Climate
South of the Tropic of Capricorn, which slices the country in half, there is a humid and hot climate along the coasts, especially in summer, whereas in the highlands the weather tends to be drier and more temperate. Most rain falls in the northern hemisphere's summer season. The north-west has a desert climate, while the Yucatán peninsula is very hot and muggy from May to October but there can be hurricanes in the autumn and cooler fronts passing through in winter. The annual range of temperature in Mexico City is 9-25o C, in Cancún 20-32oC.
Fiestas and holidays
Every town and village in Mexico has a fiesta. These are often raucous affairs lasting several days. The principal holidays are carnival, celebrated in February/March with costumes and parades, notably in Veracruz and Mazatlán. Easter week (Semana Santa) and Christmas are taken very seriously all over Mexico, and transport and commercial services can be disrupted. Other major occasions are Independence Day (September 16th) and the Day of the Dead (November 1st).
Currency
Mexican Peso. See www.oanda.com for exchange rates.
Visas
British citizens can find up-to-date travel advice on the Foreign & Commonwealth Office website. Citizens of other countries can find visa information here.
Vaccinations
See www.MASTA.org for up-to-date health advice for travellers.