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General Information

Once known as the “City of Palaces”, Mexico City has two areas declared World Heritage Sites by the UNESCO. The first is the “Centro Histórico” or “Historic District” where beautiful religious and historical buildings can be appreciated, including: the Metropolitan Cathedral, surrounded by one of the most important archeological vestiges in the Americas; the National Palace, the interior courtyard of which can be visited to admire the murals where Diego Rivera painted his vision of the history of Mexico; the Fine Arts Palace, a beautiful art nouveau style building housing one of the most important cultural and artistic venues in the city.

The second World Heritage Site is the Xochimilco Ecological Park considered by many as the “Venice of Mexico” thanks to its beautiful canals that can be traversed aboard a “trajinera” (a curious, wooden gondola- type vessel decorated with flowers).

If your interests include culture, Mexico City offers a large variety of museums, including: the National Museum of Anthropology, the National Museum of Art and the National Museum of History (located in Chapultepec Castle), where you can admire wonderful collections that reflect the artistic and historical evolution of our country from pre-Hispanic times to present day. To the north of the city you can visit the Guadalupe Basilica, the second most visited religious sanctuary in the world after San Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican.

This is a visit not to be missed by those who wish to experience more of the customs and traditions of the city. It should be added that Mexico City is a cosmopolitan city where a traditional colonial heritage is blended with a wide variety of activities proper to a modern city: shopping in handicraft bazaars and markets, such as those found in the neighborhoods of Coyoacån and San Ángel, or in exclusive boutiques and shopping malls such as those of the Santa Fe and Polanco neighborhoods, which are surrounded by glamour and the comfort of international-standard hotels and restaurants.

Mexico City is an exciting place in which history, art, culture, tradition and modernity mix to form a constant effervescence; it is an emotional place ideal for lovers of diversity willing to discover its cosmopolitan and ancestral facets. There are never-ending opportunities to experience and enjoy the region where we are invited to discover secrets offered by no other place in the world and that serve different kinds of tourism through a number of different corridors, routes and circuits.

Tourist and Cultural Corridors in the City
Tourist and Cultural Corridors account for a local government program created in 2001 whose main objectives is to promote tourism activities in the historical and cultural areas of the City. There are two principal corridors, the most important being the “Reforma Avenue-Centro Histórica” (downtown) corridor. The encouragement of economic activities in this area, which is part of the “Congress District”, has been an important factorfor the improvement of this area. It is reflected in modern tourist facilities such as hotels, restaurants, coffee shops, renovation of museums, lighting, security and some other services.

Security for Tourists
In order to strengthen tourist protection in the Reforma corridor area, a special police force was created. The Tourist Police Force received a new image as well as specialized training to enable its members to meet the security needs required by international tourist activities. Currently, the security force along the Reforma Avenue Corridor is covered by 2,350 bilingual (Spanish-English) policemen. In coordination with the Police Studies Institute of the Public Security Department, its members have received special training in tourist theory and in the cultural heritage of Mexico City.

Tourist information Modules
The Mexico City Tourism Board has organized an efficient Tourist Information Network made up of 15 permanent modules, which offer information, promote services and give tourist attention to national and foreign visitors. These modules are located in Chapultepec, Reforma, Centro Histórico (downtown), Basilica, Coyoacån, San Ángel and Xochimilco areas, as well as at the Mexico City International Airport and in the four bus terminals of the City. The modules offer informationseven days a week in Spanish and English, in person and by telephone. They also supply copies of informative and promotional tourist material (maps, guides, list of cultural events, shows, tours, venues and promotional literature from other states in Mexico).

Experience of Mexico

Organization of world class events during the last four years:

• World Dog Show, May 2007 (80,000 participants).*
• First IATA Cargo Summit, March 2007 (1,500 participants).*
• Latin America Bank Congress, 2006 (2,000 paricipants).*
• 4th World Water Forum, 2006(14,000 participants).*
• 1st World Summit on Health and Integral Medicine, 2006 (8,000) participants).*
• 7th International Camping Congress, 2005 (2,000 participants)
• 11th Congress of the Latin American Society for Interventional Cardiology, 2005 (1,500 participants).*
• World Small Animal Veterinary Association, 2005 (4,000 participants)*
• Global Forum of Health Research, 2004 (800 participants).
• World Family Congress, 2004 (3,500 participants).*
• 24th Congress of Latin America Notaries, 2004 (2,500 participants).
• XXIX Pan-American Convention of Engineers UPADI 2004, 2004 (2,500 participants).
• World Economic Forum, 2004.
• Latin American Nutrition Congress, 2003 (4,000 participants).*
• International meetings confirmed to take place:
• AIDS International Conference, August 2008 (25,000 participants).*
• 19th Conference on General Relativity and Gravitation, 2012 (1,500 participants).*
• *Meetings carried out at the Centro Banamex Convetion Center.

