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Time Zone: GMT - 6 (Central Standard Time). (GMT - 5 from first Sunday in April to Saturday before last Sunday in October).

Currency: New Peso (peso) = 100 centavos.

Language: Spanish.

Sightseeing: Cozumel is an island resort, located off the Yucatan Peninsula. It is a tropical paradise with lush scenery and is well known for its excellent beaches and watersports activities, such as snorkelling and diving, in the Dos Ojos cave system. Bird-watching is another popular activity, as there are many birds species endemic to Cozumel and many other stop here on their migration routes. The Mayan ruins at nearby San Gervasio, once the island’s capital, provide a worthwhile excursion for visitors interested in ancient civilisations. On the Mexican mainland, Chichen Itza is another fascinating Mayan ruin and one of the most impressive Mayan sites in the world; it is believed to have reached its peak in around 600 to 900 BC and was the site of countless human sacrifices before it was suddenly abandoned in around 1200 BC.

Shopping: Good buys include silverware, ceramics and locally made pottery, woven wool blankets (sarapes), brightly coloured scarves in wool or silk (rebozos), richly embroidered charro hats, straw work, blown glass, embossed leather, hard and semi-precious stones, gold and silver jewellery, finely pleated men’s shirts in cotton voile (guayaberas), white dresses embroidered with multi-coloured flowers (huipiles), which are sold in the markets, and hammocks.

Eating Out: Turkey mole (a sauce containing a score of ingredients including several sorts of chilli, tomatoes, peanuts, chocolate, almonds, onions and garlic); guacamole often accompanies turkey or chicken with tortillas; other well-known Mexican dishes widely available include enchiladas, tacos (maize pancakes served with pork, chicken, vegetables or cheese and chilli) and tamales. Desserts include exotic fruits such as papayas, mangos, guavas, zapotes, pineapples, mameyes and tunas (juicy prickly pears, fruit of the cactus).