languages
Spanish
Currency
Mexican peso (MXN)
Drives on the
right
Calling code
+52
Visited: Mexico

Country visited City visited Still to go Click a pin or country to read more. Zoom with + and −, a double-click or a pinch.

Before you go

Overview

The United Mexican States is a country located at the southern of North America.

The country recorded a population of 126.2 million in 2018 and covers an area of 1.973 million km2.

Its capital city, which is also the main metropolis, is Mexico City. Its landmarks include the Templo Mayor, National Place and Baraque Catedral Metropolitana de Mexico of the Spanish conquistadors and.

Other cities include Guadalajara, Monterrey, Puebla, Toluca, Tijuana, Ciudad Juarez and Leon.

Cenote Saytun near Valladolid.

History

Spanish army led by Henan Cortes landed in Veracruz in 1519 where they started to conquer the country. Mexico became part of Spain between 1521 and 1820. There was a war of independence, which caused the formation of a temporary Mexican Empire.

The country became a federal republic in 1824.

Food & culture

Its culture is influenced by Aztec, Maya and the European colonization.

The crops grown in the country include corn, sugarcane, sorghum, wheat, tomatoes, bananas, chilli peppers, oranges, lemons, mangoes and tropical fruits.

The most popular dishes are chilaquilles, pozole, tacos, tostadas, elote, and enchiladas, mole and chiles en nogada.

Wildlife

Common wildlife animals include fox squirrel, lowland paca, porcupine, jaguar, jaguarondi, peccary, pronghorn and spider.

Festivals & events

The common events held in the country are Saints’ Week, Three King’s Day, Candlemas, Carnaval, Independence Day, All Saints’ Day and Guadalajara International Festival.

Things to see

Archeological Zone of Tulum is a 13th century walled Mayan archaeological site within Tulum National Park.

Xcaret Park is a private resort on Riviera Maya on Caribbean coastline.

Xel-Ha Park is a commercial aquatic park on the Caribbean coast in Quintana Roo state.

Other must visit sites are Coba, Bosque de Chapultepec and Zocalo.

Interesting facts

It is the largest Spanish speaking country in the world.

It has the longest working hours than any other country in the world.

It has one of the great wonders in the world, the Chichen Itza.

City guides

Cities & towns I’ve visited

Run a marathon in Mexico

Mexico City Marathon

Mexico City · usually August

Run at around 2,240 metres, so the altitude makes it tougher than it looks on paper.

Dates move from year to year, so check the race website before you book.

UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Mexico

2 of 36 visited. See every site I've been to.

My photos from Mexico

From 2 trips, newest first, so you can see which places each set of photos came from.

January 2020 Central America

Tulum, Tinúm, Chichen Itza, Bacalar

Whole trip gallery
  • Dan on the clifftop at Tulum with the Caribbean behind him
  • El Castillo, the great pyramid of Chichén Itzá.
  • The clifftop ruins of Tulum among the trees.
  • A stepped Mayan stone temple fronted by rows of columns on green grass under blue sky.
  • The stepped pyramid of El Castillo at Chichen Itza under a bright blue sky with clouds.
  • A colourful painted wall spelling Bacalar decorated with tropical flowers and birds.

October 2009 Mexico City

Mexico City

Whole trip gallery
  • A man sipping a large pink frozen margarita in a bar.
  • A red and gold VW Beetle taxi parked on a street in Mexico City.

Plan your trip to Mexico

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Neighbours

Bucket List goals in Mexico