 

Places of Interest

I. Centro HistĂłrico
2. Museo del Templo Mayor
3. BasĂ­lica de Guadalupe
4. Bosque de Chapultepec
5. Av. Reforma y Zona Rosa
6. Palacio de Bellas Artes
7. Alameda Central
8. Polanco
9. CoyoacĂĄn
10. Colonias Condesa y Roma
11. San Ángel
12. Avenida Insurgentes
13. Centro Comercial Perisur
14. Santa Fe
15. Parque EcolĂłgico Xochimilco
16. Ciudad Universitaria
17. Parque Ecológico Loreto y Peña Pobre
18. Parque del Ajusco
19. Bosque de Tlalpan
20. Parque cultural y recreativo Desierto de los Leones

Saturday Bazaar – San Ángel
Fine products that attest to Mexico’s artistic tradition and prestige are sold here. Over the years the San Ángel bazaar has become famous for its tradition, beauty, and lively atmosphere that invigorate the senses in an area full of sensations, textures, harmonies, and aromas, a place which stirs up the essence of colorful diversity and is submerged music, invoking the feeling of both days gone by and today.

Shopping Malls
The PabellĂłn Polanco, Plaza Moliere and Antara malls are located in Polanco; the Santa Fe shopping mall is located in the northwest of the city; GalerĂ­as Insurgentes is located to the south on Avenida Insurgentes, where further along to the east you will also find Plaza Universidad and CoyoacĂĄn Center malls. Continue along this route and you will reach the Perisur mall.

CoyoacĂĄn Square
After your shopping trip, you can enjoy a meal here. It is also ideal for a pleasant afternoon stroll through the center of colonial CoyoacĂĄn where you can enjoy a relaxed atmosphere with mime artists, musicians and clowns providing wholesome entertainment.

Historic Downtown
Walk along Francisco I. Madero Street, admire the Palacio de los Azulejos (Palace of Ceramic Tiles), the Church of San Francisco, the Palacio de Iturbide (Iturbide Palace), and La Profesa church. You will then reach the ZĂłcalo (the main square), where you can see the buildings of the City Hall, the National Palace, the Metropolitan Cathedral, and the Monte de Piedad Building.

Take your time to do some shopping in the historic center. Its division of shops by streets will help you: old books, jewelry, clothes, shoes, opticians, uniforms, religious items, and much more, at very good prices. Don’t forget to visit the department stores and eat in one of the many restaurants in the area.

At night, go to the theater or to one of the numerous attractions and cultural events to be found in the city.

Transport

Form and to Mexico City International Airport
Authorized taxicabs can be hired upon arrival at the Mexico City International Airport. Their rates are established according to destination and tickets can be bought at clearly identified counters within the baggage claim area and at the main airport exits.

The subway (Metro) station “Terminal AĂ©rea” can be found a few meters from “Benito JuĂĄrez” Mexico City International Airport.

Subway
One ticket is good for one trip (including transfers) of any distance. Tickets are sold exclusively at ticket windows that are located in all stations. The cost per trip is 20Âą US; therefore it is the cheapest and most efficient way to move around the city.

Turibus
It is possible to visit 130 places of interest with the TURIBUS along the Reforma – Centro Histórico (downtown) corridor such as: museums, monuments, galleries and recreational parks. It has 25 hop-in hop-out access points for passengers at a cost of $11.0 USD including travel insurance. Each ticket is valid for the entire day it is purchased and it is also possible to purchase tickets for two or three days. The tickets can be purchased when boarding the bus. Each bus offers an electronic translator service in six languages: Spanish, English, French, German, Italian and Japanese.

A bilingual hostess will be in the bus to answer questions, as well as a private security guard.

The circuit covers 34.5 kilometers from the National Auditorium to the downtown area and from there to the Square of the Three Cultures (Plaza de las Tres Culturas) in order to return on Reforma Avenue towards Polanco and from there to the Children’s Museum (Museo del niño). The main routes covered by this bus are: Chapultepec, Centro HistĂłrico (downtown), Reforma Avenue, Roma, Condesa and Polanco. It also goes by the three most important restaurant zones, Condesa, the Zona Rosa and Polanco.

The buses run at 15 to 30 minute intervals, according to demand. They have 75 seats, 53 of which are on the second floor and four are for the handicapped, the operating schedule is form 9:00to 21:00 hours, all year long, except December 25th and January 1st.

Weather
Mexico City has an average temperature of 22 °C (Max. 35 °C / Min. 6 °C). During the winter the lowest temperature is 10 °C and the maximum is 25 °C. Summer is the rainy season.

Time
Mexico City time is -6 GTM from the last Sunday in October to the first Saturday in April. During Summer -5 GTM from the first Sunday in April to the last Saturday in October.

Currency
Mexican Peso (MXN). You can freely change foreign currency into pesos at banks and money exchange offices. The currency is composed of metal coins and paper bills; there are 0.10, 0.20, 0.50, 1 ,2, 5, 10 coins, and 20, 50, 100, 200, 500 and 1,000 pesos bills. For your convenience you can find ATMs at every hotel and inside the Centro Banamex.

Credit Cards

Almost all hotels, restaurants, travel agencies, airlines, etc., accept international credit cards, such as: Visa, American Express, MasterCard and Diners Club. We suggest you ask the establishment before using your card.