Mexico Travel, Trips and Tours: Chimu Adventures

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TRAVELLING TO Mexico

Why visit? Most people will have heard of Mexico’s postcard perfect beaches and world-famous resorts and although these definitely contribute to the country’s charm, there is so much more to Mexico than just its natural beauty.

Kiwis usually start their Mexico tour in either Cancun on Mexico’s east coast or in the country’s capital, Mexico City. This gem of a city, although often underrated, is full of historic landmarks waiting to be explored, such as the Historic Centre and the National Palace.

Cultural heritage and tradition are some of the drawcards that fascinate on a tour through Mexico. The two ‘hearts’ of Mexican tradition, Oaxaca and Chiapas, located in the centre of the country, are an absolute highlight on any Mexico or Central America tour. Oaxaca with its indigenous traditions, colourful markets and top-class museums is not just a cultural highlight but also famed for its extraordinary cuisine. Chiapas with its ancient Maya ruins, its coffee plantations and haciendas is a hub of history and culture.

In the east, Cancun and Tulum will appeal to the sun and beach lovers, being home to some world-famous white beaches and turquoise waters that are just made for sun bathing, snorkelling and water sports.

For the active explorer, Copper Canyon, a series of massive canyons in the north of Mexico, is a must-do. Soak up the majestic canyon scenery while hiking, biking or rafting through what is one of the most impressive mountain sceneries in the world.

How to get there? Generally, the easiest and quickest way for New Zealanders to get to Mexico City is via LA on Air New Zealand, American Airlines or United Airlines. That said, there are actually more options into regional Mexican cities from Houston (Air New Zealand fly to direct to Houston from Auckland).

More information: Below we have shown you just a fraction of the options available for Mexico and multi-country travel. Browse to get an idea of where you want to travel.

Still wondering? Contact us: You are definitely better off giving us a call or dropping us a line and letting us do the hard work for you.

#Livefortoday and book your Mexico tour with us today. Chimu Adventures is New Zealand’s leading Latin America and Polar specialist and can put together an itinerary to suit you.

Why visit? Most people will have heard of Mexico’s postcard perfect beaches and world-famous resorts and although these definitely contribute to the country’s charm, there is so much more to Mexico than just its natural beauty.

Kiwis usually start their Mexico tour in either Cancun on Mexico’s east coast or in the country’s capital, Mexico City. This gem of a city, although often underrated, is full of historic landmarks waiting to be explored, such as the Historic Centre and the National Palace.

Cultural heritage and tradition are some of the drawcards that fascinate on a tour through Mexico. The two ‘hearts’ of Mexican tradition, Oaxaca and Chiapas, located in the centre of the country, are an absolute highlight on any Mexico or Central America tour. Oaxaca with its indigenous traditions, colourful markets and top-class museums is not just a cultural highlight but also famed for its extraordinary cuisine. Chiapas with its ancient Maya ruins, its coffee plantations and haciendas is a hub of history and culture.

In the east, Cancun and Tulum will appeal to the sun and beach lovers, being home to some world-famous white beaches and turquoise waters that are just made for sun bathing, snorkelling and water sports.

For the active explorer, Copper Canyon, a series of massive canyons in the north of Mexico, is a must-do. Soak up the majestic canyon scenery while hiking, biking or rafting through what is one of the most impressive mountain sceneries in the world.

How to get there? Generally, the easiest and quickest way for New Zealanders to get to Mexico City is via LA on Air New Zealand, American Airlines or United Airlines. That said, there are actually more options into regional Mexican cities from Houston (Air New Zealand fly to direct to Houston from Auckland).

More information: Below we have shown you just a fraction of the options available for Mexico and multi-country travel. Browse to get an idea of where you want to travel.

Still wondering? Contact us: You are definitely better off giving us a call or dropping us a line and letting us do the hard work for you.

#Livefortoday and book your Mexico tour with us today. Chimu Adventures is New Zealand’s leading Latin America and Polar specialist and can put together an itinerary to suit you.

WHY TRAVEL WITH CHIMU ADVENTURES

We offer you flexible travel options in Latin America at an affordable price.
You can choose from over 400 suggested itineraries or pick and choose elements to build your own unique experience; cover the areas you want to explore at a pace to suit you.
We know each Latin American country by heart and will work with you to determine which activities and accommodations are best suited to your needs.
From your initial enquiry until your trip ends, you will be assigned a personal Destination Specialist who will offer a full service for your travel needs: we can book flights, insurance and any ancillary travel required to complete your journey.
We have offices across South America so you can be assured that ground staff are close at hand to assist whilst you are travelling.

Mexico TOURS

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Mexico REVIEWS

All Chimu Adventures' clients are given the opportunity to review their trip once they return home. These reviews are administered by a third party and as such are unfiltered by Chimu Adventures.

BLOGS ON Mexico

Whether you are looking for advice on visas and vaccinations,when to travel, best markets or beaches to visit, wildlife guides or the top restaurants in a city, Chimu blogs are likely to have it covered. The range of topics is vast, with new and fascinating blogs being added regularly. There are airport guides, Galapagos Island guides, what to pack and what not to pack, and even a blog on the most romantic locations to propose in Latin America!

