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| Country Guide > North America > Mexico |
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Travel - Internal Note Armed groups are still present in parts of the state of Chiapas. Caution should be exercised when visiting the highlands around San Cristobel de las Casas, and municipality of Ocosingo, and the jungle area towards the Guatemalan border. Air There is an excellent network of daily scheduled services between principal commercial centres operated by Aero California, Aeromxico and Mexicana. Many of the smaller airports also have capacity for large planes and some international flights. Flights between Mexico City and Guadalajara take about 55 minutes, and those between Mexico City and Monterrey about 75 minutes. Departure tax US$23.20. Sea Steamer ferries operate regularly between Mazatln and La Paz (Baja California) daily; between Guaymas and Santa Rosalia, across the Gulf of California; between La Paz and Topolobampo three or four times weekly; and from Puerto Vallarta to Cabo San Lucas twice-weekly. Some west coast cruises include Pacific ports such as Mazatln, Puerto Vallarta and Acapulco. There are also regular ferries from the mainland to the Caribbean Islands of Isla Mujeres and Cozumel. Rail Mexico has a good railway network and trains link all the main towns in the country. A spectacular route is the Copper Canyon Railway that runs between Chihuahua and Los Mochis. However, most people travel by bus since it is considerably faster and provides a more extensive service. Children under five travel free, provided they are accompanied by a parent. Children aged five to 11 pay half-fare. Road Traffic drives on the right. Mexico’s road network extends to almost 252,000km (157,500 miles), of which somewhat less than half is paved. A toll is charged for use of the expressways, which are managed by Caminos y Puentes Federales de Ingresos y Servicios Conexos. Rest areas at toll sites also provide ambulance and breakdown services. An organisation known as ‘Angeles Verdes’ (Green Angels) provides breakdown assistance to tourists on the highways free of charge except for petrol, oil and spare parts. Car use in Mexico City is restricted to cut down on pollution. The last digit of the car number plate determines when that car cannot be driven. Bus: Mexico is linked by a good and very economical bus system. There are first-class and deluxe coaches as well as ordinary buses. Central bus terminals in major cities provide service and information on fares and schedules. Car hire: Self-drive cars are available at airports, city centres and resorts. Documentation: An International Driving Permit or a full British Driving Licence is required for locally registered vehicles. Minimum driving age is 18. Payment is by credit card. Full car insurance is recommended. Urban There is an excellent and cheap metro system in Mexico City with frequent trains and flat fares. However, it is often crowded and some familiarity with the city is necessary to use it successfully. The metro opens Mon-Sat at 0500 and Sun 0700 and closes at about midnight. There is also a small tramway network, and extensive bus and trolley bus services. The latter system has recently been modernised, and also has a flat fare. There is a state-run bus and trolley bus service in Guadalajara, with trolley buses running in tunnels, and also extensive private bus services. Taxi: Four different types of taxi operate in Mexico City. Yellow and white taxis (usually volkswagens) are metered, as are orange taxis (Sitio), which are available at taxi-stands. These charge slightly more, and it is advisable to agree on the fare before starting the journey. Turismo taxis with English-speaking drivers are available outside main hotels. They are not metered and fares should be agreed before starting journey as rates can be excessive. Peseros (green and white) are share-taxis travelling on fixed routes, for which fares are charged according to the distance travelled. Tipping is not compulsory for any of the taxi services. Travel times The following chart gives approximate travel times (in hours and minutes) from Mexico City to other major cities/towns in Mexico.
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