Travel Ideas

Population

106 million though god knows how many are across the border working in the US.

Climate

Mexico goes from a dry desert north, to tropical beaches and jungle to chilly mountain towns. The Caribbean gets hit by rain, winds and sometimes hurricanes from late August to October and summers are incredibly hot.

Economy

Mexico has the biggest economy in Central America, benefiting from the close proximity with the US, not least for being a middleman for all the cocaine. American firms take advantage of the cheap labour and Mexicans run the border each chance they get, sending plenty of money back home. The result is that Mexico is second world, if there is such a thing.

Government

Usually puppets for big business with strong US ties. President Vincent Fox, for example, used to be head of Coca-Cola in Mexico – no surprise that Mexicans drink more Coke than almost anywhere else.

Religion & Culture

Mexicans are Catholic though the native tribes have all their own gods and spirits intact – not that they’ll ever let outsiders know much about it unless you happen to get invited to a Peyote or magic mushroom ritual.

Mexicans are into gleaming white churches, drinking beer, cheesy music, traditional gender roles, family values and all the rest but in the bigger cities things get much more modern. Casual sex is okay in Mexico but girls and guys tend to live at home until quite late.

Visas

Mexico gives most nationalities 90 days which can then be extended for another 90 at major cities before you need to leave the country. If you come in via Cancun though they’ll probably only give you 30 out of spite.

It’s unclear what happens if you overstay but we suspect they’ll just let you go or take a bribe on the Guatemalan border.
Language: Spanish is the national language though there are about 60 indigenous tongues that no one but the indigenos themselves speak. Mexican Spanish has its own extensive slang and if you want to be hip you’d better learn it. Many people in Mexico speak some English but you’ll only get so far without knowing Espanol.

Rent

Although Mexico isn’t cheap to travel these days, apartments can be found fairly cheaply. In cities and towns you can find places for between $80-150 a month. If you’re somewhere the draws heavy tourism like Tulum then you might be looking at $200 or so.

Hostels

Beds in hostels can usually be found for $4-10, depending on the region, Chiapas and Oaxaca are cheaper than the north. Rooms can also be found for the same price if you don’t mind leaving the backpackers behind and hanging out with actual Mexicans.

A meal out

You can eat tacos on the street for around 30 cents each, 70 cents in resort towns. You need about 3-5 tacos to feel full. A cheap meal at a restaurant can be had for $3-7, less if you don’t eat meat. Otherwise a cheap alternative is to eat tortillas (virtually free), avocado and tomatoes.

Transport

Mexico has a couple of different grades of buses but the cheaper ones don’t tend to go as far and so you might have to change a couple of times in the middle of the night which can be a hassle.

The first class buses are expensive and often have irritating movies in poorly dubbed Spanish but the real killer is the freezing air-conditioning. Bring blankets.

Living Estimate

$400-700 depending on how much beer you drink ($2 a bottle in bars).

Travel Estimate

$400 if you eat lots of tortillas and take advantage of the kitchen facilities in hostels but you’re more likely to blow $800-1000 if you’re moving around lots.

Overview

Mexico attracts a lot of American ex-pats for obvious geographical reasons and as the most developed country in Central America a good lifestyle can be had here. There’s perhaps a low level of trust towards gringos but once they get to know you then politics go out of the window.

It’s expensive to travel around but you can live in one place quite cheaply and everything works so it’s a viable place to start projects or a new business.

Speaking Spanish is important to win respect and acceptance here, especially as Mexico engages in the struggle not to lose its identity in the face of cultural imperialism beaming down from the American Empire up north.

Where to Live in Mexico

There are a million nice colonial towns where you can live and hang out happily but the bigger cities tend to be a bit oppressive. Oaxaca or San Cristobal de las Casas are two cheap possibilities down south.

The beaches are a attraction for many but then prices tend to go up, especially on the Caribbean side – but hey, you’re living in the Caribbean!

The Pacific coast has a more alternative feel, especially along the Oaxaca coast so you might find your dream village there, especially if you’re a surfer.

Want to meet other road junkies?
Come to the Road Junky Sahara Retreat Feb 6-11 2012 to hang out with 30 other travelers to meditate, make yoga, tell stories and dance under the full moon in the desert.

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