Between the warm palm-fringed beach and the emerald-green jungle, Mexico is a marvel. The 1300-year-old Maya palace at Palenque is home to screeching parrots and howling monkeys for nature lovers, while foodies can dine on salmon enchiladas and chrysanthemum salad at Mexico City restaurants.

All visitors to Mexico will go home with their own unforgettable experiences, whether it is dancing through the night at a high-energy Guadalajara nightclub or kayaking down a sunbathing colony of Baja California sea lions. The large country has straddling temperatures and tropical zones across its 10, 000 km of coast.

Mexico’s multi-billion-dollar tourism industry has made Mexico an activity-based tourism site where community tourism and genuine eco-tourism are growing in even rural areas. World-class cayoneering can be enjoyed near Monterrey or cooking lessons in the Veracruz countryside are both opportunities to interact with the local communities.

Population: 110, 000, 000
Capital: Mexico City
Languages: Spanish, Amerindian languages
Currency: Peso (Mex); AU$1 = Mex$10.15
Religion: Christian (95%)
Neighbours: United States, Guatemala, Berlize
Area: 1, 972, 550 sq km
Time: UTC – 8 to UTC – 6 (UTC – 7 to UTC – 5 in Summer)
Seasons: varies, but Mexico City is hottest during April and May; coldest during January and February
Visas: All visitors must have a visa depending on their country of citizenship
Warnings: Ongoing drug-related violence is an issue in the states of Chihuahua, Sinaloa, Durango and northern Baja California, however tourists are generally not targeted. There is also a recent outbreak of swine flu in the country so caution is advised.