Wildlife Species of Mexico

Mexico is rich in …

The History of Mexico

Mexico is a country that is rich in history, tradition and culture and there is evidence of its past peoples, cultures and cities throughout the country.

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The Varied Landscapes and Geography of Mexico

Geographically speaking – Mexico is varied.

Celebrating New Year in Mexico

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

1 . What language do they speak in Mexico?

Spanish is the official and most widely spoken language of Mexico, but over 60 indigenous languages are also recognized by the government. Some Indigenous words have been incorporated into Mexican Spanish, especially from Nahuatl - the language of the Aztecs.

2 . What kind of power adaptor plug do I need for Mexico?

In Mexico the standard voltage is 127V and standard frequency is 60Hz. Power sockets are of types A and B.

Please visit the below link for more information: http://electricaloutlet.org/

3 . What is the religion of Mexico?

Mexico’s predominant religion is Roman Catholic although the indigenous Mexicans have blended Catholicism with some of their traditional beliefs, creating a fascinating mix.

4 . What should I pack to travel in Mexico?

What you need to pack will depend on when and where you plan on travelling and on the activities that you plan to include whilst on your Mexico tour.

The following should act as a useful checklist of essential items:

Passport, photocopy of passport & spare passport photos
Travel Insurance documents
Air tickets and itinerary
Foreign Currency (US$) and/or debit/credit cards, traveller’s cheques
Money belt
Small daypack
Basic first aid kit High UVA sun block
Sunglasses & sunhat
Mosquito spray & insect repellent
Comfortable walking shoes/boots
Sandals
Long sleeve tops and trousers
Light-weight clothing
Warm clothing (depending on itinerary and time of year)
Camera with spare battery and memory cards
Security code padlock
Adaptor
Small torch

5 . Do I need to be fit to go to Mexico?

The level of fitness needed will depend on the Mexico tour that you choose to take in terms of places to be visited and the types of activities to be included on your itinerary. Hiking and trekking are not activities that are generally associated with Mexico although most Mexico tours include visits to one or more archaeological site where some steep climbs involving many steps may be involved, often on uneven surfaces. Parts of Mexico lie at altitudes over 2,000 metres, including Mexico City at 2,250 metres. Although altitude sickness is generally not a problem in Mexico, you may feel a little breathless if your Mexico tour starts in Mexico City, or if you fly into Mexico from the coast, until you acclimatise to the higher altitude.

6 . Is it safe to travel in Mexico?

Most Latin American countries have now recognized that tourism plays an important part in their economies and governments have taken great steps to change Latin America’s poor security image. There are parts of Mexico that are unsafe for tourists to visit, troubled regions stemming from a variety of issues, including not only drug warfare but also corruption and poverty. But for the majority of the country, especially along the tourist trail, Mexico travel is safe. The Mexican government dedicates substantial resources to protect visitors to its major tourist destinations. Resort areas and tourist destinations in Mexico generally do not see the levels of drug-related violence and crime that are reported in the border region or in areas along major trafficking routes.

To minimise security risks we recommend the following:

do not show any outward signs of wealth or wear expensive jewellery
keep your valuables in your hotel in safety deposit boxes
keep any valuables that you must carry with you hidden, as pickpockets can be present in crowded areas and around tourist areas
use only registered taxis with official identification
avoid going on your own to remote areas/ruins where tourists would not be expected to go
always keep your day pack and camera close to you and never leave them unattended

7 . Do I need a visa to travel to Mexico?

A pre-arranged visa is not required to enter Mexico for citizens of the following countries:

Australia
United Kingdom
The United States
Ireland
Canada
New Zealand
European Union
South Africa

For other nationalities, please visit the website of the relevant consulate.

8 . How long do I need to travel Mexico?

You could spend anything from a few days to several weeks on your Mexico travels, depending on whether you plan to explore the entire country or just focus on one region such as Mexico City and its environs, Chiapas State, Merida and the Gulf of Mexico, the Yucatan Peninsula or the Riviera Maya on the Caribbean coast. Chimu Adventures offers itineraries to suit every time frame.

9 . How much should I budget for daily in Mexico?

Our Mexico tours include breakfast daily and many other meals may also be included in your itinerary. As a rough guide for additional spending money based on having moderately-priced lunches and dinners and buying a few souvenirs at local markets, we suggest a budget of 40-50 USD per day per person.

10 . What money do they use in Mexico?

The unit of currency in Mexico is the Mexican Peso (MXP).

Please check websites such as www.oanda.com or www.xe.com for up to date exchange rates prior to your departure.

11 . Do I need to get vaccinations for Mexico?

Although no specific vaccinations are required for Mexico travel and no proof of any vaccination is required to enter Mexico, we recommend that you visit your doctor or a traveller’s medical centre for current information specific to those places that you will be travelling through.

As a general guide we recommend the following:

Hepatitis - Both A and B (twinrix)
Typhoid
Diphtheria
Cholera
Rabies
Tetanus
Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR)