Mexico is popular with travelers from all over the world. They go there for reasons almost too numerous to mention: sunshine, blue seas teeming with fish and coral, crystal-white beaches, lofty mountains and volcanoes, jungles full of exotic wildlife, collectible folk art, and the breathtaking remains of ancient cultures. And some go for a less lofty reason: Mexico can be cheap, although you may have to get out of the popular resort areas to enjoy big savings.

Popular destinations in Mexico include Cancun, Cozumel and Playa del Carmen on the Yucatan Peninsula in the east, and Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo on the Baja Peninsula in the west. Between those two peninsulas lie such cities as Guadalajara, Acapulco, Puerto Vallarta and Oaxaca. Many visitors also take the train ride through Copper Canyon
The megalopolis of Mexico City is Mexico's capital and lies roughly in the middle of the country. Approximately 8 million-9 million people live in the city limits, but roughly 19 million call metropolitan Mexico City home.

We're compelled, of course, to remind would-be visitors of Mexico's unevenness. It remains a land of baffling contradictions. Just down the street from a five-star resort, families camp in ramshackle buildings without plumbing. Burros, with rough-hewn carts in tow, amble alongside express highways. Serious pollution problems confront some cities, and a huge population strains its resources. There is widespread poverty, and people are yearning for a better standard of living. But through it all, Mexico endures.
Mexico offers such a rich variety of sights it would be impossible to name them all without a multivolume book. The country boasts more than 100 national parks of every stripe, ranging from tropical marine sanctuaries to gorgeous snow-capped peaks and Canadian-style forests to arid badlands that would do justice to any Western film.

In addition, its colonial heritage—unrivalled anywhere in the Western Hemisphere—is such that entire cities, such as Queretaro, San Miguel de Allende, Taxco and especially Zacatecas, are now national landmarks (as well as UNESCO-approved World Heritage Sites). Several (including Aguascalientes, San Luis Potosi and again Zacatecas) are veritable shrines to baroque art and architecture, while others, like Monterrey and Merida, are among the most modern cities to be found anywhere.

Away from the cities, there is a profusion of wildlife for just about every type of ecosystem, ranging from rare birds (more than 400 varieties) to the even more rare jaguar, and everything in between. The flora is no less spectacular, running the gamut from desert sagebrush to as-yet-unclassified giant flowers found in deepest jungle recesses.

Just as popular are the glitzy resort towns, quaint adobe villages redolent of "Old Mexico," and the numerous other sightseeing options Mexico offers, such as its wineries and distilleries in Jalisco, the beautiful fabric and pottery centers of Oaxaca, the folk art communities in Michoacan and Guanajuato, and the many Maya ruins of the Yucatan.

Beyond these, the quaint fishing towns of Nayarit and Baja California, the indigenous settlements in Chiapas, the Wild West atmosphere of states such as Durango and Chihuahua, and of course all those miles of coast on either side of the country (to say nothing of the Yucatan itself), make sightseeing in Mexico an unforgettable experience from start to finish.
Mexico is so large and diverse that it's better to see it over the course of several trips. We suggest visiting one region for every week of vacation available.

The following itineraries cover some of the more popular areas.
Day 1—Arrive Mexico City.
Days 2 and 3—Mexico City.
Day 4—Depart for Cuernavaca and overnight there.
Day 5—Drive to Taxco and overnight there.
Day 6—Fly to Acapulco.
Day 7—Acapulco. Fly back to Mexico City that evening.
Day 8—Depart Mexico or continue with another itinerary.
An alternate itinerary would be:
Day 1—Arrive Oaxaca city. If you arrive early enough, see Monte Alban on the way from the airport and shorten your stay by one day.
Days 2 and 3—Oaxaca city and surroundings.
Day 4—Depart Oaxaca city by air to Villahermosa. Overnight in Palenque.
Day 5—Ruins of Palenque.
Day 6—Visit Agua Azul waterfalls. Drive to San Cristobal de las Casas and overnight.
Day 7—Visit the colonial downtown of San Cristobal.
Day 8—Visit the nearby villages of Zinacatlan and San Juan Chamula.
Day 9—Fly to Mexico City and depart.

Another option:
Day 1—Arrive in Mexico City early, rent a car and drive to San Miguel de Allende.
Day 2—San Miguel.
Day 3—Leave by noon for Guanajuato.
Day 4—Guanajuato.
Day 5—Drive to Patzcuaro.
Day 6—Drive to Morelia.
Day 7—Drive to Mexico City.
Day 8—Depart Mexico.
Yet another possible seven- to 10-day itinerary would be a tour of the Copper Canyon area, combined with a visit to Mazatlan and La Paz. A tour of the Yucatan Peninsula, with its great beaches and fascinating ruins, is another worthwhile trip. You can use Cancun or Merida as your hub.

Facts to know before traveling
All U.S. citizens must have a passport when traveling by air to or from Bermuda, Canada, the Caribbean, Central and South America and Mexico. Citizens of Canada, Mexico and the British Overseas Territory of Bermuda also must have a passport or other designated secure document to enter the U.S.
Beginning 1 June 2009, passports are required for land crossings at the Canadian and Mexican borders with the U.S. and for cruise passengers returning to the U.S. from Mexico, the Caribbean, Canada or Bermuda. Reconfirm travel-document requirements with your carrier prior to departure.

Population: 109,955,400.
Languages: Spanish.
Predominant Religions: Christian (Roman Catholic).
Time Zone: 5-8 hours behind Greenwich Mean Time (-5 through -8 GMT). Daylight Saving Time is observed from the first Sunday in April until the last Sunday in October.
Voltage Requirements: 110 volts. Many hotels, schools and businesses also have 220 volts.
Telephone Codes: 52, country code;