South & Central America
Highlights - Essential Info - Itineraries
Visa Requirements – Holders of UK passports do not require a visa for entry into Mexico but you should have a full passport with a minimum of six months validity from the date of your return to the UK.
Health Requirements – There are no mandatory vaccinations required for entry into Mexico although Tetanus, Typhoid, Polio, Hepatitis A and Meningitis are recommended. We strongly recommend that you contact your doctor or the MASTA (Medical Advisory Service for Travellers Abroad) Travellers Health Line on 0870 60 62782 or their website at www.masta.org for all professional medical advice.
Time – Mexico is 6 hours behind GMT.
Money – The currency of Mexico is the Peso
Most major credit cards are accepted by hotels and some shops, but note that a surcharge of up to 7% can often be added. Most major credit cards such as American Express, MasterCard and Visa are widely accepted through most of the country although Travellers cheques are not so redily accepted these days.
There are cash machines throughout the capital as well as in Oaxaca, Merida, Campeche and Cancun which can give cash on a Visa or MasterCard, but an alternative payment source such as cash is sensible, especially in remote areas
Flights
|
Airline |
Route |
Frequency |
Via |
|
British Airways |
Heathrow/Mexico City |
Mon,Weds,Fri,Sat |
Direct |
|
KLM |
Heathrow /Mexico City |
Daily |
Amsterdam |
|
Continental Airlines |
Heathrow/ Mexico City |
Daily |
Houston or Newark |
Climate - a rough guide
The climate of Mexico varies hugelyu according to altitude. The low-lying coastal areas are typically tropical, hot an humid but the weather in Mexico city, which is situated at 2,300 metres above sea level, is far more moderate. Mexico City has pleasant summers and mild winters, with an annual average temperature of 64 F. Seasonal variations in temperature are small, but May is the warmest month of the year and January the coldest, when night frosts are possible. Mexico City has a high average annual rainfall, with most falling in summer, the wettest month being July and the driest month February.
Please note also that in recent years the traditional seasons in Mexico, as elsewhere in the world, have become less predictable than in previous years due to global climatic changes.
When to go
In order to enjoy the best weather throughout the country, then the best time to visit is in the summer from November to April. This is when you should experience warm, sunny and clear days throughout the country. The highlands can be a couple of degrees cooler, but you should still enjoy clear blue skies and fresh sunny days. The “rainy” season begins in the south in May and runs through until September although it usually only rains for a couple of hours per day.
The Caribbean coast can be affected by the hurricane season which runs from June to November.
|
Mexico City |
||||||||||||
|
|
Jan |
Feb |
Mar |
Apr |
May |
Jun |
Jul |
Aug |
Sep |
Oct |
Nov |
Dec |
|
Temp (F) |
70/ |
74/ |
81/ |
82/ |
82/ |
79/ |
75/ |
75/ |
74/ |
74/ |
74/ |
71/ |
|
Rain (in) |
0.5 |
0.1 |
0.4 |
0.8 |
2.0 |
4.7 |
6.7 |
5.9 |
5.1 |
2.0 |
0.7 |
0.3 |
Temp (Fahrenheit) = Average Maximum Temperatures (day/night)
Rain (inches) = Average Monthly Rainfall
